Purchasing a new combo on Saturday. Last minute comments accepted!!

[somebrains]

Can you spot the GK heads in the crowd?
I keep meaning to post this clip whenever a 5 string P comes up.
The fusion head will have more growl than what’s in the combos.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I vote for the GK MB212. As mentioned previously, you can attach a powered cab and double your output. Good luck.

 

[mexicant]

I own markbass,gk and mesa boogie amps.in my opinion gk is almost as good sounding as the mesa but cost less.
I would go with gk.

 

[TrevorR]

Don’t think that there are any fundamentally bad choices out of that trio. However, for me personally, I’d go with the MarkBass - been using them for over a decade and I love the way they sound. My only tip is, if you try out/go for the MarkBass, make sure that you start dialling in your tone with the VPF and VLE controls off (completely counter clockwise) NOT at 12 o’clock. They are quite powerful filters designed to be added in only to the degree needed. If you start with them at 12 o’clock you’ll already have a vey pronounced smile curve and treble roll off in play and you’ll be fighting against that unusual EQ setting in dialling in a sound.

I also go for pretty clean and traditional tones and find that I barely use much EQ at all on the MB. A nice mix of round bottom end and clear mids and upper range with plenty of punch when needed. My preference is the 2x10 configuration and that’s what I mostly use at church.

 

[kbakerde]

Ok. I have to get something on Saturday. Have a large church gig on Sunday. 800+ people. Playing very traditional music. Using a passive Fender AM Pro jazz bass.
1. Fender Rumble 500
2. GK MB210ii
3. Markbass 2x10 or a 12" combo. Take your pick which one you like best at GC.

Leaning hard towards the GK 210 for clear traditional bass tones. Will be playing most other types of music in the future. Jazz, rock, country, blues, latin and more church.
Which one would you buy. $800+ budget

I'd lean GK, but the Fender 500 should be very nice too. I've never liked Markbass stuff.

 

[Giffro]

A lot of noise has been made here on TB about XLR Out on the Rumble 500 being post-master, but in practice it matters very little. A word to the sound guy at the soundcheck is usually all that's required. Well, that and leaving the controls alone on stage.

If you think about it, it's very similar to having your cab mic'ed, and nobody complains about that. If the sound guy is desperate for a direct signal he'll set you up with a DI box - never met a sound guy who didn't have a few of those handy.

All of what you have said is elementary Jakob..its imperative the bassist communicate with the sound tech as to his amp settings and capabilities and in that regard the XLR/Line Out therefore doesnt come into play so much..or in your words it matters very little as long as the sound tech is aware and realises the situation..thats where the sound is made or broken if going through a PA...with the guy managing the sound after it leaves the cab. Once soundchecked with the sound technician all amp controls must be left untouched, as you say. No argument. I was just pointing out the Rumbles' capabilities. I always carry a good DI box anyway.

 

[Medicine Man]

Imho, all of those combos are great. I'm one of those Talkbass heathens who thinks Markbass combos are wonderful. When they first came out, they were game changing. Now there are a ton of great sounding lightweight gear choices. The Rumble probably has the most vintage sound of those choices, but the other two are more flexible.

 

[david barnes]

Ok. I have to get something on Saturday. Have a large church gig on Sunday. 800+ people. Playing very traditional music. Using a passive Fender AM Pro jazz bass.
1. Fender Rumble 500
2. GK MB210ii
3. Markbass 2x10 or a 12" combo. Take your pick which one you like best at GC.

Leaning hard towards the GK 210 for clear traditional bass tones. Will be playing most other types of music in the future. Jazz, rock, country, blues, latin and more church.
Which one would you buy. $800+ budget

ampeg will treat you right

 

[Buzz E]

GK without question. Way more flexibility and tonal variation.

 

[Slevage]

My go to rig is a Markbass 1-12.
I add a 12 ext speaker as needed.

 

[TuneIn]

Of those options...Markbass

 

[Jim C]

I've played the GK and Fender and like them both.
I never could get the LM II to work for me but not a direct comparison.
You have to try them in a store to get even a rough idea how it works for you.
Be open minded to any brand they have that is in the right price range and sounds great (but I would avoid Behringer personally).

There still may be a return in your future if it doesn't sound great in a band setting though.
Good luck!

 

[bdplaid]

Ok. I have to get something on Saturday. Have a large church gig on Sunday. 800+ people. Playing very traditional music. Using a passive Fender AM Pro jazz bass.
1. Fender Rumble 500
2. GK MB210ii
3. Markbass 2x10 or a 12" combo. Take your pick which one you like best at GC.

Leaning hard towards the GK 210 for clear traditional bass tones. Will be playing most other types of music in the future. Jazz, rock, country, blues, latin and more church.
Which one would you buy. $800+ budget

I had a rumble 500 and loved it.

Ever since mark bass moved their production to Indonesia, and I have had nothing but trouble with them, So no mark bass will ever darken my doorway again.

im not a fan of the GK sound and think their combos are stupid expensive for what they are.
I’d do rumble again in a minute.

 

[darwin-bass]

... large church gig on Sunday. 800+ people.
... Will be playing most other types of music in the future. Jazz, rock, country, blues, latin and more church.

For an 800 seat church I'd expect to run through FOH and use their IEM system. Bring your in ear monitors. Do the sound tech and congregation a huge favor and do not use any bass amp. IEM and ampless is the way. If you have to use the amp on stage, keep put it on a stand, pointed at your head and keep it as quiet as possible. Fender Rumble 40 would do this nicely.

If you want a combo for other general purpose uses, I'd consider the GK 112 combo paired with the matching 112 powered cabinet. Take one or both as the gig demands.

And, please, if you run DI out of the amp, run pre-eq.

 

[lomo]

..another vote for GK

 

[selowitch]

I own two Markbass CMP 121P combos (one for home and one for our rehearsal space) and neither one has ever let me down. In my opinion, that amp is a good companion for my Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5H.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Another vote for GK.

Have you played them all? Tone is so subjective. I like the tonal range I have been able to get when I've played GK rigs in the past. I have a GK 212 neo cab that sounds awesome with my Mesa head. My second choice for an amp was GK, but I really liked the Mesa tone better. You might prefer the Fender or MarkBass tone. If you can play your bass through each, you will likely have a preference, which should certainly weigh heavily in your decision.

I had reliability issues with a MarkBass Compressore and was distinctly underwhelmed by their support. No experience with Markbass or Fender amplification. My cab is the only GK item I've owned. I have been blasting that thing for about 3 years and it sounds as great as when I first heard it.

Have fun at GC this weekend!

 

[Corevalay]

I think the GK is clearly the way to go. Have you considered the MB212?

 

[BassmanPaul]

Why a combo and not separates?

 

[CallMeAl]

I’m a Rumble (100) user, and I’ve been looking at all three of those combos. I love my Rumble, but I still think GK and Mark are better combos. I got to use a CMD 102 for back line not too long ago, and it was hands down my favorite amp experience.

looking forward to seeing which you choose