Warwick gnome for gigs and rehearsal

[Ethix4]

So I've watched some reviews, read some threads, but I can't find a good answer on it so that's why I stared a new thread.

I am playing in a 2 hardcore bands - pretty low tunings. So I got a preamp and I had Hartke 3500 - a very nice tone, very nice build, but this head weights 15kg! The flight case on it made it even heavier. True - I could probably drive with a car over it and it will work and look perfectly, but this is everything but portable. So I decided to sell it and I did.

I came across the Trace Elliot Elf and I saw one guy using it - the fan was sounding like it is going to fly. Than I saw the Warwick Gnome series which took my interest.

I prefer to stick to the small size versions, so I am yet thinking about the standard Warwick Gnome 200w or the Pro v2 version 280w. I have Peavy 410cabinet 4ohm so I can take the max amount of the head in both situation.

Will the 200w be enough for rehearsal and gigs ?

I was actually using the same HA3500 For my band duties for awhile and was in the same situation. , down tuned, gunshot loud drummer and guitarists through marshall stacks. I brought multiple class D amps to just our rehearsals and they couldn't cut it, I'm glad I didn't try it in show and be embarrassed. even if they had over the wattage rating of the hartke, I could run the hartke at 8 ohms and still have more clean power.
My experience from this while portability is nice, there was an obvious sound quality and heft of bass missing that was there before.
I tried many different things. In the end it was obvious , the big iron brings the big balls.
I do have a gnome pro though and love it's features especially the pc recording interface. It sounds close to a gk rb. It could do the job on lower volume bands than what I was trying at the time. Speaker surface is the bigger importance overall.
Look for an GK RB. You will have alot lighter of an amp, not as deep and nicely portable. While having an awesome tone and reliability, and being quite a bit cheaper than most amps.

 

[6ornone]

Get a GK 700rb or equivalent. A 410 and your good, hardcore bands are loud I'm in one and it's insane how loud some of the bands play at shows. This is my setup for rehearsal and practice. It's stupid loud and also stupid heavy but you gotta move some weight to move some air.

 

[lethargytartare]

The Gnome's fan is loud. But it's relative -- if you were playing through a 4x10 and a high volume, you'd never hear it.

That said -- all the foregoing posts directed you right. There are tons of amps that would be loud enough and far lighter than 15kg. Depending on your lineup and where you sit in the mix, 350w into a 4x10 should be enough. But if you're worried about sheer volume, you can get a 500w, and the extra headroom certainly won't hurt...Peavey MinMax (2.5kg), GK, TCE...

 

[rpangelov]

I will certainly check Harley Benton block and the Peavy. I saw Bugera as well. I will aim for something minimal 600w.

I can get Warwick Gnome 600w
Harley Benton Block 800w
TC Electronics BQ500 500w

For around the same price.

 

[klattman]

Used quilter 800 or 802 series if you can find them. Light, small and plenty of power.

I also have a gnome pro 280 and it's enough for a stage monitor in almost any of my situations. The cabinet matters a good bit.

 

[sheesh]

How is it that in the golden age of hardcore, the 80's essentially, I'd see countless bands where the bass player had some old beat to crap Peavey or the equivalent, no more than around 150 watts, and that was enough? And when did everyone become so weak that they can't lift 40 pounds?

Because with members of the audience jumping up on the stage and running around bumping into things, they didn't want to risk an expensive amp?

Maybe because that "old" 150 watt Peavey was a tube amp in the 80's? You can crank a tube amp and the distortion is acceptable.

The Ampeg SVT, kind of a popular bass amp is 300 hundred tube watts.

I like my super light weight 800 watt bass amp. I can pair it with lots of combinations of (also lightweight) speakers for different gigs. Then I can help my band members carry their stuff.

 

[rpangelov]

Because with members of the audience jumping up on the stage and running around bumping into things, they didn't want to risk an expensive amp?

Maybe because that "old" 150 watt Peavey was a tube amp in the 80's? You can crank a tube amp and the distortion is acceptable.

The Ampeg SVT, kind of a popular bass amp is 300 hundred tube watts.

I like my super light weight 800 watt bass amp. I can pair it with lots of combinations of (also lightweight) speakers for different gigs. Then I can help my band members carry their stuff.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I will probably use the amp just as poweramp for my preamp pedal. I will plug it in the send/return chain.
I have a Joyo Monomyth and a squier jazz bass - I know. Very budget side, but it brings the sound especially with new strings on it.

That's why I am for something portable instead of having lots of tone options. The Harley Benton (which I'm not a fan of) blok 800 is 800watt amp for less than 300€. New it will be 50€ more expensive than a second hand Warwick gnome pro 600w

 

[seescottrock]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I will probably use the amp just as poweramp for my preamp pedal. I will plug it in the send/return chain.
I have a Joyo Monomyth and a squier jazz bass - I know. Very budget side, but it brings the sound especially with new strings on it.

That's why I am for something portable instead of having lots of tone options. The Harley Benton (which I'm not a fan of) blok 800 is 800watt amp for less than 300€. New it will be 50€ more expensive than a second hand Warwick gnome pro 600w

Nothing wrong with a Squier Jazz into a Monomyth! It sounds like you know what you need and have easy access to it!

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I'd see countless bands where the bass player had some old beat to crap Peavey or the equivalent, no more than around 150 watts, and that was enough? And when did everyone become so weak that they can't lift 40 pounds?

I used a GK400rb through a 215 at 200 watts for several punk and hardcore bands and briefly an 800rb on tour. They did great for me but most people won't carry larger efficient cabs anymore.

15 kg is too heavy? Try an SVT like I went to after the gk for my stoner/heavy psych band after.

I'm 57 and I still gig a V4b and Traynor bassmaster.

 

[eldoctorbass]

Bumping this thread because I was searching for a similar answer.

Does anyone regularly gig with the Gnome iPro for multiple sets with a normal rock band setting? I have been testing it vs. my 'normal' 500/800W heads and it is defintely loud enough and, in most cases, just sounding better to my ears. I'm using this in a 5-piece rock band. The Gnome has a very pleasing heft to it, great tone, just all-around great sound. The fan is quiet. It does seem to get a little warm, which is my only thought/consideration. I'm curious about playing it for 2+ hours straight with volume (for context, 210/115 daisy-chained).

 

[ole Jason]

I don't use it in a rock band but I use the regular Gnome on a 3 hour gig every week pushing a decent amount of volume. I've been using it for a few years at this point with no issues. It gets warm like any micro head but never so hot I can't touch it.