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What other amp sounds like a GK?

wyleeboxer

wyleeboxer

Apr 28, 2005
2,243
1,557
Orange County, CA
#1
Really missing the tone and punch from my GK MB500. I had two, one fried and other one developed a bunch of board issues so I moved on as I couldn't handle the unreliability during gigs. Even my MB115 combo amp went into service a few times before I got rid of it. I picked up a GK MB112ii today and fell in love with the tone immediately and plan on using it for really small stage gigs.
So what other around 500watts amps are out there that can sound like a GK without the problems? Plan on pairing with my Baer ML112 cabs and I was looking at Traynor Small Block 500 but again reliable amps are my number one priority! Thanks and if anyone has any suggestions that would be cool!
 
#2
wyleeboxer said:
Really missing the tone and punch from my GK MB500. I had two, one fried and other one developed a bunch of board issues so I moved on as I couldn't handle the unreliability during gigs. Even my MB115 combo amp went into service a few times before I got rid of it. I picked up a GK MB112ii today and fell in love with the tone immediately and plan on using it for really small stage gigs.
So what other around 500watts amps are out there that can sound like a GK without the problems? Plan on pairing with my Baer ML112 cabs and I was looking at Traynor Small Block 500 but again reliable amps are my number one priority! Thanks and if anyone has any suggestions that would be cool!
Click to expand...
I haven't read that the Legacy 500 has any problem of reliability…
 
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#5
wyleeboxer said:
Really missing the tone and punch from my GK MB500. I had two, one fried and other one developed a bunch of board issues so I moved on as I couldn't handle the unreliability during gigs. Even my MB115 combo amp went into service a few times before I got rid of it. I picked up a GK MB112ii today and fell in love with the tone immediately and plan on using it for really small stage gigs.
So what other around 500watts amps are out there that can sound like a GK without the problems? Plan on pairing with my Baer ML112 cabs and I was looking at Traynor Small Block 500 but again reliable amps are my number one priority! Thanks and if anyone has any suggestions that would be cool!
Click to expand...
anecdotal but I've got an MB212 that I used regularly for years without issue. These days I'm IEM only, but on the rare gig where I need an amp, it's absolutely what I take with me. YMMV of course.

Since I DON'T normally need it, and for your situation solved you don't want one - I've been enjoying the GK model on my helix stomp quite a bit. It sounds enough like the real thing to me, has all the mid growl and drive (if you want it) like an old 400RB, and no amplifier parts to worry about. I dial that thing up and send it to the system, easy peasy.

Maybe consider a processor with a GK model or even the Plex? Then you can hook up to whatever monitor and FOH you have going and no sweat about the amplifier brand.
 
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#6
I had GK MB500 and loved it, I only sold it when I went combo route. So, couple of GK combos later, I decided to come back to amp + cab setup, although most gigs I play these days are ampless and IEM.
Anyway, I got used solid state GK 400RB IV and I love it. It feels like it's got a less power than MB500 and is a little bit larger and heavier (but not much: 15 pounds, or 6.8 kg), but sounds great, has more controls, and should be easier to maintain/fix. Also, it can be found relatively cheap, in Europe they go around 250 euro, should be even cheaper in the US.
GK 400RB does 280/180W but it subjectively does not feel like half of power MB500 has, feels like more. I pair it with one GK NEO 112 400W speaker, and that's enough for me, for smaller club gigs or stage monitor. If that's not enough for you, maybe 700RB would be better.
 
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#7
ultra60 said:
Does it have to be class D? If not, I would suggest a 700RB II. I found the Legacy 500 to be under powered for what I do. The Legacy 800 sounded great. But I've gone the other way... larger, heavier. Kept the 700RB as it has been reliable through many gigs.
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I've had my 700RB for over 10 years, never failed me. Weight wise, not that heavy. There currently is a 400 RB IV listed in the classifieds.
 
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#8
ultra60 said:
Does it have to be class D? If not, I would suggest a 700RB II. I found the Legacy 500 to be under powered for what I do. The Legacy 800 sounded great. But I've gone the other way... larger, heavier. Kept the 700RB as it has been reliable through many gigs.
Click to expand...
Yeah really need to stick with a class D amp and no pedals for my needs. I had a 2000RB for years and wish I never sold it, it was my main amp. Currently I've been using a Quilter bb802 which I know is solid as a rock but the 1/4" only DI out means I bring an adapter to ever gig and a few sound guys have commented on some signal issues.
I don't need to get real loud on stage so maybe looking into the Legacy 500, but if it's severally underpowered especially at 8ohms might have to go with the 800?
 
#9
You might want to consider looking into the Traynor SB500, made in Canada, and by all reports sounds very similar to the GK MB line. I have not played one, but over the years I have always had great luck with Traynor/Yorkville products in terms of performance and bulletproof reliability.

That said, the 700RB GK heads are iconic for many reasons and one of them is reliability IME. I would look for a reasonable deal on one that is in good shape... and be sure to specify in your will who gets the honor of inheriting it. :thumbsup:
 
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#10
wyleeboxer said:
Yeah really need to stick with a class D amp and no pedals for my needs. I had a 2000RB for years and wish I never sold it, it was my main amp. Currently I've been using a Quilter bb802 which I know is solid as a rock but the 1/4" only DI out means I bring an adapter to ever gig and a few sound guys have commented on some signal issues.
I don't need to get real loud on stage so maybe looking into the Legacy 500, but if it's severally underpowered especially at 8ohms might have to go with the 800?
Click to expand...
I found the Legacy 500 to be under powered even at 4 ohms. Everybody says a watt is a watt. For whatever reason, I did not find the 500 to be able to hang with my band, where an old 800RB (300 watts) had no issues at all. I owned both... Legacy 500 & 800. If I were to do it again, it would be the 800.

Non GK head I thought sounded close to GK, was the Aguilar AG700. Lacked some grind, but sounded great.
 
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#11
ultra60 said:
I found the Legacy 500 to be under powered even at 4 ohms. Everybody says a watt is a watt. For whatever reason, I did not find the 500 to be able to hang with my band, where an old 800RB (300 watts) had no issues at all. I owned both... Legacy 500 & 800. If I were to do it again, it would be the 800.

Non GK head I thought sounded close to GK, was the Aguilar AG700. Lacked some grind, but sounded great.
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I had the same initial thought when I first played an AG700. After all the years of Tone Hammer products that to my ear are the polar opposite of the GK sound, I felt like the AG was Aguilar's attempt to try and entice some "GK sound people" to look at Aguilar.

Before I get flamed by the Aguilar or GK crowd, I currently own an Aguilar THDI , TLC, TH500, and all three GK MB heads (200, 500, 800) plus two GK Neo 112II cabs.
 
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#12
I recently played through a MB212 at a shop, and when I got the bass home, didn't notice much of a difference in my Legacy 115. I had both EQ's set flat, but hear a lot of folks talk about how the MB sounds way different.

So, YMMV, but it's worth checking out the Legacy if you haven't yet. I would definitely go with the 800, though, as the 500 isn't really 500 watts.
 
#18
Al Kraft said:
You might want to consider looking into the Traynor SB500, made in Canada, and by all reports sounds very similar to the GK MB line. I have not played one, but over the years I have always had great luck with Traynor/Yorkville products in terms of performance and bulletproof reliability.

That said, the 700RB GK heads are iconic for many reasons and one of them is reliability IME. I would look for reasonable deal on one that is in good shape... and be sure to specify in your will who gets the honor of inheriting it. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
For over 30 years Ive had my trusty SWR Basic 350 red face that I did the Aural Enhance bypass modification years ago, it sounds pretty close to a GK after the mod. The head sits in the studio as I've been spoiled by Class D weight and size.

I'm leaning towards the Traynor SB500, not terribly expensive on Reverb to try out and just hoping it can get me into the GK tone territory?
 
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#19
gtirard said:
I haven't read that the Legacy 500 has any problem of reliability…
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My Legacy 500 has had no issues, and it has been worked, including outdoor gigs in hot weather, banged around in the back of a van (in a case of course), etc. And it has that GK sound in spades. As for the power, I usually use it with a GK 4ohm Neo 2x12, and it is a very loud 300 watts. I have an 8ohm 1x12 also to stack with it (giving me the 450w) and I rarely use it. Just with the 2x12 I've been on some big stages and had plenty of onstage volume, never had it turned up past noon. Easily carried the room in some smaller situations as well.
Also cool - did a rock session recently and was asked to bring an amp - we mic'd up the Legacy w the 1x12, I used a bit of the Drive circuit(I usually don't live), and it killed. They had a B15 at the studio and everyone liked the GK better.
 
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#20
300 watts in not underpowered, Their THD cranked is much lower than other class D meaning you can put the master up high. Most of the time specially passive bass the input gain needs to be cranked. Bob has been making bass amps for over 50 years

I know someone who uses it constantly since he got it.
 
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