What other amp sounds like a GK?

[avi]

To the OP - I hear you. Ive owned two GK. I will never trust them. My first was a 400 RB in late1987. Bought it a month before going on tour. Got to rehearsals a few states over and less than a week into rehearsals it died. Moved on, swore Id never buy another.
Fast forward to 2006. Right after my kids were born I sold off a bunch of my more expensive gear along with my Boogie Walkabout and picked up an MB500. I was a little frustrated by the lack of depth and versatility comparable to me Boogie but liked the size and the tone overall. So I stumbled into a territory of a little grit in my sound while tweaking and I was like ok. Here we go. It was frying my speakers that I never abused and actually never turned up at that time bc my kids were babies and I wasn't playing out. Killed my Hartke!
Ive since owned the Traynor SB200 (2 of them) - love that amp. Second revision not as much as the first. They use a thinner gauge metal on the case on the 2nd ver. When I put it head to head with my 2nd Walkabout you couldn't almost tell the differance. The Traynor is so good for the money.
I also tried a Hartke HA4000 that I got for $100. That thing was a tank and it sounded great. Dual parametrics! It weighed a lot though and Ive got a neck injury so I moved it along. I ended up going back to a vintage SWR 1st Gen Bass 350. Killer amp. Got a great deal on a full rig and after I sold the cabinets the head cost me nothing.

I don't trust GK. Period. I'm glad I wasn't playing a show when my first one died. It sounded great but who cares!
Other heads -
Ive heard similar stories of gear break downs about Mark bass heads and Darkglass.
Warwick head (little one) sounded kind of sterile.
I liked a quilter I played through.
I think I like the Elf head. Played it through a TC 2x8 cabinet. Sounded really good. Almost went back and bought the 2x8. Heard the Elf can be noisy but I didn't notice anything in the shop.

Id like to get a SWR headlite but can't justify the purchase as my 350 was like new when I got it. Barely played.
Good luck.

 

[Al Kraft]

He said he has a SB?

I think he said he was possibly considering one near the end of the OP. I just wanted to offer that I thought it was a worthy consideration and it would certainly be on my short list given what he's looking for.

 

[Al Kraft]

The MBs do sound pretty different from the Legacys IME. The Legacy has more of that RB flavor. To me the MBs are more "modern" sounding, less midrange grunt. I have an MB200 as well, mainly as a backup but sometimes I'll use it for its different character.

That makes sense given that the Mesa Carbines I referred to weren't all that close to the RB heads in some respects. The Carbines have a very modern rock voice that is a little less refined to me than the GK RB voice.

In a mix for my playing style the MBs seem to work as a reasonable stand-in's for an RB. However, and I haven't played a Legacy, the RB's are a tone gold standard for me and are deservedly legendary heads.

 

[wyleeboxer]

I think he said he was possibly considering one near the end of the OP. I just wanted to offer that I thought it was a worthy consideration and it would certainly be on my short list given what he's looking for.

Yeah just got a deal on Reverb $508 out the door and shipped for the Traynor SB500.. I'll probably keep my Quilter bb802 for awhile to see how I like this new amp and how close to GK it can go? lol! I'm sure it's not GK Nirvana but we'll see.. The Legacy was tempting but I just can't bring myself to getting another newer GK class D head only to ship it back for repairs a year or two later. Just been my luck with GK I guess!

 

[tb-player]

This one gets the job done.

 

[Kaa]

It's wild that this thread started yesterday! I just opened up Talkbass to ask: what's a new amp that most closely approximates the 400 RB?

When I was an actual musician that was my head. Loved it loved it loved it. Stupidly sold it decades ago. Bought an EA iAMP 350 way back in the early 2000s which I… like? Okay? But, it's been acting wonky of late (had a tech open it up, he didn't see anything but did some maintenance here and there) and I think I just miss that GK thing.

Anyways, I'd like to get something similar. I don't need the 1k watt thing they sell now (nor can I justify a $1500 amp head at the moment). I supposed I could watch out for a used 400RB in good/great condition… but I haven't seen many.

There's one in really nice condition at the Guitar Center on Mayfield Road in Cleveland OH, lised for $250.00 when last I ventured in there a couple weeks ago. Looked like the OG version.

 

[DuluthDank]

I owned a GK MB112ii combo and a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 at the same time. Some might disagree, but to me the quick and crisp response and focused mids on the Genz Benz reminded me of the GK...but with an overall more flat and natural response. I bet either a Shuttle 3.0 or Shuttle max could be a decent recommendation, since both have that clean and focused FET preamp. Obviously the only way to sound like a GK is to get a GK though, or a modeler.

 

[TonyP-]

Yeah just got a deal on Reverb $508 out the door and shipped for the Traynor SB500.. I'll probably keep my Quilter bb802 for awhile to see how I like this new amp and how close to GK it can go? lol! I'm sure it's not GK Nirvana but we'll see.. The Legacy was tempting but I just can't bring myself to getting another newer GK class D head only to ship it back for repairs a year or two later. Just been my luck with GK I guess!

I see the apprehension, but my legacy's are just about every day, with no issue since they came out.

I hope the Traynor works like a champ for you though.

 

[Al Kraft]

I see the apprehension, but my legacy's are just about every day, with no issue since they came out.

I hope the Traynor works like a champ for you though.

I'd say that if a Legacy heads have been dependable for daily pro-service with TonyP, you'd be hard pressed to find a better data point when it comes to real world dependability.

 

[wyleeboxer]

I'd say that if a Legacy heads have been dependable for daily pro-service with TonyP, you'd be hard pressed to find a better data point when it comes to real world dependability.

I was ready to pull the trigger on a Legacy 800.. other than the little MB112ii that I just bought I just couldn't bring myself to buying another GK head as my main amp. Coincidentally I was out in the garage today messing around with the MB112 and it started crackling and volume was dipping up and down. So I swapped basses and cord and it was still doing it… are you kidding me! Shut it down and restarted, it seems fine for now. But man this GK stuff has me on pins and needles.

Im pretty confident the Traynor will be problem free and get me close enough to the GK tone?

 

[michael_t]

Im pretty confident the Traynor will be problem free and get me close enough to the GK tone?

As a happy owner of Traynor gear (SB106, SB112 and SB500H) I wouldn't question their reliability. They've all been 100% trouble-free. I've also owned a GK MB200 in the past, also with no reliability issues.

That being said, in terms of overall tonal character, Traynor is very clean and neutral without any of the grit and grind that would resemble GK's signature tone.

By the way, I happen to have a Legacy 800 on order, which I should have in my possession in the next couple of months.

 

[Kindness]

To the OP - I hear you. Ive owned two GK. I will never trust them. My first was a 400 RB in late1987. Bought it a month before going on tour. Got to rehearsals a few states over and less than a week into rehearsals it died. Moved on, swore Id never buy another.
Fast forward to 2006. Right after my kids were born I sold off a bunch of my more expensive gear along with my Boogie Walkabout and picked up an MB500. I was a little frustrated by the lack of depth and versatility comparable to me Boogie but liked the size and the tone overall. So I stumbled into a territory of a little grit in my sound while tweaking and I was like ok. Here we go. It was frying my speakers that I never abused and actually never turned up at that time bc my kids were babies and I wasn't playing out. Killed my Hartke!
Ive since owned the Traynor SB200 (2 of them) - love that amp. Second revision not as much as the first. They use a thinner gauge metal on the case on the 2nd ver. When I put it head to head with my 2nd Walkabout you couldn't almost tell the differance. The Traynor is so good for the money.
I also tried a Hartke HA4000 that I got for $100. That thing was a tank and it sounded great. Dual parametrics! It weighed a lot though and Ive got a neck injury so I moved it along. I ended up going back to a vintage SWR 1st Gen Bass 350. Killer amp. Got a great deal on a full rig and after I sold the cabinets the head cost me nothing.

I don't trust GK. Period. I'm glad I wasn't playing a show when my first one died. It sounded great but who cares!
Other heads -
Ive heard similar stories of gear break downs about Mark bass heads and Darkglass.
Warwick head (little one) sounded kind of sterile.
I liked a quilter I played through.
I think I like the Elf head. Played it through a TC 2x8 cabinet. Sounded really good. Almost went back and bought the 2x8. Heard the Elf can be noisy but I didn't notice anything in the shop.

Id like to get a SWR headlite but can't justify the purchase as my 350 was like new when I got it. Barely played.
Good luck.

Imagine being so unlucky that your complaint against the GK RBs is their reliability. That sucks, my friend.

 

[shoot-r]

I shared my enthusiasm with @shoot-r, who's spent a LOT of time with the MB heads - he picked up a Shuttle 9.0 and is LOVING it.

+1!

I've somehow accumulated four class D heads.

GK MB2-500.
GK MB-500.
GK MB Fusion 800.
Genz-Benz 9.0.

They're all in the same basic family of voicings but with small, subtle differences.

(I always run a SansAmp BDDI V1 in front of the each head adjusted for a mids boost of around 750'ish.)

I like em all, with the Fusion and the 9.0 being the stand-outs.

The 9.0 has the power behind the notes with tube'ish flavored clean clarity and a feel of a fast transient response just like the Fusion, but the 9.0, (to my ears), has a additional roundness to the highs and high mids that sets it in a live band mix absolutely perfectly.

No plans to part with the GK's, especially the Fusion, but I'm lovin' what I'm hearing with the 9.0!

 

[wyleeboxer]

In regards to the used GK MB112ii I just bought, I'm having some hissing and crackling issues but more importantly the volume will suddenly spike after a minute or so of playing. I'll adjust the volume down and it seems fine but when I fire it up again same thing but very intermittent when it will happen! Seems to be somewhat a common problem with this particular combo.
I'm so over GK and soooo glad I didn't go with the GK Legacy head. So far I've had 2 MB500 heads and 2 MB115 combo's go south in the last 8 years. I don't know how they stay in business? Wouldn't mind my old 2000RB back tho.

 

[agedhorse]

Can you return it?

 

[wyleeboxer]

Can you return it?

Got it on Reverb, local sale I picked up. I texted the seller, he said spray contact cleaner in the pots should be fine, I said no they're sealed and would mess things up anyway. Trust me I've owned a couple of GK's with issues.. lol! So there is a return on Reverb, just waiting to see how seller responds first?

 

[Al Kraft]

Got it on Reverb, local sale I picked up. I texted the seller, he said spray contact cleaner in the pots should be fine, I said no they're sealed and would mess things up anyway. Trust me I've owned a couple of GK's with issues.. lol! So there is a return on Reverb, just waiting to see how seller responds first?

Good decisions on your part...there is a chance that the problem you're having was caused or made worse by the prior owner's fascination with "spray can repairs" in lieu of disciplined troubleshooting.

 

[TonyP-]

I'd say that if a Legacy heads have been dependable for daily pro-service with TonyP, you'd be hard pressed to find a better data point when it comes to real world dependability.

Thank You AI,
I appreciate it…I'm actually bummed for the OP and it's hard to phantom that much bad luck with them.

 

[TonyP-]

I was ready to pull the trigger on a Legacy 800.. other than the little MB112ii that I just bought I just couldn't bring myself to buying another GK head as my main amp. Coincidentally I was out in the garage today messing around with the MB112 and it started crackling and volume was dipping up and down. So I swapped basses and cord and it was still doing it… are you kidding me! Shut it down and restarted, it seems fine for now. But man this GK stuff has me on pins and needles.

Im pretty confident the Traynor will be problem free and get me close enough to the GK tone?

I would suggest putting the Aguilar AG preamp pedal in front of the Traynor, set the preamp flat add the boosts and a little upper mids and start from there. You will get closer to the clean side of GK. Not the rail sound…

Good luck

 

[wyleeboxer]

Thank You AI,
I appreciate it…I'm actually bummed for the OP and it's hard to phantom that much bad luck with them.

I'm bummed too, I absolutely love the GK tone, just something about them works for me. I'm beginning to think I must be the most unlucky GK owner in the world, I have good knowledge of gear and don't abuse equipment at all! I had similar bad luck with Markbass mini combos… But Ive owned 90% reliable gear over my lifetime, I just need to pick something else other than GK hence the Traynor.