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Which heads should I look at?

MobileHolmes

MobileHolmes

I used to be BassoP
Nov 4, 2006
4,822
3,423
Iowa
#1
I've been running a Hartke 7000 with a Hartke 410 and a Carvin 115 for about 15 years now. Happy enough with the rig, but the Hartke head is in pretty bad shape and not very reliable (I don't entirely blame it, it got knocked around pretty bad in college). I'm thinking it's time for a change, but frankly, I don't know where to start (the hartke was about state of the art at the time). A bit about me and my needs:

I play funk and rock (and slap a fair amount).
I tend to prefer clarity to warmth if I have to trade
I can probably come up with about a grand or a tad more for a new head.
Not planning on replacing the cabs anytime soon.
Need enough power to rehearse with loud drummers, BUT doesn't have to be crazy. 350 has been enough for me so long as it has a line out.
I don't care about weight so long as it isn't SVT heavy.

I play a mix of basses, mostly with active J pickups.

So, I've been looking around a bit and have liked what I've seen from GK and Markbass (although I'm leaning 1001RB because it is a bit cheaper). Is there anything else in this price range I should be looking at? I think I could take either of these home and be quite happy, but am open to other suggestions.

SOrry for the long winded post.
 
#2
I was thinking the 1001RB-II while reading your post...it is a great head. Not too heavy, does the clean sound pretty well, seems to like any bass you put into it, and has a reputation of reliability. And if you do buy one, get a quote from RMC Audio, you can get the 1001 shipped for the price of a typical 700RB...and they have great customer service.
 
#6
Genz Benz is another to look at. A used GBE750 would be in your price range, and a used GBE600 would be way under your price range. I find them to be extremely versatile, having both FET and tube pre channels you can choose between. You can also mix the channels. I find it easy to get anything from a tube-ish growl to crystal clear, fast, hifi solid state tones, and anything in between.

The 750 puts 675 watts into 4 ohms, 750 watts into 2 ohms. The 600 puts 425 watts into 4 ohms, 625 watts into 2 ohms. All of those figures seem extremely conservative when I've compared them to other manufacturers' amps. My 600 seems louder and seems to have more headroom, to my perceptions at least, than some other amps rated a good bit higher. The transients, how quickly and clearly the amp responds when I hit a low B at full volume with some bass boost added in ... it just buries other amps I've used that were rated several hundred watts higher.

Anyway ... I don't think you could go wrong with a good GK, as others have posted. But if you get a chance to try out a GBE600 or GBE750, give it a go and see what you think.

Best of luck to you!
 
#8
Thanks guys. The GBE was kind of on my radar too. Unfortunately, the main local dealer is a chain that mostly sucks. I've been in a couple of their stores and they are more organ oriented than anything, but I'll call around and see if one of the locations actually has some bass gear.
 
#9
I was in the same spot. Same basic choices. I wanted a head not the CA-9, pre and EQ. Ufff! Heavy. Been there, done that. I may do that again if I'm somewhere it would fit.
The GBE750 got me, used, E-Bay, very good price. Very nice amp though I'm still making friends with it. There are good, usuable, footswitchable choices here. More versatile than the GK. Good luck-
Jim
 
#12
For the clean, crisp sound you are describing, and given that you aren't that weight sensitive and also on a budget, the Carvin B1500 is amazing. It's about 30 pounds or so, three rack spaces, but not very deep.. so not that much of a deal to haul around. It's deep, punchy and also has some nice sizzle up top if you want it.

I believe they are about $750 shipped.
 
#13
I recently switched from a pre-amp power amp set-up to a amp head. I checked out the the two brands you mentioned plus Ampeg, SWR, Trace-Elliot, and a few others, then I stumbled on one I hadn't really heard anything about but when I tried it out it blew me away. The features plus 800watts on a 4ohm load, it will even run a 2ohm load. Do yourself a big favor and atleast checkout a Yorkville, you can get one new between 700-800.00 with a killer warranty, oh also just 25lbs:hyper:
 

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