Amp recommendation comparable to GK 800RB

mrkrinkledude

mrkrinkledude

Jan 28, 2009
43
21
4,571
#1
I am looking to replace my GK 800RB. I know it is not replaceable and I love it but it is the only amp head I have and I'm looking for new gear. I play in a death metal band and I love the grindy tone and volume that head can push out. I saw posts on here before but they are a few years old.

I use an Ampeg SVT2x12AV, which is 600w and 4ohms. I mainly use an Ibanez BTB406QM (active) but also have a Fender P bass (passive). The only pedal I use is a Damnation Audio MBD2 MOSFET Bass Distortion pedal. I plan on eventually getting an Empress Compressor Pedal but that is later on down the road.

I am looking for a solid-state amp. I almost always go DI but still love to have that growl come out of my cab. Therefore having something loud would be great. Here are the ones I am considering. I am also open to other recommendations. TIA!

GK Legacy 500

Ampeg Venture V3

Darkglass Microtubes 500

Aguilar Tonehamer 500

Mesa/Boogie Subway D-350
 
  • Like
Reactions: PapaBearBass
#6
I made the transition from GK 400RB to Mesa Subway D350 and I’m very pleased.
Really don’t miss anything from the previous head, only got everything I had and even more.
On top of that, the 350 has no fan, no hum and no hiss, a big plus for home practice.
The GK Legacy 500 would be also very good but I felt the Mesa was more of a robust construction when I compared both side by side.
Better try them though as they all sound different.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WRM, mrkrinkledude and Murch
#9
mrkrinkledude said:
I am looking to replace my GK 800RB. I know it is not replaceable and I love it but it is the only amp head I have and I'm looking for new gear. I play in a death metal band and I love the grindy tone and volume that head can push out. I saw posts on here before but they are a few years old.

I use an Ampeg SVT2x12AV, which is 600w and 4ohms. I mainly use an Ibanez BTB406QM (active) but also have a Fender P bass (passive). The only pedal I use is a Damnation Audio MBD2 MOSFET Bass Distortion pedal. I plan on eventually getting an Empress Compressor Pedal but that is later on down the road.

I am looking for a solid-state amp. I almost always go DI but still love to have that growl come out of my cab. Therefore having something loud would be great. Here are the ones I am considering. I am also open to other recommendations. TIA!

GK Legacy 500

Ampeg Venture V3

Darkglass Microtubes 500

Aguilar Tonehamer 500

Mesa/Boogie Subway D-350
Click to expand...

I haven't tried the GK Legacy 500 so I can't say for sure how it compares to a GK 800RB. It lacks the "boost" control which, IMHO, is essential to the classic 800RB sound that many of us know and love. I would recommend getting yourself a used GK MB500 if you really like the 800RB. I have one and it is similar sounding to the 800RB I used to have only is better, IMHO. It's more powerful, has more low end response, has a rotary contour rather than just on or off, has a footswitchable boost control, AAANNNDDD ... (wait for it) ... is less than 5 pounds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: shoot-r and mrkrinkledude
#10
If you want lightweight, a GK Legacy or older MB500/800 would suffice. Mesa/Genzler are in the same range, especially the D800+.
If you want that RB sound, a 700RB or 1001RB (I own one) would be closest, with the valued "boost" control on it and adjustable contour. They used to be lightweights at only 20ish pounds (gasp!), but the trend is towards super-featherweight amps that fit in your pocket (no hate).
 
  • Like
Reactions: BasturdBlaster, Chickenwheels, shoot-r and 1 other person
#14
mrkrinkledude said:
...I love the grindy tone...
...still love to have that growl come out of my cab...
Click to expand...
For *that* growl, I would get another RB.

Since discovering how much I like the GK tone controls, I've been setting the semi-parametric bands on my WD-800 to those freqs (bass, low-mid, hi-mid), and it works very well for clean (I never use distortion), but it will never sound like *that* *specific* RB growl.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mrkrinkledude
#15
mrkrinkledude said:
I am looking to replace my GK 800RB.
Click to expand...
I've owned MANY GK amps; 400RB, 400RB-III (twice), 700RB-II (3-4 times), 1001RB-II (twice), Fusion 550, MB112-II, MB800, the 800RB and currently MB210-II combo and a Legacy 800 head.

GK amps have a unique brightness and quick attack that nothing else really captures - you listed a lot of great amps, but they are loved for doing other things.

Of the GK amps that I've owned, the 700RB-II and Legacy 800 come closest to the 800RB.
The MB amps are bright and clean, but don't grind the way that the 800RB does.

The Legacy amps have an "overdrive" section (labeled "Boost" on the most recent production) that gives you a lot of flexibility toward getting that grind.

Within the Legacy amps, I see a lot of used Legacy 500 available, but the Legacy 800 comes up less often.
Based on how the Legacy 500 power output is rated, I'm guessing it's not as powerful as some people would like - and I'm guessing that your band doesn't play death metal quietly.

I'd recommend the Legacy 800 - it'll give you 800 watts into a 4 ohm load, a 2.66 ohm load (4 ohm cab + 8 ohm cab) or 2 ohms (a pair of 4 ohm cabs).

I brought a Legacy 1200 home for the night and it sounded EXACTLY like my Legacy 800 - but you have to be running multiple cabs to get the most out of it. Since I try to only carry 1 cab, the Legacy 800 suits me better.

But if you'd typically be using multiple cabs, the Legacy 1200 would be great for you, and the one I demoed/returned is still available for a great price...PM me if you'd like more info.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8608.jpeg
    IMG_8608.jpeg
    2.8 MB · Views: 19
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: paskisti, BasturdBlaster and Grinderman
#17
groovaholic said:
I've owned MANY GK amps; 400RB, 400RB-III (twice), 700RB-II (3-4 times), 1001RB-II (twice), Fusion 550, MB112-II, MB800, the 800RB and currently MB210-II combo and a Legacy 800 head.

GK amps have a unique brightness and quick attack that nothing else really captures - you listed a lot of great amps, but they are loved for doing other things.

Of the GK amps that I've owned, the 700RB-II and Legacy 800 come closest to the 800RB.
The MB amps are bright and clean, but don't grind the way that the 800RB does.

The Legacy amps have an "overdrive" section (labeled "Boost" on the most recent production) that gives you a lot of flexibility toward getting that grind.

Within the Legacy amps, I see a lot of used Legacy 500 available, but the Legacy 800 comes up less often.
Based on how the Legacy 500 power output is rated, I'm guessing it's not as powerful as some people would like - and I'm guessing that your band doesn't play death metal quietly.

I'd recommend the Legacy 800 - it'll give you 800 watts into a 4 ohm load, a 2.66 ohm load (4 ohm cab + 8 ohm cab) or 2 ohms (a pair of 4 ohm cabs).

I brought a Legacy 1200 home for the night and it sounded EXACTLY like my Legacy 800 - but you have to be running multiple cabs to get the most out of it. Since I try to only carry 1 cab, the Legacy 800 suits me better.

But if you'd typically be using multiple cabs, the Legacy 1200 would be great for you, and the one I demoed/returned is still available for a great price...PM me if you'd like more info.
Click to expand...

They really are unique, which is why I love them so much. Other bass players in my area have mentioned the other amps but wanted to ask the pros here.

Wont the Legacy 800 be too powerful for my Ampeg 212av cabinet? It’s rated at 600w.
 
Last edited:
#18
One of the amps mentioned in post #15 is a little hissy (no doubt doesn't matter live, but my situation is bedroom/studio), and it seems to have a built-in HPF that can't be turned off.
But my 700RB-II has a lot less hiss (not enough to mention), and it has the 4/5 string button which is effectively a HPF on/off; I like to set that to 5 and just turn the bass knob down a little if I need to.
 
Last edited:
#19
mrkrinkledude said:
wont the Legacy 800 be too powerful for
my Ampeg 212av cabinet? It’s rated at 600w.
Click to expand...
If you dimed the amp and let it rip - yes, it could blow the Ampeg.
Every week, I play my Legacy 800 into a 300w rated GK Neo 112.

The 112 is doing fine, but I'm definitely listening for indications that I'm pushing the speaker too far.

For extra protection, you can put the impedance switch in the "4+8" or "4+4" position to limit the available output of the amp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrkrinkledude
#20
800RBs are sturdy, reliable amps. Why do you feel you need to switch it to backup duties if your current amp serves you well? I'd do the other way round. Anyway the 800RB compared to newer GKs is more mid-focused, and it's actually sort of treble-shy. And bass-shy as well. I compared the DI (which is pre-boost) with the power amp's output (DIed), with the boost at 10 o'clock, and there is a definite difference. Even with the boost at 0 there is a difference. The boost and the power amp are part of what gives it that tone.

Anyway, I'd say that the 700 or 1001RB come close, but they are less mid-focused.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrkrinkledude
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back