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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive: 2009 » Archive through February 25, 2009 » Need opinions on GK2001RB and MPulse 600? « Previous Next »

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blackelan
Member
Username: blackelan

Post Number: 52
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Sunday, February 22, 2009 - 7:46 pm:   Edit Post

I have someone that offered me a Mesa M pulse 600 for a trade for some gear. I have not had a chance to play one yet.

I also have been looking at purchasing a GK 2001rb second hand. I am a big fan of Justin Chancellor's tone.

I am wondering if any of the members here have experience with any of these amps and can give me their opinion of these amps so I can be swayed into a desicion on which amp to get next.

I have a SVT II Pro that I am currently using with a ADA MB1 preamp which I do not plan on selling. I am just looking for more tonal "diversity" with the GK or M pulse 600.
bkbass
Intermediate Member
Username: bkbass

Post Number: 196
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, February 23, 2009 - 9:33 am:   Edit Post

The M-Pulse 600 has wonderful tone. Theres a clarity with warmth. The compressor works extremely well for snapping and popping. They hold their value. Overall, a very musical sounding head. Although I don't use it daily, I have one in my arsenal and you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. Enough said.
2400wattman
Senior Member
Username: 2400wattman

Post Number: 668
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Monday, February 23, 2009 - 4:23 pm:   Edit Post

Jason, If you don't plan on selling the SVT/ADA rig you could effectively have a killer two amp rig. With the GK you could get a more detailed "studio" like tone and the SVT providing spongey warmth. The Mesa being a hybrid tube/solid state amp could also provide a warm detailed tone but I've yet to play through one. As far as Justin Chancellor's tone remember he uses Wal basses and like most players we respect it's more about the type of instrument one uses, their hands and not the amp.
blackelan
Member
Username: blackelan

Post Number: 53
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Monday, February 23, 2009 - 5:57 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the feedback.
Would you guys call the ADA MB1 preamp a "dated" design with better options out there as far as preamps go or does the ADA MB1 still hold its own compared to todays offerings. I personally have never went preamp shopping because I am happy with what it does.

It looks like I will be getting the M Pulse 600 in a trade I worked out so I will get to spend some time with it. Hopefully there is a GK2001rb I can tryout nearby.
2400wattman
Senior Member
Username: 2400wattman

Post Number: 669
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - 9:19 am:   Edit Post

The MB-1 is not necessarily a "dated design" but it was not nearly as popular as the MP-1 guitar version for what I feel are obvious reasons.
1. guitartists are more free to change their sound dramatically within a song than a bassist. 2. We're here to provide foundation and nothing can screw things up/piss off the soundman & band mates than playing Dr. Frankenstein with you sound.
There are some killer preamps out there(Aguilar, Demeter, Alembic, Mike Pope) but if you're happy with it don't change. If you want to utilize it's sound scaping abilities it will be much easier by adding another amp to your rig which you are doing.
You will need two speaker cabs(one for each amp) and a cooperative soundman! Idealy you'll want the Mesa to be your consistent straight bass sound(d.i. to the board) and the MB-1 run through the SVT (you want to do this to use the SVT's tube power section) mic'd up.
I'm assuming you'll want to use some distortion,a little overdrive for some grit or some chorus from the MB-1. Chorus is not a hard effect to use with one amp but any kind of distortion/overdrive really requires TWO amps and cabs to work/sound properly.
Good Luck and let us know how it turns out!
blackelan
Member
Username: blackelan

Post Number: 54
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - 9:55 am:   Edit Post

I am originally a guitar guy so getting my bass rig up and running is kind of new to me. I used to just run the SVT and MB1 with my 8x10 and thats it plus a few pedal of course but I do want to get my rig dialed in with a dual amp setup.
I was going to run a Audio switcher and hear good things about the Radial JD7 for bass. I have a DMC audio switcher for my guitar rig but I hear those are not as good as the Radial for bass.
I was also looking at the Demeter preamps in the future to possibly replace the MB1. The reason I got the MB1 in the first place was Les Claypool used one back when they were knew so I had to get one LOL.

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