Hey! I'm helping out a friend, and he's really hooked on a Gallien-Krueger Backline stack with 4x10, 1x15 and a matching head. I haven't got a lot of exp. with Gallien, but I hear it's okay. This stack is around 1100$... Here's a link: http://bas.eskildsen.dk/ShowProduct.aspx?productId=17934 (I know it's danish, but it shows the specs in english). What say you; yay or nay and why?
The Backline 600 is a great head, unlike the Backline 150 (whatever the 150 watt model was called). GK are great amps, and I'd probably rather play a GK than most Aguilars (the exceptions being discontinued models). I don't think the "no matter what play Aguilar amps because my friend and favorite bassist John Pattitucci does" is helping very many people, mrjazzguitar. Unless you play a lot of bass and a lot of bass amps, or have very direct experience with them, you might not be the most qualified around here to gauge bass amps. Your inexperience is betrayed by your one-size-fits-all answer; a guy who is looking at buying GK's value amps isn't going to be able to afford Aguilar. Your advice is helpful with guitars and such, where you seem to be able to understand price brackets and purposes, but for bass, your suggestions aren't very helpful. I don't have experience with those cabinets, but wouldn't be surprised if they aren't great. Perhaps, though, if you have EBS over there, EBS are nice cabinets and I hear they are cheap on the continent. An EBS rig is pretty sought-after here, rare and pretty pricey. In Europe they are cheaper and are very good amps. That'd probably be your best bet.
Where the fuck did that come from? Shut the fuck up. Did I mention Patitucci in my post? I can't even believe you responded like that. I play bass quite a bit, and if you've heard my music on guitar, you know how deep my musical knowledge and ability is. I've played both Aguilar and GK amps extensively, and I find the Aguilars to be better amps and cabinets overall. An Aguilar setup is only about 300 more than what he's looking at, and is much better, so he probably could afford it. What makes you think I don't play bass, know about bass equipment, etc. My inexperience? Get the fuck out of here and don't blow off my suggestions like I know nothing. I'd like to hear you play bass and, most importantly, hear what kind of sound you get talking down to me, assuming I know nothing.
PLEASE tone down the snobbishness. Everyone has their own opinions on gear, you've been on musician forums long enough to know that. I know your probably a cool guy and quite knowledgeable about bass and gear, but posts like that just make you look like a smart ass. @mrjazzguitar, you got my reply in the thread you made.
I'm a smartass and a snob because I disagree with a guy? I stated a fact - that those who are looking at GK's value rigs aren't going to be able to afford a comparable Aguilar rig. I suggested that we brush off mrjazzguitar's recommendation as probably out of the price range of the guy looking for an amp. I pointed out that mrjazzguitar probably doesn't play as much bass as he does guitar, and probably doesn't have the experience on bass amps that he does on guitar. For the record (prices taken from MF): GK Backline 600: $299.99 GK Backline 4x10: $299.99 GK Backline 1x15: $224.99 Aguilar AG500SC (their cheapest head): $969.50 Aguilar GS410: $899.99 Aguilar GS115: $599.99 These are not comparable price ranges. The one that the person who is soliciting the recommendation costs less than $900US. A comparable Aguilar rig costs over $2400US. Mrjazzguitar's recommendation is therefore not helpful to the person looking for it. I don't understand how giving flexible recommendations to people within their price range is somehow more elitist and more snobby than someone who suggests spending quite a bit more than that on a rig. But back to the topic, I think you might try looking at European brands. Usually you can get more for your dollar (or kroner or pound or ...) if you buy regionally. The world economy hasn't eliminated all obstacles for musicians, unfortuneately.
Glad you guys sorted out you despute in a different thread Thanks for the advice... A shop in my town has just recieved the Gallien-Krueger stack, so I'm going to test it myself also... Then I'm 100% sure of what I recomend to my friend! Unfortunatly EBS is expencive here as well... At least not in the price-range of my friend... I'll post when I've tested it!
I racked my brain thinking of some other cab suggestions that might be cheap for you. That head ought to do fine, but I think perhaps you'd be better off looking for one really solid cabinet instead of getting two of lower quality. Really, a 4x10 is all you ever need unless you'll be playing outside without PA support. What about Markbass? They're Italian, but I seem to remember people getting good deals all over Europe. Other than that, if you look used you'll be able to find very good cabinets on the cheap. If you do end up buying a GK cabinet, perhaps try to get a Neo 2x12 rather than the 4x10 & 1x15. The price difference should be little, and with 300 watts going into 2 efficient 12s, you should have plenty of volume. If you do end up getting Backline cabs, maybe you should just save the coin and get only the 4x10. Like I say, a 2x12 or 4x10 should be able to handle any gig short of outside with no PA support.
I tried the stack out, and I guess it would be okay for my beginner friend, but I didn't like it much... The 115 cab couldn't handle my low F# at all, and the brighter tones were scratchy and lacked depth! The top was okay, but it didn't respond as I would have liked... I have, however, fallen in love with an Aguillar stack, but I think I need to save money for many years to afford that! 6000$ isn't cheap!
That's because your low F# is around 24 hz ... and most bass cabs bottom out about an octave above that. Does the guy that you were trying it out for have a low F#, or even a low B? Because if he doesn't, this point is moot for him. What'd you think of the head? I think that the head with a good used cabinet would make a great rig.
No, and I've told him, that it's a great stack for the money! I was just bitching The head was great, and with a semi-high-end cab it would be really great! Liked the respons on the head, but not on the cabs!
