Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm ready to upgrade my bass rig...I've only ever owned a combo but want to get a great sounding rig with enough power to not get drowned out during band practice and will do the trick in a live setting.

I'm looking at the GK 1001-RBII with Avatar Neo 410 and 212's. Is that overkill?? I've looked into tube amps but they're very expensive. Although the Yorkville 1510 stack looks nice but I'm worried it's not powerful enough.

I play mostly Beatles, Collective Soul, Rush, Yes type stuff. Also, the Avatars come in either 4 ohm or 8 ohm...what's the sound difference?? Unfortunately I have to buy based on recommendation and reviews because I'm in the middle of nowhere in Minot, ND. There are NO decent music stores around to try some out. Any advise or recommendations are appreciated. My budget is $1500-1600. Thanks in advance.

There are at least 2-3 pretty detailed recent threads on the subject. LIG RIG, and BASS AMP RECOMMENDATIONS, that you may find helpful, rather then rehash the same subject yet again.

I have no meaningful experience with GK or Avatar but I'll address what I do know. I believe the head you are referring to is 750 watts which should be enough for your needs. You can never really have too much power......not necessarily for volume but for headroom. When you are running at higher volumes the extra power keeps your tone clear. Power is your friend. You obviously don't want to blow your eardrums out but you still need decent power to get reasonable volume and clarity.

If you are running two cabinets on separate channels you'd probably want 4 ohm cabinets. But if you are running the cabs off of one channel you'd want 8 ohms each......when they are combined they'd be a 4 ohm load to your head. If the head sees an 8 ohm load it will put out roughly 1/2 the power as it would at 4 ohms. Also if you have two 4 ohm cabs the amp will see 2 ohms and it will likely cook your new GK. Some heads can handle a 2 ohm load but I don't think a GK is one of them. Basically there is no sound difference......just a volume difference.

I have tried a few GK's and they sound nice but didn't have the tone qualities I was looking for. The Avatars have a good reputation for the price but I have never actually heard one to offer an opinion.

So, I'd be safer getting the 8 ohm cabs if I'm interpreting it correctly. I would be running two cabinets. I guess I'm pretty much a novice with this stuff and should stick with a combo since I would hate to kill a $750 head by doing the wrong thing. I'll do some more research, the whole ohm thing is confusing to me.

Thanks for the input and help Brian!!!

The GK head is very nice and should fit your needs perfectly with some extra headroom, always a good thing. Get 8 Ohm cabs as the GK amp wants to see no less than 4 Ohms. You will be very happy with that rig!

I was going to get a GK then I went and tried one out and then tried the ampeg ... the ampeg was warmer and fuller sounding ... I really like my ampeg b2r and I make my own 8 ohm 2x10 cabs with eminence speakers ... if I was going to use GK I would use one of their 4x10 cabs and use an ampeg head ...

go into a music store and try out a few different amps ... my favorite is ampeg ... but eden, swr, gk, beringer and a few others will get the job done ...

"go into a music store and try out a few different amps"

Scott said he does not have that option.

Yeah, I'd have to travel 8 friggin hours to Minneapolis to find a decent music store. Thanks for the input to both Jeff's.

Scott....you don't have to stick with a combo just because ohms is a little confusing to you. I am certainly no genius and I figured it out. The two 8 ohm cabinets will give you the 4 ohm load that the GK head will like and function it's best at.

You won't kill the head doing the wrong thing.....all you have to do is ask and we'll steer you in the right direction.

it is hard to go wrong with ampegs and 10s ... and it might be worth the trip to a music store to hear the amp before you buy it ... make a road trip and include something else in the trip to make it worth your time ...

I will put in a good word for the all tube traynor YBA200 (200W) and it's matching 2x10/1x15/tweeter cab.

I got mine new for 1500$ canadian all taxes in. I play in a loud rock band and it is more than enough for jams and good sized shows. I have never had to make it sweat... 200W tube is plenty of power, though there is an XLR jack out if you need it to plug into the PA). It sounds great, Just as good as a 200W orange, but for 1/4th the price and with more tone control. I get plenty of tone compliments combined with my ric.

Some don't like the cab (mainly because you can't split it up) but I love it... huge sound.... from vintage rumble, to SWR high-fi... to SVT mid roar. Combine that with a 2 year even if you break it warranty and you can't lose.

The head is only 41 lbs also... though the cab is 81 lbs. As they say on harmony central (all great reviews)... if mine was lost or stolen I would kill the man and then get a new one.

That's a pretty good price for what you got.

I have to say, I've played through 2x10's for several years. I finally got a 4x10 a few weeks ago. I will NEVER go back. It really brings out the "Rickness"! I also run a B2 Ampeg. I use Chromes as I hate all of the overtones of RW. I do crank mids back in. I love mids, hate overtones, just the opposite of Jeff Rath I think. He loves mids with all of the overtones, not to mention distortion!

lol, deja vu....
Listen. Make your own decision. After all, your the one who will have to live with it. If you have a 1500,1600 budget, DRIVE SOMEWHERE and spend less on an amp. Sheesh