dave_bass5

[quote name='xgsjx' post='1308960' date='Jul 19 2011, 11:39 AM']A visit to the shops is in order me thinks. Try some out & see if you can return if not happy. You could always buy 2nd hand off here & if you're not happy with what you get, swap for something else.[/quote] Good advice, and ill add take your own cab to the shop to get a better idea of how the amps sound.

Yep, best of luck. Hope it goes well.

Nice one, looking forward to your views.

Having owned a SA450 and LMII for a few years, and now having a F1 and GB Streamliner i would say the F1/F500 might not be ideal, based on the needs stated. All great heads but the LMII/III are a bit warmer and thicker than the F1/F500. There isnt a lot in it but its definitely there. The statement about the LMII/III not seeming to give the same power output is right IMO, but the key word is seemingly. As Mark suggested, have a look in to the GB Streamliner as well. I have a Streamliner 600 and it sounds like it might be ideal. Its has 3 tubes and a very thick, but not muddy low end. What struck me when i first played mine was how much punch it produced on the higher notes. Its very articulated compared to the MB heads, and having played both F1 and Streamliner on a couple of gigs (1 per set) the Streamliner just seems to fill the mix out, it had more presence. It also has a nice smooth overdrive if needed, with nothing digital sounding about it, although i only use that on a few songs and its no replacement for a distortion pedal.

Cheers Chris, thanks for the heads up. Ill change my vote to Streamliner and BFC now ;-)

Shuttle + Barefaced gets my vote as well ;-)

Ive always used a one cab solution and it works for me but i do find that at quiet levels the cabs sound better than when pushed, even moderately. My current 1212L (2 drivers) doesnt seem to change character too much but some of the one speaker cabs ive had have sounded a bit more aggressive/dirty when played at gig volume, not ideal if your going for a clean tone.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1305424' date='Jul 16 2011, 03:03 AM']I totally disagree. It's a different sound, I wouldn't say either one was "better" though. Dave, I'm really surprised that you found the RB thin sounding, I've had the 700 and the 2001 and both were anything but thin. GK are known to be good on the volume front too, maybe there was a fault with the one you tried or the cab?[/quote] Im only comparing it to my SA450, rather than saying its thin in general. I did a gig where i used both heads, one per set in to a Epifani UL212 cab. The GK went first and while it sounded good, nice low end and bright up top i found when i switched to the SA450 my tone became thicker, with more punch and an over all roundness the GK just couldn't get. Neither was a bad tone, just one sounded better to my ears than the other. Oh, and one weighed a hell of a lot less as well. I got the GK as it was rated higher than my SA450 but i never felt i could push it without it getting dirty.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1305286' date='Jul 15 2011, 10:31 PM']I think MB gear is a few levels up on GK, but If you like the GK sound, then sure, good move.[/quote] I agree. I tried to replace my SA450 with a GK1001RBII a few years ago but found the GK both quieter and thinner sounding. I've not tried thier cabs though.

Is it possible to take a signal from the line out in to something else? At least would help eliminate the bass and preamp stage if you get a clean signal.

I assume the blue LED isn't flashing on the input stage. I find mine is quite a bit more sensitive compared to my old MB heads.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1305060' date='Jul 15 2011, 07:44 PM']If this new Classic is MIJ Im guessing its MIJ for the whole lot. I wonder why they chose MIJ instead of MIM like the rest of the Classic series?! Im guessing street price of £700 ish.[/quote] If they are that price on the street (lets hope so) then that will bring them in line with second hand MIA's. That will be interesting.

Ed friedland has one of these at the moment, maybe he will review it.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1304945' date='Jul 15 2011, 05:59 PM']Sign of the times.. bet there still consistently better than the US counterparts though... i really hope that Japanese Fender dont get to silly prices though..[/quote] I would say its too early to tell how consistently made these new models are, but lets hope they are up to standard (and cheaper)

That looks good but dont forget the real thing also has the dampening foam underneath. Im sure this will work well though. I used to put a couple of strips of Platfoam under my cab and even that made a nice difference.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1304832' date='Jul 15 2011, 03:56 PM']Its MIJ?![/quote] Thats what ive read in a few posts, both here and on TB.

Maybe all he can find are F1's :-)

Price has been quoted as around £900 in the other thread.

Glad it all worked out, even though it was an unexpected result.