We miss you Gallien Krueger

Howdy and thanks for dropping by. This blog is all about persuading Gallien Krueger to make a re issue of the GK 250ML If enough of us rant about it, who knows maybe they will listen.

I will also try to consolidate the myriad of info scattered across the internet regarding the GK 250ML, things like adjusting the internal pots for the overdrive channel, speaker replacement and re-coning and of course my experiences using and customizing that darling little amp with the signature sound.

In case you don't know, the GK 250ML is a two channel stereo guitar amp, originally released around 1985 (possibly earlier) In it's day it was very popular and used by some major artists, such as Alex Lifeson of Rush, David Gilmour formerly of Pink Floyd and countless others.

If you have never heard one.. well you have truly missed one of life's special experiences. Granted the internal 6.5 inch speakers are a bit on the bright side, but when hooked up to larger external speakers.. words can not describe how good it sounds.

Factory set, kicking in the built in stereo chorus and echo onto the overdrive channel will transform a bland sounding guitar into a soaring rock/metal monster.

If you know a few Rush tunes from the Moving Pictures or Permanent Waves albums, you will be able to create that sound perfectly (the fingering is up to you of course) since Alex used the GK 250ML extensively for both recording and live performances.

And yes I admit it. I am a major Rush fan and the GK 250ML has earned a nick name of "Rush in a box" within some communities. But don't think that the 250ML is a one trick pony. With the 4 band EQ, the crystal clean clean channel which features built in compression, and a subtle overdrive you can get a wide range of sounds, from pristine clean Nashville picking to Stevie Ray Vaughn wailing blues all the way to the metal crunch thrash sound. It is a very versatile amp to say the least.

I run mine in the studio mainly on the clean channel with the chorus and echo on and use an external multi-FX pedel in the effects loop to further tailor the sound, but in a pinch I can just grab the amp and the external cabinets to do a gig no problem, and until I can hire a roadie, that is what I am most likely to do.

If it's just an impromptu low volume jam session I could even live without the external speaker cabinets. (Although by now those speakers need re-coning)

So anyways, enough about that. Next I'll be posting about how I have modified my GK 250ML to expand it's flexibility even more.

OH and if you would also like to see a reissue of the GK 250ML LET US KNOW by signing the gk 250ml revival petition..
Until then ROCK ON

Solid state amps aint all that bad

I'm continually running into guitarists that snub their noses at solid state amps, and when I ask them have they ever actually played through this or that particular solid state amp, the answer is always "no". Clearly this gives rise to the adage, don't knock it till you try it, but just like tube amps, solid state amps have their own tonal personalities. Speaker cabinet design is a big factor in the sound, so in a case like the GK 250ML, if you haven't heard one hooked up to a decent pair of matched speaker cabinets, you really have not heard it at all, because the internals simply do not do it justice. Add to that, anyone running through the original internal speakers these days has a pair that need reconing badly and they have no bottom end whatsoever (they did have a bit when they were new)

The whole reason for this site is my love of the GK 250ML guitar amplifier, and my hopes of a re-issue.. but I can not help but wonder how the GK 250ML might be improved, using today's technologies. What might the feature list look like? And of course the biggest dilemma, what's the new model number? So for your bemusement, my hopes for the next generation of GK 250ML 2x8 amps.

Speakers

2x8 inch speakers, each in an isolated cabinet, with an internal volume of roughly 1 cubic foot each, ported cabinets for better bass response, possibly a tweeter on each depending on the range of the speakers used. What would be really cool, is if the cabinets could be designed so their taller than they are wide, and attach to each other, riding a single hinge in the center. For portability, these clam shell speaker cabinets can be closed. When in use the clam shell cabinets can be opened, or completely separated, To maintain the tank like structural integrity of all things GK, the speaker cabinets could be carbon fibered aluminum mesh. Having ran through a pair of ported 8 inch cabinets I can say with 100% certainty, it doesn't suck.

EQ

The original 4 band EQ on the 250ML is beyond adequate at shaping the tone, so how could it be improved upon? My answer, ...
Give each of the 4 EQ knobs a dual knob, and a switch on the amp that lets you toggle between the 2 EQ settings, and of course a foot switch that does the same.

Chorus/Echo

One of the complaints I hear most often from guitarist regarding the GK 250ML is the lack of control over the chorus and echo (and overdrive until I point out it can be adjusted,, just not conveniently) Perhaps a simple blend knob for each, to adjust the dry to wet ratio of the signal. Speed and depth on the chorus would be very welcomed too.

Overdrive

The overdrive channel, and the chorus are, in my mind the defining characteristics of the GK 250ML sound. Still, I think the versatility of the amp could be greatly increased by.. adding a 2 or 3 position switch to the overdrive channel which allows you select from different levels or types of overdrive/distortion, something like "classic", for the original, and perhaps a bright and/or crunch option, and of course a simple level knob, which could actually be another blend knob, mixing dry to wet signals like I proposed for the chorus and echo.

Foot switch

Back in the day, the standard 2 button foot switch box was not quite adequate. While I appreciate the pedal used a standard stereo cable, it did so by sacrificing a lot of functionality. The next generation must not repeat that mistake, so a proprietary cable (I rarely recommend such things) providing switching capability to everything, as much as feasibly possible. Channel select, chorus/echo on off, toggle between the 2 EQ presets (as mentioned above), toggle between overdrive types and a volume pedal would just put it over the top

So there you have it.. I hope a certain someone is listening !