Gallien-Krueger Micro Amps

Among my "stable" I have a Gallien-Krueger 206MLE 2 x 6" combo amp, which resides in its gig bag with the 4-button footswitch that, I believe, was an optional extra. Hadn't gigged it for years and years, and a while ago I had to have the speakers reconed as the original foam surrounds had perished.

But on a whim I took it on my gig last Sunday - a West London pub job we do regularly. Popped the teeny-weeny beastie on a table behind me and, bless its little cotton socks, it did the gig without a single problem, sounding really great once I'd tamed the EQ a bit. It's naturally (in both senses of the word) very bright, though there's a surprising abundance of bottom end available too, even without the 2 x 8 GK stereo extension cabinet I also possess but left at home that time.

I was using my ESP 400-series Tele with the Tonerider Hot Classics through only the clean channel (all overdrives and FX from my pedalboard), with the compressor engaged and a touch of reverb. I do love astonishing people with what comes out of this tiny box!

Anyone else own/use one of these amps, or its precursor, the 250ML? I'm aware that they're not generally highly thought of for their overdriven/distorted sounds, yet I believe someone famous used to use them in a Rock band - was it Alex Lifeson?

No, but I've always wanted one!!! Gonna start the hunt in earnest now, I think!!

Just won one on EBAY!!!

Great stuff - which model have you acquired? Reasonable price?

GK250 ML, I paid 325 for it on eBay. I finally got to play it today; 1986 in a box!! The Lifeson cleans, the 5150 gain, yep. Can't wait to dial it in better.

Well, I'm an amp nut anyway, but I have always wanted one of these... since way back in the mid 80's. Most of the old ones now need the cone surrounds replaced. Kits are readily available for that. Remember that old guitar magazine gear reviewer doing an article on the 250ML that said he was partial to tube amps, but "Holy Toledo, what a smoker!"

These little ones are already collectibles. I will sure try to pick one up sometime. The first ones were completely flat across the face, but GK improved the version 2 by having the grille protrude out a bit beneath the knobs and buttons so to provide those parts with some protection.

Always gassin' for another amp,

Jason G

It's weird trying to dial this thing in; trying to find a happy medium. How are you setting yours?

Bear in mind that my 206MLE is a later model and I don't know whether the EQ is set up the same way on the 250ML. But for general purposes I find what works best on the clean channel is like this (clock-face positions):

Treble: between 9 and 11 o'clock
High Mid: 10 to 12 o'clock
Low Mid: 2 to 3 o'clock
Bass: 12 to 1 o'clock

All variable depending on the guitar I'm using and whether I have the extension cab connected or not. I almost always have the compressor engaged and the channel volume about halfway up, using the master volume to set overall level.

On the rare occasion when I switch to the "dirty" channel I play around with the contour control and boost level until I get a usable sound, but as I said I don't often use it and anyway I'm not sure whether the 250ML has the same or similar facilities.

Enjoy!

Well, I used it at a pub gig last night with a band that goes direct...it blew up after the 3rd set!! It worked great until then!! Lol.

Oops! You say "blew up" - what exactly happened? I once had a situation with my 206MLE where the power-amp section died, but the front end still worked, so I was able to DI the signal into the PA and finish the gig that way. The importer's service department told me it was a power-supply problem and fixed it with an updated design of componentry (they said), and it now seems to work fine again. Hope your 250ML is reparable too.