Warwick Gnome amps

[Gitterbug]

Class D bass heads such as Gallien-Krueger MB200 (discontinued) and TC Electronic BAM200 serve in multiple roles - not only bass but as lightweight guitar/keyboard/harmonica amps, and as power amps behind a cluster of effects. While the Achilles' Heel of the Quilter SuperBlocks is their just about adequate clean headroom, requiring sensitive speakers, the small bass amps offer plenty of it at the sacrifice of an on-board reverb.

I had heard good things about a relative newcomer, the Warwick Gnome series of Class D bass heads. Today I unboxed both a basic 200W Gnome and a 300W Gnome I Pro. Here's the first impression:

The I Pro will henceforth serve as my bass cab test amp, capable of pushing them to the limit. More compact, the basic version will no doubt see action as a gigging tool. First trials reveal that it's louder than the other 200W micros, good for bass, and offers tons of clean headroom for jazz guitar. The tone is not too nasal, and you can roll off the mid-eq without losing too much overall volume. There's some gentle fan noise on occasion, but nothing that would ruin a gig. And, when recording from the cab, the amp doesn't have to be anywhere near the microphone(s).

A final good thing about these super-strong yet affordable gnomes: they're available, whereas some other popular amps have been in short supply for months.

[monkmiles]

How would you compare the Gnome to the BAM200? Basically the same? Any idea if the Gnome also has the mosfet preamp like the BAM200?

[Gitterbug]

How would you compare the Gnome to the BAM200? Basically the same? Any idea if the Gnome also has the mosfet preamp like the BAM200?

The basic Gnome is louder than the BAM. This matters more for bass, though. Unfortunately, my guitar testing of the basic Gnome fell short, as I handed the amp over to a bassist endorsee. I'm sure Warwick would advertise a Mosfet preamp if there was one. If pushed against the wall, I'd still go for the BAM for jazz guitar. To me it sounds warmer. However, it's possible that the US voltage version sounds different. NY jazz guitarist Greg Ruggiero, a small amp specialist, has tried the BAM twice, to mixed results. He was initially enthusiastic about the Gnome; not overly so anymore. He and I agree that the Quilter SuperBlock US is very close to the ideal, but lacks a critical bit of clean headroom when used with a 6.5" cab. Fully OK with the more sensitive 10" and 12" speakers.

[jads57]

Another possibility is to use these amps as power amps and use a preamp of some sort. But Seymour Duncan offers that as well. And not sure how cheap that would be in the used market?

[citizenk74]

Sounds like you have a winner! Congratulations, and play it in good health!