Bass Player Magazine, High End Corner:
Glockenklang Soul Head & Double Cabinet
Germany's Glockenklang began building high-quality PA and hi-fi equipment in 1974; the small company entered the bass-amp business in '88. "Glockenklang" translates loosely to "bell sound," which represents their amps' clarity. Many high-end bass builders use Glocks as a reference standard because they reveal an instrument's nuances and character in microscopic detail. Luthiers often set the Glock's tone controls nearly flat or bypass them completely to hear a bass's pure sound. We reviewed Glock's more expensive Heart-Core head and Quattro 4x10 cabinet in August '98. The Soul head and Double cabinet are from the company's more affordable Bassware line. While still not cheap, consider them the "poor man's" Glocks.
The Soul's minimal controls include a 5-band EQ with frequency centers at 60Hz,
130Hs 750Hz, 4.2kHz, and 12kHz. There's also an EQ on/off switch, which bypasses
the tone-control circuitry for the cleanest possible signal path. Input A is
for passive and low-output active instruments; Input B (which has its own gain
control) is for higher-output active basses. An A/B button lets you switch between
instruments quickly. The Soul offers a full-featured XLR DI out, with pre/post-EQ
and ground-lift switches) plus a Dl level control. You can choose between series
or parallel effects loops.
A peek under the hood reveals a beautiful red, double-sided PC board, neatly
populated with quality components and over-size resistors for reliability. The
board's underside is peppered with modern surface-mount components; ten MOSFET
transistors are attached to a heatsink that's cooled by two fans. (Two low-speed
fans can move air more quietly than one.) The Soul's layout is exceptionally
clean and well executed.
The Double cabinet uses two custom-made 12" Volt drivers, plus a Fostex
tweeter. Glockenklang uses only Speakon jacks; there are no 1/4" speaker
jacks. The birch cabinet is finished with a durable epoxy coating, and studio-grade
acoustic foam lines the inside.
The Soul head and Double cab are an excellent match. With the EQ bypassed the
Glock rig sounds smooth, effortless, and relaxed, with exceptionally refined
detail and a clear focus. Transient response is quick and well controlled without
sounding clinical or dry. It really brought out the low-string growl of our
Lakland 5-string, and it's one of the few amps we've tried with our Underwood-equipped
German upright that didn't require an external preamp to sound really good.
"The upright sound is very natural, open, and musical—the Glock reveals
the true character of every bass you play through it.
If you have an expensive high-end bass or a fine vintage axe and you're looking for an amp that enhances its subtleties, the Glockenklang Soul and Double should be on your must-audition list—if you have four grand to spend.
Soul Head
Type: Solid-state head
Made in: Germany
Power rating: 440 watts RMS into 4 ohms
Warranty: Three years limited
Weight: 24 lbs
Double Cabinet
Type: 2x12 + tweeter
Made in: Germany
Impedance: 4 ohms (also available in 8 ohms)
Power rating: 500 watts
Warranty: Three years limited
Weight: 64 lbs
Reprinted with permission from BASS PLAYER Magazine, January 2001
© 2001 MILLER FREEMAN INC. All Rights Reserved.