The Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S is a Gallien Krueger amplifier, currently around $1199. Close alternatives include the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 800s and the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 1200s. It pairs well with the ProCo RAT 2 and the Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature.
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S
Gallien Krueger · amplifier
The Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S is a 500-watt hybrid bass amplifier head from Gallien-Krueger, combining a 12AX7 tube preamp section with a lightweight Class D solid-state power amp section. The Fusion series blends GK clarity and punch with tube warmth in the preamp stage, offering bass players a versatile tonal option between fully solid-state and fully tube amplification. At 500W the Fusion 500 handles stage volumes for medium venues.
What stands out
“The Fusion series blends GK clarity and punch with tube warmth in the preamp stage, offering bass players a versatile tonal option between fully solid-state and fully tube amplification”
— from the listing
“The tube preamp adds harmonic warmth and organic feel to GK clarity, creating a hybrid character that bridges clean solid-state GK tone and warmer tube bass amp sounds”
— from the community notes
“At 500W the Fusion 500 handles stage volumes for medium venues”
— from the listing
“The tube warmth softens the edge of purely solid-state GK tone”
— from the reviews
“combining a 12ax7 tube preamp section with a lightweight class d solid-state power amp section”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“the gallien-krueger fusion 500 s delivers a hybrid bass amp platform”
— from the reviews
- hybrid
- fusion
- tube warmth
- solid state
- tube
- organic
- harmonic
Good for
- Live
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S is commonly used in
- Jazz Fusion
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
33% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
A RAT 2 out front gives the Fusion 500's organic, harmonic-rich preamp the low-gain grind it doesn't produce on its own.
Goes in front of the amp
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
30% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
The Fusion 500's organic, hybrid tube preamp gives the Geezer Butler's doom-voiced distortion a warmer amp voice to push into.
Goes in front of the amp
Beetronics Swarm
Beetronics
30% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
On a bright hybrid-tube stage rig like the Fusion 500, the Swarm's fuzz harmonics stay clear instead of turning to mush.
Goes in front of the amp
MXR M117R Flanger
MXR
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put MXR M117R Flanger after Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S in the signal chain, clear of Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro
Pigtronix
13% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Philosopher's Tone Micro's boutique sustain-focused compression evens out bass dynamics ahead of the Fusion 500's hybrid tube preamp.
Goes in front of the amp
Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini
Dunlop
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run the Carbon Copy Mini in the Fusion 500's loop — dark analog slapback on top of its hybrid tube-preamp warmth. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Meris Polymoon
Meris
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run the Polymoon in the Fusion 500's loop for complex, modulated delay beyond the amp's own hybrid tube-preamp warmth. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Tone City Dry Martini is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S gives it exactly that
Cheaper alternatives
Similar character
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 800s
Gallien Krueger
65% similarity“More wattage than the Fusion 500 provides headroom for outdoor stages and large venues where the 500W version might clip at high output.”
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 1200s
Gallien Krueger
59% similarityShared character: fusion, punch, solid state
Traynor YBA100 Tube Bass Head
Traynor
44% similarityShared character: combination, bass, stage
Ampeg SVT-3PRO Bass Amplifier Head
Ampeg
42% similarityShared character: solid state, bass, stage
Mesa Boogie Subway WD-800 Bass Head
Mesa Boogie
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Ampeg V4-B Head
Ampeg
91% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S?+
The closest matches in character are the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 800s, the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 1200s, the Traynor YBA100 Tube Bass Head. Budget picks: Hartke LH1000 Bass Head.
What pairs well with the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: ProCo RAT 2, Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature, Beetronics Swarm — A RAT 2 out front gives the Fusion 500's organic, harmonic-rich preamp the low-gain grind it doesn't produce on its own..
How much does the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 500 S cost?+
Around $1199 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).