Polar and nonpolar bulk GaN substrates with low defect density and high structural and optical quality are demonstrated. The effect of doping by silicon, oxygen and iron within moderate doping levels on the properties of the polar GaN substrates was found uncompromised, as confirmed by high resolution X-ray diffraction and low temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy. In contrast, the lattice parameters were affected significantly, which has to be considered in the subsequent homoepitaxial device growth. The boule growth and respectively the nonpolar substrate homogeneity were found to be hampered by the doping, due to surface microcracking and higher impurity incorporation, while n-type undoped nonpolar substrates were demonstrated of superior quality.