800rb owners- what would you do??

sowegafly · #1 05-23-2010, 08:33 AM

I've had an gk 800rb for a long time and I recently bought an avatar 212neo and have fallen back in love with my amp! Played my first show with it last night and I was amazed at how well the avatar sounded with the gk head!! I received several comments about my tone! My question is I want to add another cab to the rig to add a little versatility. My cab is a 4ohm so what I want to add is an 8ohm cab to pair with the 100watt top part of my amp that I've never used. Not necessarily to bi amp (but I guess I could) but to use in larger venues with the 212 and to use by itself in smaller settings. Would an 8ohm 112 avatar cab go well in this situation or would I be better off getting a 210?

adube810 · #2 05-23-2010, 08:42 AM

ur probably better off getting another avatar 212

gregwatts2008 · #3 05-23-2010, 08:54 AM

Borrow a cab and try it first, most people don't use the biamp mode.

smemm · #4 05-23-2010, 09:03 AM

I'd go with the 2-10 myself.

RickenBoogie · #5 05-23-2010, 09:22 AM

That 100 watt "high" amp is meant for a tweeter, not another full range bass cab. If you just want more of the same, you'd be much better off losing the 4 ohm 212, and replacing it with either 2 8 ohm 212's, or a single 4 ohm 412.

shoot-r · #6 05-23-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

If you just want more of the same, you'd be much better off losing the 4 ohm 212, and replacing it with either 2 8 ohm 212's, or a single 4 ohm 412.

+1!

megadan · #7 05-23-2010, 10:22 AM

I think the 2x10 or a second 2x12 would sound good in that situation, since the 800RB has separate volume controls, you don't have to worry about one cab being more efficient than the other. i used both sizes for a while, not with that head, and they were good.

megadan · #8 05-23-2010, 10:25 AM

Also I disagree that the 100W is for a tweeter; the later GK (700, 1001) are 50W tweeter amps but that 100W can drive another cab just fine, I've done it a few times. Keep in mind that when you run an 8 ohm cab off the main 300W output you're only getting maybe 150 - 180 W or so, so the 100W @ 8ohm is not that bad. But there's a reason the amp has a crossover button.

lbwdog · #9 05-23-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

That 100 watt "high" amp is meant for a tweeter, not another full range bass cab. If you just want more of the same, you'd be much better off losing the 4 ohm 212, and replacing it with either 2 8 ohm 212's, or a single 4 ohm 412.

Not quite.....It's designed to be used as a bi-amp or dual full-range head. You must limit the "hi" channel to an 8 ohm minimum though.

I find that 8 ohm cabinets give more versatility, so that's all I own. You can actually run three 8 ohm cabs with the 800RB in full-range mode, but if sticking with your 4 ohm Av, I'd go with either a 1x12 or 2x10 for the second channel.

Foz · #10 05-23-2010, 12:09 PM

800RB into 2 full range cabs?

meh...

Try your 800RB with fearful 15/6 or similar full-range balanced 2-way cab in bi-amp mode and that bi-amp button will stay on.

**B-string** · #11 05-23-2010, 12:19 PM

I don't understand why people are still confused about the 800RB? It's been in production so long and still I see you can't use the 100 watt high amp for full range being posted? I use the 100 watt side in full range for practice at home all the time, saves the plaster!
The 210 will probably be louder, the 112 will balance better with the 212.

tallboybass · #12 05-23-2010, 01:17 PM

I ran an 800RB with an 8 ohm Avatar 210 and a 4 ohm Avatar 212 and it KILLED! You can bi-amp it or not. Works great either way!!

RickenBoogie · #13 05-23-2010, 01:49 PM

I sit corrected. Blast away.

basslinejam · #14 05-23-2010, 02:50 PM

Go for the 8ohm 112 so the cab voicings are similar. I'll also echo the point that the "Hi" amp is great full range. I preferred using the "Hi" amp for practice to get a great growly tone at a lower overall volume, and then using the "Low" amp for gigs with the same cab (an 8ohm Goliath II).

Gearhead43 · #15 05-23-2010, 03:22 PM

800rbs are such a cool amp. I gotta get another one.

unclekebm · #16 05-23-2010, 03:48 PM

another 112

anonymous101511 · #17 05-23-2010, 09:06 PM

yup, I think adding another single 12" 8 ohm cab would be awesome for you. That 100 watt amp puts out a great sound; you could even experiment with bi- amping even though all the speakers are the same; I would crossover at around 150- 200hz for starters. Run the lo amp all the way up and blend in the hi 'to taste', so to speak. You might like that sound.

Band Dad · #18 05-23-2010, 09:17 PM

My son has an 800RB with Avatar 212 neo @ 4 ohm like you, but uses (on occasion) the 100 watt 8 ohm with an ADA 115 cab using an EV driver designed to handle all needs (PA, guitar, bass – but primarily guitar), and it kills. Great range and versatility while being very easy to transport. I second borrowing a few different cabs to see what works for you; you may be surprised.

And, yes, run them both in the full-range mode. Let the cabs natural voicings shine.

tallboybass · #19 05-23-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowegafly

I want to add another cab to the rig to add a little versatility.

This is why I recommended the 210. It makes a lot of variation possible. 210 only for quiet stuff, 212 only for louder situations with a rounder tone and 210+212 for max volume. You'll be amazed at how much the 100 watt amp will put out if you bi-amp and let the bigger amp handle the lows. This gets the absolute most out of the 800RB and sounds great doing it! IMO of course.