Distortion cab + clean cab

o_s · #1 06-01-2010, 10:09 AM

Hey!

Can anyone help me with this? I want to get a mild distortion for hi mid/hi frequencies through my 4x10 cab and clean overall sound through my 1x18 cab.

My amp gear consists of GK GT700 RB-II head, Warwick WCA 411 Pro cab and Peavey 18" Black Widow cab. The distortion pedal would be Ibanez PD7.

So my head is actually bi-ampable if that helps. I'm totally clueless with these things. Help me please

Thunder Pulse · #2 06-01-2010, 10:21 AM

You can't do it with that head. The GK head isn't a bi-amp head in the traditional sense.

Din Of Win · #3 06-01-2010, 10:23 AM

I'm not sure how to do this with one head... but i have done it a few times with multiple heads.

If you can pull it off, it's a great effect.

KramerBassFan · #4 06-01-2010, 10:24 AM

You need two amplifiers in order two run two cabinets seperately.

A good approach is having a large transistor power amp, 300w or bigger, and a small, crankable 15w or so guitar amplifier to run the distorted bits through.

bassman1185 · #5 06-01-2010, 10:30 AM

That head won't really work for that layout. You would need two fully separate power amps, not just a main amp and a tweeter amp. The "high" amp on the 700RB is only 50 watts, if I remember right, which is not enough to effectively push a 4x10 cab loud enough to be heard in a band setting. Plus, you don't have a way to run the distortion through just the high range and not the low.

What you would need is either two amplifiers, or a stereo PA-style power amp with two preamps. Another option is to get one of the (very) few heads on the market that are both bi-ampable for separate cabs (not just a tweeter and speakers) AND have separate effects loops for high and low. The only head that I can think of that has these features is the Carvin RL600/1000 or the newer replacement for that head.

I will just offer my $.02 here and say that this is a terribly inefficient way to blend clean and distorted tones. I tried it with my setup and no matter how much I tweaked it, it sounded gutless and weak. Just use a Boss LS-2 or something like that. It is way more effective, it's cheaper, and it is a lot easier to get your tone through the PA.

o_s · #6 06-01-2010, 10:38 AM

Ok thanks all! You pretty much answered all the questions i pondered in my head. Gonna get the LS-2 and go that way.

Din Of Win · #7 06-01-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o_s

Ok thanks all! You pretty much answered all the questions i pondered in my head. Gonna get the LS-2 and go that way.

From experience... it also may be worth it to invest in an EQ pedal to go with the dirt. I used a boss bass EQ after a DOD Grunge pedal to boost the lows/low-mids when i did the Clean cab+Dirty cab set-up. On its own, the dirt may loose some(to most) bottom end and completely drown in a band setting.

EQ pedals are hella cheap and a good investment.

Good luck with the set up!

suraj · #8 06-01-2010, 12:29 PM

Just get like a blend pedal just be4 the amp and plug in the clean and distro to the blend pedal. Mix them and go into the amp...