G&K Question.

Mike M. · #1 01-10-2011, 10:01 PM

I'm going amp shopping very soon because I need one and GK is at the top of my list based on what I've read here.

I've been checking out a lot of video's on You Tube. I know that for the most part the sound quality on most videos leaves a lot to be desired. But the one thing I've noticed about the GK videos is how trebley they all seem to sound.

Is this just poor sound quality of the videos or are most people using an excessive amount of treble when demonstrating. Or is this the way most GK amps sound? I like a sound that's clear but not to the point of what I've been hearing.

Thanks for your help.

ryansalmond · #2 01-10-2011, 10:07 PM

They can put out a lot of treble. Not sure if you can dial that out or not. I mean there's a treble knob that can be turned down obviously, but I'm not sure if it removes it entirely or what.

JimmyM · #3 01-10-2011, 10:12 PM

i'd blame the users more than the gear itself. gk isn't my favorite but it's pretty capable.

bombpop14 · #4 01-10-2011, 10:22 PM

Your not going to get that gooey tube sound, but you can definitely cut the treble and get a lot of warm low end without all the tinny high end you hear in the videos.

A lot has to do with the cabs your using (tweeters) and active basses with razor like tone. IMHO I think you'll like the sound of a GK a lot once you get one.

I own a MB 500, and I love it. (edit) and what Jimmy said.

will33 · #5 01-10-2011, 10:31 PM

I've played several GK's and haven't had a problem getting a warmer, not so trebley sound from them. That is kinda their signature thing popular with slapbass, etc. but they don't have to sound that way at all.

One of the most useable eq's that doesn't involve a sweep control. Bass is (or used to be) set @ 60hz, deep and booty shakin' but still within the useable range of most decent bass cabs, lowmid is @ 250, that's pretty much the body of the bass sound and thump, highmid is somewhere around 1.6k, that's pretty much the twang knob and treble is the highs, the real treble although the old 800rb's (the best ones IMO) the treble was set to 4k, still reproduceable by papercone speakers, the 700's/1001's, etc. the treble is set at 7k, pretty much a high tweeter knob.

That 4/5 string knob shifts all those eq points but I've never taken the time to decipher it because the 4string setting usually sounds better, even with low B's.

will33 · #6 01-10-2011, 10:37 PM

Should add that they have a good rep. for quality/reliabilty. If the overall tone turns out to not be your cup of tea, know that you've got something professional-grade that won't fail you and will hold it's value should you decide to sell it and try something else.

Never been much a fan of the sound of their cabs really, either with their own amps or others, but have had really good sounds playing their amps with a slew of other cabs. I think their forte is the bassamps.

**DougD** · #7 01-10-2011, 10:41 PM

I own a 1001RBII and used to own a MB500. GK can get trebley. Some like the GK sound, some don't. I can dial out the treble without problem on my 1001RBII, it was a little more problematic with the MB500. The MB500 also seems to have a lot more hiss (to me). For those that can't stand to touch anything but the volume knob, that will be a big problem. But for me, I just dial out what I don't want. I love my GK stuff, but it is a tweakers head Which is just fine buy me

I also use the NEO 410 and 210 cabs in Bi-amp mode so that gives me a lot of control over the sound. The Neo cabs work or sound just as good in full range mode with my Maskbass head too

onosson · #8 01-10-2011, 11:18 PM

I own a 700RBII, which I think is pretty representative of the tone options for many GK heads. You can definitely dial back the high end very easily. It's also easy to have way too much high end if you set it wrong, and there are a lot of ways to set up the eq and other tone controls which don't sound great - mostly because there are so many controls which interact with each other (especially contour - mids - boost). My advice is don't go too extreme with any of the dials.

**DougD** · #9 01-10-2011, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onosson

I own a 700RBII, which I think is pretty representative of the tone options for many GK heads. You can definitely dial back the high end very easily. It's also easy to have way too much high end if you set it wrong, and there are a lot of ways to set up the eq and other tone controls which don't sound great - mostly because there are so many controls which interact with each other (especially contour - mids - boost). My advice is don't go too extreme with any of the dials.

Good advice.

Mike M. · #10 01-11-2011, 12:20 AM

Thanks for the advice and for what to look out for. I know what you mean about the treble on the active basses, as mine is an Ibanez SR505. There's a LOT of treble if you're not careful and I generally keep mine only about 1/4 of the way up...and that is plenty for me.

It's been years since I've shopped for an amp and I'm going to take my time. I don't need too much (power wise) but I don't want to end up with too little either, so we'll see what happens once I start shopping and comparing.

I just thought of another question. If GK amps can be a bit bright sounding, how's the high end of the MB115 combo? I tend to prefer 12's but maybe a 15 would have a bit of a tamer and smoother high end that's a bit more pleasing to my ear....at least with the newer amps combined with my bass.

Thanks again.

JimmyM · #11 01-11-2011, 12:43 AM

speaker size matters little. what matters is the sound you get. you can find good combos (and bad) with any size speaker you can think of.

i've got no way of knowing your exact tastes, and i don't mean this as a slur against gk at all because they do make good stuff, but what you're describing sounds more like ampeg to me. i just got one of those micro vr stacks for christmas and it sounds amazingly like a small svt rig. they also have a couple higher power lightweight heads and cabs coming out in march that pair up as portaflex fliptop combos. price is pretty right on them, too.

but it's really something you should experience for yourself and make up your own mind. nowadays, there is so much good stuff at all price ranges that it's hard to go wrong. you just have to find the rig that's most right for you.

Mike M. · #12 01-11-2011, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

speaker size matters little. what matters is the sound you get. you can find good combos (and bad) with any size speaker you can think of.

i've got no way of knowing your exact tastes, and i don't mean this as a slur against gk at all because they do make good stuff, but what you're describing sounds more like ampeg to me. i just got one of those micro vr stacks for christmas and it sounds amazingly like a small svt rig. they also have a couple higher power lightweight heads and cabs coming out in march that pair up as portaflex fliptop combos. price is pretty right on them, too.

but it's really something you should experience for yourself and make up your own mind. nowadays, there is so much good stuff at all price ranges that it's hard to go wrong. you just have to find the rig that's most right for you.

I use to play thru an SVT head into two, 12's (years ago) and I loved it!! The only other exerience I have with the newer Ampeg's was thru the amp that I played thru on rare occasion at church. I think it was a 300 model of some kind (had the graphic EQ) and it ran thru 4, 10's. I had a hard time with that amp. Never could quite come to grips with it...but then maybe it was me and not the amp. Had a hard time getting some good definition with the low B thru that amp.

But hey, there's a lot out there and who knows what I'll end up with.

johnk_10 · #13 01-11-2011, 01:31 AM

funny. i don't think of my GK 1001RBII as being bright or trebley at all. it can be adjusted to be bright if you want it to, but not unless youy have a cab with a harsh/bright tweeter or an active bass that's very bright.

JimmyM · #14 01-11-2011, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike M.

I use to play thru an SVT head into two, 12's (years ago) and I loved it!! The only other exerience I have with the newer Ampeg's was thru the amp that I played thru on rare occasion at church. I think it was a 300 model of some kind (had the graphic EQ) and it ran thru 4, 10's. I had a hard time with that amp. Never could quite come to grips with it...but then maybe it was me and not the amp. Had a hard time getting some good definition with the low B thru that amp.

svt 350h? ya, wasn't especially crazy about that one either. i dig pretty much everything else they make, though.