Gallien Kreuger, cabinets and bi-amping!

[MBunda]

OK here is my delimma,

I have a GK 1001RB-II, and GK RBX 115. I have been playing shows and my RBX 115 has blown twice.

Now, this is what I know:
the GK RBX 115 is 8 ohms @ 400W
the GK 1001RB-II is 700W @ 4 ohms

So in order to to make this work I should have either:

-two 8 ohm cabs @ 400W each, making it in total 4 ohms @ 800W(?) (such as a RBX 115/410)

-have one 4 ohm @ 800W cab (such as a RBH 410)

Since I already own the RBX 115 I would like to build around that but it is not a must. I do not want to haul around 2 cabs to my shows when it is not needed, so I need to make this work. I would like to aim at having a 4x10 cabinet sitting on a 1x15 cab and bi-amp the two (I think? I do not have a 100% understanding of bi-amping), but for gigging just hauling around the 4x10. Ultimately the best option is the GK RBH 410 because it is able to be 4 or 8 ohms @ 800W, but I'm wondering if I could bi-amp the RBX and the RBH and the gig with just the RBH and not experience any powering issues.

Also I am playing a Musicman Stingray so it is an active bass and would that cause any problems? (I don't believe it will I'm just curious)

Is my logic sound and do you guys have any opinions?

-Thanks

[treekiller]

Originally Posted by MBunda

OK here is my delimma,

I have a GK 1001RB-II, and GK RBX 115. I have been playing shows and my RBX 115 has blown twice.

Now, this is what I know:
the GK RBX 115 is 8 ohms @ 400W
the GK 1001RB-II is 700W @ 4 ohms

So in order to to make this work I should have either:

-two 8 ohm cabs @ 400W each, making it in total 4 ohms @ 800W(?) (such as a RBX 115/410)

-have one 4 ohm @ 800W cab (such as a RBH 410)

Since I already own the RBX 115 I would like to build around that but it is not a must. I do not want to haul around 2 cabs to my shows when it is not needed, so I need to make this work. I would like to aim at having a 4x10 cabinet sitting on a 1x15 cab and bi-amp the two (I think? I do not have a 100% understanding of bi-amping), but for gigging just hauling around the 4x10. Ultimately the best option is the GK RBH 410 because it is able to be 4 or 8 ohms @ 800W, but I'm wondering if I could bi-amp the RBX and the RBH and the gig with just the RBH and not experience any powering issues.

Also I am playing a Musicman Stingray so it is an active bass and would that cause any problems? (I don't believe it will I'm just curious)

Is my logic sound and do you guys have any opinions?

-Thanks

Well, how do you feel about a 4-12 NEO? I use one with a 550 Fusion head and have all the bottom end I'll ever need, yet still tight enough not to need the 10's. A 4-10 will probably give you enough bottom to play any indoor gig and if you run thru the mix it's more than adequate.
The 4-12 isn't nearly as cumbersome as you'd think either. I prefer having the taller cab, my other choice would've been an 8-10. I play P-basses, this was my plan B instead of the traditional SVT/ 8-10 rig. You have more than enough power to run what ever you choose, plus with the G-K cabs you have the bi-amp option to use the horn as well. Good luck!!!

[Jaco who?]

Wow, where to begin. The 1001 RBII does 460 watts @ 8 ohms, 700 @ 4 ohms.

The wattage of the cabs has nothing to do with the output from the head. With two 8 ohm cabs, that's 700 watts divided by two, or 350 watts to each cab. The power rating of the cabs is only a ballpark thermal rating for the voice coils of the speakers, it means almost nothing.

The "bi-amp" section is really just a "horn management" section and only controls the output of the tweeter on some GK cabs.

A 410rbh will likely be much louder and probably just as "bassy" as the 115, so you might be better off just getting another 115, or selling it and getting either a pair of 8Ω 410s or a pair of 8Ω 2x12s.

Even if a cab is rated for 400 watts and you input considerably less wattage than that, you can still blow the driver(s) by exceeding the xlim, or the limit of how far the speaker cone can move before it is damaged. Boosting bass and low low mid eq can cause this.

[MBunda]

I've looked at the NEO's and they just don't sound as good at the RBX or RBH IMO also I'd like to keep the look kind of similar and the RBH and RBX look identical (I have the old RBX)
I find if I'm going with the 15" already that will give me the low end in recording and the 10" will give me the high end and still enough low in a show setting. My musicman is also pretty punch and more towards the mid/mid-hi range so the 15" was a good call originally (my whole play was to have a 4x10 and a 1x15 to get everything I need)

I understand the whole deal with under driving and over driving but the ballpark power rating has to mean something. My RBX has blown twice from overdriving at shows so the power rating has to mean something in this circumstance, be it with the voice coil or clipping tearing the cone.

I'm definitely leaning towards the RBH 410 to complete my rig as it seems like it is the most logical option as it meets all my requirements. that is, unless you can convince me other wise haha

[Jaco who?]

Originally Posted by MBunda

I find if I'm going with the 15" already that will give me the low end in recording and the 10" will give me the high end and still enough low in a show setting.

You would think that's true, but it's usually not. The cabinet volume (size, not loudness) port tuning and ts parameters are much more relevant to the tonal characteristic than the diameter itself. It's good to close your eyes and listen to different cab configurations without regard to size. You'll be surprised.

The blown driver in your 115 just means you've been asking way to much from a poor single 15". For more loudness, more speakers will always be better than just more wattage.

[RickenBoogie]

+1 driver size has squat to do with how low or how high it sounds. 15's are not "good for lows" vs 10's, and vice-versa. Get yourself a pair of 8 ohm cabs, but identical cabs, ie: 2x 410's, or 2x 212's. or 2x 115's. You'll be very happy with any of them, but the key is having two-(or one BIG 4 ohm cab, like a 412, 610, or 215) you'll get more volume AND more low end. A single 15 of any sort is just not enough speaker for most applications, and the old 410/115 combo is only popular because of how it *looks*, not how it performs.

[rptrsn2]

if you like your 115 do not put a 410 with it, add a 210, it will compliment the 115 instead of drowning it out like a 410. i run a 700rbii with a 210,115. had a 410 and lost everything i liked about the 115, switched to the 210 and found it to be much more complmentary to the 115.