Gallien-Krueger 1001RB-II

jonnytick333 · #1 10-31-2010, 05:24 PM

Opinions on this amp, any problems, or what cabs you play it through, etc. Just anything about this amp, good/bad, etc. Weighin' my options for a new amp right now, and want input!

thank youz

jdlwareagle · #2 10-31-2010, 06:36 PM

I use mine to power 2 Euphonic Audio VL210B cabs . Great sound , enough power for large stages , reliable , can usually be found on the used market for good price .

dave120 · #3 10-31-2010, 06:39 PM

I've had mine for several years now without any problems. It can run 2 4x10 cabs no problem and gets louder than I'll ever need it to. Sounds great! I got it from a place called RMC Audio I think. Cost me $500 shipped, brand new.

IbanezBass69 · #4 10-31-2010, 06:45 PM

I have played through one, and loved it! Made some off-brand crap 4x10 with blown speakers sound like gold! (OK, not really, it was still pretty bad, but it had blown speakers, no amp will fix that.) I would recommend it.

woodsideh · #5 10-31-2010, 06:52 PM

Bottom line....

I have owned and used several Ampeg, SWR, Fender, Mark Bass & even Peavey, Kustom & Sunn in the old days. I now have 3 GK heads and I will fight you for them. They are best amps that I have ever used.

jonnytick333 · #6 11-01-2010, 12:42 PM

thanks guys, i've always known GK to have reliable, good-all-around equipment, so thanks for further backing that reputation. I'd want to power an 8x10, 2 4x10s, or a 4x10/1x15 setup....any suggestions for cab cominations to look into? it seems all the ones i look at end up giving me a 2.67 ohm load....so an 8ohm 1x15 and an 8ohm 4x10 are ideally what i want...thanks again for the input!
-jt

Wes Whitmore · #7 11-01-2010, 12:47 PM

Nothing GK will do below 4 ohms. Two of them will though...

I have never needed that kind of volume, but 2 4x10s is a good modular way to go.
Wes

jonnytick333 · #8 11-01-2010, 01:00 PM

i play with a VERY loud drummer and guitarist playin' an 8-string, so i get lost if i'm not really loud, haha.

MysticMichael · #9 11-01-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnytick333

thanks guys, i've always known GK to have reliable, good-all-around equipment, so thanks for further backing that reputation. I'd want to power an 8x10, 2 4x10s, or a 4x10/1x15 setup....any suggestions for cab cominations to look into? it seems all the ones i look at end up giving me a 2.67 ohm load....so an 8ohm 1x15 and an 8ohm 4x10 are ideally what i want...thanks again for the input!
-jt

Get a couple of 8-ohm GK NEO cabs to match. My recommendation: (2) GK NEO 212-II cabs.

Lest ye have any doubt, I promise you: that rig will rule!

MM

georgestrings · #10 11-01-2010, 02:04 PM

I have a 700rb-II, and play in a loud 2 guitar(half stacks) band - IME, cabs that work well - and get loud - with these heads are:

Mesa's PH610, PH810, PH412, and PH215

SWR's Goliath Sr and Megoliath

Ampeg's SVT810e

Any one of those cabs will get you where you want to be, IMO... You picked a great amp - my other amp is a Mesa BB750, and I'll still always keep my G-K...

- georgestrings

Mola Ram · #11 11-01-2010, 02:08 PM

The only thing I would recommend is to make sure you really need all of that power. A 700RB is extremely similar to the 1001RB and less expensive.

Maybe you're playing way larger venues that myself, which is possible, but I can't imagine ever needing more than what the 700 gives and I've never been in danger of maxing it out.

georgestrings · #12 11-01-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mola Ram

The only thing I would recommend is to make sure you really need all of that power. A 700RB is extremely similar to the 1001RB and less expensive.

Maybe you're playing way larger venues that myself, which is possible, but I can't imagine ever needing more than what the 700 gives and I've never been in danger of maxing it out.

Agreed 100% - I actually prefer the 700rb-II, as IMO it gets warmer at volumes that are more useable for my gigging needs... I've played huge outdoor shows, and never reached half volume with my 700rb-II...

- georgestrings

Slowgypsy · #13 11-01-2010, 02:16 PM

GK amps "hit the rails" at a certain volume level, and that volume level is easier to get to with a RB700 than a RB1000. Or put another way, you don't have to be as loud with a 700 as you would with a 1000. If you're doing really large venues and outdoors type of events, fine.... but if you're doing a bar/club/restaurant type of thing you should at least consider the 700. As far a reliability goes, I've had my RB700 for several years, gets turned on every day, has a lot of gigs on it, and I think it's just a rock solid, bullet proof amp that can give me pretty much anything I ask of it. Loud as heck to.

ChiliTikka · #14 11-01-2010, 02:40 PM

All I can say is that my 1001rb-II is superb amp. I run it through two Gk rbh115 cabinets and they sound awesome. I have also run it with Neo 212 and they are both good. Reliability is good and it feels like they have made like tanks but never say never. Everything can blow up. But I think GK stays up longest.

sleepytime · #15 11-01-2010, 03:12 PM

The 1001rb-II sounds thunderous with the GK 410RBH cabs, but not many people seem to use those.

MingusBass · #16 11-01-2010, 03:17 PM

I know that both amps are great, but I'm currently trying to decide if I should go with a 1001RB-II or an 800RB. The place I work recently became a GK dealer, so I can get them both at around the same price. I would be driving a Bergantino NV610 cab for most gigs.

I mostly use 5 strings.

cusar5 · #17 11-01-2010, 03:21 PM

I've been using a 1001 for a while now, and while I like some things about it, I find I dislike enough things about it that I won't be keeping it much longer. The main problem I have is the overdriven sound- to my ear the wrong frequencies are being distorted, and the sonic result is distinctly unpleasant. The culprit is the "volume" knob, which actually controls gain, so I leave it just barely on and use the master volume to control my overall level. The "boost" knob adds just a little bit of grit and "wool" that I find pleasant, and it never really strays into "drive" territory so I leave it all the way up.

I had a major issue with mine that required the replacement of the entire power section, but I got a loaner 700 from Long and Mcquade until mine was fixed so no complaints there. I found the 700 and 1001 sounded very similar, and like other folks here I never find I need all the power the 1001 has to offer.

I have played older 800RBs that I liked a lot better. Their overdriven sound is much warmer and more musical than the 1001/700 IMO.

Vic Winters · #18 11-01-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes Whitmore

Nothing GK will do below 4 ohms. Two of them will though...

I have never needed that kind of volume, but 2 4x10s is a good modular way to go.
Wes

Not true. 2001RB and Fusion 1050 in stereo will. 800RB will do 4 on one power amp and 8 on the other.

BassMonstrum · #19 11-06-2010, 12:11 PM

Mine has died on me... twice!

First time I was told that a fuse blew out, while the second time it just got overheated! "It's like driving a car... you're bound to get a flat tire someday!" was the answer I got.

Other than that it's loud and clean! Use it with a Mesa Boogie Roadready 1000 cab or a GK NEO212. However, I do use a Sansamp BDDI in front of it, because I like the sound of it. Just bought a GK mb500 which will be feeding the Mesa-cab, while the 1001 will be feeding the NEO212 plus effects... or maybe the other way around.

Jim C · #20 11-06-2010, 12:33 PM

Haven't played a GK in a very long time but understand that the aggressive, slighly distorted tone is what makes them desireable to many.

How does the RB1001 do as a warm, clean sounding amp?