Gallien-Krueger 1001RB-II -- Opinions / track record?

[shaboda]

I played on of these the other day (as well as the 700RB-II) through a GK 4x12 Cab and I was FLOORED.

Anyone have any real world experience with these heads?
What's the reliability/Failure rate on these?

They sounded Awesome in the store... but wasn't sure if anyone had issues live... or if everyone had awesome stories to tell...


Please share your opinions if you own wanna these suckers.

[davidgoldman]

I have been using one for two years. Cab is a GK 212. Plenty of volume' versital controls. Can be used in many rooms. Since it has way more then I use, I can't tell you the limits. For larger rooms or outside I add a Peavey Cab with a 15. I have never had the volume much over noon. I have had no reliablity problems.

[somegeezer]

The only fault is that they have to be used with GK cabs to make best use of biamping. The sound I get is incredible. So powerful and gritty. I use mine with 1 or 2 Laney Nexus NX410s.

[shaboda]

not really worried about the bi amping.... just need a workhorse w/ lots of power and good tone... (which I think we ALL want) -- If this amp has been fillin' that role for fellow TBers then I am gonna be sold on it, cuz the tone in the store was just JAMMIN'

[GSNOLA]

I have got a load of experience with the 1001RB and I can tell you that it is a supreme workhorse. Very reliable, and kicks a lot of ass with the right cab. Imho, USE GK cabs, as the bi-amp is awesome. It brings the amp to life.

*he said, trying to sell his last GK cab!*

If I hadn't needed to downsize, I would NEVER have sold it. It's a beast.

Cons?....not the warmest tone of all time, but if you play hard, funk, metal, clippy rock? Awesome.

[jeff7bass]

I played through GK's for 20 years. The 1001RB thru that 4x12 is one smoking stack. Buy it and post some pics!

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by shaboda

not really worried about the bi amping.... just need a workhorse w/ lots of power and good tone... (which I think we ALL want) -- If this amp has been fillin' that role for fellow TBers then I am gonna be sold on it, cuz the tone in the store was just JAMMIN'

Well if you liked the sound of it and aren't bothered about biamping, then jump on it. Amazing amp. What cabs was it hooked up to in store though?

[rojo412]

Love em! Reliable and small, powerful as hell. Tone to punch through someone's sternum. How can you go wrong?

[Jack]

I love it, I've had mine for about 4 years, it's the longest I've ever kept rig around and I just love it. They really are some of the meatiest and poundiest (I think I just made up a word) heads going. Proper stuff too, in terms of build and reliability. The biamp feature I like, and be sure to do a search on here for the 'right' way to set up the (rather complicated) gain stages to coax out the growly sound the GK stuff is famous for.

The 4x12" scares me, I have one each of the 1x12" and 2x12" first-generation neo cabs though.

[christw]

I love the things. You can find them used on TB in the $400-$450 shipped range all day long. I bought one as a backup to my SVT-II and everyone who's used the 1001RB-II through my SVT810E has told me that they think it could drown out my 100w tube guitar half stack without any trouble at all. The tone is killer too! It'll be around here for a long time to come.

[shaboda]

I played on of these the other day (as well as the 700RB-II) through a GK 4x12 Cab and I was FLOORED.

Originally Posted by somegeezer

Well if you liked the sound of it and aren't bothered about biamping, then jump on it. Amazing amp. What cabs was it hooked up to in store though?

[TBird1958]

I've played GK since 1984, and have used a 1001RBII + 2 4x10 SBX cabs for the past 6 years - I love my GK! There's plenty of power and it's pretty easy to dial in good tone for any of my basses.

[georgestrings]

I have the 700rb-II, and it's been stone reliable - atleast a couple hundred gigs worth... It sounds really good with nearly any cab - including:

PH610
Goliath Sr
SVT-410HLF
SVT-810e
215D-BW



- georgestrings

[hammer2748]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

I have the 700rb-II, and it's been stone reliable - atleast a couple hundred gigs worth... It sounds really good with nearly any cab - including:

PH610
Goliath Sr
SVT-410HLF
SVT-810e
215D-BW



- georgestrings

dittos on the Ampeg SVT-810E with the GK amp. I pair my 810E with the 1001RBII. Crazy loud, awesome tone.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by shaboda

I played on of these the other day (as well as the 700RB-II) through a GK 4x12 Cab and I was FLOORED.

Anyone have any real world experience with these heads?
What's the reliability/Failure rate on these?

They sounded Awesome in the store... but wasn't sure if anyone had issues live... or if everyone had awesome stories to tell...


Please share your opinions if you own wanna these suckers.

I have two (don't ask) 1001RB-II heads. A little bad news, but all the rest is good news.

bad news: I think GK had a bad manufacturing run on this head around the time I bought mine - both went down with problems in the preamp about a year or so after I bought them. 2 brand new heads going toes up within literally a few months of each other is a really impressive failure rate. Also, a few years ago it seemed like I heard a lot of similar complaints with the 1001RB-II, on various boards and such (I think even here on TB).

good news: everything else. GK fixed both of them for me under warranty, the older one I didn't even have the reciept for and I thought it was out. But the factory looked up the serial no. and found it was still in warranty. All I had to pay was shipping to GK. Can't beat that.

they've both been working fine ever since I got them back. Ironically I quit gigging shortly before I bought my GK rig, but with the intention of getting back into it. I never have resumed gigging. So I can't say how they'd work at a gig.

But I can't imagine a scenario the head plus my SBX-Plus 4x10 couldn't handle. It even gives a good jazz-fusion sort of sound with my carvin BB76F plugged into it and all the treble turned down.

So IMO, if you get one of these and one of GK's cabs, you'll never have to buy the amp side of things again....

LS

[DougD]

I've had 3. a 1001RB, and 2 1001RBII's Never had a problem. Sold them to try other head, but always kept coming back to the GK. I now play a 1001RBII and GK neo410/neo210. Couldn't ask for more without paying a lot more Bonus is the GK neo cabs also work well with my Markbass LMIII

[shaboda]

I have 2 Ampeg 4x10 Cabs - Can I just run a Speakon Cable from each output on the head to each cab then? I just wont be able to use the Biamp Feature..... Correct?

[TC.65]

I love my GK 700rb-II it is very versatile and you can get a good warm tone out of it. I run mine through a GK 212-II neo I really like this combination. From what i've heard GK heads pair up well with any cab you run them through.

[98dvl]

Originally Posted by unclejane

I have two (don't ask) 1001RB-II heads. A little bad news, but all the rest is good news.

bad news: I think GK had a bad manufacturing run on this head around the time I bought mine - both went down with problems in the preamp about a year or so after I bought them. 2 brand new heads going toes up within literally a few months of each other is a really impressive failure rate. Also, a few years ago it seemed like I heard a lot of similar complaints with the 1001RB-II, on various boards and such (I think even here on TB).

good news: everything else. GK fixed both of them for me under warranty, the older one I didn't even have the reciept for and I thought it was out. But the factory looked up the serial no. and found it was still in warranty. All I had to pay was shipping to GK. Can't beat that.

they've both been working fine ever since I got them back. Ironically I quit gigging shortly before I bought my GK rig, but with the intention of getting back into it. I never have resumed gigging. So I can't say how they'd work at a gig.

But I can't imagine a scenario the head plus my SBX-Plus 4x10 couldn't handle. It even gives a good jazz-fusion sort of sound with my carvin BB76F plugged into it and all the treble turned down.

So IMO, if you get one of these and one of GK's cabs, you'll never have to buy the amp side of things again....

LS

I had a similar issue with mine... I actually bought mine off e-bay. It crapped out not too long afterwards. I took it into the factory recommended repair shop, and they fixed it, but it soon crapped out again... I wrote a letter to GK and gave them the back story, and my ser.no. They said to send it in, and they'd get it fixed. Just had to pay shipping. It worked awesomely after it came back.

Like the poster above, I moved shortly after, and sold my head... Once I got to my new home (Austin), I picked up an old (like mid '80s) GK 800RB, because it was "Broken" and I got a good price on it. I took it in to a tech, and he fixed a solder joint, and it has been rocking ever since.

GK makes good stuff, that is built well... I believe this even with the issues I had with my 1001-RBII. Like was said, they had a bad batch, but they made good on them, like any well-run company should!

Depending on what kind of music you play, you may want to lean towards a 700RB.... I can't imagine really needing a 1001RB (even though I had one). Unless you're trying to be the sole source of your bass sound in an outisde gig (no PA support), why anyone needs that much power is beyond me. Also, the 700 will allow you to really tap into that "Growl" GK is known for at lower volumes.

FWIW, I've always played my GK heads through Ampeg cabinets (previously a 610 HLF, 410 HLF, and now a 4x8 HE). I love the Ampeg/GK combo.

I'm thinking of moving into a GK MB200 for rehearsals or MB Fusion for gigs to lighten my load up a bit.

[shaboda]

anyone know what the time period was that these heads had problems? Or was it when they 1st came out?