Gallien Krueger GK 800RB Discontinued -- Long Live The 800RB!

[NDpeppers]

@Standalone-thats the setup i want! 800rb with a 400rb on top!

[spacebassed]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

You guys need to get with the times. What are you? A bunch of guitards, forever pining for crappy "vintage" gear?

The 800RB played its role, and occupies a significant place - in bass guitar amplification history. But it was a dinosaur: underpowered, with very limited EQ, with a hardwired voicing that was incompatible with modern extended-range instruments, etc. etc. You couldn't even order one with Speakon jacks - it was 1/4" phone jacks only. That should tell you something...

MM

I guess by this logic my Ampeg B15's are totally worthless.

[spacebassed]

...and to me it was the "underpowered" GK's (800RB and 400RB) that had the trademark growl that I find lacking in their higher powered offerings. Now if I can just get someone to fix one of my 90's GK MB150s's (I've got three of them - ALL with power supply problems).

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

...and to me it was the "underpowered" GK's (800RB and 400RB) that had the trademark growl that I find lacking in their higher powered offerings. Now if I can just get someone to fix one of my 90's GK MB150s's (I've got three of them - ALL with power supply problems).

This is what Robert Gallien himself says. You have to push the rails to get the growl. To get that sound, it's better to have a lower powered amp and push it than to have 1000 Watts of exploding power you will probably never use or need.

[Standalone]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

This is what Robert Gallien himself says. You have to push the rails to get the growl. To get that sound, it's better to have a lower powered amp and push it than to have 1000 Watts of exploding power you will probably never use or need.

That's why my 400RB is so awesome for club gigs. I don't push all the way into growl land, but the amps sings musically when pushed a little. And boy does it love singing though my Bag Ends.

[NDpeppers]

i already have a new 800rb but found a good condition 800rb from the 80's era on Craigslist for $250! i will be a pround owner of two classic 800rbs and two 115b's from the 80's

Go Me!

[ljazz]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

...and to me it was the "underpowered" GK's (800RB and 400RB) that had the trademark growl that I find lacking in their higher powered offerings. Now if I can just get someone to fix one of my 90's GK MB150s's (I've got three of them - ALL with power supply problems).

700rbII is definitely not lacking the growl. In fact (silly me), I got rid of a 800rb earlier this year, because I was able to nail the 800rb's tone after a bunch of a/b'ing with the 700rbII, and I really wanted to go even lower with the power..... picked up a '90 400rb as a replacement, which is perfect for that. Anyway, don't be too turned off by the newer rb stuff..... the 400rbIV and the 700rbII have the growl going in spades.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

...and to me it was the "underpowered" GK's (800RB and 400RB) that had the trademark growl that I find lacking in their higher powered offerings. Now if I can just get someone to fix one of my 90's GK MB150s's (I've got three of them - ALL with power supply problems).

Contact jason@gallien.com

[NDpeppers]

UPDATE

the new (old) 800rb on top of my actual new one!

[Hnz]

Ehm.., don't get it. On the new GK website, they still list the 800RB!?
http://www.gallien-krueger.com/products/rb-heads/

[NDpeppers]

Originally Posted by Hnz

Ehm.., don't get it. On the new GK website, they still list the 800RB!?
http://www.gallien-krueger.com/products/rb-heads/

its still on the site, but it was heard from the word of the man hinmself. no longer in production. im glad a bought one of the last new ones. though my 800rb from the 80;s sounds tones more better.

[AdamR]

800RB is the best $350 I ever spent.

[husky123]

I go through these phases. I bring out all my other amps (and I have quite a few). The last couple months I've mainly been playing my Mesa M9 and it is beastly for sure.

But then, I decide to dust off the ole 800RB and bam, there it is. The tone of that amp just never gets old to me. Through my 215 at 4 ohm it has plenty of juice for anything I need it to do. It's just one of those amps that have "it".

[tjh]

I wish I could get to use it more too ... but with a 400RB (it was two 400's until I sent one to ljazz where I see it is getting plenty of love ), and more and more things coming along requiring less and less, I am actually considering a 200MB just to toss in the bag and take along with of the little 110's ... I should at least take it out and let it talk to me from time to time I suppose ... thanks for the reminder

[ljazz]

Originally Posted by tjh

I wish I could get to use it more too ... but with a 400RB (it was two 400's until I sent one to ljazz where I see it is getting plenty of love ), and more and more things coming along requiring less and less, I am actually considering a 200MB just to toss in the bag and take along with of the little 110's ... I should at least take it out and let it talk to me from time to time I suppose ... thanks for the reminder

Tons of love! I actually prefer it to the 800rb I let go of earlier this year. It's got a "lo-fi" vibe to it that I couldn't get out of the 800rb. I turn the tweeters down in my 112 neos, and it spanks! Very fun and functional little head! Everyone should have one!

[FuNkyLoWNotEs]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

This is what Robert Gallien himself says. You have to push the rails to get the growl. To get that sound, it's better to have a lower powered amp and push it than to have 1000 Watts of exploding power you will probably never use or need.

This is exactly correct! The 800RB has all the power most of us will ever need

[DieselKTM]

I have used my 800RB faithfully for 20years...

Many compliment my tone.

Guess I'll buy a used one and put it away.

I have an eden and rarely use it for gigs.. the old RB just works.

[will33]

I blew the outputs on my 800RB by mistakenly and stupidly running it at 2ohms for two rehearsals, two full 4 hour gigs and part of a 3rd, (yeah, it took that long to kill it). I have a bunch of deltalite speakers here that all look identical except 2 of them are 4ohm models. Cheapass meter was acting up and I installed the wrong ones.

I'll be fixing it but in the meantime I picked up an old 400Rb for $150 that runs great and I've been enjoying it quite a lot. With my speaker compliment and the size of most of my gigs, I can run it right up to the edge and end up at just the right spot in volume. These things really do have a nice growl to them.

[AdamR]

I find it odd they would re-release the 400rb and discontinue the 800rb

[B-string]

Originally Posted by AdamR

I find it odd they would re-release the 400rb and discontinue the 800rb

400RB IV replaces the BL600, the 800RB had gotten just too expensive to produce I would bet.