GK 700 RB dilemma.

powellmacaque · #1 05-30-2010, 02:43 PM

So I love the tone of my 700RB (mk-1) 80% of the time. I love the "grind" and I love the clarity and warmth.

The other 20% of the time I have two problems: one is that I feel like I don't have enough headroom. I play in rather loud groups and while I can hear myself and amy bandmates can hear me, in order to get that loud I'm at that fine line of great tone and crappy tone. I'd like to be able to have a little more dynamics. Right now I need to turn the volume, woofer, and boost controls up to 12:00 to even be audible, and I typically end up crawling up to 2 or 3 o'clock on certain songs and I normally boost all my EQ on my Stingray or Jag. This leads to performance problems, and I've had my amp overheat (partially because I live in Florida and rehearsal is in a garage). How do I solve this problem? I'm running out of a 410SBX+ (800W @ 8ohms) and 115SBX-II (400W @ 8ohms). This problem happens whether running the cabs together or separately, and with both cabs.

My second problem is I would like to have two tones: the grindy and aggressive GK and then something a little bit more modern-warm. Something room filling and deep, good for reggae type tone. Would I need two amps for this?

Breslin dp · #2 05-30-2010, 02:54 PM

It sounds like you need a GK 2001 rb. It has plenty of head room; 2 channels; and the tone is super crisp. I run mine bridged into a GK neo 410 8 ohm cab. I am plenty loud with a punk or metal band.

jam.majors · #3 05-30-2010, 02:58 PM

You shouldn't run that amp into both cabs, as that puts it at 2 ohms and the manual on the GK site says that's a no-no. So pick which cab you like better until you get a bigger amp (like the 2001).

Or if you love the tone, get a power amp and run the GK signal out to that.

flipper_gv · #4 05-30-2010, 02:59 PM

I know the m-9 could do this but isn't the problem is the 115 being overpowered? I mean the head is 480 watts at 4 ohms and the cab is 400 W.

I honestly think you might just need more power. That's why the m-9 could do the trick. It's intensely loud and can give some grit.

Jeff Scott · #5 05-30-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powellmacaque

I normally boost all my EQ on my Stingray or Jag.

Maybe that is part of your problem, way too much bottom and top and little to no mids.

powellmacaque · #6 05-30-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jam.majors

You shouldn't run that amp into both cabs, as that puts it at 2 ohms and the manual on the GK site says that's a no-no. So pick which cab you like better until you get a bigger amp (like the 2001).

Or if you love the tone, get a power amp and run the GK signal out to that.

Sorry, let me edit it. They're both running @ 8ohms apiece, so 4ohms when run together.

powellmacaque · #7 05-30-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipper_gv

I know the m-9 could do this but isn't the problem is the 115 being overpowered? I mean the head is 480 watts at 4 ohms and the cab is 400 W.

I honestly think you might just need more power. That's why the m-9 could do the trick. It's intensely loud and can give some grit.

Mine is the first generation, so it's 100W less than the newer versions. Plus I was under the assumption that when running two cabs, it' splits it so I'd be running 190W @4ohms into each cab, correct?

powellmacaque · #8 05-30-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Maybe that is part of your problem, way too much bottom and top and little to no mids.

I even boost the mids on my Stingray. I am not a fan of a scooped tone at all, and I normally run my EQ on my amp with a small treble cut, hi mids flat, low mids slightly boosted, and lows flat.

DavePlaysBass · #9 05-30-2010, 04:03 PM

Not sure how efficient the cabs your are running. You might want to look into more efficient cabinets.

Maybe you should look at the 1001 RB for more head room and they are reasonably priced.

As for the deep reggae tone, passive tone control or active EQ on the bass should get you some variation along with pickup pan. I find I can get a very warm deep tone with my MB-500 (virutually same Eq) by cutting the tweeter in the cabinet and rolling back on the passive tone control on the bass.

KsPiNeSh · #10 05-30-2010, 05:20 PM

The 2001 RB is a solid choice for both more headroom and different tones, although some EQing could do the trick as well. You could also look into multi-channel amps (the Genz Benz GBE 1200/Mesa Titan V12 come to mind) or even just throw a pedal in front of your amp for variation as desired.

powellmacaque · #11 05-30-2010, 05:45 PM

Would the Fusion be a good choice?

I guess what I'm looking for is an Ampeg type warmth with GK tone. Plus the motorized EQ and dual channels looks great.

Can anybody send me clips of this amp with different EQ settings?

**B-string** · #12 05-30-2010, 05:59 PM

Don't have any clips but you are on a good track with the Fusion thought.
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jelwood · #13 05-30-2010, 07:03 PM

If you have to crank that amp with those two cabinets just for PRACTICE, you guys are practicing way too loud

The Fusion would definitely get you some different tones. The ones you are looking for? No idea, you'd have to go play one and try it for yourself. But if you want more volume, more watts isn't necessarily the best way to go. You want cabinets with higher sensitivity. A cabinet with 99db sensitivity is going to be half as loud as a 102db cabinet at the same wattage rating. In other words, go up 3db in sensitivity and you get twice as loud. If you're looking to get twice as loud with watts, you have to get something around 4 times as many watts as you already have

If you want to tear walls down, get better cabs AND a head with more watts

The GK RBH series cabinets are the loudest cabinets GK makes.

jtc_hunter · #14 05-30-2010, 07:21 PM

With that setup, I cant believe you arnt "loud enough"? Either your bandmates are way too loud, or have you tried raising the height of your pickups. That will gain you more volume also.

powellmacaque · #15 05-30-2010, 07:40 PM

I've got a lot to compete with, Fender twin reverb, two Marshall rigs (we use three guitars, slide, rhythm, and lead), harmonica, vocals, violin, and a full drum set.

I get loud enough, but my amp gets pushed really hard, and it heats up quite a bit. I want to be able to get that loud without pushing so hard. I've had it die on me after extended periods. Remember, the 700rb is the original, so I'm running 100W less than the current models. I really do love the tone on this thing, but I would like more headroom.

Are the SBX models bad with efficiency? I just got them because they were the only ones I could play before buying besides the backline and goldine series.

jelwood · #16 05-30-2010, 08:06 PM

The SBX isn't bad nor are they the greatest with efficiency. They are better than the goldline and BLX series, but the RBH cabs are GK's masterpieces.

powellmacaque · #17 05-30-2010, 08:08 PM

Is the RBH series more efficient than the Neo series?

Jeff Scott · #18 05-30-2010, 08:32 PM

I use to have two of the original 700RB amps, running it (only one at a time, one was a spare) into two EV B-210 cabinets, usually stacked vertically. They got plenty loud and the amp never got hot, only mildly warm air ever came out of the front vents.

You guys are practicing too loud, it seems.

jtc_hunter · #19 05-30-2010, 08:35 PM

I run 2 Avatar SB112 Neos (newer ones) 8ohm ea,. thru an MB-500. I think the Neos are very efficient, but I have not played thru the cabs you have. I do know that I could absolutely piss off my lead guitar (100 watt tube) and our lead vocalist by making them not hear themselves at all. Our other 2 guitar players (60 and 40 watt tubes)play down fairly well, but our drummer is kinda loud at times. I have never had to run my master past 11:00 ever, anywhere.

Also, have you had the amp checked by a reliable tech lately? Maybe its not running at its best?

powellmacaque · #20 05-30-2010, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtc_hunter

I run 2 Avatar SB112 Neos (newer ones) 8ohm ea,. thru an MB-500. I think the Neos are very efficient, but I have not played thru the cabs you have. I do know that I could absolutely piss off my lead guitar (100 watt tube) and our lead vocalist by making them not hear themselves at all. Our other 2 guitar players (60 and 40 watt tubes)play down fairly well, but our drummer is kinda loud at times. I have never had to run my master past 11:00 ever, anywhere.

Also, have you had the amp checked by a reliable tech lately? Maybe its not running at its best?

I had a tech check everything, and he said the inside was flawless and he only had to clean the pots a little bit.

I just thought of something: I stand directly in front of my amp, about 4 feet away. Would it be better to stand a bit farther away? According to my guitarist, they can hear me perfectly and they're 25 feet away.