GK 700RB II heads

4001 · #1 02-24-2011, 10:06 PM

I am about to plunk down a grand on two brand new GK 700 RB II heads.
Before I do that, can anyone tell me if two amp heads exist that are better than these for the same money or very close to it?

I just want to make sure I didn't miss anything for options.
I will be running each of these two heads through it's own 2X15 cab.

FretlessMainly · #2 02-24-2011, 10:14 PM

That seems like a good price to me. I have a 2006 700RB-II and absolutely love it. Are you planning to run RIC-o-Sound with these (based on your username and sig)? I run R-o-S w/ my4001FL and 4003FL but I prefer two different set-ups for this. More info forthcoming if that's what you're up to. But if you really just want to go this way and don't need me to wax on about R-o-S, then yes, that's a good price, I would think, although I've had no need to price them since I bought mine (for ~$600 in '06).

You're always likely to get opinions on "better" heads for the $, and all that, but if you like GKs...

Calaverasgrande · #3 02-24-2011, 10:39 PM

Ovation Magnums are kind of a Ric rip off. They have a stereo out jack as well.I used to run a fender bassman off my neck pickup and a peavey combo off the bridge. Was fun to put a fuzz pedal on one amp only.
More to the point, arent therer any stereo rigs out there that would allow you to have one amp, two ins, two outs? That would be great.

4001 · #4 02-24-2011, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Are you planning to run RIC-o-Sound with these (based on your username and sig)? I run R-o-S w/ my4001FL and 4003FL but I prefer two different set-ups for this. More info forthcoming if that's what you're up to. But if you really just want to go this way and don't need me to wax on about R-o-S,....

wax on......

Yes, this will be a stereo rig for my Rics, Fender Jazz Bass and soon to be wired for stereo Wal bass.

FretlessMainly · #5 02-25-2011, 12:02 AM

Well, it's a bit late, so I'll throw a few ideas down and maybe add more tomorrow. First off, I'll confine this to using a Rick in stereo as those ore the only stereo-wired basses I can speak to with personal experience.

My main rig is a GK 700RB-II with an 8 ohm GK neo 2x12, which I run in bi-amp mode with a speakon cable to control the tweeter separately from the front panel (Speakon cables only come from GK with the cabinets, not the heads). Last summer, I added an Avater 1x12 at 8 ohms to run the rig at 4 ohms in parallel. But the Avatar came with a 4 ohm replacement speaker, so I figured I could use the Avatar with the 4 ohm speaker either as a smaller rig or for RIC-o-Sound if I got another head. I picked up a Little Mark 250 for a good deal, so I can run the LM at a full 250 W into the Avatar w/ the 4 ohm speaker.

Generally, the common thought for R-o-S is to have a fairly clean head for the neck pickup and a "dirty" head for the bridge pickup. I bought the LM250 because it was a good deal and because I can use separate effects from each pickup to each rig (Tech21VTBass, Chorus, Phaser, Delay, Wah, etc.). If nothing else, these help to split my signal physically, since my stereo cable is only about 10-12 feet long and they don't drain my tone much when off.

So the LM250 and the GK 700RB-II heads are different enough, coupled with the different pedal setups to provide a wide range of sounds, even though Markbass and GK aren't really generally considered to be that far from one another (someone will disagree here...), at least compared to a rig that naturally ovedrives like Ampeg.

I take it that you already have the two 2x15 cabs. I suppose that's OK too (well, it would have to be!), although if I had a 15's cab, I'd go for 15s on the neck pickup and 4x10 on the bridge. But surprisingly, I really like some extra bass on the bridge pickup, and I often boost the bass and/or VPF knob on the Markbass that I use for the bridge pickup.

If you do get two 700RB-IIs, one thing you could do in addition to having different effects on each rig, is to use the contour on the bridge pickup rig but leave it off of the neck pickup. Or the opposite. Contour scoops mids and boosts lows and highs, as a simplification to avoid more typing at this hour.

Basically, consider what you have already in terms of cabinets, effects to differentiate the sounds (if you even use effects) and how different you want the two rigs to sound.

BluesBear · #6 02-25-2011, 02:09 AM

While I haven't run a stereo bass rig in over 25 tears, back with I did, after much experimentation, I decided that I preferred the sound of matched amp/speaker setups. I set the controls differently on each head though.

4001 · #7 02-25-2011, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Well, it's a bit late, so I'll throw a few ideas down and maybe add more tomorrow. First off, I'll confine this to using a Rick in stereo as those ore the only stereo-wired basses I can speak to with personal experience.

My main rig is a GK 700RB-II with an 8 ohm GK neo 2x12, which I run in bi-amp mode with a speakon cable to control the tweeter separately from the front panel (Speakon cables only come from GK with the cabinets, not the heads). Last summer, I added an Avater 1x12 at 8 ohms to run the rig at 4 ohms in parallel. But the Avatar came with a 4 ohm replacement speaker, so I figured I could use the Avatar with the 4 ohm speaker either as a smaller rig or for RIC-o-Sound if I got another head. I picked up a Little Mark 250 for a good deal, so I can run the LM at a full 250 W into the Avatar w/ the 4 ohm speaker.

Generally, the common thought for R-o-S is to have a fairly clean head for the neck pickup and a "dirty" head for the bridge pickup. I bought the LM250 because it was a good deal and because I can use separate effects from each pickup to each rig (Tech21VTBass, Chorus, Phaser, Delay, Wah, etc.). If nothing else, these help to split my signal physically, since my stereo cable is only about 10-12 feet long and they don't drain my tone much when off.

So the LM250 and the GK 700RB-II heads are different enough, coupled with the different pedal setups to provide a wide range of sounds, even though Markbass and GK aren't really generally considered to be that far from one another (someone will disagree here...), at least compared to a rig that naturally ovedrives like Ampeg.

I take it that you already have the two 2x15 cabs. I suppose that's OK too (well, it would have to be!), although if I had a 15's cab, I'd go for 15s on the neck pickup and 4x10 on the bridge. But surprisingly, I really like some extra bass on the bridge pickup, and I often boost the bass and/or VPF knob on the Markbass that I use for the bridge pickup.

If you do get two 700RB-IIs, one thing you could do in addition to having different effects on each rig, is to use the contour on the bridge pickup rig but leave it off of the neck pickup. Or the opposite. Contour scoops mids and boosts lows and highs, as a simplification to avoid more typing at this hour.

Basically, consider what you have already in terms of cabinets, effects to differentiate the sounds (if you even use effects) and how different you want the two rigs to sound.

Thanks FretlessMainly for the reply.
This rig will now be like the older brother to my last mini-rig. I was using the GK MBEIII combo amps. The tone section is very similar to the 700RB II with slight differences in the tone freq's. I really enjoyed the sound I was getting with the combos, especially for recording and thought it would only be logical to go with the 700RB II's. The 2 2X15's are going to kill on stage. (if I can get a friggin' gig!)

4001 · #8 02-25-2011, 11:25 AM

Bump for last minute opinion/s, cause I'm headin' out to GC with a fist full of cash.

christw · #9 02-25-2011, 11:28 AM

I love GK RB amps. I vote for buying used ones from a TB member but that's me. You'd spend more like $650 between the two of them. Heck, if buying used you could have a set of 1001RB for $800-$900.

4001 · #10 02-25-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

I love GK RB amps. I vote for buying used ones from a TB member but that's me. You'd spend more like $650 between the two of them. Heck, if buying used you could have a set of 1001RB for $800-$900.

I don't know. I'm wierd about used amps more than any other piece of gear.
The warranty is good to have even if it is a year.
The 700RB II's are more than enough power for me I would think.

I just want to make sure that I didn't miss something where someone might have A/B'd another amp with the 700RB II and might have found the other amp to be superior.

christw · #11 02-25-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4001

I don't know. I'm wierd about used amps more than any other piece of gear.
The warranty is good to have even if it is a year.
The 700RB II's are more than enough power for me I would think.

I just want to make sure that I didn't miss something where someone might have A/B'd another amp with the 700RB II and might have found the other amp to be superior.

Can't say that I can think of another.

4001 · #12 02-25-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

Can't say that I can think of another.

That's saying a lot then.

I have tried the amp and liked it and I really havent read any bad reviews for them. I'm sure there's someone that dosen't like them... and I have yet to get them set up with my cabs, so I hope I end up liking them enough to know that I made the right choice.
I'll have to decide that, but I think these heads will do the job, and then some.

xjeremiahx · #13 02-25-2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4001

That's saying a lot then.

I have tried the amp and liked it and I really havent read any bad reviews for them. I'm sure there's someone that dosen't like them... and I have yet to get them set up with my cabs, so I hope I end up liking them enough to know that I made the right choice.
I'll have to decide that, but I think these heads will do the job, and then some.

Tom,
Just giving you a heads up, I will be leaving for the day, but talk to George - he's my manager, I filled him in on the prices & such. He's got my cell as well, so if need be, you guys can just call me.
Thanks
Jeremy

lbwdog · #14 02-25-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4001

I think these heads will do the job, and then some.

+1...... It'll do any gig you need it to!

FretlessMainly · #15 02-25-2011, 01:28 PM

My only thoughts about the 2x15s is that while the 700RB-II can certainly deliver low end, its best feature is a dirty growl that I like with 10s and/or 12s. I'm not sure how it will come through with 15s.

Since you've likely already bought them, make sure you get your volume set up properly. There are effectively four volume knobs on the 700RB-II and you need to be aware of how they work interactively. Check out posts #8 and #9 here:

GK 700rb buzzes and distortion?

4001 · #16 02-25-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xjeremiahx

Tom,
Just giving you a heads up, I will be leaving for the day, but talk to George - he's my manager, I filled him in on the prices & such. He's got my cell as well, so if need be, you guys can just call me.
Thanks
Jeremy

Thanks Jeremy!

PM sent.

4001 · #17 02-25-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbwdog

+1...... It'll do any gig you need it to!

4001 · #18 02-25-2011, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

My only thoughts about the 2x15s is that while the 700RB-II can certainly deliver low end, its best feature is a dirty growl that I like with 10s and/or 12s. I'm not sure how it will come through with 15s.

Since you've likely already bought them, make sure you get your volume set up properly. There are effectively four volume knobs on the 700RB-II and you need to be aware of how they work interactively. Check out posts #8 and #9 here:

GK 700rb buzzes and distortion?

Thanks for the link. Good info for sure. Pretty much like the Microbass combos that I just sold to get these heads.
They are on the way. I should have them soon.
My rig is done (unless the speakers need any attention) and my G.A.S. pains have subsided.

georgestrings · #19 02-25-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4001

I just want to make sure that I didn't miss something where someone might have A/B'd another amp with the 700RB II and might have found the other amp to be superior.

I think you've made a fine choice - I've owned a couple of 700rb-IIs, and kept one of them after also getting into Mesa amps... 1st I had the Big Block 750, and thought the 700rb-II was better - I now have the M-pulse 600... Although I *feel* the M-pulse 600 is a better amp, I still have every intention of keeping my 700rb-II... IMO, the 700rb-II will eventually gain the same legendary status as it's older sibling, the 800rb - I think it's one of the best all-around bass amps ever made... Here's mine, sitting along with a whole pile of Mesa gear:

Here's when I had a pair of 'em:

georgestrings · #20 02-25-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

My only thoughts about the 2x15s is that while the 700RB-II can certainly deliver low end, its best feature is a dirty growl that I like with 10s and/or 12s. I'm not sure how it will come through with 15s.

Since you've likely already bought them, make sure you get your volume set up properly. There are effectively four volume knobs on the 700RB-II and you need to be aware of how they work interactively. Check out posts #8 and #9 here:

GK 700rb buzzes and distortion?

I use my 700rb-II thru a 215 during band rehearsals on a regular basis, and it sounds great thru 15s... This Peavey cab has Kappa LFAs in it, and really brings it with the 700rb-II:

- georgestrings