GK 700RB II vs GK Fusion Ultra-Light

BrianS198 · #1 12-10-2010, 09:08 PM

Hi everyone, I currently own a Gallien Krueger 700 RB II head with an Ampeg Classic SVT 410 cab and recently, a Fender PRO 212. I've had my eye on the GK Ultra-Light 500W Fusion Head for a bit (http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ead?sku=581055) so I've been considering getting that over my RB head for weight, tubes, and tone. So here's what I'm wanting to do. I want to sell my 700RB head and my Ampeg Classic. In return, I'll buy the Fusion head and buy an Avatar 210 bass cab.

So frankly, I just want an opinion. As an electric and upright player who does gigs anywhere from jazz and musicals to hard rock and metal, would this be a good exchange? It's not that I'm not happy with my current tonal options, I just think that the weight difference and ultimately tone would be better.

Thoughts? Thanks!

MysticMichael · #2 12-10-2010, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianS198

So frankly, I just want an opinion. As an electric and upright player who does gigs anywhere from jazz and musicals to hard rock and metal, would this be a good exchange?

I would think not. You might prefer the tone of the small rig, you might not. But there's no doubt that it'll move a LOT less air than your current rig.

That could be just fine for upright gigs, low-volume electric jazz and musical theatre dates. But for hard rock and metal, do you seriously think you'll be able to get by with just a 2x10?

MM

BrianS198 · #3 12-10-2010, 10:20 PM

Oops, I guess I didn't clarify, haha. I would use the Avatar 210 for small gigs, and when I wanted some more juice, I would use the Fender Pro 210 and the Avatar 210 together to make up the difference. I think that would be more than enough to compensate, don't you think?

acubass · #4 12-10-2010, 10:24 PM

That still seems like a step in the wrong direction cab wise? Just my opinion. What don't you like about the ampeg?

BrianS198 · #5 12-10-2010, 10:35 PM

When I compare the Fender PRO to the Ampeg, I feel like the Fender has a lot more clarity. The Ampeg just feels like it's kind of dark and it sounds more bassy than what I care for in a cab. It's a good cab, but I don't know that I like it all that much. It doesn't help much that it weighs a thousand pounds though either. Honestly, anymore, I play much more jazz than I do rock and it seems like the Ampeg only works well in rock scenarios while the Avatar / Fender stack would work well in all situations given that it can be split as well. :/

EDIT: The cab aside, what about the head? I haven't heard much about what the 700RB vs the Ultra Light Fusion head which is what the original question was in the first place.

MysticMichael · #6 12-10-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianS198

Oops, I guess I didn't clarify, haha. I would use the Avatar 210 for small gigs, and when I wanted some more juice, I would use the Fender Pro 210 and the Avatar 210 together to make up the difference. I think that would be more than enough to compensate, don't you think?

If the idea is to ditch the Ampeg mud (I agree), while developing more modularity, you might consider selling off both the Ampeg and Fender cabs, and pick up the MB Fusion - and a pair of 2x10 cabs of your choice: Avatar or otherwise. Eight ohms each, of course. I'd keep the 700RB-II if I were you.

This would yield a good deal of flexibility in your rigs, retaining the ability to get pretty loud when necessary - while achieving a much cleaner, crisper tone overall...

MM

BrianS198 · #7 12-11-2010, 01:23 AM

Ah, I see what you're saying. I like that idea. However, why keep the 700RB? As a back up?

jokerjkny · #8 12-11-2010, 02:43 AM

i know you're not quite looking for other suggestions, but you should check out the swr headlite. really digging mine w/ both my electric and upright stuff. the eq section is incredibly helpful, and the onboard compressor is pretty musical. highly recommended.

MysticMichael · #9 12-11-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianS198

However, why keep the 700RB? As a back up?

That, plus the fact that the 700RB-II is reputed to have a greater feel of "gravitas" in the sound - perhaps better for full-out rocking (though I don't speak from experience here).

Not to be a crank about this, but do some searches. You'll see what I mean...

MM

georgestrings · #10 12-11-2010, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

That, plus the fact that the 700RB-II is reputed to have a greater feel of "gravitas" in the sound - perhaps better for full-out rocking (though I don't speak from experience here).

Not to be a crank about this, but do some searches. You'll see what I mean...

MM

Yeah, IMO the 700rb-II will eventually be like the 800rb - a standard in bass amps... I've owned a couple, and although I mostly gig a Mesa M-pulse 600, I'll probably never part with my 700rb-II - it's really that good...

- georgestrings

BrianS198 · #11 12-12-2010, 11:10 AM

Dang, I never knew I bought such a standard, haha. I'm starting to rethink my decision here. I mean, I can't imagine that the extra ten pounds of weight will really affect me that much. Thanks for your candid advice everyone!

**crustychef** · #12 12-18-2010, 10:46 PM

I just ditched my 700 rbII for an MB Fusion. I play through TC Electronics RS210 and RS212 Cabs. I loved the 700rbII its was hard to let go and if I could have afforded it (relationship wise) I would have kept it as back up. The main reason I switched was I got tired of lugging it around. The tone was awesome, period. The other selling point of the MB Fusion was the fact that it could get the 700rbII tone and do the tube thing as well. It's no SVT and I mean that in a good way to my ears. It's tubey but articulate and can get that GK grind to come through. It's also a touch louder. The 700rbII only can push 480 watts unless it's going through a GK cab that is bi-amped, then it gets the full 530 watts. With the MB Fusion I get the whole 500 watts.
The TC cabs give me the 210 punch and 212 is all fat booty without the mud.

I just played a rock show on Wednesday with 6 other bands and we all shared gear. I provided the bass rig. This gave me a great opportunity to really hear it in live club setting. It did not disappoint. A lot of different styles of playing, a lot of different tones ranging from warm and fuzzy to articulate fast punching lines. I got a ton of compliments on it from the other bassists.

I don't see myself having any issues playing from small clubs to medium clubs and local outdoor festivals. IMO small, modular and powerful is the way to go.

4Mal · #13 12-19-2010, 12:31 AM

From what I've read on this forum, the MB fusion is killer. From the comments above, IMO the 700 is not even close to the 800 - tonally they are quite different. I can't see the 700ever being in the same league. The 1001RB-II I see as a classic. The 700 is merely an underpowered version...

As a GK fan, I'm eagerly awaiting a chance to work with the MB Fusion.

As it is my current GK is the MB2-500 A07. It's a great head and one that I run rather than an RB-II ...

Sinclair · #14 12-19-2010, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

I can't see the 700ever being in the same league. The 1001RB-II I see as a classic. The 700 is merely an underpowered version...

Underpowered? U must be kidding or never played one... the 700 has more than enough power for allmost anything and sounds warmer than the 1001. Personally I think there are more 700s out there..

Jaco who? · #15 12-19-2010, 05:13 AM

Personally, for the types of music I play, the 700 RBII with a pair of the GK Neo 2x12s sounds perfect, but I'm not you. You might see if you can test some out with your GK head and see what you think.

**crustychef** · #16 12-19-2010, 12:49 PM

yeah I never had any problems with power with 700rbII. Huge sound.

georgestrings · #17 12-19-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinclair

Underpowered? U must be kidding or never played one... the 700 has more than enough power for allmost anything and sounds warmer than the 1001. Personally I think there are more 700s out there..

No doubt - the 700rb-II can totally cop the 800rb's tone, and a whole lot more, besides being an extremely loud 480 watts... I wouldn't trade my 700rb-II for a 1001rb-II, since the 700rb-II suits *my* gigging needs way better...

Recently I loaned mine to another area bassist after his SVT bit the dust during soundcheck, and stuck around for the first couple of songs - it was a vivid reminder of just how good that amp sounds thru an SVT810e... Funny thing is, his own bandmates said they preferred the G-K sound over his Ampeg - hahaha!!!

- georgestrings

ljazz · #18 12-20-2010, 06:13 AM

Yeah, I don't by the "700 can't cop the 800" tone thing anymore. I have both, and while eq points are not the same, you can get there tonally. The 800 grinds at lower volumes, and to me, that is what people are hearing when saying they are different. The 800 sounds superb when you're pushing enough cone area....... the 700 sounds equally superb with even less cone area.

And trust me, if the 1001 sounded as good as the 700, I never would have returned the one I owned for a week back in '07. To get the 1001 to grind and warm up like the 700, you must crank the heck out of it, and I couldn't get there with a 112. If you're after super clean head room, the 1001 is a great head though. But is that what most experienced players are buying GK's for? ..... it's all about the grind, and it's the reason the 1001 won't be considered a classic.... it's just too much.