GK 700RBII....pros and cons...

streetknight · #1 09-23-2011, 08:19 PM

What do those of you that have used or own the amp like and dislike about it? How versatile, etc.

somegeezer · #2 09-23-2011, 08:23 PM

Do a search. There's so much stuff on GKs and it's always the same questions.

Catbuster · #3 09-23-2011, 08:37 PM

GK stuff, mainly the RB series has been around since the dawn of Solid State technology. It wouldn't be around if it wasn't good. I had ONE 800RB for damn near fifteen years, and it worked when I sold it. So, it's reliable. I figure if survived touring with GN'R, it can survive anything. They're a very, very articulate amp. They cut well in any mix, and the 700 has a lot if power for it's watt rating.

The downside for some people is the 'sterile' sound. GKs are incredibly mid-heavy, something the RB series is especially well known for, which can lead to a lot of honk. They can get pretty snarly, and the 700 and 1001RB like their legs stretched out.

I like them. A lot. But they're a different animal than most amps. But that's also subjective...

cableguy · #4 09-23-2011, 08:43 PM

I like my 700RB-II. I run a sansamp BDDI in front for some tube emulation. With the right cab a very loud amp.

georgestrings · #5 09-23-2011, 09:52 PM

IMO, the 700rb-II is one of the best bass amps ever made - plenty versatile, with an excellent power to weight ratio... I definitely wouldn't call it "sterile" - I can warm mine up nicely with the Boost control... Although I mainly gig with an M-pulse 600, I'm also keeping my 700rb-II...

- georgestrings

streetknight · #6 09-24-2011, 07:01 AM

I have one, but I'm a noob. I bought it because of the love it gets around here. I've tried it thru several cabs and just haven't found the tone I want yet. I have a 210 and 610 now and just not happy. Thought I had the 610 traded for a 410, but it fell thru. I seem to remember really liking it thru the GK neo 410. Gonna go to GC and try one today.

Maybe I haven't spent enough time with the EQ. Right now I have volume noon, contour noon, presence 3 o'clock, all EQ noon, and woofer @ 9 o'clock. I really like the tone thru the 610 there, but if I crank the woofer to say noon or louder, it starts darting the cab out. I want a cleaner sound at that volume.

mouthmw · #7 09-24-2011, 07:21 AM

Perhaps your cabs are to blame. I used mine with Ampeg 810E and it KILLED. Played it yesterday through Ampeg 410HLF and I absolutely hated it.
I'm in the market for new cab now, I'm thinking of pairing it with NEO cabs and have though mostly about 410 and 2 212s.
I don't use the contour or presence too much though, I prefer the growly middly GK tone so I keep those counter clockwise.

georgestrings · #8 09-24-2011, 08:14 AM

I had the same experience with a 700rb-II thru an SVT-610HLF, but haven't ever had that problem with my PH610, PH810, the Goliath Sr, Megoliath, nor the SVT-410HLF or SVT810e...

IME, the 700rb-II routinely puts out more low end than the SVT-610HLF can handle at *my* typical volumes... I had one for about a month, and wanted to keep it because it was both lighter and taller than my PH610 - and a bit easier to load - but it just wouldn't get the job done *for me*...

IMO, the problem lies with the cab, OP...

- georgestrings

streetknight · #9 09-24-2011, 08:21 AM

I had a guy offer me a Megoliath for my 610...was just wanting better tone in a smaller package lol

armybass · #10 09-24-2011, 08:48 AM

I love the 700RBII. I am an old school 800RB guy from way back but the thing I love the most is the power of the 700. I run it as my power amp in front of my Alembic F1-X. I used to run it as a stand alone head and it is a great clean, powerful and dependable head. Megoliath and Goliath Sr and Goliath's are my favorite cabs.

and the big stage rig

Slowgypsy · #11 09-24-2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetknight

I have one, but I'm a noob. I bought it because of the love it gets around here. I've tried it thru several cabs and just haven't found the tone I want yet. I have a 210 and 610 now and just not happy. Thought I had the 610 traded for a 410, but it fell thru. I seem to remember really liking it thru the GK neo 410. Gonna go to GC and try one today.

Maybe I haven't spent enough time with the EQ. Right now I have volume noon, contour noon, presence 3 o'clock, all EQ noon, and woofer @ 9 o'clock. I really like the tone thru the 610 there, but if I crank the woofer to say noon or louder, it starts darting the cab out. I want a cleaner sound at that volume.

First... What brand/model of 210 & 610 are you using?

Second... What bass are you using? Active? Passive? Etc...

Third... Try these settings as a starting point for a cleaner sound.
volume: 11:00
Contour: off
Presence: off
Treble: 12:00
Hi Mid: 12:00
Low Mid: 3:00
Bass: 1:00
Boost: 9:00
Woofer: adjust for volume level. If you're going past 1:00, turn up the volume a bit.

These are just starting points. Give them a try. But the cabs and bass you're using have a lot of influence.

Gadgetjunky · #12 09-24-2011, 09:01 AM

I bought the 1001rbii and it's almost too much power. I can barely get it over 1 on the volume, so the 700rbii would be all I think I would really need.

capnsandwich · #13 09-24-2011, 09:10 AM

Pros: Headroom Galore, punches through walls, versatile, reliable, rack mountable (you don't have to purchase rack ears separately)

Cons: Heavy (compared to my MB500), has internal power surge protection that shuts the amp off without powering it down. This has shut down on me for no reason. I had to take it to the shop to get it working again even though the repairman couldn't find anything wrong with it.

5port · #14 09-24-2011, 09:18 AM

Cons: Been known to pop speaker coils. I have a friend with a 800RB that goes thru 10s like they are french fries. I sent him this the link to this thread :

GK 1001RB II Blowing out Speakers?

streetknight · #15 09-24-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slowgypsy

First... What brand/model of 210 & 610 are you using?

Second... What bass are you using? Active? Passive? Etc...

Third... Try these settings as a starting point for a cleaner sound.
volume: 11:00
Contour: off
Presence: off
Treble: 12:00
Hi Mid: 12:00
Low Mid: 3:00
Bass: 1:00
Boost: 9:00
Woofer: adjust for volume level. If you're going past 1:00, turn up the volume a bit.

These are just starting points. Give them a try. But the cabs and bass you're using have a lot of influence.

I have a GB neo 210 and SVT 610, both 4 ohm. peavey Cirrus active bass

Orpheus55 · #16 09-24-2011, 09:38 AM

I play mine through an Avatar 2x10, and it really is too powerful for my needs, but it sounds great. The Avatar non-neo cabs will take a lot of gas, and the 700 has it. I do find that I'm frequently spraying the pots as they tend to get scratchy fairly quickly in FL heat and humidity. I keep it in an SKB 3-spc rack with a ventilated plate over the extra space.

tombowlus · #17 09-24-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetknight

I have one, but I'm a noob. I bought it because of the love it gets around here. I've tried it thru several cabs and just haven't found the tone I want yet. I have a 210 and 610 now and just not happy. Thought I had the 610 traded for a 410, but it fell thru. I seem to remember really liking it thru the GK neo 410. Gonna go to GC and try one today.

Maybe I haven't spent enough time with the EQ. Right now I have volume noon, contour noon, presence 3 o'clock, all EQ noon, and woofer @ 9 o'clock. I really like the tone thru the 610 there, but if I crank the woofer to say noon or louder, it starts darting the cab out. I want a cleaner sound at that volume.

I don't think you've found the ideal cab combination yet, but one thing I would suggest is try turning the Contour all the way off and the Presence maybe most the way off, and then first try to dial in a good combination of the Volume and Master controls (with the EQ set flat). Once you have your favorite combination of Volume/Master, then work on tweaking the EQ. If that still doesn't get you there, try some Contour & Presence. That's just my approach, perhaps it will help.

mouthmw · #18 09-24-2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetknight

I have a GB neo 210 and SVT 610, both 4 ohm. peavey Cirrus active bass

Don't know the Genz Benz cabs, but the SVT 610HLF is just as horrible IMO as 410HLF - all muddy low end and no tightness at all. So those 2 Ampegs I'd avoid. 810s rule though.

**B-string** · #19 09-24-2011, 11:06 AM

Pros: Destined to be a classic "go to amp".
Cons: I don't have one yet!

onosson · #20 09-24-2011, 11:14 AM

Just to add my $.02 ...

I owned a 700RBII for about 10 years - just sold it this year. They are classic, reliable amps. They have a lot of features packed into a (pre-micro) small and light package.

That being said, I could *never* get the sound I really wanted out of it. I could get close... maybe 80-90% close, but there was always something lacking. I don't like the freq. positions of the 2 mid controls, and I *hated* the boost, anywhere higher than about 9:00. If you like where those three controls function, then this may be the amp for you. Also check out the contour and see if it's useful for you.

I now own an Eden WT400 and a Hartke LH500 - no trouble at all to get the tones I like on either of those. YMMV.