GK 800RB and VT Bass question

snowblinder · #1 07-20-2010, 01:55 PM

My SVT recently developed some problems and will probably be out of commission for a while. So in the meantime, I have acquired a Gallien Krueger 800RB head to use as a backup. I have absolutely zero experience with GK and, I have to say, this amp blew me away as soon as I turned it on. Thunderous.

Anyway....I have a Tech 21 VT Bass pedal, and I was thinking about trying it in the 800RB's effects loop, to get a little closer to the SVT's tone. My question is: how exactly would I go about hooking this up properly? I have never used an effects loop in my life, so please excuse my ignorance on the topic. I just want to avoid causing any technical problems by plugging something in wrong.

MingusBass · #2 07-20-2010, 02:28 PM

Connect a guitar cable from the effects send on your amp to the input of your VT BASS, and another guitar cable from the output of your VT Bass to the return on the 800RB.

BassMonstrum · #3 07-20-2010, 02:31 PM

Any spesific reason why you just couldn't plug your bass to the VT, then VT to the GK?

OR, if you want to bypass the GK-tone completely, you could plug your bass in the VT, then to the amp's effect return.

Loel · #4 07-20-2010, 02:32 PM

I use the VT with 700rbII, didn't like it through the effects loop,placing in front of the amp yeiled best results by far,
should get you close to tube sound..

snowblinder · #5 07-20-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMonstrum

Any spesific reason why you just couldn't plug your bass to the VT, then VT to the GK?

OR, if you want to bypass the GK-tone completely, you could plug your bass in the VT, then to the amp's effect return.

I tried it in front of the amp, with the GK's EQ set pretty much flat. Sounded great of course. I just wanted to try bypassing the GK preamp altogether and see how that worked. Exploring all options at the moment. The GK is a loaner for the time being. But if I can get a close approximation of the sound I get from my SVT, I may just start taking the GK on the road as my main amp.

BassMonstrum · #6 07-20-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowblinder

I tried it in front of the amp, with the GK's EQ set pretty much flat. Sounded great of course. I just wanted to try bypassing the GK preamp altogether and see how that worked. Exploring all options at the moment. The GK is a loaner for the time being. But if I can get a close approximation of the sound I get from my SVT, I may just start taking the GK on the road as my main amp.

As I mentioned above, to bypass the GK-preamp completely, plug bass in vt and vt in the amp's effect return.

Connecting it like MingusBass mentioned does not bypass the GK-preamp, as far as I know.

Alex1984 · #7 07-20-2010, 03:13 PM

The Tech21 manual suggests going directly to the power amp section using the effects return, and using the level knob as a volume control.

If you choose to put it in front, be sure to plug into the active input or a padded input and watch the level on your VT, since the output is several orders of magnitude higher than your bass's output. Also, you'd want to set your tone stack to neutral.

For me, I find plugging into the back to be much easier and hassle-free. Also, you don't have to use the effects send as input.

sowegafly · #8 07-20-2010, 04:47 PM

not to hijack this thread but I've had a 800rb forever and have never been an effect user. I've been eyeballing the vt pedal and have been wondering if its worth the buck fifty. I love the tone of my jazz bass thru the 800rb but I also love the tone of it thru an svt. does it really come close to the svt sound

joeydavidson · #9 07-20-2010, 05:29 PM

A lot of the Gk sound is in the poweramp, it's not neutral sounding, there's nothing to be gained from bypassing the preamp imo. I've tried it both ways with my 1001rbII and prefered it in front.

JimmyM · #10 07-20-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sowegafly

not to hijack this thread but I've had a 800rb forever and have never been an effect user. I've been eyeballing the vt pedal and have been wondering if its worth the buck fifty. I love the tone of my jazz bass thru the 800rb but I also love the tone of it thru an svt. does it really come close to the svt sound

it won't give you that big blooming feel of a tube amp, but it really does cop the tones very well. i've got a vt and i'm about to get a vt deluxe, and i have two vintage ampeg tube amps that i use the vt with all the time as an overdrive. beats turning an svt up past distortion and getting fired

also, i've tried it in amps both in the effects return and bass -> vt -> amp input, and honestly i don't hear much of a difference. the vt kind of "takes over" your amp no matter what you do.

snowblinder · #11 07-22-2010, 03:13 PM

Update: I had some time to play around with the amp, with and without the VT pedal. I definitely prefer it with the pedal in front, rather than in the effects loop. I use the recommended SVT settings in the VT's manual, and have the GK's EQ set completely flat except for the low mids, which are slightly boosted to about 2:00. The cab is an Ampeg 8x10, and I'm playing a P-Bass with an Antiquity II pickup. It's pummelling! It definitely comes really, really close to the sound of my SVT, but seems punchier to my ears. Louder too, believe it or not. I had to use the GK's -10dB option for fear of blowing my speakers, and it's still deafening at half volume. Anyone here familiar with the band Turbonegro? It sounds EXACTLY like the bass tone on their album Scandinavian Leather.

It seriously sounds incredible. It's THE sound I've been hearing in my head for so long. I've found my new touring amp, and couldn't be happier. Thanks everyone for your input.

megadan · #12 07-22-2010, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowblinder

Update: I had some time to play around with the amp, with and without the VT pedal. I definitely prefer it with the pedal in front, rather than in the effects loop. I use the recommended SVT settings in the VT's manual, and have the GK's EQ set completely flat except for the low mids, which are slightly boosted to about 2:00. The cab is an Ampeg 8x10, and I'm playing a P-Bass with an Antiquity II pickup. It's pummelling! It definitely comes really, really close to the sound of my SVT, but seems punchier to my ears. Louder too, believe it or not. I had to use the GK's -10dB option for fear of blowing my speakers, and it's still deafening at half volume. Anyone here familiar with the band Turbonegro? It sounds EXACTLY like the bass tone on their album Scandinavian Leather.

It seriously sounds incredible. It's THE sound I've been hearing in my head for so long. I've found my new touring amp, and couldn't be happier. Thanks everyone for your input.

Man, I have been avoiding getting a VT bass for forever... I use an 800RB and am pretty happy with the tone... now you are flaring up my GAS again!!