how much louder (GK content)

BassGreaser · #1 02-18-2011, 05:01 AM

I have a 400RB II and was thinking about upgrading to the 800RB. I would run the 800RB fullrange and not use the 100watt channel. So my question is ... How much louder will would the 800 be to me 400, and is it worth getting?

AdamR · #2 02-18-2011, 05:11 AM

Im not sure how much louder the 800 would be, Is the 400 not loud enough for you ?

BassGreaser · #3 02-18-2011, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamR

Im not sure how much louder the 800 would be, Is the 400 not loud enough for you ?

well not yet, but I have been using it with a S12-D (8ohm) cab, and I do plan on getting either another S15-D or a D12-D (4ohm D12-D) for more volume, but if the 800rb will have ton more head room then I will plan to get one of those. Right now I am just really loving the tone of my 400RB II/S12-D rig

delta7fred · #4 02-18-2011, 06:18 AM

As the S12-D is only rated for '200 Watts continuous sine wave' why would you want to drive it with up to 800W?

DWBass · #5 02-18-2011, 06:25 AM

The 800 maxes out at 300w. Not gonna be much louder. Maybe the 700RB-II will give you some added volume @ 480w at 4ohms.

delta7fred · #6 02-18-2011, 06:41 AM

Get more speakers, or speaker area, not amp power.

There are lots of threads on this subject.

delta7fred · #7 02-18-2011, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

The 800 maxes out at 300w. Not gonna be much louder. Maybe the 700RB-II will give you some added volume @ 480w at 4ohms.

Sorry, not familiar with GK amps. I assumed that 400 and 800 was the RMS power output. I'll keep quiet in future.

tdub0199 · #8 02-18-2011, 06:48 AM

The 700RB II would be alot louder than the 400.... you can get really close to the 400 tone with the 700RB II... I have a 1001RB II and it is louder than I will ever need....

anonymous101511 · #9 02-18-2011, 06:49 AM

it would be noticeably louder but maybe not significantly so. I love that 800RB head, though. You would be surprised how good that 100 watt channel sounds running full range into an 8 ohm cab, too! I've run a pair of 4x10" cabs with that head many times and the 100 watt channel sounds great running either full range or bi- amp'd.

georgestrings · #10 02-18-2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

The 700RB II would be alot louder than the 400.... you can get really close to the 400 tone with the 700RB II... I have a 1001RB II and it is louder than I will ever need....

Yeah, if I were top make a move like that, it would be from the 400rb-II to the 700rb-II...

- georgestrings

NKUSigEp · #11 02-18-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassGreaser

I have a 400RB II and was thinking about upgrading to the 800RB. I would run the 800RB fullrange and not use the 100watt channel. So my question is ... How much louder will would the 800 be to me 400, and is it worth getting?

This question is flawed because an amp without a cabinet makes no sound at all...so the answer is that it won't be any louder or any softer than the other.

Now, if you want more volume, add more speakers to your setup. If you get to a point that you can't add anymore speakers due to impedance issues and you're still not getting enough volume, upgrade to the more powerful amp and then keep adding speakers.

There's no definitive answer because there are too many variables. Will it be louder? Yes. How much? No one here can tell you unless they use your exact bass, rig, and EQ/level settings.

BassGreaser · #12 02-18-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

This question is flawed because an amp without a cabinet makes no sound at all...so the answer is that it won't be any louder or any softer than the other.

Now, if you want more volume, add more speakers to your setup. If you get to a point that you can't add anymore speakers due to impedance issues and you're still not getting enough volume, upgrade to the more powerful amp and then keep adding speakers.

There's no definitive answer because there are too many variables. Will it be louder? Yes. How much? No one here can tell you unless they use your exact bass, rig, and EQ/level settings.

I fully understand what you are saying and plan on adding at least a S15-D to my setup (400RB II/S12-D) I was just wondering if there was a big step up in volume with the 800 compured to the 400.

RickenBoogie · #13 02-18-2011, 12:03 PM

+1 volume is more about speakers than it is wattage.

ezstep · #14 02-18-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delta7fred

Sorry, not familiar with GK amps. I assumed that 400 and 800 was the RMS power output. I'll keep quiet in future.

Hey, this is how we learn, around here. When I say something stupid (often), someone will call me out and I learn something from it.

Please, don't keep quiet....

ezstep · #15 02-18-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassGreaser

I fully understand what you are saying and plan on adding at least a S15-D to my setup (400RB II/S12-D) I was just wondering if there was a big step up in volume with the 800 compured to the 400.

Short answer: No.

From what I am reading, you are looking at 180/280 wts vs. 200/300 wts (8 ohm/4 ohm). If that is accurate, you wouldn't hear any difference whatsoever. When you DOUBLE the power, you will hear a slight difference in volume. To double the volume, you will need TEN TIMES the power. It gets complicated, but no, you would not have any difference in volume.

Look more at adding a speaker rather than changing the amp.

wave rider · #16 02-18-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassGreaser

I fully understand what you are saying and plan on adding at least a S15-D to my setup (400RB II/S12-D) I was just wondering if there was a big step up in volume with the 800 compured to the 400.

Given that you really like your current sound, get the S15-D first, then decide if you need more watts. The BEs are on the efficient side of the scale...

=wr=

DWBass · #17 02-18-2011, 12:41 PM

For what it's worth, 200w can be pretty loud. I gigged a Fender BXR200 combo for a few years and that thing got loud. Kept getting asked to turn down. So yeah, try adding some extra speakerage and see what happens.

DavePlaysBass · #18 02-18-2011, 06:05 PM

+2. Get more speakers. Get a 4 ohm total load (two eight ohm cabinets or one four ohm cabinet).

FretlessMainly · #19 02-18-2011, 07:56 PM

A couple of thoughts as a 700RB-II owner:

1. Your 400RB-II is in the same series as the 700RB-II and the 1001RB-II, so you'll be familiar with the controls and tones. The 700RB-II is more powerful than the 800RB and it weighs a few pounds less. The 800RB is a nice head, but it's not too much of an improvement over what you already have for a fair bit of money.

2. No matter which head you go with, as far as cabs go, it's my position that you're better off with two 8 ohm cabs (parallel = 4 ohms) than with with one 4 ohm cab that's twice the size. For smaller venues/rehearsals, you can bring just the one cab and for larger gigs bring both. This way, you can run your head up above the lower settings to let it speak (GKs need a bit of volume to really do their thing, as many rigs do). If you only have the large 4 ohm cabinet, you're potentially lugging more weight than you need, and in low volume situations, you're not getting the tone from your head that you should.

Planet Boulder · #20 02-18-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

The 700RB II would be alot louder than the 400.... you can get really close to the 400 tone with the 700RB II... I have a 1001RB II and it is louder than I will ever need....

Yep. I sold my 700RBII and bought the 1001RBII (which is, sadly, now being serviced

) and it is PAINFULLY loud. Played it in a medium-sized club through an 8 ohm Avatar 4x10 and couldn't turn it past 9 o'clock without blowing the other 4 members off the stage. That is one ridiculously loud amp.