I have to use the backline at a show (800rb)

[marlond]

So the next show I'm playing is at a club and there are so many bands I have to use the backline they supply.

They will have a:
--- Gallien-Krueger 800RB Head
--- Hartke 15
--- Hartke 4X10

I know this is good, but I have a dilemma and not much time on stage to tweak.

I have never used a 800RB, I know they get a lot of love. I have an Aguilar Tone Hammer.

I have been considering slaving the GK to the Tone Hammer and using the DI on the Tone hammer. Would that be fine? Or would there be a better option?

I play Rock/Pop using a Ric with my fingers.

[cableguy]

I don't know about the GK heads but I've bypassed the EQ sections of some heads by going directly out of my Sansamp DI into the effects return. You might be able to do the same with the tone hammer. That way you would just be useing the power amp section of the GK. You'll need to check the signal path of the amp.

[JimmyM]

if you can operate a bass, you can operate a gk. might not have too long to cop a sound you love, but they're pretty easy to operate, so you should be able to get one you at least like. but using the tone hammer in the return isn't a bad idea at all.

[marlond]

So sending the Tone hammer into the return should work to slave the GK. I know you can use the send of one head into the return of another and be ok. But that is all line level stuff.

I'm sure the GK will be ok, I'm new to bass and still trying to get MY stuff set up and sounding good. So playing my first show with a completely different amp is not the best thing right now.

[4Mal]

Sounds like. Mybe there is a sound guy and FOH ? Send him the tone hammer and don't sweat the back line. That's a decent middle of the road rig. It should be. Pretty user friendly.

[jackcheez]

Originally Posted by marlond

So playing my first show with a completely different amp is not the best thing right now.

It will make a MAN out of you !!

Start by pushing it the mid contour button. That's the middle of the three buttons on the left. Treble, high mid, low mid, and bass at 12 o'clock. Add a good amount of boost. That's the knob with the input next to it on the right. At least 12 o'clock. Then season to taste with the treble mids and bass.

Should be fine.

[craig.p]

Guess I have a totally different take on this. I say don't enable the contour feature on the GK. In fact, run everything flat on the GK and plug your bass right into it, i.e. forget any stomp boxes you're currently using. Start from that baseline, and from there make only very small, subtle changes to the GK to fine-tune the sound. GK tone controls do a lot without much rotation. I'd suggest that it's highly unlikely you won't find a tone you like going straight to the GK and managing its tone controls wisely.

Keep the context in mind, too: you're going to have mains support, so in effect the GK will be serving as your own stage monitor -- nothing more. Nor should you try to make it do anything more than that, because all you'll wind up doing is causing headaches for the mains system and then your aggregate sound (i.e. what the audience hears) will... suck. The bass the audience hears will not be up to you but rather will be up to the sound man. He may or may not be receptive to your approaching him (politely and with due deference) to discuss what sound you're looking for. If he is, then try to make it a shared effort to achieve the sound you want the audience to hear. Trust his judgment: if he says the TH is unnecesary to achieve that sound out front, then drop the matter right there and go straight into the GK as I said above. Also be aware that it's not uncommon for little or no consideration to be given to supporting acts' sound quality, relative to the headliners' sound quality. I'm not sure where you are on the bill, but it's just something to be prepared for, expectations-wise. And then finally, time pressures between acts will almost guarantee you'll have zero time to dial in your sound, and this is another argument for "the simpler the better," i.e going direct into the GK without stopping off at the TH. The more knobs you have to spin to get a reasonable sound, especially under time constraints, the more potential you have for failure.

Hope this helps.

[Floridabwoy]

why don't you just set everything flat, and use your tonehammer for tweeking. You know what sounds good on that right?

[ajunea3]

Funny, I played a gig a few weeks ago with a supplied backline, and they had the exact same rig (minus the 1x15). I wonder if the GK/Hartke combo is becoming the standard backline these days?

The rig sounded great. This is coming from a guy who usually plays a SVT/8x10. You won't need to do much eq'ing. I'd leave it mostly flat and boost the mids slightly if you need more stage volume.

[lbwdog]

Originally Posted by ajunea3

I wonder if the GK/Hartke combo is becoming the standard backline these days?

Go back twenty years.... every other show I did had this same or similar combination. It's been a reliable backline rig for quite some time now.
Oh yeah....when it wasn't an 800RB it was an SVT!

[parsons]

Lend your bass to the band before you and then adjust your tone after listening to their set! hahaa.

Damn, they wont let you even bring your own head? Typically huge shows here that supply backline just give you a cab.

[jaywa]

Not sure I'd use that Contour button either. The "scooped" sound is great solo but when you have to hear yourself among a full band you need those mids honkin through. Which is exactly what the Contour switch cuts out.

[lbwdog]

The "Contour" depends on what cabs and room acoustics. I will say this; with the right cab, G-K's "contour" switch engaged sounds better to me than most others.

[Jerry Ziarko]

Hartke cabs and a 800RB, or a 400RB, is an awesome match. You can use the box, but honestly as Jimmy mentioned, their simplicity is part of their beauty. I say just plug in and let er' rip!

[marlond]

Simplicity is why I'm thinking about trying to slave the 800RB to the Tone Hammer. Then it is just using the Tone Hammer as a pre amp and the GK becomes a glorified stage monitor.

As for the band we are on later. It is a benefit show with just local bands and I guess the manager is looking forward to our hearing us playing. That's always a good thing, right?

I guess it is just going to be trial by fire.

[BLDavis]

So your playing a gig with supplied backline used by several different bands and limited or no sound check time. If there was ever a time to adhere to the K.I.S.S. principle this is it.
That rig is a classic, especially for pop/rock. I used one just like it all during the '80s in pop/rock and country bands. I'm still using an 800RB head and it's almost impossible not to get a useable tone out of it.
Set it flat, voice filters off, boost to 12:00, gain to 12:00 and add master volume as needed. A little tweeking with the HI & LO Mids after the first song and you should be good to go.
Good luck with your gig, B.

[will33]

I say do NOT use any of the contour buttons, make sure they're all out, then make sure the 4/5 string button is set to 4 string, even if you play a 5. Set all the eq knobs at noon and turn the boost up to 9 or 10 o'clock, that'll give it a little more gain or "oomph" but stay relatively clean. If you want more growl, add more boost. Go around to the back of the amp and make sure it's set to full range, not biamp and make sure both cabs are plugged into the "low" outputs. Consider that your starting sound and adjust to taste from there. The eq knobs on that amp are in good spots and a little tweak goes a long way. Shouldn't have any problem getting a good sound from that amp whether you like it crystal clear or a little dirty.

[lbwdog]

Originally Posted by will33

I say do NOT use any of the contour buttons, make sure they're all out, then make sure the 4/5 string button is set to 4 string, even if you play a 5. Set all the eq knobs at noon and turn the boost up to 9 or 10 o'clock, that'll give it a little more gain or "oomph" but stay relatively clean. If you want more growl, add more boost. Go around to the back of the amp and make sure it's set to full range, not biamp and make sure both cabs are plugged into the "low" outputs. Consider that your starting sound and adjust to taste from there. The eq knobs on that amp are in good spots and a little tweak goes a long way. Shouldn't have any problem getting a good sound from that amp whether you like it crystal clear or a little dirty.

You're confusing the 700/1001 RB with the 800RB, which doesn't have the 4/5 button, and the crossover switch is on front. Same basics apply though. With most all controls set at 12:00, and switches off (except BOOST), the 800RB provides an excellent platform to dial in your tones.

[kcarr]

The 800RB does not have 4/5 button. I used the same rig for years--ALWAYS bi-amped--and loved it! It will take you no longer than 5 mins. to find the tone and sound you are looking for.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jackcheez

It will make a MAN out of you !!

Start by pushing it the mid contour button. That's the middle of the three buttons on the left. Treble, high mid, low mid, and bass at 12 o'clock. Add a good amount of boost. That's the knob with the input next to it on the right. At least 12 o'clock. Then season to taste with the treble mids and bass.

Should be fine.

+1... ignore the filters, set the tone controls to noon to start out (remember that GK places the order backwards... starting with treble and ending with bass from the input jack). There are two masters on the 800.... only one will do anything since you won't be biamping.. that can be a bit confusing also.

The Boost (edit: misnamed it 'Drive') control is a fun knob, and is the 'GK grind' tone... crank that a bit, dial in a touch of low end if need, and you are off and running. One of the best 'out of the box' sounding heads with a simple 410 in hostory (if a little thin down low by today's standards).