Practice Rig sounds surprisingly good

skidmarkbass · #1 02-12-2013, 07:11 AM

At our practice studio, I'm using a rig that sounds surprisingly good. It's an older GK rb800 head with an Acoustic 410 (New) and older Harke 210 cab. I'm almost tempted to play out with this rig.

jlepre · #2 02-12-2013, 07:36 AM

it's the cabs that make the difference. You're pushing 6 10" speakers, so you are really pushing some air.

bassgod0dmw · #3 02-12-2013, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidmarkbass

At our practice studio, I'm using a rig that sounds surprisingly good. It's an older GK rb800 head

No surprise to me! GK amps pretty much always sound good! 800RB's are legendary.

Art Araya · #4 02-12-2013, 08:18 AM

GK 800RB and 6-10s... of course it sounds good! It must sound awesome!

john m · #5 02-12-2013, 08:22 AM

Our practice rigs are better than our gigging (or only) rigs were 25 years ago. This goes for PA's too.

One advantage of getting old.

DudeLeap · #6 02-12-2013, 08:38 AM

Always loved 800rb's. How's the acoustic 410 sound solo? I'm interested in trying one out with my Bassman 135 price is real tempting...

jlepre · #7 02-12-2013, 09:33 AM

Just be careful if both cabs are 8 ohms that you don't push too hard. The 210 will fart out WAY before the 410.

skidmarkbass · #8 02-12-2013, 10:10 AM

The acoustic 410 by itself is pretty dark sounding, but the Harke 10's bring out the highs nicely. The Acoustic was a pretty inexpensive cab. My singer bought it just to keep in the studio.

skidmarkbass · #9 02-12-2013, 10:11 AM

no farting out of the 210, but it has only been used at practce volume.

jlepre · #10 02-12-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidmarkbass

no farting out of the 210, but it has only been used at practce volume.

That was what I was talking about. Watch it if/when you gig this combination.

dannylectro · #11 02-12-2013, 06:16 PM

The 800RB can bi-amp. Drop the 4 ohm 300W low out into the 4X10 and the 100W high out into the 2X10 and smile.... my experience with 800RB's is you have to push WAY too hard for them to break up in any meaningful way with 8 and 4 ohm loads... and if you're putting the 300W low into an 8 ohm load, dial the x-over down some and turn the output up.

jlepre · #12 02-12-2013, 06:24 PM

That's cool. I didn't know that.

dhsierra1 · #13 02-12-2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannylectro

The 800RB can bi-amp. Drop the 4 ohm 300W low out into the 4X10 and the 100W high out into the 2X10 and smile.... my experience with 800RB's is you have to push WAY too hard for them to break up in any meaningful way with 8 and 4 ohm loads... and if you're putting the 300W low into an 8 ohm load, dial the x-over down some and turn the output up.

could also run them full range that way, give both a shot and see what you think.

I usually use a 2-15 on the 300 watt section for most gigs and if I need more firepower (outdoors) then I go with one more 15 using the 100 watts section. Full range.

bedroommuso · #14 02-12-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

No surprise to me! GK amps pretty much always sound good! 800RB's are legendary.

+1 Wasn't expecting "practice rig' to be an 800RB, maybe a Peavey TNT if you're lucky..

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidmarkbass

I'm almost tempted to play out with this rig.

This is quite funny to read, I have an 400RB as my main amp.. gigging capability is a given. I can't help but wonder what those with lesser gigging rigs are thinking

cchorney · #15 02-12-2013, 10:18 PM

I gigged for quite a while with my 800rb into a 4ohm 215. It was loud as heck for its rated 300 watts. I rarely needed PA support. I never thought of doing it, but now I wish I had tried adding an 8ohm single 15 just to hear how it sounded!

dmusic148 · #16 02-12-2013, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannylectro

The 800RB can bi-amp. Drop the 4 ohm 300W low out into the 4X10 and the 100W high out into the 2X10 and smile....

You could do that, but be sure the 2x10 is an 8 ohm cab or else that 100 watt Hi amp will go poof.
For that matter, if you run both cabs together in ANY configuration with that amp they'd better BOTH be 8 ohm cabs or you'll be sorry.

dhsierra1 · #17 02-12-2013, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cchorney

but now I wish I had tried adding an 8ohm single 15 just to hear how it sounded!

makes a very noticeable difference and you get the added benefit of having the top 15" at pretty much ear level (I'm using JBL D140Fs)

two fingers · #18 02-12-2013, 10:35 PM

Man! Are you kidding? Those 400/800RB amps are the stuff of legends! Bi-amp those cabs and go nuts!

dmusic148 · #19 02-12-2013, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two fingers

Man! Are you kidding? Those 400/800RB amps are the stuff of legends! Bi-amp those cabs and go nuts!

Eh.....it sounds good on paper and I've tried it lots of times but always found it sounded better just running everything full range. By all means try it of course.