Pushing my GK into clipping

[Rocker47]

I have a GK 1001rb-2 and have been using an Ampeg 8/10 as my cab. I have noticed after changing my settings that I see the clip light coming on. I am not a techy by any means and am wondering if this is hard on my amp? I would also like to know how to avoid this and really keep my sound. I tried the db pad and it cut way to much volume out. I play a passive Gibson bass. Thanks in advance!

[seamonkey]

The light is there purely for decoration. Otherwise they would have put information about it in the manual which I'm sure you've read.

[christw]

It means your preamp (not the power amp) is clipping. Turn down your "volume" knob and turn up the "woofer" knob or "boost" knob to compensate.

[somegeezer]

Originally Posted by seamonkey

The light is there purely for decoration. Otherwise they would have put information about it in the manual which I'm sure you've read.

Sarcasm isn't helpful.

If you're clipping, the pad is helpful. If you're losing volume, add more. It could just be your input volume being too high in the first place though. Try turning that down and your main volume up.

[Chowowbus]

Try this when you use the pad, just boost your mids and back off on the bass and add a little volume....your mids are what gets ya heard..I have always used the pad on both my GKs no matter what bass I use..

[Rocker47]

Originally Posted by seamonkey

The light is there purely for decoration. Otherwise they would have put information about it in the manual which I'm sure you've read.

You are funny! But you already knew that right?

[Rocker47]

Originally Posted by Chowowbus

Try this when you use the pad, just boost your mids and back off on the bass and add a little volume....your mids are what gets ya heard..I have always used the pad on both my GKs no matter what bass I use..

Thanks for the info, I'll test it out tonight and let you know how it goes!

[Rocker47]

Originally Posted by christw

It means your preamp (not the power amp) is clipping. Turn down your "volume" knob and turn up the "woofer" knob or "boost" knob to compensate.

Sweet, thanks man! I was doing that alittle last night at practice, but I guess not enough.

[jelwood]

If it's only coming on during your loudest notes you should be fine. Keeping the gain up to that point gets you the most out of your boost knob.

[Rocker47]

Originally Posted by jelwood

If it's only coming on during your loudest notes you should be fine. Keeping the gain up to that point gets you the most out of your boost knob.

Yes, this is actually what was happening. Thanks! It was sounding so sweet last night!

[Teenage Brain]

As long as it sounds good, don't worry about the light. I use the same setup as you, except I play a P-bass with P/J EMGs. They're pretty hot output-wise and my light is on probably 95% of the time with the Input ("pre") volume at 9:00. Any higher and it starts to sound ragged and crappy. Avoid the Pad button like the plague.

Just find the sweet spot where it's ballsy but not farty, don't stress about the light, and like christw said, use the Woofer knob for your volume and Boost for warmth, grit, crunch, whatever you want to call it. I keep my Boost dimed, Woofer about 11:00, boost some Low-Mid, roll off a bit of Treble, and it's rock.

[Vic Winters]

FYI, the clip light is before everything else on the amp except for the pad button. Turning knobs on the amp won't effect the clip light.

[ljazz]

Originally Posted by Vic Winters

FYI, the clip light is before everything else on the amp except for the pad button. Turning knobs on the amp won't effect the clip light.

This.....


The volume knob isn't labeled on the head real well. The volume knob is purely preamp gain, and not input gain. If you want to cut or boost the signal causing the clip light to go on, you'll have to use the input pad, adjust the gain of the instrument, or adjust the output gain of any effects you're running from the front end.

For me, the best solution was the EBS MultComp. I use the gain from that like you would on a head with variable input level...... turn everything down, crank the gain on the multicomp until the light comes on, and then back it down. The comp allows me to keep the input maxed with out clipping, which keeps everything as hot as possible prior to the boost...... the growl I get on my 700rbII is amazing. The MultiComp set to "tube sim" mode, plus the grunt from the 700rbII has become "my sound".

[ljazz]

Originally Posted by Teenage Brain

As long as it sounds good, don't worry about the light. I use the same setup as you, except I play a P-bass with P/J EMGs. They're pretty hot output-wise and my light is on probably 95% of the time with the Input ("pre") volume at 9:00. Any higher and it starts to sound ragged and crappy. Avoid the Pad button like the plague.

Just find the sweet spot where it's ballsy but not farty, don't stress about the light, and like christw said, use the Woofer knob for your volume and Boost for warmth, grit, crunch, whatever you want to call it. I keep my Boost dimed, Woofer about 11:00, boost some Low-Mid, roll off a bit of Treble, and it's rock.

The problem here is that it really does sound bad when it clips..... even for a split second. The pre doesn't clip (no light btw... you have to listen for it) until you've got it up to about 1:00 (or so I've read.... I believe it starts to get a bit brittle at around noon). I try to keep it below 11:00.... preferably at around 10:00.

And try running the master/woofer a bit higher, and coming down on the boost a touch. The magic in the gk rb heads is not the boost alone, but combined with the power amp hitting the rails...... In a perfect setting, I'd run with the master at 2:00-3:00, and the boost at 1:00-2:00..... that's when it really gets warm and grunty.