Ye ole' master up all the way trick....

[JoshuaTSP]

I've been running my 800RB with the master around 1pm, the boost at 3pm, and using the input volume as the overall volume control.
Works pretty good for me.

My question is.....how do most people run these?
400/700/800RBs.

Can I run the master up all of the way?
Would that push the amp too hard?
Is this a way to get more "growl"?

By running the master full blast.....does that mean I would just be running the input volume lower than normal?

or is there a tonal difference?
(I've heard about the "rails"? )

[fretno]

I use to run mine with the pre volume about 1 o'clock that's when the grit starts to kick in , then master as per required volume .

[JonnyAngle]

I have a Backline 600 and I run the master at 3:00 and the boost at noon. I have never dimed the master, but I can't see htat being a problem.

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by fretno

I use to run mine with the pre volume about 1 o'clock that's when the grit starts to kick in , then master as per required volume .

That isn't a bad tone either!

....but I haven't experimented much with that.

I tried the master up and pre down....because I was trying to get that "growl"

To crank the master (getting growl) with the pre at 1pm.......I'd blow the band off the stage with volume like that.

Originally Posted by JonnyAngle

I have a Backline 600 and I run the master at 3:00 and the boost at noon. I have never dimed the master, but I can't see htat being a problem.

I suppose I could try it and see....but for some reason....at work....these tone ideas pop into my head.
When I'm jamming.....I'm not as likely to experiment.

I'm just wondering if there's really an benefit to cranking the master?

[Downunderwonder]

Try overdriving the preamp input and then turning up the master as loud as you need.

[TheVoiceless]

I think that the input volume will give you more of the tone from the bass, and using more of the master will give you more tone from the amp.

Based on that I would say that if you kept the input down and the master up, you will get the sound you are looking for. And use the boost for coloration.

I have the GK1001RBII and I've experimented a little with balancing the input with master. And I have always ended up putting the master higher then the input, and upping the input when I want to hear more of the bass and less of the amp.

Good luck

[JoshuaTSP]

Hmmm...what do you mean by "tone of the bass" and "tone of the amp"?

[MuzikMan]

I am not familiar with your amp but in general you would want to set the input gain to get your tone (growl for instance) and then adjust the output gain for overall volume. In my experience running amps with the output gain all the way up is the best way to achieve an overall CLEAN tone.

[JoshuaTSP]

My only miff with my clean tone is that's it's generic.

[steve_rolfeca]

The best gain and master settings depend on your bass, the amp, and whatever pedals you have in front of it. Plus, this stuff is all subjective- one man's "growl" is another man's "grit", my idea of the perfect amount of compression, might be your idea of squashed and lifeless...

All you really have to worry about, is avoiding the two extremes:

If you dial the input gain down too far and rack the Master volume up too high to compensate, your rig will be prone to these problems:
- The tiny input signal that manages to sneak through, will be drowned out by internal noise inside the amp, and you'll get a lot of unecessary hiss.
- The tone may be "cold" or "brittle", because the signal is so small that subsequent gain stages are operating down in their non-linear range.

At the other end, if the input gain is up too far, and the master volume turned down too low to compensate, your rig will be prone to these problems:
- Your signal may overload subsequent gain stages, causing (possibly unwanted) distortion
- Your signal may trigger a built-in limiter, or simply push the front end to the point of natural compression, limiting your dynamic range.

Between those two extremes, there are a ton of perfectly acceptable settings.

Just use your ears. If your tone is thin or lifeless, or dominated by hiss, you're not hitting the input hard enough. If it sounds too blowy or compressed, then you're overdoing it.

[JoshuaTSP]

Wow.....very well said!!

[brianrost]

The boost control supposedly adds tube-ness, it's definitely the "mystery knob" on GKs.

[jnewmark]

I always go for as much clean headroom as possible, so I go with the Master up to about 3 o'clock, and use the other volume knobs to taste. I'm not into the GK " growl ", but I do like the sound of the RB700II driven cleanly, so that's what I go for.

[TheVoiceless]

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

Hmmm...what do you mean by "tone of the bass" and "tone of the amp"?

By that I mean, by allowing more input through the amp, you should hear more of the basses characteristics, like what it sounds like unplugged in. If you lower the input and push the master, you will hear more of the coloration the amp provides.

Experiment with the two knobs, that's how I find a blend that I like. Then I adjust the boost.

Hope this helps.

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by TheVoiceless

By that I mean, by allowing more input through the amp, you should hear more of the basses characteristics, like what it sounds like unplugged in. If you lower the input and push the master, you will hear more of the coloration the amp provides.

Experiment with the two knobs, that's how I find a blend that I like. Then I adjust the boost.

Hope this helps.

Totally. I will give it a shot tonight.

From what I remember when I was experimenting......turning up the pre level caused the tone to get really tubby?
(or maybe that was only in conjunction with the boost being set higher too?)

A little background: Playing mostly passive basses tuned to C standard (4 string tuned down or 5 string tuned up) into the 800RB (or 700RB I) into a SWR 2x15 cab with Emi Kappalites.

I'm in a stoner metal/rock outfit......I'm not into the blurry flub of DOOM or muddy fuzz type tones.
I use dirt a lot. Mainly a Fulltone Bassdrive, RAT and Destruction FUZZ....plus a Line Selector for clean blending.
The goal is to get a very dirty, but clear and punch nasty rock tone.

I think I get a pretty decent dirty tone, but like I said....my clean tone is pretty generic.

[MuzikMan]

It might be worth mentioning that if you are struggling to get a good clean tone it might not be the amp's settings at all. From my experience good clean tone comes from the bass itself. Changing the strings will probably have a greater impact on tone than any amount of gain fiddling................YMMV.

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

It might be worth mentioning that if you are struggling to get a good clean tone it might not be the amp's settings at all. From my experience good clean tone comes from the bass itself. Changing the strings will probably have a greater impact on tone than any amount of gain fiddling................YMMV.

I get a good clean tone, it's just that.....good clean tone.

[TheVoiceless]

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

Totally. I will give it a shot tonight.

From what I remember when I was experimenting......turning up the pre level caused the tone to get really tubby?
(or maybe that was only in conjunction with the boost being set higher too?)

A little background: Playing mostly passive basses tuned to C standard (4 string tuned down or 5 string tuned up) into the 800RB (or 700RB I) into a SWR 2x15 cab with Emi Kappalites.

I'm in a stoner metal/rock outfit......I'm not into the blurry flub of DOOM or muddy fuzz type tones.
I use dirt a lot. Mainly a Fulltone Bassdrive, RAT and Destruction FUZZ....plus a Line Selector for clean blending.
The goal is to get a very dirty, but clear and punch nasty rock tone.

I think I get a pretty decent dirty tone, but like I said....my clean tone is pretty generic.

HUM??? That Generic tone maybe the amps tonality. That is something I like about GK amps, they don't have strong coloration. Go check out amps at your local store. Each amp has its own personality.

Take Ampeg, to me they have a very distinct sound, to me which sounds Generic. To me they take over your tone.

But I do like the setup you are going for. Also playing a passive bass can lean towards a muddy tone, IMO. Without the active electronics, its hard to bring out the high's/overtones.

[dougjwray]

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

I've been running my 800RB with the master around 1pm, the boost at 3pm, and using the input volume as the overall volume control.
Works pretty good for me.

My question is.....how do most people run these?
400/700/800RBs.

Can I run the master up all of the way?
Would that push the amp too hard?
Is this a way to get more "growl"?

By running the master full blast.....does that mean I would just be running the input volume lower than normal?

or is there a tonal difference?
(I've heard about the "rails"? )

Read the section about setting up your sound.

http://www.gallien-krueger.com/produ...160-0004-0.pdf

[Din Of Win]

I run my 80's 400rb with the Master at 3, Gain to taste, and the Boost at about 9. Sounds good, man.