Backup/alt amp for GK 800rb

[123four]

I’ll have to do more testing but it seems my 800rb may be cutting out periodically. I had one before that died and we may be playing shows soon so I’m looking for a back up amp to bring to a show just in case. As well as also explore different tonal options.

I’m a guitar player primarily but been playing bass in a band and my current rig came about by just finding a good deal on an 800rb and knowing they have held favor with a lot of bassists.

So now I’m looking to branch out and see what else is out there and particularly reliable.

I play hard rock/post-punk kind of stuff but also metal and might use this next head for that as well.

I don’t need too complex of a head. I’m not biamping. I like the idea of used and older gear: Sunn, etc but also open to more recent production stuff.

looking to spend $500-700 on the yard market. The 800RB is pretty loud so that same wattage would be good x I think or maybe 1000w max.

currently using a 4x10

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I believe those use a ribbon cable from the front panel/preamp to the main board.
The connectors one those and everyone else's can corrode over time and cause an intermittent connection.
Open it up and work that connector in and out a few times.
There's a good chance that's all it needs.
Also, find a backup as it's still pretty old and you never want to be without a plan B in any case.

 

[groove pump]

I’ll have to do more testing but it seems my 800rb may be cutting out periodically. I had one before that died and we may be playing shows soon so I’m looking for a back up amp to bring to a show just in case. As well as also explore different tonal options.

I’m a guitar player primarily but been playing bass in a band and my current rig came about by just finding a good deal on an 800rb and knowing they have held favor with a lot of bassists.

So now I’m looking to branch out and see what else is out there and particularly reliable.

I play hard rock/post-punk kind of stuff but also metal and might use this next head for that as well.

I don’t need too complex of a head. I’m not biamping. I like the idea of used and older gear: Sunn, etc but also open to more recent production stuff.

looking to spend $500-700 on the yard market. The 800RB is pretty loud so that same wattage would be good x I think or maybe 1000w max.

currently using a 4x10

A few years ago I picked up a new GK MB 500 from my favorite local shop thinking that it would be a really good portable backup to my Traynor DB-800 (a hefty head loaded with useful features). Then I gigged the MB 500 once or twice and it was just spectacular. The Traynor stayed in the car as a backup until I eventually replaced that with another portable class D; a GB Shuttle 6.0. I usually carry both heads together in one little backpack along with their cables.

I was initially worried about the MB 500 having "only" 500 watts to run my pair of 2x10 cabs, but after a couple more shows including an outdoor gig without PA support, this head did whatever I asked with the master volume staying generally closer to 10 o'clock than 11, neutral eq settings, and no boost. I'm actually glad that I didn't try to get the 800 watt version of this head - it would have been too much for me. Loud little nugget.

I've always rather liked GK, but my first adventure with them was with a used 800rb that I bought a number of years ago. That head broke down on me in a big hurry and I took it to a repair guy who described typical problems with those (iirc) similar to what's described above in post #2. It was at the shop for a while and I ended up never going back for it.

My GK (bought it new) and my GB Shuttle (bought it used through GC) have both been completely trouble free for me for at least 3-4 years.

 

[shoot-r]

Maybe a used GK MB-500 as suggest above.

I bought a brand new 800RB in 1984, it was my only personally owned giging amp head till 2010'ish. Then when dependable class D heads started becoming available I sold the 800RB and went totally to D heads.
I've went through several manufacturers D heads till I found what works "for my ears." (Pic is where I've ended my search.)

If you read through the MB-500 manual it recommends, "for the 800RB voicing, run the MB-500 with the contour either fully off or fully on."

T.B. wisdom always recommends running GK's contours off, (and I never liked what I heard with the contour fully off), tried running the contour "fully on" at a job with the country, country/rock group I work with.
LOVED what I heard, feels/sounds close to what I remember of the 800RB.

Now, everytime I gig either my MB2-500 or the MB-500 I now always run a SansAmp BDDI infront of the amp with the contour "fully on ".

Watch the TB Classifieds, MB-500's popup from time to time at very reasonable prices.

Everything in the pic came from the T.B.
Classifieds.

 

[TomB]

Agree with much above. The MB 500 is my super-reliable backup. I’d recommend it unless you’re willing to go a few more bucks toward the Legacy, 500 or 800. That amp sure reminds me of my long-gone 800 RB, with a few extra tricks.

 

[123four]

I realized I took the patch cable out from the effects loop as it was there when I bought the amp and remembered why after reading up on it; it helps with the poopy effects loop jacks that can fail and cause the intermittent signal.

I will look into these suggestions. Thanks!