Best Gallien Krueger Head?

[Jim C]

Another 700 / 1001 RB Series II fan
On the used market the 1001 is not that much more.
If you want clean with crazy amounts of head room the 1001 is the one.
If you don't need that much power or want to get that "grindy sound" at lower volume, the 400 is great.
Amazing to have such consistent answers for an amp question!

 

[bombpop14]

I've played various GK amps my whole life, and I recommend the MB 500 for the GK tone in the smallest package. Excellent amp for almost any use.

 

[Liam Wald]

I have owned three different GK amp heads and they all sounded really good. But none of them sounded as good as the Mesa D-800. Is there a reason that you are feeling that you really need to stay with GK? Brand loyalty? Endorsement? Peer pressure?

 

[DavC]

i used a 400rb for a long time back in the day ... sounded fine , light weight ( after the previous Acoustic 370 ) , good value bang for the buck ... no biamp stuff involved ... simple ...

 

[1bassplayinfool]

800rb... can't bust them

 

[pigpen1]

I would say mb800 if you want something lighter. I think you'd like it better than the fusion since it is more of the classic go solid state sound. But....I played a 700rb ii yesterday and it was awesome. Something special about old school gk heavies.

 

[BunchyMutt]

Used a 700rb-ii for a while. Didn't really gel with it. I'm really curious about the 400B though. Not the RB, the B. Apparently made with FETs instead of op-amps. Used by John Paul Jones and Tina Weymouth, though I have no clue for how long

 

[AdamR]

I have owned three different GK amp heads and they all sounded really good. But none of them sounded as good as the Mesa D-800. Is there a reason that you are feeling that you really need to stay with GK? Brand loyalty? Endorsement? Peer pressure?

Because he said he's used one and really liked it.

 

[thisSNsucks]

800RB.

 

[Sparkl]

I've owned my rb1001 as a first owner for cca 10 years now and except for cleaning dust once in entire history that was it. Cleaned it couple months ago and surprisi gly, except for the heat sink, the interior was almost spotless.

Great head although I ultimately went with my Ampeg.

If you liked the bl series you will definitely enjoy rbs the most.

 

[brett adams]

800rb

 

[jeff62]

I’ve got a Fusion 550 that kills into my Berg NV610. Personally, I love that extra bit of tubey grind that the 550 can excel at.

 

[somebrains]

Horizontal switch x00rb.
I do think the earlier ones have something the later ones don't.

800rb if you need a ton of volume or like to play cleaner....meaning not going deaf trying to stay on the rails at home.

400rb if you like dirt or don't think you need to biamp an 810/412/215 with an 8ohm high cab....say a 4x8/410/212. If you have something with an aggro preamp like a Spector or MM, you'd want to be cranked up 24/7 so this is my default at home volume. 400rb will make your ears ring.

 

[Atshen]

I'd like to try some GK stuff but I personally have no use for bi-amping... I guess you can use these heads in a more traditionnal manner as well?

 

[gitfiddl]

I'd like to try some GK stuff but I personally have no use for bi-amping... I guess you can use these heads in a more traditionnal manner as well?

Yes they can.

 

[Jim C]

I've never tried to biamp them (also because I don't have a GK cabinet).
Years ago a friend had a GK800 biamp rig and I didn't care for it.
GK amps into standard MI cabinets is probably what 75% of us use.

 

[AdamR]

I'd like to try some GK stuff but I personally have no use for bi-amping... I guess you can use these heads in a more traditionnal manner as well?

It's not true bi-camping on the RB heads (except the 800rb) they just have a second power amp that runs the tweeter in the cab.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I’ve gigged 400 and 800 RBs for years. If you’re using lots of speakers (8x10, 4x12) even the 400 is enough. I’d say just get any tidy GK that pops up.

 

[Atshen]

Thanks for the replies people. The only "bi-amping" I might use would be one clean channel and one dirty. I'm not a slapper nor a solo bassist.

 

[somebrains]

I know a lot of 800rb owners trying 115+210/410 back in the day bc that what they tried to sell.

Reality is most of us use 1 cab of some kind.

Dabbling with a guitar cab on the high side seems to be a common rehearsal screwing around thing with distortion.