Best Gallien Krueger Head?

[Kro]

Cool - thanks. I’m thinking about maybe getting a couple of the NEO 115 cabs to go with it. I imagine that would sound pretty good. Thoughts?

Looking to change your cabs as well? What are you most looking to change in that department?

GK amp + Ampeg cab has a long history and is a pretty classic combination. Just saying.

 

[Al Kraft]

GK and Mesa make a nice pairing as well IME. Of course if you want to use the GK horn management system (bi-amp capability) you'll need to go GK on GK.

 

[somebrains]

I sold

GK and Mesa make a nice pairing as well IME. Of course if you want to use the GK horn management system (bi-amp capability) you'll need to go GK on GK.

1989 400rb thru a 115 212 subway setup before I sold that head a few weeks back.

I'd reach for those before the SWR Big Bertha, diesel 215, or Ampeg 810.

Maybe it's the slick newness that got me.

I still have a 1989 800rb I should cart over to a Mesa dealer and make some noise.

 

[Alexander]

I’m keeping all my Ampeg stuff and would plan on bringing the GK along as a backup on most gigs - it would run through my Ampeg cabs.

Was really interested in portability. We have a small house and all my bass rigs are in storage or the garage. Would be nice to bring one cab in from the garage for home practice and back out again when done. I could also transport this rig in my 911 - I can’t fit even one of the 212AVs in it now. We have also at times done really small jams and I could envision taking just one along there also - the 115s are 26lbs lighter than my 212AVs.

I may start with just the amp and try it with the 212AV and go from there...

 

[tadawson]

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.

There is absolutely nothing magic or proprietary about GK's biamping, it's the industry standard, woofer on 1+/1-, tweeter on 2+/2- . . . any cab wired that way (or altered to be wired that way) will work, no crossover needed (which is one of the main points of biamping in the first place . . .)

 

[Al Kraft]

There is absolutely nothing magic or proprietary about GK's biamping, it's the industry standard, woofer on 1+/1-, tweeter on 2+/2- . . . any cab wired that way (or altered to be wired that way) will work, no crossover needed (which is one of the main points of biamping in the first place . . .)

I'll agree on the wiring convention and even the ability to re-wire most any "2-way type cab" like this. However, I've just not seen a single typical production cab from anyone where you could simply plug in with a 4 lead Speak-on connector, have it automatically by-pass the internal passive crossover, and get what you do from a GK HMS compatible cab right out of the box from the factory.

If you have a list of cab manufacturers that provide cabs set up this way right out of the box, I'd bet a ton of TB folks, especially the GK fans would like to see it. My guess is that the total list would easily fit on the back of a postage stamp even if you printed in large letters, but I'd really like to be wrong.

 

[SAlcott]

800RB.

 

[jeff7bass]

I had a 400B (before RB series) and it was awesome. My poor but very talented guitar playing singer friend blew up his guitar head one day, so I let him borrow it because I was no longer in a band. HOLY CRAP! He played guitar through it (rack of pedals in front) through a 4x12 guitar amp and his sound was killer. The crunchiest rhythms and screaming leads. I let him use it for a few years, then got it back and sold it to another guitar player who wanted it (after hearing my friend) as a backup to his very expensive Mesa head.

 

[somebrains]

I had a 400B (before RB series) and it was awesome. My poor but very talented guitar playing singer friend blew up his guitar head one day, so I let him borrow it because I was no longer in a band. HOLY CRAP! He played guitar through it (rack of pedals in front) through a 4x12 guitar amp and his sound was killer. The crunchiest rhythms and screaming leads. I let him use it for a few years, then got it back and sold it to another guitar player who wanted it (after hearing my friend) as a backup to his very expensive Mesa head.

.....and that's how I got to have my Hi side repaired.
Buddy of mine didn't know you can only play 8ohm cabs thru the hi channel on a 800rb.

Why a guitar player would try to biamp a Strat is beyond me.

I should have lent him my 400rb instead.
Less to screw up.

My sense of humor made me push the 800rb on him bc I was wondering if a TB member in the SF Bay Area would start a "was deafened by the most annoying guitar player ever" thread about him

 

[filmtex]

400RB best amp GK ever made IMO...

Absolutely.

 

[mouthmw]

2001RB - super versatile and powerful. The extra headroom this thing has really helps the low end IME. I've had 700RB for years, and my current 2001RB sounds bigger, warmer and better. Hardly a tone this thing can't churn out, and it works fantastically with pedals.

 

[Al Kraft]

View attachment 3152676
Absolutely.

There's a look that takes me back including what appears to be an old Atlas cast iron base plate mic stand complete with pipe threads (I still have 6 of those)!

 

[basscapes]

Gotta agree with some that posted their feelings on the 400/800RBs. Best G-Ks IMHO.

Had a pair of 400RB (series 1), and wish I'd never got rid of them (or at least kept ONE)...

 

[BunchyMutt]

I had a 400B (before RB series) and it was awesome. My poor but very talented guitar playing singer friend blew up his guitar head one day, so I let him borrow it because I was no longer in a band. HOLY CRAP! He played guitar through it (rack of pedals in front) through a 4x12 guitar amp and his sound was killer. The crunchiest rhythms and screaming leads. I let him use it for a few years, then got it back and sold it to another guitar player who wanted it (after hearing my friend) as a backup to his very expensive Mesa head.

Any idea how the 400B relates and compares to the 400GT?

 

[filmtex]

There's a look that takes me back including what appears to be an old Atlas cast iron base plate mic stand complete with pipe threads (I still have 6 of those)!

Yeah, buddy. They just don’t make em like that anymore.

 

[Liam Wald]

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

I had a sausage pizza one time and really liked it, doesn't mean that is the only kind I will ever eat.

 

[Jim C]

There is absolutely nothing magic or proprietary about GK's biamping, it's the industry standard, woofer on 1+/1-, tweeter on 2+/2- . . . any cab wired that way (or altered to be wired that way) will work, no crossover needed (which is one of the main points of biamping in the first place . . .)

Yes; they just make it easy.
My SWR had a built in crossover as well.
Never cared for the tone.

 

[Kro]

Yeah, buddy. They just don’t make em like that anymore.

Why would they need to? I'm pretty sure every one that was ever produced is still being used somewhere.

Those cast iron based stands still probably make up ~40% of the stands that I see on any given stage.

 

[filmtex]

That’s a good point. But around here all I see is those three legged jobs. That’s why I carry my own stand.

 

[joel406]

The 800 and 400rb’s are fantastic heads. I’ve owned both.

But what worries me is that they are all getting very long in the tooth.

We are talking 30 year old + amps here.

And yes they seem to be bullet proof. But being someone that gigs often it just seems your spinning the chamber a little to often.

I live by the rule that I don’t keep an amp longer than 3 years. Then there is usually something bigger and better out by then from my favorite amp maker.

I just got the MBF-800 last February and I love it.

Expensive yes.

But through 410 cabs it punches hard. And with roughly 1000+ Watts when running both of my 410s I always enjoy a clean and warm tone. The tube pre is awesome. And being dual channel I can set one clean and one dirty.

It’s the do it all amp.

And only 6 pounds.