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Best Gallien Krueger Head?

#121
joel406 said:
But what worries me is that they are all getting very long in the tooth.
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I dunno, is there really that much on them that couldn't be repaired with a little bit of know-how on a component level? Might have to do some detective work to source out some modern day equivalents, but I'd assume it could be done, but maybe I'm wrong. Reliability is probably the number one quality I look for in an amp, but if I ever picked up one of those older GKs I'd probably take it to a tech for a quick diagnostic and service and use it without any concerns.

At any rate, aside from their undeniable mojo, I don't see much reason to go with older generation RBs over their newer versions, though I still include the discontinued 400RB-iiis and -ivs in that newer group for some lower powered fun.

I might feel differently about the earlier 400RBs if they had on-board DIs, but that's a deal breaker for me. The 800s have one of course, but I'm not willing to go to 3RUs for it and a bi-amp function I'll never use. :p:bag:
 
#122
For you MBF useers.
Deep inside I'm an SVT guy (have one, it stays at home).
I don't love the tube channel on my MBF800 and use channel A.
Do most of you guys use channel B?
 
#123
GentProvocateur said:
Any idea how the 400B relates and compares to the 400GT?
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Nope. The 400B was my first real amp. I had an old Peavey combo before it, which was fine but couldn't cut through with a new prog band I joined (80's). I dropped the 400B on top a killer EV bass cab which had a 15" woofer with an 8 inch midrange (with a 3 or 4 position switch on the mid). Built like a tank. I stacked the Peavey cab under it once and instantly blew the Peavey, so I went to GC and bought the best 15" bass speaker they had and dropped it in. Worked great.
 
#127
somebrains said:
Try them all, own the one(s) you like best.
Life is too short and they aren't that spendy.
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Exactly!

(Shot taken before receiving/upgrading my 1001RB-i).
IMG_20170629_084933722.jpg
 
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#128
I think I’m going no for either the 700RB-II or the 1001RB-II. I think I want to buy new. Is there any difference in tone between the two? I’ve found with other amps, that more power seems to mean bigger, deeper tone. For those that have used both, any thoughts?
 
#129
Alexander said:
I think I’m going no for either the 700RB-II or the 1001RB-II. I think I want to buy new. Is there any difference in tone between the two? I’ve found with other amps, that more power seems to mean bigger, deeper tone. For those that have used both, any thoughts?
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It's your $, so I guess go make yourself happy.
Go define clean with your cabs and basses.
None of us have your ears.
 
#131
Al Kraft said:
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. :)
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Not necessarily bass cabs, but just about every biampable floor monitor or PA cab. And typically, there is a mode switch for biamp or full range - nothing is automatic, since Speakons don't have aux contacts. And I think (been ages since I looked) that my GK cabs have switches as well (checked the manual for the RBH - yup, have a switch). So, as noted prior, any cab with a woofer and other high end device can be made biamp capable trivially, either by simply wiring to a Speakon and leaving the crossover out, or by adding a switch. No, not off the shelf, but bfd?

Likely less are seen in the market due to the near 'holy war' centered on tweeters in bass gear in the first place . . . and despite my having my GK rig running it, I don't see huge value . . .
 
#132
tadawson said:
Not necessarily bass cabs, but just about every biampable floor monitor or PA cab. And typically, there is a mode switch for biamp or full range - nothing is automatic, since Speakons don't have aux contacts. And I think (been ages since I looked) that my GK cabs have switches as well (checked the manual for the RBH - yup, have a switch). So, as noted prior, any cab with a woofer and other high end device can be made biamp capable trivially, either by simply wiring to a Speakon and leaving the crossover out, or by adding a switch. No, not off the shelf, but bfd?

Likely less are seen in the market due to the near 'holy war' centered on tweeters in bass gear in the first place . . . and despite my having my GK rig running it, I don't see huge value . . .
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Agree about not really finding high value in the GK HMS (or bi-amping in general), but then I'm a clean player 98% of the time.
 
#135
Al Kraft said:
Agree about not really finding high value in the GK HMS (or bi-amping in general), but then I'm a clean player 98% of the time.
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In bass gear, biamping may well have modest appeal. In PA work, it's pretty much mandatory if you run higher powers, or don't want to sound bad . . . biamp is common in monitors, but on mains, triamp, or quad is far more common . . . passive is in the cheapie prosumer stuff . . . The main plus is that power is allocated (obviously) to specific frequency bands, such that if you overdrive your lows, all the hash and noise that comes with that don't a) get heard clearly from the high end gear and b) blow up the high end gear, since far more energy is in higher frequencies when overdriven. Not to mention, you eliminate crossovers (and the substantial weight of good high power ones), thier losses, and points of failure. My lack of total love for HMS isn't because it doesn't work, is complex, or any of that nonsense, it's more due to my not wanting that much high in my sound (I roll tweeters off in full range cabs as well). About the only cab I like the 'high freq' gear in is a Musicman HD212 I have, where the high freq driver is a 6 inch cone . . .*that* sounds great!
 
#137
I've had the 400RB with the 410T cabinet since '87 and it still sounds great. But, it's not as musical as my old dual showman with 2 x 15s Altec's from the '60s. If money and weight weren't an issue, I'd go tubes. But money and weight are always issues with me, so not so simple. I've found that most of the better quality amps today sound extremely good in comparison with what we had available in the past and at lower cost in money and weight. Increasingly hard to go wrong.
 

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