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Gallien-Krueger 700RB Mark I on the way

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Lia_G, Jul 31, 2009.

  1. Jul 31, 2009 #1
    Lia_G

    Lia_G

    Oct 27, 2005
    Just traded my Carvin BX500 for a Mark I 700RB. Can't wait for it to get here. While it's significantly heavier than my BX500, it is also significantly lighter than my B1500, so I'll call it a lightweight. ;) I'll be gigging with it almost immediately, so will post some info once I do. Not that there will be any earthshaking revelations ... this is a pretty well known head. I've liked the GK's I've played, but have never owned one other than the little Microbass combo I had for a while. Looking forward to getting to know this one and seeing how it plays with my various cabs.

    Cheers,
    Liam

    p.s. thanks Lee Barker for the trade!
     
  2. Jul 31, 2009 #2
    SanDiegoHarry

    SanDiegoHarry Inactive Supporting Member

    Aug 11, 2008
    San Diego, CA
    What was wrong with with the BX500? Did you have a different thread on that?
     
  3. Jul 31, 2009 #3
    Lia_G

    Lia_G

    Oct 27, 2005
  4. Jul 31, 2009 #4
    Greevus

    Greevus

    Apr 15, 2009
    My first bass head was a Carvin Pro Bass II back in the 80's. I traded it for a GK400RB. The tone difference was amazing. Nothing wrong with Carvin per se. Just that the GK had such a richer tone. Carvin sounded 'plasticy' to me. Sorry for jumping in, but I think you may a wise choice.
     
  5. Jul 31, 2009 #5
    Lia_G

    Lia_G

    Oct 27, 2005
    The BX500 tone, and that of my B1500, is stellar. No complaints whatsoever. Shutting down under low voltage just won't work for me in the seedy bars that I seem to be playing. ;)

    Cheers,
    Liam
     
  6. Aug 7, 2009 #6
    Lia_G

    Lia_G

    Oct 27, 2005
    Well, the head arrived two days ago, but this morning was the first time I got to try it out. I like it. I still need to tweak some things and get used to the eq section, but initial results are very nice. Here's a cameraphone pic of the head on my Carvin BRX10.2 Neo cab:
    [​IMG]

    I'm going to take it along to one or two gigs this weekend, with my B1500 in the trunk as well. We'll see what I end up using.

    Cheers,
    Liam
     
  7. Aug 7, 2009 #7
    NWB

    NWB

    Apr 30, 2008
    Kirkland, WA
    Hey, I have that same BRX cab! Those are far better cabs than most people realize. Great tone and construction quality.
     
  8. Aug 9, 2009 #8
    Lia_G

    Lia_G

    Oct 27, 2005
    Gigged with my loudest band, a classic rock to RHCP, Creed, Nickelback, Buckcherry cover band. Played the 700rb into my two EV TL606 cabs. Started with the volume and woofer level at about noon, and just left it there all night. EQ was a bit of treble cut, low and hi mid slight boost, and bass at noon. Contour and presence both all the way off, and the 5-string setting selected even though I'm playing a 4 with drop D. Great tone, and plenty plenty of volume from the 380 watts into the 2x15's. I haven't quite found the true sweet spot that I have with my B1500, but I'll try some more things as time goes by. A great tone, and with a little tweaking and experience it will get even better, I'm sure.

    Obligatory crappy cameraphone pic:
    [​IMG]

    Cheers,
    Liam
     
  9. Aug 9, 2009 #9
    koobie

    koobie Supporting Member

    Jul 11, 2007
    Portland OR
    Don't you also have a Hartke LH500 or LH1000? If so, curious how you feel it's tone compares to your B1500 and the incoming GK 700.
     
  10. Aug 9, 2009 #10
    bluewine

    bluewine Inactive

    Sep 4, 2008
    WI
    I had been looking for an inexpensive way to get the valvy tube sound from the my experience with SVT's back in the 70s.

    I tried the new Ampeg stuff,Trace,SWR, Genz Benz ect. GK was the only reasonbly priced amp that met my criteria.

    I just recently purchased a new 1001rb and the Ultra Light MB-500. The 500 was supose to be my back up. I took it to a show last night ran the MB-500 through 2 RBX 210 cabs. I never used the 1001rb. Deep, old school tone with a subtle punch.i was using an old Telecaster bass
     
  11. Aug 9, 2009 #11
    georgestrings

    georgestrings Inactive

    Nov 5, 2005
    I love my 700rb-II... it's become my main gigging amp, and the GBE 600 has been relegated to backup duty... The G-K has the tone I like for modern rock and metal - the GBE 600 can cover pretty much everything else for me, and both have more than enough power for my needs... I could certainly be in a worse position...

    I *thought* I'd like to have a 1001rb-II, but after comparing one to the 700rb-II, I prefer the 700 - it's got all the power I'll need and then some - and is a bit warmer sounding to my ears than the 1001rb-II...



    - georgestrings
     
  12. Aug 9, 2009 #12
    capnsandwich

    capnsandwich

    Jul 18, 2006
    Columbus, Ohio
    Shoot, I would have traded you a Mark II for that head. Oh well, you'll have that. I'm wanting one of those Carvin heads really, really bad.
     
  13. Aug 9, 2009 #13
    georgestrings

    georgestrings Inactive

    Nov 5, 2005
    Yeah, this rig really brings it for the modern rock/metal I mostly gig these days:


    [​IMG]
    By georgestrings, shot with ViviCam at 2009-08-03
     
  14. Aug 9, 2009 #14
    Lia_G

    Lia_G

    Oct 27, 2005
    Nah, I've just tried an LH500 in a store a few times. Really liked it ... couldn't compare it to either the B1500 or the 700RB.

    Cheers,
    Liam
     
  15. Aug 16, 2009 #15
    Lia_G

    Lia_G

    Oct 27, 2005
    Used the 700rb with a single TL606 today in a country / southern rock rehearsal and just loved it. I've honed in on my settings: boost at 0, contour 0, presence messed with to taste, eq mostly flat but with low and hi mid boost, 5 string setting. I know I'm in the minority in circumventing the growl, but I've found that I don't really like it ... I like the warm but clean tones that this amp produces when I don't use boost.

    Conversely, I used it last night with a rock band and both TL606's, but used the 4 string setting and boost at about 9:00. I noticed what I thought was farting but then realized was just the edge of growl coming on, and didn't like it very much for my sound. I like this amp a lot with no boost and using the 5 string setting. :)

    Cheers,
    Liam
     
  16. Aug 16, 2009 #16
    georgestrings

    georgestrings Inactive

    Nov 5, 2005
    I typically run my 700rb-II with the tone controls flat, presence, contour, boost, and master volume @ 12 o'clock - and the pre gain around 10 o'clock... Then, I back the contour off a touch if I want to be more present in the mix, and use the presence control for more/less high end if needed... I also use the 5 string setting, and *sometimes* bump the low-mid a touch, if I want more lows...



    - georgestrings
     
  17. Aug 17, 2009 #17
    barroso

    barroso

    Aug 16, 2000
    Italia
    my old GK 400RB mark I is still going strong and sounding excellent. hope you'll be as satisfied as me with your 700!
     
  18. Aug 24, 2009 #18
    Lia_G

    Lia_G

    Oct 27, 2005
    Gigged the 700RB into a single TL606 on Saturday, at the same sketchy-power club that caused my Carvin BX500 to fail, which resulted in me replacing it with the 700RB in the first place. The rig performed flawlessly. Medium sized club, vocals and keys in the PA, non-mic'd drums, guitars and bass not in PA. One guitarist played a Fender Twin, and the other had some boutique 212 combo whose name escapes me. I had pre gain and master at noon, and was asked to turn down after the first set. This is just a great rig, with plenty of power for a large range of gigs when running one or two of my TL606's. I'm incredibly happy with it.

    Cheers,
    Liam