Gallien Krueger Club. GK Rules !

[Chef]

No it's not really normal
However
It's not necessarily the amps
Could be a ground issue at the store
Or a signal cord problem
Or a bass problem

 

[Mike A]

How are you folks? Tried some RB amps at a local store and am really close to pulling the trigger on a 1001 RB II but,
I wanted to see if everyone here thinks the background level of hum and hiss coming from these amps when they idle without a signal is a normal thing. The 700 and 1001 both did it and the noise increased when turning up the treble pot. The heads were both going into 8ohm ne0 4x10 and 1x12. Tried my bass and a Fender Precision that was there and the noise was still there. The salesman put an Electro Harmonix Silencer pedal in the chain and that did remedy things. Should I be concerned or is this normal?

What Chef said, and I'll add that my plasma TV induces a ton of hum (that changes with light to dark scene changes on the tv, and completely quits when I turn the tv off...) but other than that, neon lights, bad wiring in dive bars... mine's dead silent.

 

[SturmUndDrang]

Thanks, who the hell knows between a million other amps around that might have been plugged in and fluorescent lights and whatever else. Maybe I'll just order one new. Either way, I'd like to go with the 412 or two 212 neo cabs and they weren't in stock anyhow. The amp sounds perfect for the heavier group I'm playing with so I'm not going to worry too much about the minor noise issue.

 

[Stevorebob]

How are you folks? Tried some RB amps at a local store and am really close to pulling the trigger on a 1001 RB II but,
I wanted to see if everyone here thinks the background level of hum and hiss coming from these amps when they idle without a signal is a normal thing. The 700 and 1001 both did it and the noise increased when turning up the treble pot. The heads were both going into 8ohm ne0 4x10 and 1x12. Tried my bass and a Fender Precision that was there and the noise was still there. The salesman put an Electro Harmonix Silencer pedal in the chain and that did remedy things. Should I be concerned or is this normal?

I have both a 700RB and a 1001RB, and neither have any noise issues. Dead silent.

Sounds to me like it's the signal chain before the amp if the EH Silencer fixed things.

 

[Anemic_SluG]

Thanks, who the hell knows between a million other amps around that might have been plugged in and fluorescent lights and whatever else. Maybe I'll just order one new. Either way, I'd like to go with the 412 or two 212 neo cabs and they weren't in stock anyhow. The amp sounds perfect for the heavier group I'm playing with so I'm not going to worry too much about the minor noise issue.

It's probably a non issue. Mine always was the worst in my practice space. We had a ceiling fan, flour lights, a ton of gear etc. always had grounding issues.

About 95% of the time however outside of that space it was dead quiet.

Good luck.

 

[BassGuyFL]

Finally got the new rig together. Used it for the first time last night and it worked well. I needed a second rig for my tribute band that I could leave in the equipment van and I had no need for a pedalboard in this setup. We have our own IEM monitor setup and I wanted a sliding rack shelf with the small stuff Velcrod on. Tuner out sends to the tuner and the mute switch lets me tune silent. Added my G30 wireless and an old Nanocompressor I had laying around and it's all good to go.

 

[kleinenenten]

Played my GK 400RB and 700RB sans dirt pedals today. Been far too long! The clarity is just amazing, and dialing in a bit of grind was so satisfying. Just had to share that even after a few years of only GK, I'm still impressed by these amps. The best tone I've ever had by far. Even using flats, which so many people think of as dull and lifeless, I was able to get the right amount of high end to keep everything lively and articulate, but not shrill or piercing.

 

[sumgruuvz]

I recently made a trade for my mb800 for a mbf500. Last night's rehearsal was the first time I've got to use it in a band setting and I'm more than pleased with it. Granted my neo 410 is only 8 ohms, but there was plenty of volume left if I need it. That's a band with 6 people total. Stellar head indeed.

 

[Chef]

Long term MBF idiot check...

So
After years and years of gigging my MBF500 and buying a second one for rehearsal space, my newer one started making occasional horrid noises thru my Ff 12/6/1+12 sub stack this weekend
Just on the occasional "big" note.
Not uber loud, eq flat, nothing unusual about bass or venue or whatever.
So I spent this morning with the two heads trying to sort WHAI
Head A fine, head B ick.
Cleaned input and output jacks and fx send and return all with no cure.
Rotated noisey volume pots til they cleaned up and behaved. I really never change those from input at 10 o'clock and master at noon. That's what I need most places

Then, while switching heads back and forth again I noticed that the limiter was off on one of them.
Must have been a gig bag in or out that switched it
Now everything is fine

Just something for y'all to make note of
Leave the limiter ON AT ALL TIMES or dynamic changes can do some ugly.

 

[joel406]

Long term MBF idiot check...

So
After years and years of gigging my MBF500 and buying a second one for rehearsal space, my newer one started making occasional horrid noises thru my Ff 12/6/1+12 sub stack this weekend
Just on the occasional "big" note.
Not uber loud, eq flat, nothing unusual about bass or venue or whatever.
So I spent this morning with the two heads trying to sort WHAI
Head A fine, head B ick.
Cleaned input and output jacks and fx send and return all with no cure.
Rotated noisey volume pots til they cleaned up and behaved. I really never change those from input at 10 o'clock and master at noon. That's what I need most places

Then, while switching heads back and forth again I noticed that the limiter was off on one of them.
Must have been a gig bag in or out that switched it
Now everything is fine

Just something for y'all to make note of
Leave the limiter ON AT ALL TIMES or dynamic changes can do some ugly.

I've noticed that as well with my MB800. It never make strange noises but it's easy to clip.

 

[joker820]

What is everyone's thoughts on the 80's 400RB vs the current IV? People seem to say the older ones sound better but I'm guessing newer features like the DI would come in handy. I would pair either head with a Bag End 15 (no tweeter) for home, jamming (90's to current punk/alternative), and possibly recording. Would the older 400RB be very noisey compared to a newer amp? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Razman]

What is everyone's thoughts on the 80's 400RB vs the current IV? People seem to say the older ones sound better but I'm guessing newer features like the DI would come in handy. I would pair either head with a Bag End 15 (no tweeter) for home, jamming (90's to current punk/alternative), and possibly recording. Would the older 400RB be very noisey compared to a newer amp? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I would love to own an 800RB (for the two amps it has) but as an older unit it doesn't play well with my hot bass (and the attenuator button sucks out some high freq's) and the one I had did hiss a little. Not a show-stopper for a gig but would be noticeable at home. And as an aside, I think there is a 'new' 800rb still available at Bass Central, but for their price there are much better options.

IMO a newer 400rb would give you slightly more power (if needed) and a little cleaner sounding amp (read: quieter). Through just a 15 an older one should still be pretty quiet - a noisy amp needs something replaced, regardless of year.

IMO if you want to go cheap find a backline 250 or 600. I had a 600 and it was a great amp, had a superb sound and seemed pretty solid. Sold to a friend, but I'd pick up another in a heartbeat.

Raz

 

[AdamR]

My 800 handles my hot bass with no problems. 90s Jackson Cover 5 string with EMGs and a EMG preamp.
Not sure a 400RB through a single 15 will be the best for a loud band. I ran my 700RB through my GK sbx 15 at a show a few weeks ago. The 15 was hating life. The 700rb will rip your head off through my neo 412 though.

 

[BokiGroove]

I have 400RB dating 1986...quite dead, very loud even loaded with single 8 ohms cab..there is direct out and works perfectly, you dont need DI balanced out if you are closer than 6 metres to PA (mixer)..more than 6 metres requires balanced output.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Was in search of a lighter weight amp that I could use at gigs that didn't wanna lug my MB800/CX410 to. I picked up a used MB115 and have been absolutely thrilled with it so far.

 

[joker820]

It seems that the 400RB-IV has been discontinued. It is unavailable from all major retailers. Anyone know anything about this?

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I recently made a trade for my mb800 for a mbf500. Last night's rehearsal was the first time I've got to use it in a band setting and I'm more than pleased with it. Granted my neo 410 is only 8 ohms, but there was plenty of volume left if I need it. That's a band with 6 people total. Stellar head indeed.

I made the same swap.

Loved the seemingly endless headroom and huge low end of the MB800, but it was more amp than I needed.

In the end, there's something appealing about the way the front end of the Fusion behaves just before breakup. You can also do some interesting things in the midbass by balancing off the EQ against the deep switch.

Meanwhile, if you back the gain off and open up the master volume, you can still get very close to the pristine G-K clean tones that the SS MB's offer.

It was Norm Stockton's demo that originally made me want to check one out:

 

[Bass Growler]

there is direct out and works perfectly, you dont need DI balanced out if you are closer than 6 metres to PA (mixer)..more than 6 metres requires balanced output.

You could always plug that into a DI to makeshift a balanced post-EQ signal to FOH.

 

[Count Bassie]

Well since this is the GK Club, here's my NEO 212-IIs:

View attachment 969000

I've sold one of my Neo212-IIs, and with the proceeds bought a 1001RB-II. I am happy happy happy. The single 212 is plenty, and the head... I've only used it at home so far, but can't get up to "1" without toe-ing up to the red line for "co-habitators' tolerance threshold". That means shaking rafters and floor joists...

I've had an 800RB, and this, this is like having thunder in a can. I'm using it over the weekend for a reggae gig and a New Years' Eve rock gig. I already know what the single 212 can do when pushed by my Epiphone TBird (it's a beautiful sound), and I'm looking forward to the upgraded experience. I haven't actually, really needed the 2x 212 cabs anyway- and I expect that with the 1001RB I'm going to be just fine anywhere.

Anyway just thought it would be fun to chime in with some enthusiasm. Happy holidays and New Year to all of us! Peace...

 

[sumgruuvz]

I made the same swap.

Loved the seemingly endless headroom and huge low end of the MB800, but it was more amp than I needed.

In the end, there's something appealing about the way the front end of the Fusion behaves just before breakup. You can also do some interesting things in the midbass by balancing off the EQ against the deep switch.

Meanwhile, if you back the gain off and open up the master volume, you can still get very close to the pristine G-K clean tones that the SS MB's offer.

It was Norm Stockton's demo that originally made me want to check one out:

Agreed 100%.