Gallien Krueger Introducing NEW RB Legacy

[MaxCellExcelWon]

Whoever "Pierce" is, I see they went to the John Hancock school of signature design.

 

[JimiLL]

That reminds me.

One of the last great things the old Carvin made was the DCM-3800L power amp.

It has a switch mode power supply, Class AB, aluminum chassis, 2 rack spaces, 10.5" deep, and weighs only 14lbs...and puts out an astonishing 3800 watts RMS at 4 ohms bridged at less than 0.1% THD.

I scored one when they closed their doors for $300 brand new.

Now, I have enough power for quite literally anything; any cab, any possible scenario.

Even the Class D 'bois can't scoff at 14lbs...well, I guess they still would.

View attachment 7135504

BOTH CH RMS continuous
- 8 ohms: 700/700 watts
- 4 ohms: 1150/1150 watts
- 2 ohms: 1800/1800 watts
BRIDGED RMS continuous
- 8 ohms bridged: 2300 watts
- 4 ohms bridged: 3800 watts

Peak Power: 5000w (2 cycle pulse power)

- Frequency Response: +-.5 dB 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- THD< 0.03% @ 50% output, <.1% 20-20 kHz @ 90% output
- Output Topology: CLASS A/B
- Power Supply: Switchmode - 60% reserve - see kick drum test
- Damping Factor: >500
- Slew Rate: bridged mode >50v/µs
- Sensitivity (@ 8Ω): 1.4 Vrms
- Signal to Noise Ratio: Greater than 106 dB
- Speaker Guard™ DC production for drivers
- Soft-start power-ups: prevents AC breakers from tripping
- Over-Current: protected
- Under-Voltage: protected
- Thermal: protected
- Fan: variable speed
- Shock-proof SMT construction
- FR4 fire retardant circuit boards
- Aluminum chassis
- Air Flow - "rear to front" for cooler rack
- AC generator friendly
- AC Input: 120VAC 60HZ
- Fuse: 25 amps
- 2RU rackmount
- Dim: 19" (48cm) wide x 10.5" (26.6cm) deep x 3.5" (9cm) high
- Weight: 14 lbs (6.4kg)
- Made in the USA

I’ve been using a dcm1500 now for around 10 years in my rig. Never a hiccup. I’ve a/b’d it with several other power amps, numerous qsc plx models, crest pro lite…. The carvin stayed.

 

[Saetia]

I’ve been using a dcm1500 now for around 10 years in my rig. Never a hiccup. I’ve a/b’d it with several other power amps, numerous qsc plx models, crest pro lite…. The carvin stayed.

Carvin made great amps. I had a couple of their power amps over the years and they were great. Regret selling my BX1500 as well, wonderful sounding head with a subtle compressor that just worked. I will say I had a redline amp that I was not very fond of but I’m also talking forever ago so my recollection may not be as proper so I won’t really judge my impressions at this point.

 

[Saetia]

The more I GAS the more the 2001 rb Legacy is the perfect amp for me. So many options. Either way it seems the happy line between an array of rail hitting options for many configurations as well as brutal bridges clean power and IMO a perfect candidate for a pedal platform.

 

[DJ Bebop]

No, it would have been nice to get a Sisma. That's the tester that was floating around TB. I sent it on to Sean Hurley. Don't know what happened after that. I know he used it on some gigs. Might have to see what happened to it. (Note to self, bug Hurley )

The GK sounds different. It is heavier in weight. Those were the ones I wasn't too lazy to get to use to compare the Sisma with. Maybe because I used that same cabinet, but the three sounded like they were in the same ballpark. All flat, the Sisma sounded the thickest, then the GK, then the WD. I thought the WD had the most tone variation possibilities, the GK and Sisma seemed to be neck and neck in that department. I thought the drive qualities were closer and more desirable in the Sisma and WD than the GK which was fine but the other two seemed more organic, perhaps because of their tube front ends.

Update!

I bugged Hurley.
He apparently hung on to the Sisma and played though the JF cabs at NAMM

More updates, he just texted me and said he might need one of those JF cabs to go with the Sisma

 

[2saddleslab]

Whoever "Pierce" is, I see they went to the John Hancock school of signature design.

Whoever is me. But the logo design is from Pierce Manufacturing [no relation], maker of custom fire suppression equipment.

 

[TonyP-]

…but you don't have Sisma any more…

Is the GK heavier sounding?

I think the new GK has a heft to the tone that you not obtain with digital.

 

[TonyP-]

 

[gtirard]

I think the new GK has a heft to the tone that you not obtain with digital.

I don’t know the new GK, I’m sure it sounds great

Class D amps are *NOT* digital

Jad Freer Sisma have a class G power section (not D), is has a lot of heft and it’s lightweight. It would be nice to compare them

I’m happy for all the folks who love the sound of the old GK amps, it’s great for them to have a modern alternative

 

[DJ Bebop]

I think the new GK has a heft to the tone that you not obtain with digital.

What digital, like a modeler? Because class D amps are not digital. The Sisma is a class G amp, even less digital than a class D which is not digital

 

[Mario Lewis]

interesting nobody has stated yet that the weight is a deal breaker..

i don't know if it is for me or not. i'm not really in the amp market anymore. would depend on the sound, i guess. cool to see something different, though.

Just bought a Berg HP… 1200 w at 6.5 pounds. I would pass on the weight alone.
But, that’s just my pref’s…

 

[agedhorse]

What digital, like a modeler? Because class D amps are not digital. The Sisma is a class G amp, even less digital than a class D which is not digital

Class D and G/H are both non-linear analog power amps.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

I knew he would be corrected for saying digital, good.
But let's not forget what he meant:

"I think the new GK has a heft to the tone that class D doesn't have."

It's another 1st person testimonial to add to the collection.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

L1001RB: zZounds is still saying delivery by 18FEB, while Sweetwater estimates May. I wonder if this is really true.
(I don't need to inquire because I already preordered.)

 

[Parzival]

Horse when someone posts about Class D

 

[agedhorse]

I knew he would be corrected for saying digital, good.
But let's not forget what he meant:

"I think the new GK has a heft to the tone that class D doesn't have."

It's another 1st person testimonial to add to the collection.

That's certainly his valid opinion.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It’s really power from the wall. One makes more heat and weighs more.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

@MultiScaleMale, it's possible for different technologies to sound and feel different; it isn't power conducted straight from the wall to the speakers.

 

[HP Hovercraft]

L1001RB: zZounds is still saying delivery by 18FEB, while Sweetwater estimates May. I wonder if this is really true.
(I don't need to inquire because I already preordered.)

GK says May

 

[MultiScaleMale]

@MultiScaleMale, it's possible for different technologies to sound and feel different; it isn't power conducted straight from the wall to the speakers.

It's also possible that it's the way the amp was designed more than a blanket statement about different amp topologies sounding a particular way.