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Double Bass GK 1001RB-II for loud gigs?

Wild Rice Chris

Wild Rice Chris

May 7, 2005
961
1,452
Palatine, IL
Disclosures
Rice Custom Guitars (retired)
#1
I have a new (to me) GK coming tomorrow and was wondering if anyone has had success running a K&K Bass Max into one with a Bag End S15X-D and S15-D speaker setup. I have an AI Contra that is excellent for low-medium volume gigs, but have had trouble keeping up with certain drummers in certain styles of music. Just wondering how the voicing is and if anyone has any suggested settings or things to watch for. I used to play through a 400RB and Hartke 4x10" years ago in college and was somewhat happy with the sound (not my bass or rig). I'm playing a Shen SB200 Willow and do bow a bit.
 
#2
I use that amp with my 10 pc horn band but I have always thought that an amp like that would be too hard to control with the DB. I have the little GK MB150 and sometimes I feel that that is even too much. But I don't really play in loud situations. What kind of competition are we talking about. A heavy handed drummer in a jazz group or loud guitars in a rackabilly thing?
 
#3
Loud guitars and drums in a Latin Rock/Pop group. Or both in a rockabilly thing. Or a classic country thing. Or a blues thing. And heavy handed drummer. I've tried it with my old bass with an 800RB through a 4x12" and couldn't keep up. The new bass amplifies much better, although I haven't tried it through the GK yet. My other thought was to run the Bag End S15X-D as an extension cab on the Acoustic Image Contra. Maybe rig something up to make the cab less directional. I have a Weber Beam Blocker that is designed to diffuse the high end, but am not too sure how well ir would work with the coax tweeter.

My junior high jazz band had an MB150 that I played electric through long ago. I didn't know about pickups for DB at that point.

I should try it, but won't be playing with any of the groups for a little while and the rig is in the basement which can make even the best setup sound terrible.
 
#5
I've run the Bag End as the only cab with the AI (I had it split into head/cab for a few months) at a medium volume jazz gig. It worked well, the Bag End is much more efficient. Can't comment on tone, as I had troubles getting the bass itself to sound good amplified. It would probably overpower the AI cab. I'd like to rig something up to make the Bag End point at the floor and see how well that works.
 
#7
Seriously, I've wondered about having two smaller cabs for DB gigs. I always like to have one directly behind me. But usually I end up pointing it in toward the combo -- so everyone on stage can hear the bass better.

2 cabs at 4 Ohms offers more sonic options...but it gets farther away from the coveted "one trip load in".
 
#8
Just re-read your first post. That GK 1001 should kill through two Bag End cabs! One Bag End 15 plus that head would be a great medium size rig for louder gigs.

I auditioned the GK 700 head recently and thought it was really good. I've also been considering one of these GK neo 12 combos because I was so impressed.
 
#9
It kills for BG, but I haven't heard it with DB yet. I'm thinking now if I don't like it with the AI, I should sell the coax Bag End and get a great DB cab. Of course, typing on the internet doesn't help, I just need to get some folks over here to hear this stuff in a band setting. I have four rehearsals with four groups in the next week, so I should be able to have a better idea.

My drummer is still getting used to playing with DB (he's a bass drum monster) and he's getting better in our jazz combo. The Bag End on an amp stand right behind him pointing out to the audience may work very well.

I'm not too concerned with one trip load-ins, I usually take two (even when I don't need too). I usually have to drag in PA, guitar rigs, and drum set at the same time. My only one-trip gigs are with the folk group, and I help with the PA because I play mic'd with that group (no amp) and the leader just had a second leg surgery and can use all the help he can get.
 

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