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GK 400RB "grind" at very low volume? How?

D

dougjwray

Jul 20, 2005
7,050
7,915
#1
I just posted this in the GK club thread, too.
Would someone please share a specific setting to achieve THAT sound at very low volume? Like, "acoustic duo playing in the corner of a small restaurant or coffeehouse at dinnertime" volume.
One 8 ohm cabinet, passive bass.
Possible?
 
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#2
Rob Gallien went into a lot of detail about how in order to get that GK grind, part of it is about pushing the power section to 'hit the rails'. I guess it's not to dissimilar to how in order to really get *that* guitar tone you need power tube saturation.

Your best bet would be to use a power soaker, like this Bugera PS1 Power Soak

It would let you push the power section hard enough to give the tone you want, but keep volume at a manageable level.
 
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#4
I used that amp (although rarely). I don't have specific settings to give you, but in general: saturates vs. clean sound is balancing act between gain stages.
If you oversaturate preamp section, then cut on amp side, you should get what you want. So set Master Volume very low, and pump the input Gain and Boost very high.
Notice how this is very different then Galliens advice, to open Master Volume to 3'clock, and slowly bring Gain up untill you are happy with the volume.
 
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#8
Ignoring other drive pedals that might get you in the ball park, there are some pedal remakes intended to be close:

One thread from here:

scuzzy

Thread 'Npd - Growling Krizzly deluxe "GK" pedal'

Just got it back from Pete's Pedals who did the assembly. Sounds great, like a 400RB. Eager to use it live.
PXL_20221219_225229059~2.jpg

PXL_20221219_225302551.MP.jpg

PXL_20221219_225257774.MP.jpg

PXL_20221219_225239486.MP.jpg
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this one the Super 800 plus:

www.mastereffectspedals.com

Super Eight Hundred Plus | Gallien Krueger 800RB in a box for Bass | Master Effects

The Super Eight Hundred pedal puts the vintage Gallien Krueger 800RB rails tone on your pedalboard.
www.mastereffectspedals.com www.mastereffectspedals.com

and the DiCosimo Audio 800 RB:

modulargrid.net

Other/unknown Dicosimo Audio 800RB Preamp

Other/unknown Dicosimo Audio 800RB Preamp - Pedal - Gallien-Kruger 800RB Preamp
modulargrid.net modulargrid.net

But the best way is crank the amp. I have a 400RB and you can use a Palmer PDI-03 (with correct ohms) to run it cranked and completely silent taking a DI from the Palmer (there are other boxes like the Palmer, it just happens to be what I have and effective). Rush used to use those Palmers on stage in their all IEM early days, they're made to do this with guitar amps but work fine on a bass amp.

Depending on cost structure, this might be cheaper than pedals. The 400RB can also be run cranked with out a load and you can DI out, but in my opinion doesn't sound as good as recording it mic'd up or something like the PDI-03.

I guess you could run the DI out into a cab sim and see if that gets it- I haven't.
 
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#9
erratick said:
The 400RB can also be run cranked with out a load and you can DI out, but in my opinion doesn't sound as good as recording it mic'd up or something like the PDI-03.
Click to expand...

I've look at other devices like this, but most are just load boxes. I went on the Palmer website and I couldnt find anything about maximum watts it will accept, most of these load boxes are made for 100W guitar amps, but you said cranking the 400RB into it works fine? I think this is might be exactly what I need.

EDIT: Nevermind, its not a load box, it has to have a speaker attached after it.
 
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#10
Its been a long time, but I recall having the master about 9 o'clock, the boost up around 11 o'clock, volume around 2. Adjust tone to taste. Maybe use your bass for stage volume. Worth a try. What a great amp! I think using the boost is the part that gets lost on that amp by a lot of folks and gets that drive Bob was talking about.
 
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#11
CochinoBass said:
I've look at other devices like this, but most are just load boxes. I went on the Palmer website and I couldnt find anything about maximum watts it will accept, most of these load boxes are made for 100W guitar amps, but you said cranking the 400RB into it works fine? I think this is might be exactly what I need.

EDIT: Nevermind, its not a load box, it has to have a speaker attached after it.
Click to expand...

No. The one I have is a pdi-03. Speaker possible but not required. They may not ship one any more that has the right ohms and watts. Their lineup is definitely different now. You may have to dig around used.
 
#12
mikecd1 said:
Its been a long time, but I recall having the master about 9 o'clock, the boost up around 11 o'clock, volume around 2. Adjust tone to taste. Maybe use your bass for stage volume. Worth a try. What a great amp! I think using the boost is the part that gets lost on that amp by a lot of folks and gets that drive Bob was talking about.
Click to expand...
Thanks, and that's logical, but it would be way louder than what I want.
When I play in an acoustic trio (with drums), this is as loud as I ever get:
Volume: 10:00
Boost: 12:00
Master: 8:00-9:00 (just barely on, plus a little bit)
I'm now looking for something quieter than that.
 

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