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Double Bass GK 400rb II or 800rb?

BassGreaser

BassGreaser

Aug 22, 2002
4,013
1,663
Austin, TX
#1
Ok i have narrowed down my head choice to GK and idealy want to get a 800rb. So why the topic? Well I just moved to Philly and had to sell my old rig before moving out here from CA. I need a head ASAP to start getting gigs. I have a lead on a 400rb II that is in really great shape for cheap (have the price of a used 800rb) Should I pull the trigger on the 400rb, use it for while til I get my gigs rolling then upgrade to the 800rb later? Or just wait to buy a good used 800rb....:hmm:

What do you guys say (either of these heads will be used with a BE S12-D)
 
#2
If you can swing the cost, I'd go 800. Every time I do a gig with backline, it seems to be an 800 and I love them. Bigger and heavier, yes.

I don't know how much louder a 300 watt amp is than a 200 watt (I think that's what 400s are). And I don't know if they're voiced the same.

I used to have a 400, and I really dug it, but that extra oomph is nice. I book shows here and there too and the riders often request 800s. I don't think I've ever used their biamp function, though.

I've seen 800s on ebay for $300. Not often, but they can be had for that price.
 
#6
I liked the 400 with the Bag End. I wish I still had it. Unfortunately, when I had that rig, I was using my first pickup -- a Barcus Barry, which absolutely sucked. Worse than the old Fishmans. I switched to an Underwood, but by then I had gotten rid of the 400 and the Bag End. I still use an Underwood. Tried a Realist, but for the jump blues stuff, the Underwood (and guts and a 2x8) is the ticket.
 
#7
thejumpcat said:
I liked the 400 with the Bag End. I wish I still had it. Unfortunately, when I had that rig, I was using my first pickup -- a Barcus Barry, which absolutely sucked. Worse than the old Fishmans. I switched to an Underwood, but by then I had gotten rid of the 400 and the Bag End. I still use an Underwood. Tried a Realist, but for the jump blues stuff, the Underwood (and guts and a 2x8) is the ticket.
Click to expand...
Yeah I agree with you on the Underwood/guts thats exactly what I use. My BE should be here on the 14th and the head sometime by the end of next week.. here is the 400rb I just scored
GK400RB.gif
 
#8
Good score!

I like those amps a lot. The controls are very simple and they sound good. They are pretty sturdy too.

I got mine for 35 bucks. They said it was working and then blew a fuse. After the fuse replacement it would power up but had no output. They thought it was dead. I took the cover off and found that someone had replaced the rear feet and used a screw too long (it was touching effects loops jack).
 
#9
desert hardwood said:
Good score!
I like those amps a lot. The controls are very simple and they sound good. They are pretty sturdy too.
Click to expand...


All the amps in that original line had the same EQ so the 200MB, 200RCB, 400RB, and 800 RB all had the same sound with different power output. There also analog amps to they sound a little warmer than the newer ones.



desert hardwood said:
I got mine for 35 bucks. They said it was working and then blew a fuse. After the fuse replacement it would power up but had no output. They thought it was dead. I took the cover off and found that someone had replaced the rear feet and used a screw too long (it was touching effects loops jack).
Click to expand...

$35.00 wow that's a steal. I almost bought a used 200RCB at
Guitar Center last summer but it wasn't working so I passed. The size of the RCB chasis was a lot bigger than the top of a 200MB.

Ric
 
#10
It was a $35.00 chance I'm glad I took. He wanted $50.00. I have another one I got for $115.00, so I figured I'd take a chance.

If the jack was rotated a little the screw wouldn't have touched it. It does have a broken hi-mid pot shaft but it still turns with a pocket screwdriver.

Now I have two for $150.00. Not a bad deal. They ain't pretty, but they work just fine.
 
#12
How loud is it? For what I do, it is plenty loud enough.

I play mainly with either a rockabilly/honky-tonk trio or a swing blues band with two guitars and a sax. I use a 4 ohm 2x10 cabinet with a fishman pro-plat and have never had any problem with volume.

I have a friend that gigs with his 39 Kay and a 1x15. He has for years. I can always hear him fine.

Neither of us play with super loud drummers or guitar players (rockin' but with dynamics).

Lately I've been using my GK MB150s with (and without) the GK extension and haven't had any problems with that either (I can bring bass, and all gear in one trip - love that).

Is it loud enough for you? It all depends on your bass-n-pickup, band situation, cabinet, room, how strong the force is, etc.

I reckon you'll find out pretty soon.
 
#14
desert hardwood said:
Good score!

I like those amps a lot. The controls are very simple and they sound good. They are pretty sturdy too.

I got mine for 35 bucks. They said it was working and then blew a fuse. After the fuse replacement it would power up but had no output. They thought it was dead. I took the cover off and found that someone had replaced the rear feet and used a screw too long (it was touching effects loops jack).
Click to expand...

I got a broken 112 once for 50 bucks. The original screws which held the top handle on were a bit too long and damaged one of the big power supply caps when apparently someome sat on it. Easy repair and I used the amp for years. IMO though, GK has had it's day. They do their job, but today there are many better sounding amps out there for upright.
 
#15
It's not the volume level. You need about ten times the wattage to have something perceived as twice as loud. So if volume alone is the consideration, either will do. If weight is the primary concern, use the 400. If having sufficient clean headroom for transients is the concern, which is the whole point of having a ton of watts, then go with the 800.
 
#16
robobass said:
IMO though, GK has had it's day. They do their job, but today there are many better sounding amps out there for upright.
Click to expand...

Robobass,
Acoustic Image, Euphonic Audio, Phil Jones would be among those amplifiers you are talking about and I agree. I think where GK still excells is producing an amp that students can afford to buy. The MB200 is very affordable and the EQ works for DB.

Ric
 
#17
I guess if your entire field of vision of DB amplification falls into the realm of Jazz DB only - then maybe, just maybe you could say "GK has had it's day".

The fact is that GK amps are still the most popular amps used for double bass in popular music, country music, western swing, rockabilly, rock, etc. Go to a rockabilly or Roots music show and you'll still see a GK amp up there onstage alot if not most of the time.
 
#18
Gearhead43 said:
I guess if your entire field of vision of DB amplification falls into the realm of Jazz DB only - then maybe, just maybe you could say "GK has had it's day".

The fact is that GK amps are still the most popular amps used for double bass in popular music, country music, western swing, rockabilly, rock, etc. Go to a rockabilly or Roots music show and you'll still see a GK amp up there onstage alot if not most of the time.
Click to expand...

Actually, you still see them a lot at jazz venues. Often it is what the sound company owns, or even what the many non-gearhead players request, but that don't mean it's the best. I guess that affordability and reliability go a long way, though.
 

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