GK 700rb-ll or 800 RB?

800RB is plenty loud for me and I've used it in every type of venue including coliseums and stadiums.

Never played a 700RB.

 

Both are great amps.

The 700RB-II has more power, and is also cheaper.

The 1001RB-II would be my pick, though, and is the same price as the 800RB.

 

I really love my 800RB. The tone is great, and I've never encountered a situation where my amp (scroeder 212 + gk 800RB) wasn't loud enough. I've never really pushed it past half. And either way, if you're playing an arena, you're going to be getting PA support.

 

I'll recommend the 700rb-II.
Actually I'll recommend a used 1001rb-II.
They come up every once in awhile under $600 bucks and that's what you be wantin.

 

Mr. Lag, I ran a GK 800 head with a Ampeg SVT 810 cabinet for many - many years (26 years or so) and it was always loud enough. Still have the head and use it at rehersals, it's never went down and I won't part with it....but....if I was buying a new GK head it'd be a 1001RB-II.

 

+10 on the 1001RB-II

 

I have the 700RB-II and one of my bass player friends owns an 800RB. Personally, I wouldn't trade with him if I was given the opportunity...but then again, I don't think he would either.

Funky/jazz rock band...that's kind of a tough one because I would go with the 700RB-II for funk and the 800RB for Jazz.

Okay, I'm a big help, I know. I'll just move along now....

 

IMHO, the 700RB-II gets close enough to the tone of the 800RB that I'd take the 700RB-II any day. Plus, its tone-shaping controls are more flexible (and there's more of them), and it has modern features and power outputs. It's also much smaller and lighter.

Go for the 700RB-II (new or used) unless you can get a killer deal on a used 800RB.

 

With either the 700 or 1001rbII, you have the option of having the 50w horn section in the amp if you use GK cabs (excluding the blx models). With the 800rb you can run two cabs at 8ohms each and another 100w extension cab for the highs. The upside to the 700 and 1001 is the extra features and more watts. But remember that more watts doesn't always equate to more useable volume. I recently got a Mark Bass little mark II and though it is 500 watts, it is louder than my GK1001. I traded my 20 year old RB800 for the 1001 and I'm still not convinced it sounds any better.