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GK 700RBII or 1001RBII?

Sparkl

Sparkl

Apr 23, 2011
1,710
1,443
Europe
#1
So hello everybody :) I'm new on the forum so sorry if this topic already exists.

So my story goes like this.

I currently have a Hartke H5500 head connected to a Hartke 4.5XL cab. But I want to change the head to GK's as this one is clipping pretty much on my MM Sting5 HH. Later I'll also replace this hartke cab with two GK's or maybe Ampeg's, not sure yet.

Well what I want to know - based on my future plans and the fact that I only have a 410W Hartke cab@8 ohms, would the 1001RBII be too much for that cab?

I have money to buy either one, so if 1001RBII can normally run only 410W cab, then I'll go for it.

I'm worried about the fact that the 1001RBII cranks out 460W@8ohms which seems like an overdose for just one Hartke 410W cab. What do you think?
 
#2
The sheer power of the 1001RB is something that most players around here don't need. I play a 700RB II that gives me all the power I can ever use, either with one or two cabs.

Also, the "G-K Growl" is easier to obtain with the 700RB II, so I'll say, save your money and go with a 700.
 
#3
I was reading about 1001RBII having better cooling system...? Is that true?

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/gallien-kruger-700rb-ii-vs-1001rb-ii-250734/

Based on this topic I just found, they reccomend the 1001RBII over the 700RBII for it's small price gap.

AFAIK the 700RBII is identical to 1001RBII except for the 1001 cranking up more wats right?

On the other side, the H5500 should have similar W performance as the 700RBII and it's more than enough for the Hartke 4.5XL. But don't know how would it perform on two cabs...

Edit: If it wasn't for the two cabs that I'm planning to buy in a short time, I'd probably go with the 700RBII as it would be plenty for what I need. I really don't know what to do. I need more opinions I guess and go "argumentum ad populum"...
 
#5
I would go with the 700 unless you are playing some huge venues without pa support. The whole point of the Gk sound is obtained by driving these amps hard, I play some pretty big venues and have a hard time driving my 700 to the needed point. We are playing in my with Skidrow and Slaughter at an outdoor festival and all I'll be runnin is my 700. Link Removed
 
#6
I have a 1001 that I use as a backup amp, and for gigs where I have to be in and out quickly. It's way more powerful than I need. In fact, I've been looking around locally for someone who wants to trade up from a 700 because I'd be perfectly happy trading down.

FWIW, I use that amp on gigs ranging from recording act where I play upright to loud classic rock cover bands. I use it with cabs ranging from a 210 or single 15 up to an 810. I hope that helps.
 
#7
Depends what type of music you play as well, a Jazz/Blues player generally isn't going to need anywhere near the same kind of power as a Stoner Metal equivalent at the same venue.

You can answer your own question based on how loud you need to go, the cooling system is really irrelevant unless you're thinking about playing in 40+ degree heat?
 
#8
I had the 700 and it didn't have enough headroom for the rock gigs I was doing, competing againsts two Marshall 100w tube half stacks, and a HEAVY hitting drummer, most would say the 700 is enough but I guess I need "more than enough"! eventually my RB700 went out on me(see caught fire) could have been a number of reasons but I was running the master full up and had to crank volume knob to about 2-3 O'clock to get volume I wanted, with one OR two cabs. I think the RB1001 has a dist channel to get the growl without riding the rails so hard, not sure tho. I finnaly bumped my rig up to a 2000 watt power-amp and am now not competing for any sonic landscape. I have all the volume AND headroom I need now. I always recomend getting more power than you think you'll ever need. IMO go with the 1001.
 
#9
I use the 1001 RB II with two GK NEO 1X15 Cabs


I use the high power for headroom. I think the GK growl is cool but not for me. I like the extra clean headroom I have with the 1001. I've used the head with a single GK Neo 1X12 at low volume and never worried that it would over power the cab.

700 growl.... 1001 clean..... your choice..... either one a winner

;)
 
#10
Depends on your cab. I have 700rb and ampeg 810E and I'm too loud most of the time! 700rb is warmer and growls better. I would definitely get the 700 especially if you get 2 8ohm cabs which will make it a 4ohm load and you get 480W. More than enough in my experience with a loud hard rock band.
 
#12
Well, I'm in a rock band myself.

I play a lot of RHCP as it's my fav band, and I'm using the MM Sting5 HH which is attackish. So I need the punch. I want to buy the GK for it's punch.

My future setup is going to be 2 cabs (probably 4x10') from GK and GK 1001RBII or 700RBII.

Until I buy the two GK boxes, I'll be running on the Hartke 4.5XL.

What to choose is still beyond me. Through reading those posts you guys already conviced me to go with the 700RBII until I've read the mowburgers post. That concerned me.

And I've read about 700RB's overheating sometimes. I want to buy something that will last. Damn... My friend, who is also a respectable bassman is trying to convince me to go with the 1001RBII (he is planning to buy it someday too as he said), while you guys say the 700RBII.

I know both heads are respectable, but I'm concerned about some 700RBII users, that claim to be pushing the 700RBII too much for gaining the right sound and that as a result, it can get very hot. That's the only thing that's somehow dragging me away from buying the 700RBII.

What do you guys, who are using the 700RBII play (rock, funk, jazz or something else), and what experiences do you have with those heads heating up?
 
#13
I prefer the 700rb-II over the 1001rb-II, as to *my* ears, the 700rb-II has a warmer sound... I play in a very loud 2 guitar band(two Triple Rec half stacks), and the 700rb-II has always been more than loud enough with a good cab...

I don't think it's a coincidence that you usually see more used 1001rb-IIs for sale on the used market than you do 700rb-IIs... I had two of them at one point, and used one towards trade in for a Mesa amp - I still have one, and it still sees some use, and always sounds great... FWIW, my other amp is a Mesa M-pulse 600, so that should indicate how highly I think of the 700rb-II...


- georgestrings
 
#14
mowburger said:
I had the 700 and it didn't have enough headroom for the rock gigs I was doing, competing againsts two Marshall 100w tube half stacks, and a HEAVY hitting drummer, most would say the 700 is enough but I guess I need "more than enough"! eventually my RB700 went out on me(see caught fire) could have been a number of reasons but I was running the master full up and had to crank volume knob to about 2-3 O'clock to get volume I wanted, with one OR two cabs. I think the RB1001 has a dist channel to get the growl without riding the rails so hard, not sure tho. I finnaly bumped my rig up to a 2000 watt power-amp and am now not competing for any sonic landscape. I have all the volume AND headroom I need now. I always recomend getting more power than you think you'll ever need. IMO go with the 1001.
Click to expand...


Your amp that caught fire - was that the earlier 700rb, or the current 700rb-II??? The reason I ask is, the -II series are both louder, and appear to have a better record of reliability than the earlier 700rb...


- georgestrings
 
#16
I've run my GK 700 RBII for several years now. All sorts of venues... from small hole in the wall bars to large outdoor events. All sorts of groups... jazz, blues, hard rock, country. This amp has been worked alot, and pushed to it's limits. It has performed flawlessly, never let me down, and has never, ever failed to give me the volume needed. Never felt the need for it's larger 1001 brother. The output of the amp is just as important as your cabs with regard to how much air you're pushing. Just my $.02.
 
#17
Sparkl said:
Well, I'm in a rock band myself.

I play a lot of RHCP as it's my fav band, and I'm using the MM Sting5 HH which is attackish. So I need the punch. I want to buy the GK for it's punch.

My future setup is going to be 2 cabs (probably 4x10') from GK and GK 1001RBII or 700RBII.

Until I buy the two GK boxes, I'll be running on the Hartke 4.5XL.

What to choose is still beyond me. Through reading those posts you guys already conviced me to go with the 700RBII until I've read the mowburgers post. That concerned me.

And I've read about 700RB's overheating sometimes. I want to buy something that will last. Damn... My friend, who is also a respectable bassman is trying to convince me to go with the 1001RBII (he is planning to buy it someday too as he said), while you guys say the 700RBII.

I know both heads are respectable, but I'm concerned about some 700RBII users, that claim to be pushing the 700RBII too much for gaining the right sound and that as a result, it can get very hot. That's the only thing that's somehow dragging me away from buying the 700RBII.

What do you guys, who are using the 700RBII play (rock, funk, jazz or something else), and what experiences do you have with those heads heating up?
Click to expand...


I've never had my 700rb-II's Input Volume above 11 o'clock(it's usually around 10 o/clock), and Boost and Woofer Volumes are usually at noon - with a good cab, that's really, really loud - and my amp has never overheated, even on a 95F gig... I play modern rock, hard rock, and metal - plenty of stuff down to low C and B...

Lastly - before you buy G-K cabs, try a G-K amp out with cabs by Mesa, SWR, and Ampeg - I've gotten way better results with cabs by those makers than G-K's cabs... Also, if you really do play loud - plan on using more than a 410, as more speakers are ALWAYS better for volume than more watts... I use either a 610, 810, or 215, and never have any trouble getting loud enough to cause trouble - in other words, long before I run out of headroom, I'm either too loud for my band or the PA - hearing myself in a band setting is never an issue...


- georgestrings
 
#18
Hmm you guys convinced me to go for the 700RBII. :) I'll definitely test them out till the last detail in the store, but somehow you convinced me to give the advantage to the 700RBII.

And yeah, I know that it depends a lot from the cab, that's why I'll be replacing this Hartkes XL with GK's cabs, something like 410rbx, mbx, maybe rbh... Still a thing to be studied :)
 
#19
I think you should be fine with a 700 RB-II. GKs are quite powerful, so their wattage is not to be taken lightly. I've got an older 400RB of 200 watts running into an 8-ohm 210 cab, which doesnt even get the full power of the head, and on smaller gigs with a fairly loud band I get told to turn down the volume. I've even done small gigs with no PA support without any problems. So the 700RB-II should be all that and more. I would only justify getting a 1001RB-II if you play large gigs very regularly or if you're competing with extreme volumes from the guitars and/or drums.
 

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