GK 800RB does eq section stack up today?

[Standalone]

I have read the GK eq sections were considered to be top tier.

How do they compare to today's offerings? Obviously the 800RB is legendary but with today's cabinet offering is it still viable? I run into a 4 ohm 8x10 main amp and an 8 ohm EV15L with the other 100 watt amp with its adjustable crossover...for me it's still a great setup though odd by today's standards...just curious if anyone runs this type of setup...thanks in advance!

I have set up my 800rb to do similar, but with three fifteens in total. Modern EQ’s tend towards more finesse and always seem to be crisper than I want for live bass work. The GK eq’s on all the RB series amps (I own four and gig my 700rb2) are consistently musical and exactly what I wind up wanting. I have dialed in more upper mid clarity and zing for my bass vi’s. I have tamed room response with the bass knob. Each has just been exactly what i need at all four eq points. Every time.

Well designed and well made vintage is what people WANT for the most part, especially as trends have shifted away from onboard active EQ.

Stick with what you already like — I really don’t think you are missing out on anything. When I moved from the parametric EQ Eden Metro + 210 XLT ext rig to a complicated Mesa MBasis 2000 and then to my first GK800rb… I found perfection and musicality

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I have set up my 800rb to do similar, but with three fifteens in total. Modern EQ’s tend towards more finesse and always seem to be crisper than I want for live bass work. The GK eq’s on all the RB series amps (I own four and gig my 700rb2) are consistently musical and exactly what I wind up wanting. I have dialed in more upper mid clarity and zing for my bass vi’s. I have tamed room response with the bass knob. Each has just been exactly what i need at all four eq points. Every time.

Well designed and well made vintage is what people WANT for the most part, especially as trends have shifted away from onboard active EQ.

Stick with what you already like — I really don’t think you are missing out on anything. When I moved from the parametric EQ Eden Metro + 210 XLT ext rig to a complicated Mesa MBasis 2000 and then to my first GK800rb… I found perfection and musicality

Thanks! I have a Metro as well i.made a head cab for and use it with different cabs but the head is still big and heavy....Having the Metro and 800RB I seriously don't want anything else but I don't gig and they don't leave the house.... but the 800RB would leave the house if i did gig...Metro is a warmer sound than 800RB thru same cabs...800RB more definition as you noted.

 

[Standalone]

Thanks! I have a Metro as well i.made a head cab for and use it with different cabs but the head is still big and heavy....Having the Metro and 800RB I seriously don't want anything else but I don't gig and they don't leave the house.... but the 800RB would leave the house if i did gig...Metro is a warmer sound than 800RB thru same cabs...800RB more definition as you noted.

I actually traded my Metro for an 800RB and a GK210 cab!

Interesting to hear that the metro, so crisp and scooped through its XLT is warmer cab for cab than the GK!

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I actually traded my Metro for an 800RB and a GK210 cab!

Interesting to hear that the metro, so crisp and scooped through its XLT is warmer cab for cab than the GK!

Thru some EV15L cabs it's not a huge difference....I never use the Metro 2x10 cabinet BTW.. nothing wrong with it.

 

[Standalone]

Thru some EV15L cabs it's not a huge difference....I never use the Metro 2x10 cabinet BTW.. nothing wrong with it.

The GK has a special grit that happens when I dig into my strings. I play with a heavy touch and the GK just growls and sings for me in a way that the Eden’s never quite did.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

The GK has a special grit that happens when I dig into my strings. I play with a heavy touch and the GK just growls and sings for me in a way that the Eden’s never quite did.

Yea 'riding the rails' they call it...i use various boost and drive pedals with both amps.... I consider myself fortunate I have the Metro and 800RB!

 

[Standalone]

Yea 'riding the rails' they call it...i use various boost and drive pedals with both amps.... I consider myself fortunate I have the Metro and 800RB!

The bassist for a band that my friends and I are into and with whom we collaborate runs a Navigator. I’ve used it when we have opened for them, but did not want to change his parametric EQ settings — so a VERY different sound than my straight ahead Duff McKagen rock GK tone