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'GK growl' and not...

mr_flood

mr_flood

Mar 18, 2013
170
148
#1
Been playing at my church through my GK gear where I use absolutely no effects, just some EQ for a warm tone. I've recently joined a hard rock cover band and want to start incorporating some effects, one being the growl I get from my amp when I have the gain and boost knobs all the way up.

Here's my dilemma, getting the growl obviously means maxing the gain/boost but on the songs that I want no growl I would have to turn them both down, seriously messing with my volume levels. How do I incorporate the growl alongside other effects without having to mess with the gain/boost dials on my amp?
 
#2
Stepping out of the church and rockin' out with some hard rock.. ;)

This might be better off in the AMPS section if you want more answers but if you get an overdrive pedal you can set it for the growl.. Now, if it's the GK sound in particular you want then maybe you can check out the Diesel Dog pedal they make ( think that's the right name ). Unless you have one of their flagship amps ( 2001 RB and maybe one of the MB ) I don't think you can get the GK overdrive without messing with your volume levels like you described. Their flagship amps offer a second "channel" of BOOST/Drive for that signature GK sound.
 
#4
Another option would be to go with a GK Fusion 550, it has 2 channels and a foot switch. One channel set up for church and soft songs the other you can wind the gain etc up and all available at the tap of a switch.
I play it at my church all fat and gooey for the worship and then when jamming with the boys get that aggressive edge. Can even set it up to have the aggressive edge for the praise stuff too.
Cheers
Wayne
 
#5
GK MB500 has something similar (same?), master A volume and master B with boost pot. So, you set EQ, adjust master A and play. When needed, hit the footswitch (comes with the amp), and go to master B, which can be louder and/or have boost (GK growl - kind of overdrive). Very usefull, can be used midsong.
 
#6
mr_flood said:
Been playing at my church through my GK gear where I use absolutely no effects, just some EQ for a warm tone. I've recently joined a hard rock cover band and want to start incorporating some effects, one being the growl I get from my amp when I have the gain and boost knobs all the way up.

Here's my dilemma, getting the growl obviously means maxing the gain/boost but on the songs that I want no growl I would have to turn them both down, seriously messing with my volume levels. How do I incorporate the growl alongside other effects without having to mess with the gain/boost dials on my amp?
Click to expand...

Perhaps if you bothered to fill in your Talk Bass profile, people would then know what specific GK gear you happen to own - and then could advise you much more precisely with respect to that specific gear - instead of having to guess and offer only broad, general advice instead.

Just a thought... :hmm:

MM
 
#7
scallster said:
Another option would be to go with a GK Fusion 550, it has 2 channels and a foot switch. One channel set up for church and soft songs the other you can wind the gain etc up and all available at the tap of a switch.
I play it at my church all fat and gooey for the worship and then when jamming with the boys get that aggressive edge. Can even set it up to have the aggressive edge for the praise stuff too.
Cheers
Wayne
Click to expand...

...same comment for MB Fusion. ...same preamp in a tiny, powerful package. It's versatile and sounds great.
 
#9
mr_flood said:
Been playing at my church through my GK gear where I use absolutely no effects, just some EQ for a warm tone. I've recently joined a hard rock cover band and want to start incorporating some effects, one being the growl I get from my amp when I have the gain and boost knobs all the way up.

Here's my dilemma, getting the growl obviously means maxing the gain/boost but on the songs that I want no growl I would have to turn them both down, seriously messing with my volume levels. How do I incorporate the growl alongside other effects without having to mess with the gain/boost dials on my amp?
Click to expand...


Without using two separate amps you can't. The "GK Growl" is accomplished with the boost. So instead of cranking both the gain and boost knobs all the way up - use a SansAmp BDDI (more of a Ampeg sound than GK, but still nice) or a overdrive stomp box (and remember just a little goes a long way).

EDIT: Oh - or if your GK amp model has the Boost footswitch feature use it.
 
#10
Yes, please do tell what GK head you are using please. This would help a little. If its an RB head, 1001 or 700, may I suggest keeping your boost and master around 2 to 3 o'clock and control you "master" volume with the preamps volume knob. That is if you're using an RB head which it sounds like you may be. If you really want the option of having a really deep clear tone on demand, set your amp to taste and get an OD pedal. A darkglass VMT maybe. A lower gain OD works wonders with the RB heads. I have and use very often a 1001 RB through a neo 410. A tech 21 sansamp VT bass pedal could get you there too. Lots of options.
 
#11
On my 400 and 800 rb's I keep the volume and boost around noon-1:00 and use the master to set overall volume. This lets me change the tones with my playing without moving any knobs.

Lay back/play softer to clean up the sound.

Dig in/play harder to bring the growl.
 

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