GK800RB

[Eric Perry]

I wouldn't say they add "no coloration", but yeah, fantastic amps...

Agreed. I love the GK sound... and there *is* a GK sound.

I'm not a Fender guy, but a P-bass through a GK is heavenly, IMO. Appetite for Destruction had a KILLER bass tone!!!

 

[will33]

Agreed. I love the GK sound... and there *is* a GK sound.

I'm not a Fender guy, but a P-bass through a GK is heavenly, IMO. Appetite for Destruction had a KILLER bass tone!!!

Funny, "Paradise City" is on the radio as I read this.

I'll take some gutshots of mine and date some serial/parts #'s on mine later to clear up some of this. If anyone has a later model, it'd be cool to do the same.

 

[will33]

BTW, I can make STP and Booker T & the MG's sound authentic with the same setup.....something to be said for versatility there.

 

[Muttleybass]

Had mine I bought new in '85 with a Rock Flight case as an off the floor demo. Still sounds, looks, and acts mint. Just got a new Neo 410 to put under it. I'm in love with my sound all over again!

 

[Thank You Leo]

There were rack ears made for the older 800RBs but sometimes they can be hard to find. Instead of attaching to the side panels of the amp they completely replace the side panels.

Thats right. I bought mine around '87-88 and could never find a rack kit. When I sent the amp to GK for service 10+ years ago, I asked them if they had any. They told me they would look around and apparently the guy found them as it came back with the new ends (with rack ears) installed, as well as the old ends. The ability to simply add rack ears was something that came later.

This one also has the horizontal power switch, old style knobs, and two output jacks on the 100w amp. I know that they switched the type of power tranformer at some point as I have a copy of some GK service manuals on CD, though I don't recall when that happened. It wouldn't surprise me if that's when the switch changed as well.

I also have a recent 800RB and one of these days I'm going to do a thorough A/B comparison between the heads. I have to say that the newer one sounds very much like what I expect from an 800RB, though I wouldn't be surprised to hear some suble differences.

However - new or old - these amps sound great. And yes, if you push them hard enough, long enough, that heat sink will get too hot to touch. But tomorrow you will fire it back up and do it all over again and the amp will be quite happy to accomodate.

 

[Bart277]

I have used a 800rb for near on 20 years now, a couple of years back it started to play up so I brought a new 1001rbII (which is just as awesome) but after getting the 800rb fixed I still use it just as much as the 1001.
The 800rb is one amp I would never sell.

 

[dhsierra1]

says something about the design when they're still making it 32 years after market introduction

 

[basslinejam]

Lots of info in these threads about old vs. "new" 800 RBs. Newer 800's have a toroidal tranny which is quicker, but the old one's have the mojo, or something. I personally have an old as dirt 400RB and I am all about the mojo! TB members Grooveman1961 and B-string are a very knowledgable source about these amps and contribute tons of info to these threads:

GK 800RB Old vs. New

GK 800 RB NEw vs. Old thread 2

Side note: Jim Williams of Audio Upgrades, a mega high-end board and AV mod guy in LA still does a "super upgrade" to RB's. A 400Rb upgrade is described here:

1) Preamp electrolytic caps upgraded to superior Nichicon caps.
2) Power Amp IC's upgraded to Burr-Brown OPA2604's -BIG step up from stock
3) Resistors upgraded to Mills & Caddock -The best there is.
4) Wire in the signal path upgraded to “Vampire Wire” with Teflon insulation
5) Power Supply capacitors upgraded to Nichicon’s best audio-grade caps.
6) Power Supply film caps upgraded to famous Auricap -Gives the amp a deeper/wider sound.

 

[Bill G.]

Y'all are making me GAS for an old 800RB to go with my old 400RB & modern 1001RB-II!

 

[Standalone]

Lots of info in these threads about old vs. "new" 800 RBs. Newer 800's have a toroidal tranny which is quicker, but the old one's have the mojo, or something. I personally have an old as dirt 400RB and I am all about the mojo! TB members Grooveman1961 and B-string are a very knowledgable source about these amps and contribute tons of info to these threads:

GK 800RB Old vs. New

GK 800 RB NEw vs. Old thread 2

Side note: Jim Williams of Audio Upgrades, a mega high-end board and AV mod guy in LA still does a "super upgrade" to RB's. A 400Rb upgrade is described here:

1) Preamp electrolytic caps upgraded to superior Nichicon caps.
2) Power Amp IC's upgraded to Burr-Brown OPA2604's -BIG step up from stock
3) Resistors upgraded to Mills & Caddock -The best there is.
4) Wire in the signal path upgraded to “Vampire Wire” with Teflon insulation
5) Power Supply capacitors upgraded to Nichicon’s best audio-grade caps.
6) Power Supply film caps upgraded to famous Auricap -Gives the amp a deeper/wider sound.

I'd be afraid to do this to mine-- I dig the sound too much!

 

[Thank You Leo]

Lots of info in these threads about old vs. "new" 800 RBs. Newer 800's have a toroidal tranny which is quicker, but the old one's have the mojo, or something. I personally have an old as dirt 400RB and I am all about the mojo! TB members Grooveman1961 and B-string are a very knowledgable source about these amps and contribute tons of info to these threads:

GK 800RB Old vs. New

GK 800 RB NEw vs. Old thread 2

I had forgotten about these threads - thanks for reposting.

 

[jumbodbassman]

my 84 just recently died. haven't used it in 15 years but i miss knowing i have one. plus it played some cool venues back in the 80's...