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New GK 800 Legacy!

#721
dave_bass5 said:
Just got back from my first outing with the head, and I’m very pleased. Quite harsh sounding close up, but clear and solid in the room. Love how clear the low end is. The band commented how clear the mix was tonight. No low end bloom.
I have one issue though. When using the foot switch to turn the drive on and off I found the off level to be lower than if I turn the drive off on the amp. I tried this a few times to make sure I wasn’t imagining it. Is this normal?
Click to expand...
Mine hasn’t missed a beat so far. Was recently told at a gig by a highly regarded musician how woody and natural my Am pro jazz bass sounded through the L800 and Neo 212. Re foot switch, I haven’t plugged it in yet but when I engage the overdrive section set flat, (nobs @ 12 o'clock) it doesn’t just add grit, but really seems to increase the overall volume. Sounds quite harsh on its own but blends well with the band. Feeling L800, MBF800 and 4 Neo cabs (2x112, 212, 115) has me pretty well covered for upcoming shows in 2020. [/QUOTE]
 
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#723
Just tried my second L800 and no footswitch issue. This explains why no one else has noticed it. Makes its a bit sad that this was my the new GK product with an actual fault, and more so considering the release notes from GK saying how it’s been designed to be a solid work horse. Hoping tomorrow’s one hits the spot.
I love GK products, and as you can tell I’m really trying, but for me the worst company as far as QC goes.
 
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#724
dave_bass5 said:
Just tried my second L800 and no footswitch issue. This explains why no one else has noticed it. Makes its a bit sad that this was my FORTH NEW GK product with an actual fault, and more so considering the release notes from GK saying how it’s been designed to be a solid work horse. Hoping tomorrow’s one hits the spot.
I love GK products, and as you can tell I’m really trying, but for me the worst company as far as QC goes.
Click to expand...
I meant my 4th new GK product in the above post.
 
#727
Reading some posts on the Legacy/Fusion Heads. Looking @ the 1200s and am curious if anyone has had any reliability issues? Similar tones from the previous Fusion heads? I got a 4space Crown/SVP Pro I use for bigger gigs. But, tht pre has the hissing issue. Replaced all the tubes and still hisses... I've been using the Mark Ninja 1000 with 3 cabs with no issues for 2 yrs now. I know @ some point the head will fry despite driving it under the clip signal. Now... I wanna join the class D 2 ohm club. Subway heads are intriguing. But looking for Max head room. 1200 watts churning would be ideal. Any feedback pos/neg is appreciated.
 
#729
38EA7E1E-276C-4FFC-B5EE-0D5BFCE7C5AE.jpeg 203E57CD-813C-4F17-9744-BBCA3B42E82E.jpeg This set up has bottom and thump like nobody’s business, the Soul Food is blended in just a touch to give it that huge sound, this set up keeps up with a loud 5 piece band with power to spare!!
 
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#730
Yes Wave Rider, I am aware of tht. I jus want the option of connecting a 4th cab. My Subways 1x12s I always take with me. But, I have other cabs I want to bring on bigger shows in addition. Also, maybe thinking about the Mesa Strategy also. But, those KT88s are expensive to replace.
 
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#731
Ive finally got a good, working Legacy head. My 3rd seems to have no issues, and the footswtich works perfectly.
I cant believe how powerful this head sounds. At home all i can do is turn the master up until i hear something, and thats too loud. This is with the Trim almost maxed out though.
I like the OD channel. I can hear a loss of low end (I assume its the HPF kicking in). I think this is a good thing.
Wish my band did more heavy songs, really give the OD channel a workout.
 
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#732
dave_bass5 said:
Ive finally got a good, working Legacy head. My 3rd seems to have no issues, and the footswtich works perfectly.
I cant believe how powerful this head sounds. At home all i can do is turn the master up until i hear something, and thats too loud. This is with the Trim almost maxed out though.
I like the OD channel. I can hear a loss of low end (I assume its the HPF kicking in). I think this is a good thing.
Wish my band did more heavy songs, really give the OD channel a workout.
Click to expand...

Time to join an additional band! That's what I do when I want to use different rigs/sounds. :)
 
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#733
I finally got around to reading this whole thread and saw some compliants about GK
changing the EQ design that they have been so proud of all these years.
Just because they changed the knob order doesn't mean that they in any way changed the way or direction that the signal passes through the EQ section.
Just a thought
 
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#734
dave_bass5 said:
I’m in a dilemma. I mentioned the hiss earlier. Its not over powering but it is strong (at home, master on half, Trim almost up). Backing the Trim off reduces this, as expected, but then i cant get any drive using the OD section. I dont think the amp is faulty, the base hiss is the same as with my MB800, but at higher volumes its quite a bit more. Then again, the MB800 doesnt need the gain to be so high.
Strange (to me) design. Maybe I’m missing something.
Click to expand...
I don’t get it with my P, Jazz, or Ric, but a friend had a new Status Graphite Mark King that really made it hiss and didn’t play well with it. Maybe as suggested the Uber hot active pickups? I don’t have an active bass to compare.
 
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#735
zekmoe said:
I don’t get it with my P, Jazz, or Ric, but a friend had a new Status Graphite Mark King that really made it hiss and didn’t play well with it. Maybe as suggested the Uber hot active pickups? I don’t have an active bass to compare.
Click to expand...
I’m pretty sure I’ve already said I’m just using a passive P bass. I’m on my 3rd head now and all have had more or less the same hiss, so I’m not doubting its normal and we all have it. it’s just how we perceive it. Its a high gain head, its going to have a bit of hiss anyway. Not an issue in a live environment. Turning the Trim down more or less got rid of it, but changed the tone too much and i lost the drive.
Im glad ive found a good copy now, and can settle down and enjoy it.
 
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#736
Geez, I guess my earlier “troll posts” about newly introduced GK
zekmoe said:
I don’t get it with my P, Jazz, or Ric, but a friend had a new Status Graphite Mark King that really made it hiss and didn’t play well with it. Maybe as suggested the Uber hot active pickups? I don’t have an active bass to compare.
Click to expand...

Status electronics are very, very hot. It’s possible to get unusable sounds with that control suite without some know-how and experience with it. Mark King likes that over-the-top active sound, so his namesake bass has even more juice than a regular Status offering. Not good or bad, just a different approach than other builders.

IIRC, most GK amps have an input gain pad or some sort of step-down adjustment to handle instruments like this. You’d almost certainly have to use it with a Status bass.
 
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#737
zekmoe said:
I don’t get it with my P, Jazz, or Ric, but a friend had a new Status Graphite Mark King that really made it hiss and didn’t play well with it. Maybe as suggested the Uber hot active pickups? I don’t have an active bass to compare.
Click to expand...

There is a lot to take into consideration.

My basses have a lot of output, on average I'm running the following ->
Nordstrand Big Singles -> In Series -> Additional gain from an active Bart Pre -> with GHS Progressives (which are a loud string and played hard).

My input trim is about set usually to about noon and I don't have any issues.

The Status basses (which are super nice by the way) have more then there share of high end. Between the graphite neck and the electronics package it can get clinically to bright real real easy. Take in consideration the Legacy has more then its share of top end.

I would start by making sure the following settings are in check.
EQ on bass to 'Flat'.
Cut the treble a little on the Legacy
Set the trim to noon and start cutting from there.

I usually set mine to about 11:00 and that suits me well (and I still prefer a modern tone).
 
#738
Even with a fairly quiet bass with normal output, the full on input-gain setting on my L800 allows enough hiss that sound techs have mentioned it to me. I now run mine at about 3:00 or perhaps a bit less. ...problem completely solved, no loss of saturation at all that I can tell.
 
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#739
TomB said:
Even with a fairly quiet bass with normal output, the full on input-gain setting on my L800 allows enough hiss that sound techs have mentioned it to me. I now run mine at about 3:00 or perhaps a bit less. ...problem completely solved, no loss of saturation at all that I can tell.
Click to expand...
Yeah, backing off just a little helps with the hiss, and i tend to increase the Drive just a bit more to balance it out. I only use a cab, don’t go to PA etc. So have on use for then DI just yet.
 

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