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New GK 800 Legacy!

#121
groovaholic said:
I'm curious about this too!

I don't know which design characteristics allow the RB-Series amps grunt in such a glorious way, but I'd guess that RAG (as the guy who designed that circuit in the first place) could figure out how to duplicate that behavior earlier in the signal path.

Then, you just have to deliver that grunty, growly, dynamic signal to a lightweight, efficient power section that will reproduce it faithfully, regardless of volume level.

[Editorial Note: my signature pic was taken at a festival where, for portability's sake, I only used one of my two 410 cabs. This led me to run the volume on my 700RB-II higher than normal, and I was rewarded with OODLES of growly GK goodness]
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I'm torn I own the 1001RB and 700RB as well as other GK gear I like the extra pushed of the 700 cranked but I also like that frightened feeling I get when I crank on the 1001. :laugh:
 
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#123
arbiterusa said:
Don't know about the other amps but can definitely confirm that a Markbass F-1/500 (not mine) will shut down if clipped and STAY THAT WAY until you power cycle it. Found that out at a gig. Never using loaned gear again.
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Also the newer lightweight Yamaha power amps of about 10 years ago now (not now/not sure what's now) those clipped nastily I was one the first to have these when they came out. You cant play as long as I have without having some connections. I had the very first MarkBass LMIII unit in the United States. BTW I owned almost all the MB heads back then. Unfortunately I have this rather nasty ability to clip some amps, I'm not at all interested in adjusting my playing at all. It seems the GK RB series amps don't mind my aggressiveness and I might add they seem to like it. The amount of authority those amps carry in their soundage is a little on the nutty side. I feel maniacal when I play them. :laugh:
 
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#124
Oddly enough the MBF500 will let the clip go on through the amp in other words it doesn't seem to bother the amp but the speakers complain when they bottom out. What's cool on that amp though is that little switch to turn the limiter on and the lightening bolts seize to exist. :cool:
 
#125
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I'm running an MBF 500 through a Mesa 112 right now and could not be happier. However, I'm definitely looking forward to this new line from GK and am curious as to how much difference in tone there will be with the new Fusion Series. Or, if I should ditch the Fusion and go for the Legacy.. GK always finds ways to empty my wallet but I'm not complaining..
 
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#126
frankie5string said:
I don't think the point of the MB series was to completely duplicate the RB series heads on every product. Each of the MB series heads is slightly different (more than just output power).
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I had (and loved) an 800RB for quite a few years and now have an MB500. Though I don't currently have both to compare side by side, the MB500 has felt more or less like the successor to the 800RB to me from day one. They have similar EQ and boost circuitry only the MB500 brings more power and bottom end with less weight to the table. I'll be curious to hear the new Legacy 800 head but for now (as long as it works reliably), I'm VERY happy with my MB500.
 
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#134
bwanabass said:
Oh man... selling my 800RB was and is one of the great regrets of my musical life. If this is a throwback in terms of sound in a lightweight, more powerful form, I am all in.
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Hitman(SWE) said:
I agree! Why did I sell the gk800rb that was built like a tank and sounded so good, to replace it with Trace, Ampeg and other amps.
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I'll do you guys one better. I don't even know where my GK 800rb is. I bought it in the late eighties and somehow over the years it's just gone. I didn't sell it, it's just that I don't know where it is or where it went.
 
#136
Hot Rats said:
I'll do you guys one better. I don't even know where my GK 800rb is. I bought it in the late eighties and somehow over the years it's just gone. I didn't sell it, it's just that I don't know where it is or where it went.
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That happened to me.
Check your mom's house.

Alternately.....

Mentally poll thru the guys that would borrow gear, they might have burnt the high side out and hoped you forgot they had it.

Possibly....

Go to the dive bar you played at with the kinda cute bartender that fed you the most drinks and stole a bottle from work that constantly tried to take you home....but her mom walked in naked that one time you thought it was a good idea....and you bailed.

Also swing by that one chicks house that drove you home that was so hammered the cops showed up at her house bc her car rolled into the street bc she forgot to pull her ebrake. There might be a bass you forgot in her car as well.

Those would all be the places I've left my 800rb.
 
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#137
somebrains said:
That happened to me.
Check your mom's house.

Alternately.....

Mentally poll thru the guys that would borrow gear, they might have burnt the high side out and hoped you forgot they had it.

Possibly....

Go to the dive bar you played at with the kinda cute bartender that fed you the most drinks and stole a bottle from work that constantly tried to take you home....but her mom walked in naked that one time you thought it was a good idea....and you bailed.

Also swing by that one chicks house that drove you home that was so hammered the cops showed up at her house bc her car rolled into the street bc she forgot to pull her ebrake. There might be a bass you forgot in her car as well.

Those would all be the places I've left my 800rb.
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.....ah, memories.
 
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#138
Hot Rats said:
I'll do you guys one better. I don't even know where my GK 800rb is. I bought it in the late eighties and somehow over the years it's just gone. I didn't sell it, it's just that I don't know where it is or where it went.
Click to expand...

I have that problem sometimes, as well...
 
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