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New GK Lead Sleds
- Thread starter BaltBass5
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I'm still waiting for a rackmount Plex.
I'm wanting a Fusion tube rackmount preamp myself
Not “anyone,” though things are trending in that direction.
Conceptually that is correct hence the trends. But lots of bands still prefer old school and I expect it will stay that way for many. Check out Justin Chancellor’s rig which is 3 GK 2001RBs. Flea’s was the same before he moved to Ampeg (which he still uses). Plenty of smaller venue acts use the 2001’s as well.
The class D amps are powerful but if they go down, you replace the amp. And they are fragile in the context of roadies moving/tossing gear around.
Also not in response to this post but to another, 26 lbs isn’t all that heavy in the grand scheme of things, least of all on a tour where you are hauling around all kinds of gear, lights, risers, etc.
TB’s obsession with weight is amusing at times.
I think they are going after that part of the market that is still using their lead sleds and to them, don't find the class d offerings satisfying in sound and weight. Some insist that an amp must be heavy with transformers to sound good. This is the new modern answer to their pleadings.
Yeah, exactly what I thought.I think they are going after that part of the market that is still using their lead sleds and to them, don't find the class d offerings satisfying in sound and weight. Some insist that an amp must be heavy with transformers to sound good. This is the new modern answer to their pleadings.
Or the same idea explained buy a GK fan:
So these 2 amps are for the owners of GK legacy amps who didn't like the GK class D heads.
And some of them think that class H watts are louder than class D watts:
Meh...I was hoping for a reissue of the 800RB, just so I would have options in case mine decides it doesn't love me back anymore. So...not for me. Maybe a Legacy 500 instead...?
The 1001 looks like it’ll be awesome, the sound samples sound good, I had and loved the Legacy 500, it was similar to my 800rb but more robust. The 1001rb looks like it’ll be more of the same, plus ultra!
I got my amp situation locked in for the time being but I’d be taking a long look at GK if that were to change!
I got my amp situation locked in for the time being but I’d be taking a long look at GK if that were to change!
I love it. I was hoping they’d bring back some older tech. Tired of everything being class D. Mix it up a bit. I still buy vinyl. Would have been fun to see a rereleased the 800rb.
I bet these new RB’s are going to sound sweet.
Nice job GK!!!
I bet these new RB’s are going to sound sweet.
Nice job GK!!!
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,951
- 5
- 220,592
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Only lateral MOSFET devices are out of production. GK has historically preferred bipolar power devices.
I honestly thought the same thing , especially when i heard that the revamps were going to be 3U Rack spaced units ... it would have been a tip of the hat to a legendary design .
Honestly I think they would sell more units if it was just a modern refresh of an 800RB with surface mount tech and a slight face lift
These are not for everyone, but there is certainly a market for them. A 26 pound head is not a deal breaker for me, but I also don't need several hundred watts of power. My 400RBIII works great for my needs.
How times change! When the first RB amps came out, they were considered light because of the enclosure using metal rather than using wood. Today when we almost need to duct tape our class D heads to cabs, 26 pounds seems heavy by comparison.
My AI Coda and Contra combos each put out 400W RMS and weigh 20 pounds including a 10” woofer, 5” midrange and 1” tweeter, while GR Bass makes an 800W 1-12 combo that weighs only 20 pounds. My 450W Walter Woods head is 7 pounds, my 250W TC BH250 head is 4 pounds.
But 26 pounds isn’t that heavy for an amp head. An SVT head is 85 pounds. A V4B is 41 pounds, etc.
I haven't had GAS for a brand new amp since forever. These are giving me some serious GAS.
I'm one of the weirdos who doesn't care much about class D amps. Been using my 2001RB for a decade now. It's by far my favorite amp.
I'm one of the weirdos who doesn't care much about class D amps. Been using my 2001RB for a decade now. It's by far my favorite amp.
Jokes and irony aside, I understand. You're not a weirdos, you just have different taste and needs.
If that's the tone you are after, and you don't have to lug the amp around everywhere I don't see why the weight would be a deal breaker.
But I'm curious though: did you try the GK class D heads and didn't care for them?
It's generally admitted that the power section don't have an inherent tone, so in theory the same preamp into a class D or class H power section should sound identical. Is there a real difference, maybe in dynamics more than tone?
I guess it's a combination of repairability (my GK has been serviced with no issues), looks and tone. I haven't played GK D class amps, but I've played a few others and they were fine but didn't grab me in any way (Aguilar, Darkglass, etc). I'm sure I'd like GK more (being a GK fan), but I just love the big amps. It's more rock and roll to me, which is what I play live. Also I love the "on the rails" feature of their power section. I get to crank up my amp for live use so I really love GK's RB power section.
I mean, this is great. I gotta say, an old-school lead sled is pretty awesome. I love my class D heads, especially my Mesa, and it's a tank, but there's definitely something about a classic power section. Zero compression, ultra-responsive. I picked up a NOS Ashdown head for this reason, and I'm sorely tempted to pick up this new 1001... touring (all of which involves flying since I live on this joke island) will however continue to be the Mesa's exclusive domain.
This literally made me LOL and that's a rare thing. Well played.
Sounds like my ex
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