Speaker to use with GK-800RB Amp

[william snyder]

Hello .......I have a GK-800RB amp and want to get some thump & growl out of it. What would be a good choice for a speaker? I have tried it with an Ampeg SVT-15EN cabinet and it just doesn't get the bottom end thump I'm looking for. Is this because the cabinet is rated at 8 ohms & the amp at the low output jack says 4 ohms? Thanks for any imput!!!

Indian Bill

 

[agedhorse]

Hello .......I have a GK-800RB amp and want to get some thump & growl out of it. What would be a good choice for a speaker? I have tried it with an Ampeg SVT-15EN cabinet and it just doesn't get the bottom end thump I'm looking for. Is this because the cabinet is rated at 8 ohms & the amp at the low output jack says 4 ohms? Thanks for any imput!!!

Indian Bill

4 ohms is the MINIMUM load that the (low frequency) amp can drive.

Have you considered the GK cabinets? A 4 ohm 410 would be a substantial sounding rig.

 

[shoot-r]

I gigged for roughfully 29/30 years using a GK 800RB, set for full range, using only the 300 watt amp, into a 4 ohm, Ampeg SVT 8x10 cabinet.

("My ears" much preferred the 800RB head through the 810 over the orginal SVT all tube head I first used the 810 with.)

(Pros.)
Big, full, LOUD, strong-solid low-end with thump, capable of playing just about any job.

(Con.)
That 810 cabinet is large and heavy.
If your transporting it yourself you will need a vehicle capable of moving it.

(Through that single 8 ohm, 115 cab your 800RB is only giving you around 140'ish watts to work with.)

I'd suggest.....your finding and playing through a 4 ohm cab (a 212, or 215, 610, 810).....or two 8 ohm cabs (two 112's, or two 210's, two 115's, two 410's).

See what "your ears" tell you when your getting the 800RB's full power and potential.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Back in the Dark Ages — aka the mid/late 1980s — there was a bassist around Boston named Matt Gruenenberg (sp?) whose rig was a G-K 800RB in biamp mode driving a pair of JBL PA speakers: the low end was feeding a 1x15 sub and the high end fed a 2-way with a pair of 10” and a BiRadial horn. Bass was a Spector NS-2.

FANTASTIC tone! Easily the best sound I’ve ever heard come out of an 800RB.

 

[B-string]

Just to be clear, if you are looking to get serious, very low end (like fundamental E or B string) the 800RB is the wrong tool. I love mine absolutely no doubt, but the preamp is designed to roll off the very low end using it's power to cut through. It comes close to pants shaking through my NEO 412 and Fusion 550, just not quite it's wheelhouse. Most good 210's 112's, 212's, 410's or 215's should get you most of the way there. It just won't waste power rumbling stage floors.