• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The ridiculous Gallien-Krueger 400RB

Chuck M

Chuck M

Supporting Member
May 2, 2000
5,629
16,448
San Antonio, Texas
#1
Someone mentioned this model of GK amp and I looked to see what was for sale and found one on Ebay listed as "not working or for parts". The seller was a charity and they said it powered up but they had no way to test it.

I threw a bid at it and won it for $66...$88 total with shipping.

It arrived today. The pots were dirty...some Deoxit 5 took care of that, some of the fins on the heatsink were bent...careful use of long nose pliers took care of that and it works just fine and sounds so good.

I have some friends who still gig with the GK 400RB head and for good reason. It is reasonably powerful and sounds just great. Yeah, it is a little heavy and it won't fit in a gig bag but what an amp for less than $100.

This one will take up residence at our rehearsal space and will power a 4 ohm SWR Goliath, jr 210 that I have that is not being used.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tindrum, Grunthor, cesarbass and 70 others
#4
Which model is this? I have three GK 400rb heads. One is a 1989 model, one is a 1998 and the other is a 2003.
The 98 has the fan mod and thermal circuit bypass to keep it from going into protection mode and my 03 is stock and needs that mod since it shuts off after 2 hours of hard 4ohm load playing. I also have a Backline 600 that I'm selling.
GKs are great amps. Just the 400rb III needs a mod to keep it from protection mode. I personally like the second gen the best. They will heat up but won't shut down and the overdrive a bit nicer and warmer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: thedovewarlord, mjm0 and chupacerveza
#5
Spirit of Ox said:
Which model is this? I have three GK 400rb heads. One is a 1989 model, one is a 1998 and the other is a 2003.
The 98 has the fan mod and thermal circuit bypass to keep it from going into protection mode and my 03 is stock and needs that mod since it shuts off after 2 hours of hard 4ohm load playing. I also have a Backline 600 that I'm selling.
GKs are great amps. Just the 400rb III needs a mod to keep it from protection mode. I personally like the second gen the best. They will heat up but won't shut down and the overdrive a bit nicer and warmer.
Click to expand...

Mine is the later version of the original passively cooled model....simply 400RB. The only thing I see updated on my amp from the very first ones is that mine has a detachable power cable where the first ones had the power cable that is attached to the amp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza and SirMjac28
#6
Chuck M said:
Mine is the later version of the original passively cooled model....simply 400RB. The only thing I see updated on my amp from the very first ones is that mine has a detachable power cable where the first ones had the power cable that is attached to the amp.
Click to expand...

Ok that is still a second gen model. So yours has the Gallien Krueger in big lettering on the bottom instead of GK right? I'm actually on the lookout for one and I just saw one for 175 plus 60.00 shipping. These are great amps that are really versatile too. They don't have a real baked in sound but can go from clean and warm to grindy and edgy with the twist of some knobs. I would say the later models are generally more edgy sounding.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza
#7
Chuck M said:
Someone mentioned this model of GK amp and I looked to see what was for sale and found one on Ebay listed as "not working or for parts". The seller was a charity and they said it powered up but they had no way to test it.

I threw a bid at it and won it for $66...$88 total with shipping.

It arrived today. The pots were dirty...some Deoxit 5 took care of that, some of the fins on the heatsink were bent...careful use of long nose pliers took care of that and it works just fine and sounds so good.

I have some friends who still gig with the GK 400RB head and for good reason. It is reasonably powerful and sounds just great. Yeah, it is a little heavy and it won't fit in a gig bag but what an amp for less than $100.

This one will take up residence at our rehearsal space and will power a 4 ohm SWR Goliath, jr 210 that I have that is not being used.
Click to expand...
A great deal for sure. I have the 800rb. Just great heads. There workhorses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SJan3 and chupacerveza
#8
Spirit of Ox said:
Ok that is still a second gen model. So yours has the Gallien Krueger in big lettering on the bottom instead of GK right? I'm actually on the lookout for one and I just saw one for 175 plus 60.00 shipping. These are great amps that are really versatile too. They don't have a real baked in sound but can go from clean and warm to grindy and edgy with the twist of some knobs. I would say the later models are generally more edgy sounding.
Click to expand...

Yes, mine has Gallien-Krueger in big letters along the bottom.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza and Spirit of Ox
#16
Great deal on your part. I've always liked GK. Great sounding amps and cabs. A couple of months ago I found a 400RB 210 combo for $80. I didn't need it but I knew I could sell it for a profit or trade it for something else. I bought it, traded it for an acoustic guitar, traded the acoustic for an Epiphone Les Paul and just traded the Les Paul for this MIM Fender Lined Fretless Jazz bass.
IMG_4909.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swerve, shirojiro, mjm0 and 11 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back