- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
i guess that i'm in the minority since i prefer the 1001RBII over the 700RB, but IMO, the 'classic' GK growl and tone comes most from the 800RB.
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Which GK Amp Best...
- Thread starter jmattbassplaya
- Start date
Word has it that the 700RB-II can replicate ALL the tones of the 800RB (in addition to its own, more modern tones) - but that the reverse is not the case.
I can't testify to this from personal experience. Just thought I'd share...
MM
To Michael's point, 700RB-II manual Page 9 (Settings) says the following:
Note: At higher playing levels the contour
should be set lower for mid-range clarity. To
get 800RB voicing, the contour should be set to
0 or 10 only.
If I were you I'd look for a used 1001RB(1st rendition) or a 800RB. The original 1001 is a lot like the new 700RBII. It has the same power amp(about 540 watts), so it hits the rails sooner than the newer version of the 1001(which is called 1001RBII). Or I'd get a used 800RB.
I've been using the 1001RB II for 6 years now... I had it cleaned about a month ago and it it sounds like it did the 1st time I played through it.... I play through two GK NEO 1x15s (the 1st series).
I've played Fender, Music Man, Schecter, Yamaha, two different Warmoth 5 string builds and now the Lakland 55-01 (plus a plethora of others, I've always leaned in favor of the P Bass sound with a bridge pickup) and they ALL sounded like I thought they should when I played them through my GK rig. I've played with the boost knob a little recently and (for me) found that just a touch will do... it gives me the "broken" leading edge to the tone that I like (sorta like a slightly hard hit tube pre) or at half way up I get a great TUBA like sound.
I play blues and I like a nice tight sound, when I stop a note I want it to STOP! the GK is fast and as far as mine goes (and many others as far as Ive read here) it is a very reliable brand.
I really like the front panel of the RB II amps... tuner out and direct box out (with gnd lift, pre-post switch and gain) great power for gigs and integrates easily into any house PA system.
I've played Fender, Music Man, Schecter, Yamaha, two different Warmoth 5 string builds and now the Lakland 55-01 (plus a plethora of others, I've always leaned in favor of the P Bass sound with a bridge pickup) and they ALL sounded like I thought they should when I played them through my GK rig. I've played with the boost knob a little recently and (for me) found that just a touch will do... it gives me the "broken" leading edge to the tone that I like (sorta like a slightly hard hit tube pre) or at half way up I get a great TUBA like sound.
I play blues and I like a nice tight sound, when I stop a note I want it to STOP! the GK is fast and as far as mine goes (and many others as far as Ive read here) it is a very reliable brand.
I really like the front panel of the RB II amps... tuner out and direct box out (with gnd lift, pre-post switch and gain) great power for gigs and integrates easily into any house PA system.
It says that in the 1001RB's manual as well - as I was saying, I'm pretty interested in trying a GK
One other thing it said was that you can get the growl sooner just from cranking the gain and keeping the master down. Can anyone attest to this?
AFAIK a lot of the GK growl comes from pushing the amp section really hard, so going with a very high wattage GK will force you to play with less volumes. So 800rb, 700rb rather than 1001/2001 and so on...
I'll say it again since many missed it? The 2001RB will only do 240 watts into a 8 ohm load running one side.....less than a 800RB running 4 ohms, only 40 watts more than the 800RB running 8 ohm load. Someone on page one is selling one and could be a good deal for the OP.
Word has it that the 700RB-II can replicate ALL the tones of the 800RB (in addition to its own, more modern tones) - but that the reverse is not the case.
I can't testify to this from personal experience. Just thought I'd share...
MM
True, the 700 manual explains how to use it to get the 800 sound. Mainly because the 700 has a contour knob rather than a switch, so to mimick the 800, which has a 0/-10db switch, you would set the knob at 0 or -10. Another thing that makes a big difference is that the 800's treble knob is set to 4khz, it still affects the top end of paper cone speakers. The 700 and all the newer version have their treble set at 7khz, which pretty much is a tweeter knob.
And +1 to B-string. The 2001rb, although it is the monster of the bunch, does 240 watts @ 8ohms per channel, and gives you all that growl, at manageable volumes.
One of the reasons people say pick the 700 over the 1001 is that in addition to the growl knob, just turning the amp up, pre gain and master, gets more of "that sound". You can do that with the 700 and still end up at gig volumes rather than rattling the rafters and killing small animals. If I only did big gigs/outdoor gigs, I'd get a 1001 too, in those situations, you can turn it up to where it sounds good without drowning out the band.
I believe everything I said there holds true for the 400rb as well, just it being a slightly smaller power section and mono, no crossover/high amp. One of the regular "blues jams" I used to go to here now and then with my old RandB band had a 400rb and a Dietz 215 (basically 2 EV tl-606's in one box) as the house amp. Wonderful tone. Basically all the growl you wanted, or none if you didn't want it, at well balanced volumes for the gig.
IMO the 700RB-II is destined to be a classic I used to own the 700RB-II with the GK Neo 212 cab. I could easily get that GK growl at medium volumes. I only sold it to fund the purchase of a different amp (gas got me) but if I ever get another GK amp the 700RB-II will be the one.
Well said - I will also add that I can literally cop ANY tone the 800rb can make with my 700rb-II, and quite a few more...
I vote for the 700rb-II... I have one, and also a Mesa M-pulse 600, and still like the 700rb-II almost as much as the Mesa... I use the G-K at rehearsals and some gigs, and never have a problem getting great tone that works well in a band mix...
- georgestrings
Word has it that the 700RB-II can replicate ALL the tones of the 800RB (in addition to its own, more modern tones) - but that the reverse is not the case.
I can't testify to this from personal experience. Just thought I'd share...
MM
I can, and that has definitely been my experience... plus, the 700 has more power than the 800, and is lighter... I've never run out of headroom with my 700rb-II, but have pushed some 800rb's pretty hard in the past...
- georgestrings
I've never thought about SS bass amps again since I got a 700RBII a few years ago, other than occasionally missing my 800RB because i really liked how it looked and some sentimental crap. I could get close enough for rock n roll to the 800's sound with the 700, and get more hi-fi too for when I have be Mr. Adult bass player.
