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Your two cents... 800RB or SVT 4 pro

TRyan5289

TRyan5289

Guest
Jul 18, 2012
295
26
Davenport, Iowa
#1
Hello all! I've got a few things I'd like to talk about. First off, I'm a newcomer to the world of bass. I'm a guitar player turned bassist. I picked up the bass just over a year ago when my buddy (drummer) asked me to play bass for his band, and I was reluctant to grab that old $50 bass guitar out of the closet and string her up with new strings. I then picked up a GK Backline 600, and was able to find an old 215 cab. I put some new Eminence speakers in the cab, and I was ready to rock and roll. Now that I had a working amp, I picked up an SR505.

Here's where your come into play! :hyper:

So when I put together my cab, I bought speakers that are rated at 300W and 8 ohms, and ran parallel wiring, for a 300W 4 ohm load. This is now limiting my possibilities for a professional setup for an amp. I've been fancying the idea of a GK 800RB or an Ampeg SVT 4 pro. Both of these have ratings that will work with my current cab, and was wondering what you thought about the two amps. I'm sure some of you out there have been playing the 800RB longer than I've been on this planet, but, that's why I'm asking the experienced guys right? :help:

I've also been thinking about throwing a 210 cab on top of the 215.

My style is modern rock/psychedelic/metal. I like the throaty growl that comes from the GK, but also like Ampeg's sound as well.
 
#4
Both amp heads will get the job done. By the way when you have two speakers you add the wattage handling. So your cab will handle 600 watts "thermal" and probably 300 watts "real" power input.
I prefer the G-K sound but the Ampeg sounds really good also. The 800RB will let you add a 8 ohm 210 either in full range or in Biamp mode putting out 100 watts RMS to the cab. 300 and 100 watt amps are adjustable separately.
The 4 PRO has dual power amps but you have to add a crossover to biamp. I don't know if you can adjust the power amp volumes separate or not?
 
#6
B-string said:
Both amp heads will get the job done. By the way when you have two speakers you add the wattage handling. So your cab will handle 600 watts "thermal" and probably 300 watts "real" power input.
I prefer the G-K sound but the Ampeg sounds really good also. The 800RB will let you add a 8 ohm 210 either in full range or in Biamp mode putting out 100 watts RMS to the cab. 300 and 100 watt amps are adjustable separately.
The 4 PRO has dual power amps but you have to add a crossover to biamp. I don't know if you can adjust the power amp volumes separate or not?
Click to expand...

Thank you for clarifying the wattage mistake I had.

So that means I can add a Peavey Headliner or a Mesa M-Pulse 600 to the mix? GREAT! Now I'll never find out what I want.
 
#9
What model of eminence did you put in the 215? If they're anything decent for bass, that's enough cab by itself.

Yes, it's 4ohms and most any common bass amp will work fine with it.

I like my 800rb but I sure as hell wouldn't kick an Ampeg out of bed either. Both are versatile, but their sort of "default" tones are very different from each other.

They're also 2 completely different classes of amp. The 4pro being an absolute high power monster, the 800rb much smaller, although it's one of the loudest sounding 300 watts you'll ever hear and can hang on big stages.
 
#13
I've played through both, and I'm not just saying this because I'm an endorser (you cynical vultures!), but I greatly prefer the 4 Pro. The 800RB is a good amp but it doesn't have what I'm looking for. I'm sure it has what some people are looking for but not me. Gets a little too harsh on the attack for my tastes.
 
#17
JimmyM said:
I've played through both, and I'm not just saying this because I'm an endorser (you cynical vultures!), but I greatly prefer the 4 Pro. The 800RB is a good amp but it doesn't have what I'm looking for. I'm sure it has what some people are looking for but not me. Gets a little too harsh on the attack for my tastes.
Click to expand...

+1

Play the amp that has the sound you want. For my I would take the 4 pro, bridge that sucker through a big cab and rock out. :bassist:
 

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