Gallien Kreuger RB700 combo

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:14 am

Anybody have opinions on the above rig? It's a 2x10" combo with crossover output to a built-in horn. A local Music-Go-Round has a gently used one for $700 and I'm thinking . . .

My band does mostly classic rock, blues, and boogie, and I'm finding my Crate B100 isn't giving me enough balls. I would be playing either a 4001 (toaster/high gain) or a 4004 through it. Anybody out there tried this combination? Would I be able to add a single 15" cab if I needed more rumble?

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:18 am

Its KILLER. And yes, you can add a 1-15 cab. I saw someone playing with it (I was considering it as well) and they had the 2-10 with an added 1-15 cab and it sounded really good. I opted for the GK400RBIII amp and 4-10 cab. I added a 1-15 cab to that setup and it THUMPS! I highly recommend GK stuff with Rics, sounds great! (and was twice as loud as a similar Ampeg at the same volume setting!)

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:51 am

Being twice as loud at the same volume setting only means that the amp has more gain,it doesn't mean that it is a louder amp, only that it is louder at the same volume setting.
What really counts is the maximum RMS. power rating at a certain percentage of distortion at a certain impedance. For ex. 300 watts RMS at 2% distortion at either 4 or 2 ohms for a tube amp. (what would that be, I wonder? haha!)
The max. SPL at one watt also has a lot to do with volume, is measured in Db's, the efficiency of the cab in other words. A good efficient cab will be around 97, 98 db at one watt. one point makes a big difference, a 95 Db speaker is much less efficient than a 98 Db cab. When you are buying an amp, always ask for the RMS. rating with the percentage of distortion at what impedance, and the efficiency of the speakers. Can make a big difference. Because in the stores they all sound good.
Also with a solid state amp adding another cab will increase the power output as long as the amp can handle the impedance.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 10:38 am

Bob, I defer to you on the technical end, I just know that I tested the GK400RBIII side-by-side with the Ampeg B2R (which was twice as much, by the way) and I had the GK up around 3 at the same master and EQ settings and got a nice, actually extremely loud and clear volume level, and in order to get the same volume out of the Ampeg, had to almost max it out, thereby adding distortion. This was also the case with my other Ampeg head (SVT 200T) which I took back within a week because it was shorting out on me. I ran both of them thru the same cab, so it wasn't a matter of can efficiency, and used the same bass to try both of them out. I'm not saying anything bad about Ampeg here, because I have used them and like them a lot. But I am just saying that GK is a good alternative if you dont want to spend the Ampeg $$. (or should that be $$$$$$$$$$?) I personally prefer them!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 12:07 pm

Steve, I'm no expert, and actually I like GK also, they have a nice warm sound for a SS amp, and I like their tone shaping controls, nice and simple. But that is an odd experience, was the -15 db switch for active basses engaged on the Ampeg? And which control did you have to max out, the pre amp or the master volume on the Ampeg? And was this at the GC? I don't trust their connections. How many ohms was the cab? and did the Ampeg have a lower impedance capability than the GK?
I'm lugging an SVT head home from Lima and in order to do that to meet the weight requirements for the plane I have to remove the power transformer which is no easy job then have to take it on the plane in my carry on and I'm sure that the people who work the x-ray equipment are going to think it's a bomb and that I'm a left wing gringo terrorist, never mind that fact that it weighs at least 30 lbs. so I'm going to be in the market for a light weight head, GK is on the top of my list.

robj · Post by **robj** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 1:12 pm

If I were in the market for a new rig I would probably go GK. I really like the little MB150E I have. It sounds very good with every bass I own.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 2:01 pm

Bob, I couldn't believe it either, since I actually played thru Jeff Rath's B2R and really liked it, and actually went there thinking I was going to get that amp! It was at Guitar Center, but I did the connecting myself. I tested the amps thru an SWR Goliath III 4-10 cabinet, same Jazz Bass, (didn't have a Ric to try it with!!) same cord, same cabinet. I understand it might have been an 8 ohm cabinet, but that is what I have and wanted to test it on an 8 ohm cabinet. It might have been that the Ampegs run louder with more of a load. I checked all of the pads and such to see why it was so much quieter, and it was set correctly. So it MIGHT have been the 8 ohm cab. Although I am now running 2 8ohm cabs and the GK is SUPER loud and clear. I literally have it on 2 on stage and it is almost too loud. My drummer can feel the floor shaking! (For once!) I like that it has tons of headroom. I actually had the Ampeg pre louder than the GK, and the master was cranked. But the difference was so noticable that I couldn't believe it, and walked out with the GK (and a road case, and a Furman power conditioner/tuner, and all of the patch cords I would ever need for the price of the Ampeg!)
I would HIGHLY recommend the GK400RBIII. I have been amazed by the sound of it and it's a heck of a lot lighter than the SVT I had.

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 3:31 pm

I used to have two 700RB heads, they are excellent so the combo should be great too, especially at that price.

bigbajo60 · Post by **bigbajo60** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:30 pm

I could kick myself for not having bought an RB700 1 x 12 combo when I had the chance! Having a 12" driver in the combo as opposed to the two 10's made all the difference IMHO.

I thought I'd be able to buy one at my convenience a short time after I tried it out, but GK discontinued the 1 x 12 version shortly thereafter in favor of the more popular 2 x 10 and 1 x 15 formats.

This was a few years before 1 x 12 cabs became all the rage! I imagine an RB700 head with another brands 1 x 12 would sound awesome!