Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anyone doing this?

Im seriously thinking of selling my GK 700RB II and picking up a power amp and going this route. Im running into my effects return currently, bypassing the preamp section, and really liking the results.

The VT is a real homerun for Tech 21.

Can't help on your question but I can give you a smoking deal on an Ashly poweramp (500x2@4 ohms) if you decide to go that route. If you want to go lightweight it may not be for you but it's a great amp. No biggie either way but if you are interested let me know. Good luck either way!

I'll keep that in mind Brian.

Have you tried running the VT into the FX return on the GK? This will give you a good idea how it will work out. Lots of guys on TB run the VT into power amps or powered speakers with great results.

Could someone please fill me in as to the difference between a GK 700RB-II and a poweramp? I own a 700RB-II and run a VT bass pedal in my effects loop. Why (and how) would one want to bypass the preamp of the 700RB-II?

I'm loving the sound I'm getting running it plain old standard/good old fashioned way.

FretlessOnly wrote: Why (and how) would one want to bypass the preamp of the 700RB-II?

By bypassing the built in preamp you'd get the VT "uncolored". Sometimes there's just too much sound processing going on and things get lost in the mix. As to the "how" portion of the question I'm not 100% sure how a GK amp is setup so I'll leave that to the experts.

If it is like my Ampegs, they provide an Amp In. Just plug the bass into the VT, the VT into the Amp In, and wail away.

cheyenne wrote:Anyone doing this?

Im seriously thinking of selling my GK 700RB II and picking up a power amp and going this route. Im running into my effects return currently, bypassing the preamp section, and really liking the results.

There's something very confusing about this thread.

"I'm running into my effects return currently" makes it sound as if Scott is plugging his bass directly into the effects loop return (which seems odd to me, but see text from manual below). If he actually means that the sansamp VT bass pedal is hooked into his effects loop, then he is not bypassing the preamp section, because all of the preamp features are still active on the 700RB-II when the effects loop is utilized.

From the manual:

"Effects send - When used, the signal path is in-series, meaning all of the signal goes thorugh the effects loop.
Effects return - Returns the effects loop signal to the signal path...may also be used as a secondary input for another instrument...The preamp signal is not interrupted if the send jack is not used."

So, I'm missing something here; I'm just not sure what!

when I plug into the "effects return" on the GK, everything seems disabled except the pre and post gain.

Everything sounds great running like this, but if I'm going to continue with this config, I'd rather have a straight power amp just to get as pure a sound as possible out of the VT.

I've been using a BDDI this way for a couple of years with an 800RB. Just provides me with a more tube like tone without the added weight and I can dial in a tone that's a bit less "sterile" sounding, for lack of a better word. However, I would never sell my GK just because there may be situations that arise where I'd like the option of not using the BDDI and going with the stock pre-section.

johnallg wrote:If it is like my Ampegs, they provide an Amp In. Just plug the bass into the VT, the VT into the Amp In, and wail away.

Interesting re-reading this thread. When I got to the Sunday jam and powered on my Ampeg SVT-2 with the 4004C plugged in - crackles! Tried all pots and switches but still the crackling. With no backup, I was not happy. Then I got an idea, and plugged my Aphex Punch Factory compressor into the Amp In jack and all was quiet. So a preamp tube problem. Not the tone I was used to but it worked very well the rest of the afternoon. Volume on the compressor was the only control. Worked in a pinch!

Oh, and today I found a tube half out of the socket, tilted. So heat/cooling cycles caused it to unseat.