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BGRA: Gallien-Krueger 800RB
| Manufacturer |
Gallien-Krueger |
Model |
800RB |
| Reviewer |
Thrush, 7 years |
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| Experience |
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Item owned |
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| Review Date |
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Price paid |
$500 used |
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Dimensions | 16"x5"x12" (approx.) |
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Wattage | 400W switchable to bi-amped 300W (low) and 100W (high) |
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Speaker(s) | head only |
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Effects | boost control (foot switchable pre-gain) |
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Controls | active/passive input switch |
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I've owned this amp for 4 months now and I've been fairly happy with it in many respects. It's a very clean sounding amp that reproduces what's put into it. Therein lies part of my problem: it is too clean. The amp itself has very little character. This is excellent if you've got a series of effects that you plug into it or have a preamp that you prefer, but if you plug straight in, you might be somewhat diappointed.
Some background: I play in a group with two bass players. I'm handling the low end foundation while the other player handles more melodic stuff higher up. It's difficult working with two bass players, but this amp was supposed to solve it. It didn't.
Personally, I love the amp; however, I'm finding that it's better for a trebly sound. I've been unable to get a heavy low end thus far from it: some bass rigs will just put out a devastating sound that you feel rather than hear. The GK has just not been able to do it thus far. I will say that I've only been running a single 15 cab on it rather than bi-amping it as it's best run, but I still just don't get those low tones. When I plugged into his Peavey head running an identical 15" cabinet, I got that low end that I was looking for (but without any tone whatsoever...)
I'm still experimenting, but I believe that the GK simply needs a compressor upfront and possibly some kind of tone-shaping equipment: perhaps an EQ or a good, colored preamp. I also believe it needs to be matched with the right cabinets.
For most players, this will be the end of your search for a loud, clear, reliable head. For those of you who play intervals or chords and need to handle sustained 40Hz - 100Hz with substance and depth, you might need to look elsewhere.
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| construction |
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| clarity |
| (100%) |
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| value |
| (90%) |
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| overall |
| (95%) |
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