Newbie to the forum and although I’ve played for years, I’m just now in a position to expand my gear set. I have a GK 800 RB and a rack mount compressor, but I don’t see an easy way to connect the compressor (rack mount back input and output) to the front end inputs on the GK. I’m wondering if I need a preamp, although I love the 800 RB tone and don’t feel it’s necessary. Any guidance is appreciated.
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GK 800 RB - Do I need a preamp?
- Thread starter Emitnemic
- Start date
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- comprerssor gk 800rb preamp
Yeah, if you need a compressor, hit the effects loop on the back.
If you love the tone of the amp (and it's a classic) leave it alone. No need for a preamp.
And Welcome to TalkBass!!!!!
If you love the tone of the amp (and it's a classic) leave it alone. No need for a preamp.
And Welcome to TalkBass!!!!!
Thank you for the welcome! I see an input for the effects loop on the front (near the tuner output), but I don't see that on the back. Maybe I need to add a plate with wire ports and use that to attach the front to back cleanly?
Right above the speaker outputs in the rear is the effects send (goes to compressor in) and return (comes from compressor out).
Work on your technique to get those 1/8th’s right. Then sell the compressor 
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I never understood the concept of adding a pre amp to an amp that already has one
Just run your bass cord into the back of the compressor's in, then run the out of the compressor around to the front input of the amp.
The pre on the 800RB has a 1 MOhm input impedance which really makes passive pickups just sing beautifully and powerfully. Skip the preamp, and try the amp without a compressor — the power section really has this great grind thing that happens when you drive it, at once evenin out the sound and making it more expressive under your fingers. Great amp.
Like a steak — don’t put ketchup on it.
Like a steak — don’t put ketchup on it.
I agree that it sounds silly, but having tried it several times it can sound really cool. It’s like guitar players stacking overdrives on colors and shapes the sound going into the next.I never understood the concept of adding a pre amp to an amp that already has one
So “need” no but depending on the sound you’re after it may it may not work for you. It can be fun to experiment with and see.
For example for my fav gritty hard rock tone I use a Darkglass Alpha Omega into a B3K. You’d think I’d just need one of them, and I could certainly get a good sound from just either or but there’s some magic that happens with both at the same time. Both set with the drive and blend rather low but it just ends up different than just 1 or the other.
It sounds like you need a different compressor pedal with more user control then. For example, Compressor Note: The Empress has attack, release, ratio, and mix controls.
Keep in mind that generally an effects loop will want a line level signal and pedals work at instrument level, which is much lower. So if you have rack mount compressor, it will probably work in the effects loop, and you can continue to use the amp's preamp.
Another think you can try is cranking up the amp's Boost control a bit, while turning down the Master volumes. The Boost circuit drives a FET that is designed to emulate a tube circuit. As you increase the Boost, the sound should get compressed and then break over into OD.
+1 that you could plug into the back of the compressor and out to the front of the amp. Only challenge would be the coiled cable might get hooked up on your amp. Since you want to use a coiled cable because they're cool you may want to use a floor box compressor just to make cable management. JHS P&P or Cali anyone?
You didn't say you have a coiled cable but I sensed that you wanted to get one for massive style points. You can get one covered in tweed.
You didn't say you have a coiled cable but I sensed that you wanted to get one for massive style points. You can get one covered in tweed.
Welcome to Talkbass. It gets like this sometimes.
Are you sure you have a 800 RB? No effects loop input or tuner output on the front of the picture below. The effects loop is on the back of the amp.