Who has rack ears (edit: and knobs) for vintage Gallien-Krueger 400RB's?

[ossyrocks]

I've just racked my Gallien-Krueger 400RB MK-I in a small and tidy 2U rack case, just big enough for it, and I've come over all 80's nostalgic like. It looks the bees knees, and is quite practical. 

 

I'm carrying a 400RB-II and 400RB-III in equipment cases at the moment, but it would be nice to rack those in the same cases.

 

It's a very long shot, but does anyone know anyone with any rack ears/ends for the early 400RB MKI/II, or MK-III heads?

 

Cheers,

Rob

 

Edited November 10, 2024 by ossyrocks

[umcoo]

Hi,

 

I had a similar issue with my 80's GK800RB. I found these rack ears on eBay and bolted them on the inside of the amp's case. They've worked great. Cheap too. 

 

I have linked the 2u ears for the 400RB below. 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165973127952?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=V7TM5Eg_SQ-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=TN_QcJMCSYy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[ossyrocks]

I'll have a look at those, thanks.

 

The real deal or copies is still my ultimate goal though.

 

Rob

[ossyrocks]

I sent an email to GK last week and asked if they still had any rack ears for the older RB series amps (they are showing out of stock on their US site).

 

They kindly got back to me to say they would have a look. Anyway, they found some to fit the MK-III/IV, and posted me two sets, which arrived yesterday.

 

Great service I must say. Here's the MK-III with its new rack ears, rack case incoming.

 

Rob

Edited September 19, 2024 by ossyrocks

[ossyrocks]

Ok, back here again with another question.

 

Does anyone know where can I find knobs, or just the caps for the knobs, for an original 800RB? I have one incoming with two missing caps off the knobs.

 

Cheers,

Rob

Edited November 10, 2024 by ossyrocks

[ossyrocks]

Calling @rwillett

 

Rob, is it possible to replicate the push on caps for control knobs? Amp pictured below showing two missing caps. Picture of a cap as an example (not the correct one though).

I could take one off an original amp to copy if it's possible/financially viable. BTW, if this can be done, there's an army of GK 400/800RB users out there who would buy these.

 

Rob

[nick]

I bought some knob caps for the ones missing on my 400RB & 800RB about 8 years ago from a seller in the States who sold NOS amp spares & bits.

Unfortunately, can't find the details that is if he's still even trading these days. However, I remember them being quite expensive.

I understand from Talkbass forum they are incredibly rare & hard to find even over there.

 

Apparently the chap that builds DiCosimo Audio 800RB Bass Preamp Pedals uses these knobs which look quite similar: https://www.rapidonline.com/re-an-p300-h-098-s6-tricolour-knob-grey-insert-32-1208?fbclid=IwAR1V9CXvtrZvBj8qDbppXNkGYYGza8jQB06x9X-z8G2cddsjvOFTuuD_QJE

 

The grey knob caps themselves are also available. They look pretty similar to the 400RB one, so might be a close enough replacement?

Maybe worth a try for 62p each?

https://www.rapidonline.com/re-an-t861-h-89-grey-cap-to-suit-19mm-knob-32-0345?fbclid=IwAR0UbSS4kwxIEmtTPq0M2ZnWgDowPFWT4MAkwAfGyJ66xgLxQoBHEwK6Yjw

[nick]

The Gallien Krueger P/No. for the cap is 100-0102-0

 

This stockist of amp spares in Spain appears to sell them & have them in stock:

https://www.audiotestserviciotecnico.com/tienda/100-0102-0-cap-72-apls-spline-sh-gallien-krueger/

 

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Nick

Edited November 10, 2024 by nick
adding P/No.

[ossyrocks]

49 minutes ago, nick said:

The Gallien Krueger P/No. for the cap is 100-0102-0

 

This stockist of amp spares in Spain appears to sell them & have them in stock:

https://www.audiotestserviciotecnico.com/tienda/100-0102-0-cap-72-apls-spline-sh-gallien-krueger/

 

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Nick

That's a very difficult site to navigate. I added 10 of them to basket and then couldn't find a way to pay for them. It's not auto translating either. Hmm

Edited November 10, 2024 by ossyrocks

[ossyrocks]

58 minutes ago, nick said:

I bought some knob caps for the ones missing on my 400RB & 800RB about 8 years ago from a seller in the States who sold NOS amp spares & bits.

Unfortunately, can't find the details that is if he's still even trading these days. However, I remember them being quite expensive.

I understand from Talkbass forum they are incredibly rare & hard to find even over there.

 

Apparently the chap that builds DiCosimo Audio 800RB Bass Preamp Pedals uses these knobs which look quite similar: https://www.rapidonline.com/re-an-p300-h-098-s6-tricolour-knob-grey-insert-32-1208?fbclid=IwAR1V9CXvtrZvBj8qDbppXNkGYYGza8jQB06x9X-z8G2cddsjvOFTuuD_QJE

 

The grey knob caps themselves are also available. They look pretty similar to the 400RB one, so might be a close enough replacement?

Maybe worth a try for 62p each?

https://www.rapidonline.com/re-an-t861-h-89-grey-cap-to-suit-19mm-knob-32-0345?fbclid=IwAR0UbSS4kwxIEmtTPq0M2ZnWgDowPFWT4MAkwAfGyJ66xgLxQoBHEwK6Yjw

 

I found a link to these earlier today via TalkBass I think. I've ordered a set anyway, I'll see what they're like when they get here.

[nick]

11 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

 

I found a link to these earlier today via TalkBass I think. I've ordered a set anyway, I'll see what they're like when they get here.

 

They're not too expensive to at least trial.... Would be interested to hear what they're like too. Just in case I need any more in the future, should a cap drop off.

[Dan Dare]

Google "amplifier knobs UK" and a world of treasures will be revealed. An outfit called Knob Zone (Oooer, missus, etc) has what look to be identical ones to those on that GK. CPC Farnell and RS Components have zillions of different types, too. 

[ossyrocks]

6 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

Google "amplifier knobs UK" and a world of treasures will be revealed. An outfit called Knob Zone (Oooer, missus, etc) has what look to be identical ones to those on that GK. CPC Farnell and RS Components have zillions of different types, too. 

Cheers.

I've had a good look around "Knob Zone" and can't see anything that resembles the early RB series knobs. Maybe you're searching the site in a different way than me. Can you link to the ones you found?

 

As for the knobs I ordered from RapidOnline, they are nothing like the originals, so I won't be using those either!

[umcoo]

Is your 800RB a proper old one with the horizontal power switch, or a more recent one with the vertical switch?

 

I tried to find some knobs for the former a few years ago and couldn't find any. I always wondered if someone could 3D print one, or buy a non-working example from the US and use it as a donor amp. 

[rwillett]

I have made 3d printed rack ears for my network gear. Its dead easy to design but it depends on the size and weight of the gear. Technically it depends on the centre of gravity of the unit. 

 

I can print it relatively strong (note the word relatively). However if you have a 50Kg tube amp thats 30cm deep and the transformer and valve units are at the back of the unit, that'll be a stretch for the ears. Conversely if the weight is at the front and its solid state, I suspect its fine.

 

One way to check this is to weigh the unit as whole. Then find a nice pivot point to rest the amp on (simple narrow piece of wood), put two pieces of foam underneath the amp either side of the pivot point and move the point  around until the amp kinda balances. Is it at the front, the back, or in the middle? That plus the weight should give a rough idea of whats needed.

 

One other way is I keep printing bigger and stronger ears and give them to @ossyrocks until they work.

 

A better way would be for him to bring the amp and rack to me (we live about 40 mins from Morecombe/Lancaster near Settle) along with a glass or two of something nice and we try it out on the spot and adapt.

Rob

[Dan Dare]

13 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

've had a good look around "Knob Zone" and can't see anything that resembles the early RB series knobs. Maybe you're searching the site in a different way than me. Can you link to the ones you found?

 

I can't work out how to post a link, but the ones I found were in the plastic knobs section. If you have a look on the CPC Farnell site, they do a range of separate knob caps. You may be able to find some that fit your existing ones.

[ossyrocks]

2 hours ago, umcoo said:

Is your 800RB a proper old one with the horizontal power switch, or a more recent one with the vertical switch?

 

I tried to find some knobs for the former a few years ago and couldn't find any. I always wondered if someone could 3D print one, or buy a non-working example from the US and use it as a donor amp. 

It's a MKII with the vertical switch. I also have three 400RB's, a MKI, MKII, and MKIII. The knobs on the two earlier 400's look identical to me, and they look the same as the 800RB.

[ossyrocks]

1 hour ago, rwillett said:

I have made 3d printed rack ears for my network gear. Its dead easy to design but it depends on the size and weight of the gear. Technically it depends on the centre of gravity of the unit. 

 

I can print it relatively strong (note the word relatively). However if you have a 50Kg tube amp thats 30cm deep and the transformer and valve units are at the back of the unit, that'll be a stretch for the ears. Conversely if the weight is at the front and its solid state, I suspect its fine.

 

One way to check this is to weigh the unit as whole. Then find a nice pivot point to rest the amp on (simple narrow piece of wood), put two pieces of foam underneath the amp either side of the pivot point and move the point  around until the amp kinda balances. Is it at the front, the back, or in the middle? That plus the weight should give a rough idea of whats needed.

 

One other way is I keep printing bigger and stronger ears and give them to @ossyrocks until they work.

 

A better way would be for him to bring the amp and rack to me (we live about 40 mins from Morecombe/Lancaster near Settle) along with a glass or two of something nice and we try it out on the spot and adapt.

Rob

Thanks Rob, I think we're at cross purposes though.

 

I'm looking for caps for the knobs, tiny little grey disks of plastic. See the pic above.

 

Rob

[rwillett]

Sorry, I thought we were talking about ears. Thats slightly more tricky than ears as it needs the right colour grey and a line in the middle. Its normally easier to buy them if you can TBH.  Have you looked at RS Components or Farnell? RS Components has 104 pages of knobs, none of which look like Nigel Farage.

 

The other thing I'd do is take a picture of the knob and do a reverse search on the image on Google to see if anything else pops ...

 

Sorry to be confused, the offer of a drink still stands.

 

Rob

[ossyrocks]

Thread update.

 

The keyboard player in my band  recommended a local metal fabrication workshop to me.

 

I had a chat with the boss and he seemed keen to help me out, so I took along a side from a 400RB-I with rack ears, and a side from my 400RB-II which didn't have rack ears.

 

The sides on the MKI and MKII are NOT interchangeable. I explained what I wanted, which was sides for the MK-II but with the addition of rack ears like the ones on the example MK-I sides.

 

Anyway, I collected them today, and it's worked out well.

 

Here's a few pics, and I must say they are looking rather sexy in their matching SKB Roto racks.

 

Cheers,

Rob

 

 

[Minininjarob]

15 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

Thread update.

 

The keyboard player in my band  recommended a local metal fabrication workshop to me.

 

I had a chat with the boss and he seemed keen to help me out, so I took along a side from a 400RB-I with rack ears, and a side from my 400RB-II which didn't have rack ears.

 

The sides on the MKI and MKII are NOT interchangeable. I explained what I wanted, which was sides for the MK-II but with the addition of rack ears like the ones on the example MK-I sides.

 

Anyway, I collected them today, and it's worked out well.

 

Here's a few pics, and I must say they are looking rather sexy in their matching SKB Roto racks.

 

Cheers,

Rob

 

 

Exactly the same case I used for the one you sold me! (Sent you a pm btw). 

[Minininjarob]

So I have taken the cover off my Mk3 and had a look around the inside to check how it is made. Looks like it’s all discrete components and very fixable if needed, and a suitable chunky transformer. 
In the SKB case I have it was still looking a bit shabby from chips on the cover so I’ve taken it off again to respray it with satin black paint. I would go and get it powder coated if it was living outside a case but it will be well protected inside the rack case and I can always do that at a later date if I want to anyway. 

[Minininjarob]

And if anyone is interested here are the pics from inside, including a sticker for a amp repair shop so it must have been serviced at some point in Europe!

I’ve shown a picture of the fuse size, I will probably get a spare just in case cos I’m paranoid. 
 

 

[Minininjarob]

I spoke to a friend of mine who owns a backline business (and has a 2001rb and matching 4x10 to hire if you ever need to destroy a room with bass) about cases. All his stuff has custom solid flight cases which he needs to protect his gear from any eventuality. He said if the amp has a fan which sucks air into the case you don’t need to be too worried about getting a case to fit exactly (eg a 2u case for these 400rbs) but if it’s blowing out then if the wall of the flight case is right up to the amp case then it might overheat as it’s blowing to a brick wall basically. 
He said to play safe with either a 3u case or an ABS case like an SKB is ideal as there is normally a lot more space around the amp to blow out to or suck fresh air from. I got one second hand and can see there is plenty of space around the fan grille. I did check how the fan works and it does suck air into the case onto the power amp heat sink so any case should be ok as long as both back and front are removed during use but I’m glad I went with an SKB abs case anyway. 
Probanly info you may know already but I found it useful to know as a newbie!

Edited 1 hour ago by Minininjarob

[rwillett]

16 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

The keyboard player in my band  recommended a local metal fabrication workshop to me.

 

Would you mind passing the details of this place on please? I sometimes need stuff done and I normally hit things with a big hammer until they look about right. Useful to know a local one who has more finesses.

Rob