GK BL600 with BLX 4x10

finfrocka · #1 07-07-2011, 01:58 PM

Hey guys, I'm trying to determine if there is a problem with my amp/cab combo. When I am playing with my four string or my six string through the amp I get a lot of distortion. I've tried a lot of stuff to help alleviate this problem. For example if am playing through the bridge pickup ( volume knob halfway or a little less) with the master volume and Clean channel knobs on the amp both at halfway i get a ton of distortion like i said earlier. The only way to eliminate this is to turn the pickup volume knob almost off and then i lose tone and volume. I have tried using the -10 dB cut which works well until I bring the volume up to compensate for the lack of volume when using this option.

Is this normal behavior for this amp/head? I feel like something is wrong. If i turn my amp down to a point where the distortion stops it is only as loud as my fender 100 watt amp. Turn it up any more than that and it gets a ton of distortion. I know this was probably hard to understand but any help would be greatly appreciated. If you need more info just ask and I"ll do what i can to supply it. This problem is quite irksome.

finfrocka · #2 07-07-2011, 02:14 PM

could it have anything to do with my amp being 4 ohms and the speakers being 8?

hyp.spec · #3 07-07-2011, 02:33 PM

GK's power output is quite a bit different than most manufacturers. To adjust the sound on a GK you should set the MASTER knob between 12 and 3 o'clock and then set the VOLUME to taste. This is 'backwards' compared to other amp makers.

Having your VOLUME means you're putting a lot of gain through the amp, which is probably why its 'distorting'.

finfrocka · #4 07-07-2011, 09:39 PM

I feel like I've tried that. Is GK known to have a lot of gain on their amps? Ill try again in the morning though. Also could it be the ohms i mentioned before? Thanks for the reply btw as well.

dukeisdog · #5 07-07-2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finfrocka

I feel like I've tried that. Is GK known to have a lot of gain on their amps? Ill try again in the morning though. Also could it be the ohms i mentioned before? Thanks for the reply btw as well.

The amp can do 8 ohms, and can do as low as 4 ohms (two 8 ohm cabs) so the cab isn't the issue.

**B-string** · #6 07-07-2011, 09:51 PM

BLX is the "entry" cabs. Not the most efficient. With one 8 ohm cab the amp is only rated at 180 watts by the way.
You don't have an active bass with a weak battery do you?

finfrocka · #7 07-07-2011, 09:54 PM

That would make a lot of sense. All this audio stuff is coming back to me know. Last time i worried about it i was installing subs in my car. But isn't there a way that i can rewire the four speakers together to run them at 4 ohms? Or would that not make a difference/make it worse? And it is active electronics but not pickups, i tried checking that first before anything else. The distortion isn't a big deal because i won't be playing any shows any time soon and if i did I'm sure they would have me run my amp into something bigger anyways. But if I could do something about it I definitely wouldn't be shy about tinkering.

dukeisdog · #8 07-07-2011, 10:04 PM

You aren't able to change the ohms of a cab without getting all new speakers, which isn't worth it IMO. If you have active electronics, try turning the volume on your bass down to about 75%, and turn the volume of the amp up. I had the same issue with my Ibanez SRX 500.

**B-string** · #9 07-07-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukeisdog

You aren't able to change the ohms of a cab without getting all new speakers, which isn't worth it IMO. If you have active electronics, try turning the volume on your bass down to about 75%, and turn the volume of the amp up. I had the same issue with my Ibanez SRX 500.

Exacty, the speakers are 32 ohm. The only rewire you could do would just make the problem worse. Pick up a second cab or the NEO 410!

finfrocka · #10 07-07-2011, 10:16 PM

i inherited a move theater cabinet with 2 15's. I might pop some new speakers in their, will any subwoofers work or do i need to buy some specifically for the bass guitar

**B-string** · #11 07-07-2011, 10:20 PM

Speaker boxes have to work with the speaker. Putting just any 15" in the cabs may give really bad results. The most "forgiving" 15 I personally know of is the Eminence 3015. Two of those will run you about $600.00 usd plus shipping.

finfrocka · #12 07-07-2011, 10:23 PM

really? even if its a sealed enclosure and not ported? also assuming their is enough space within the cab to meet the requirements of the speaker?

**B-string** · #13 07-07-2011, 10:27 PM

Even if it is a non-ported cab (odd for a movie theater) the internal volume of the cab must be proper for the driver. Might have to re-think the 3015 though, not sure if they like sealed boxes.

Have you looked at the used market?

finfrocka · #14 07-07-2011, 10:45 PM

No i haven't, it really isn't that big of a deal because like i said i won't be playing any shows soon. I can't find any decent dudes i can perform with. At college its either metal or dave mathews and nothing in between lol.