GK MB115 Distorting Speaker

[Strat Hater]

I have a MB 115 and have rented 2 others and all of them have been distorting at 1/2 volume with no gain on a passive p bass copy with flats.

Anyone else have this, or is this just the same as my experiences with Ibanez, just bad luck after bad luck experience?

I am thinking about trading in the GK for a Rumble 350 2X10 combo or 4X10 head and cab, not sure which yet!

[Joe Louvar]

Try starting with the input volume off, the contour off, horn off, and the limiter on, set all the EQ knobs to 12 o’clock noon , set boost to 11 o’clock and the master volume to 3 o’clock (3/4) - then turn up the input volume to where you like it - and with a standard Fender passive bass, if you’re cranking it pass 1 o’clock it’s loud and could be shaking things in a room - maybe you’re just hearing something vibrating/rattling in your room? Or may be you’re just pushing the driver pass it’s limits (check the EQ)?

[Strat Hater]

Originally Posted by Joe Louvar

Try starting with the input volume off, the contour off, horn off, and the limiter on, set all the EQ knobs to 12 o’clock noon , set boost to 11 o’clock and the master volume to 3 o’clock (3/4) - then turn up the input volume to where you like it - and with a standard Fender passive bass, if you’re cranking it pass 1 o’clock it’s loud and could be shaking things in a room - maybe you’re just hearing something vibrating/rattling in your room? Or may be you’re just pushing the driver pass it’s limits (check the EQ)?

Nothing pass 12 o clock including the eq is flat and it is coming from the speaker. I tried mine at home and at the jam space, with different basses as well, I even tried a new mb 212 in the store and the same problem. Now I do tend to hit the strings pretty hard, perhaps that's it

[giorob815]

First ?- How do you pluck- across the strings or more against them (like a downstroke toward the body)?

Second ?- How high are your pickups?

A hard-hitting, downward-striking technique coupled w/ pickups set too high for said style can result in the strings either hitting or coming very close to the pickups and creating a horrendous distorted/farting sound. Happened to me when I switched to a lower output pup and I tried raising them to compensate for the volume loss rather than letting the amp do the work.

Something to consider.

Rob

[Strat Hater]

Originally Posted by giorob815

First ?- How do you pluck- across the strings or more against them (like a downstroke toward the body)?

Second ?- How high are your pickups?

A hard-hitting, downward-striking technique coupled w/ pickups set too high for said style can result in the strings either hitting or coming very close to the pickups and creating a horrendous distorted/farting sound. Happened to me when I switched to a lower output pup and I tried raising them to compensate for the volume loss rather than letting the amp do the work.

Something to consider.

Rob

I pluck pretty much perpendicular to the strings and the pups on all my basses are pretty much set at how they came from the factory. I should add that I don't have that problem if I use the headphones or my BA 108??

[5port]

If pick-ups are set too high and too close to the strings it will cause distortion. Some amps may tolerate this better than others (the BA-108 may be one). The fact that you've had this problem with more than one amp of different brands (I own the Ibanez P3115 if thats what you refer to) tells me I would look at the bass set-up.