GK's 'limiter' vs a compressor.

[ausf]

I assume the limiter on GK levels the signal, avoiding spikes.

How much does it differ from a pedal like Boss' Enhancer/Limiter?

[Sabu]

I'm wondering about this as well. The manual for my 700RBII says the circuit design has limiting built into it...there's no switch or light or anything.

[NicJimBass]

I'm thinking the limiting going on is for general protection, so the amp doesn't blow up. Been using GK a looong time, and never had anything squash my signal or anything. So, short answer, nothing like a compressor or compressor pedal.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by NicJimBass

I'm thinking the limiting going on is for general protection, so the amp doesn't blow up. Been using GK a looong time, and never had anything squash my signal or anything. So, short answer, nothing like a compressor or compressor pedal.

+1 I assume the GK limiting talked about by the OP is the typical 'power amp' limiting that keeps the amp from putting out volume/wattage at distorted levels beyond its rated capability and THD, etc.

There seem to be two schools of thought on these 'power amp limiting' circuits. One, like Markbass, EA, etc., sets the power amp limiting to allow the amp to put out its full rated power at what seems to be a fixed THD... i.e., the amp stays clean and sounding the same all the way up to the point where things start to 'change' at the limits of its rated power/THD, and then the limiting just stops the amp from getting louder and starts to clamp down on the signal.

The other execution (Genz, and TC electronics as examples) uses a sort of 'tube amp emulation' deal that allows some controlled distortion in the amp when really pushed, so that it actually can continue to get louder beyond its 'clean design limits'... kind of like a tube amp.

Not sure which school of thought GK falls into with their limiting. I believe it is the first.

[ausf]

The GK limiter is defeatable, which wouldn't make sense if it was an amp protect sort of issue. This is a MB 212 if it matters.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by ausf

The GK limiter is defeatable, which wouldn't make sense if it was an amp protect sort of issue. This is a MB 212 if it matters.

The new MB500 has that switch also. Not sure what type of limiting that is. I know the MB150 combo's and heads have a 'limiter knob', but I believe it is associated with the power section (i.e., or at least post gain, at the end of the preamp signal chain), not the traditional 'input limiting'.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by Sabu

I'm wondering about this as well. The manual for my 700RBII says the circuit design has limiting built into it...there's no switch or light or anything.

To the best of my knowledge, most (if not all) GK heads do not use a traditional limiter. Instead, they monitor the output for "bad" things, like short circuits or clipping the output section for more than like 10ms. If an unsafe condition is observed, the amp mutes the output as a protection method.

This is one of the reasons that GK heads sound so loud. They don't put the brakes on until you reach "top speed."

[KJung]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

To the best of my knowledge, most (if not all) GK heads do not use a traditional limiter. Instead, they monitor the output for "bad" things, like short circuits or clipping the output section for more than like 10ms. If an unsafe condition is observed, the amp mutes the output as a protection method.

This is one of the reasons that GK heads sound so loud. They don't put the brakes on until you reach "top speed."

That would be 'hard limiting'. I think they use that class H rail switching thing on their larger heads also, like the EBS amps.

The smaller heads seem to have the more traditional limiting circuits in them (and I believe they are class D, not H or whatever the big ones are... which would make sense I guess).

[tallboybass]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

To the best of my knowledge, most (if not all) GK heads do not use a traditional limiter. Instead, they monitor the output for "bad" things, like short circuits or clipping the output section for more than like 10ms. If an unsafe condition is observed, the amp mutes the output as a protection method.

This is one of the reasons that GK heads sound so loud. They don't put the brakes on until you reach "top speed."

As usual, Tom rings in with the correct answer!!!

I hit the limiter with my MB212 and we were playing freakin' LOUD when it happened!

[Sabu]

Cool, thanks for the explanation!

[Adam Bomb]

Originally Posted by tallboybass

As usual, Tom rings in with the correct answer!!!

I hit the limiter with my MB212 and we were playing freakin' LOUD when it happened!

Tallboy, did the limiter mute you altogether? Or just bring you down?

I have an olde 200MB (the small all-aluminum number the double bass guys love) and that has a defeatable limiter that just seems to limit how loud the thing gets. I think ...

Nice to hear that 212's holding its own.

--Bomb

[tallboybass]

Bombster, it was different than other amps. It kind of cut out like Tom said. If you defeat it, it will go louder but I didn't want to blow the amp so i just eased up.