MB210 smells when cranking volume

mcapote · #1 05-25-2011, 11:25 AM

Ok well I usually use PA support with my band, but with the addition of a new 2nd guitarist and a new singer we decided not to use PA on bass, and guitars. Well I ended up turning my GK MB210 about 3/4 of the way up really for the first time with a passive bass. As I started playing it started smelling bad. Dont know for sure i would guess kinda like a burning coil smell from my experience of SPL competitions. Played for about 2 hours and never blew the speakers. So my question is is this smell normal or something I should be worried about? and if so what should i do to resolve it?

will33 · #2 05-25-2011, 12:00 PM

If it's under warranty I'd have it checked out. Bad smells mean burning parts. Even if it still works it's not working properly. If it's out of warranty you can open it up and look/sniff around for burnt stuff. Those white ceramic resistors make a pretty foul smell when they go. Burning oil smell could mean a leaky capacitor.

tdub0199 · #3 05-25-2011, 12:02 PM

You are pushing it too hard bro.....

Livewire · #4 05-25-2011, 12:05 PM

A 210 very rarely is enough in a band envoironment, especially with two guitards. You might want to first get the cab checked out, and also look into those new GK MB extension cabs if you're looking for more volume...

Oh and yes, you're pushing it too hard...

RickenBoogie · #5 05-25-2011, 12:18 PM

+1 pushing it way too hard. Those are the voice coils producing heat. They'll eventually burn out if you keep it up. Add an ext 210.

mcapote · #6 05-25-2011, 12:32 PM

well thats kinda sad that using it @ about 3/4 up on master with almost no gain and flat eq settings is pushing it LOL. why make a unit that can blow itself so easily?

mmbongo · #7 05-25-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

well thats kinda sad that using it @ about 3/4 up on master with almost no gain and flat eq settings is pushing it LOL. why make a unit that can blow itself so easily?

There are physical limits to what 10" speakers can do, in a small cabinet to boot. You have to stay within the rules.

tdub0199 · #8 05-25-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

well thats kinda sad that using it @ about 3/4 up on master with almost no gain and flat eq settings is pushing it LOL. why make a unit that can blow itself so easily?

Maybe sad.... but I have never had to push any amp that I have ever owned up to 3/4 volume... that is beyond it's intened limits.... I would try to get another 210 or a 115 cab to go with it..... more speakers in relative cases means more volume but not always....

metron · #9 05-25-2011, 01:03 PM

It may not be something burning. My 1001rb-II has been stank since I got it 5 years ago. I believe its the thermal paste they use on the output devices and I only notice it when the fan turns on. Could be that. Its pungent but not nose pinching acrid like cooked caps or semiconductors.

IME when something is actually burning it fails fairly quickly and youll get the odor after the damage is done or when there is no more sound.

seamonkey · #10 05-25-2011, 01:10 PM

Is the amp fan cooled?
Manytimes fans are on all the time and the insides accumulate dust.
Cranking can heat things up and dust itself can smell.

You should be able to crank this puppy up all the way, and if it hits a limit it should just shutdown and come back after it cools down. Do it under warranty though.

craig.p · #11 05-25-2011, 01:16 PM

It's always been my impression that high-powered combos with extension speaker jacks assume the owner knows that without an extension speaker connected he has to be extra careful to avoid overdriving the on-board speakers, even taking into consideration the slightly lower power output at the higher impedance. I mean, even with an extension cab connected many combos are capable of blowing things out, so without that extra margin of external speakers you've got to exercise even more caution -- again, even taking into consideration the slightly lower power output at the higher impedance.

sevenyearsdown · #12 05-25-2011, 01:20 PM

So even if yours goes to eleven, you should only run it up to 6 eh?

BassmanPaul · #13 05-25-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcapote

well thats kinda sad that using it @ about 3/4 up on master with almost no gain and flat eq settings is pushing it LOL. why make a unit that can blow itself so easily?

It seems to me that you are expecting way too much of a 2x10. I use the format but I'd never attempt to gig with a single cabinet. I always use a pair in a vertical stack.

Just because it's a bass amp doesn't mean that you can crank all the controls, wail away and it will take it. The laws of physics can't be changed.

They didn't make a unit that can blow itself up. No one does. You tried to get more out of it than it was able to give.

craig.p · #14 05-25-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metron

It may not be something burning. My 1001rb-II has been stank since I got it 5 years ago. I believe its the thermal paste they use on the output devices and I only notice it when the fan turns on. Could be that. Its pungent but not nose pinching acrid like cooked caps or semiconductors.

My Backline does the same thing, and smells the same, BUT... the fan's already spun up at a very low power output. I'd hope it'd be the same deal with the combos. So, I'm wondering if it still could be speakers, or maybe his fan isn't spinning up until too late. I'd be interested to know if the fan's spinning at low speed at low-moderate volume.

metron · #15 05-25-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig.p

My Backline does the same thing, and smells the same, BUT... the fan's already spun up at a very low power output. I'd hope it'd be the same deal with the combos. So, I'm wondering if it still could be speakers, or maybe his fan isn't spinning up until too late. I'd be interested to know if the fan's spinning at low speed at low-moderate volume.

I was wondering that as well. I think the new mb amps have a very different thermal circuit because my 1001 will sometimes kick the fan on wihout any input from a cold start while my mb200 hasnt kicked the fan on yet and ive driven it hard.

mcapote · #16 05-25-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

It seems to me that you are expecting way too much of a 2x10. I use the format but I'd never attempt to gig with a single cabinet. I always use a pair in a vertical stack.

Just because it's a bass amp doesn't mean that you can crank all the controls, wail away and it will take it. The laws of physics can't be changed.

They didn't make a unit that can blow itself up. No one does. You tried to get more out of it than it was able to give.

to be honest i wasnt expecting anything other than using the knobs put on by the manufacturer. I wasnt trying to comepte with anyone i figured 3/4 was within the parameters of use on this unit. like i said everything else was flat i wasnt trying to push limits, to be honest the cones didnt look to be getting pushed that hard, my fearful 12/6 had more excursion with 180 watts driving it. I was actually suprised of the vid someone shot, my bass cut in pretty loud. when we did sweet child my bass was just as loud as the leads. I planned on buying a 210MBE but im waiting to see if i have a job as of june 2nd before dishing out any more money.

joeydavidson · #17 05-25-2011, 05:02 PM

The MB210 is a combo right?

I believe it's normal. GKs can smell a little when you first start using them (especially when the fan kicks in), it goes away permamently after a while.

lbwdog · #18 05-25-2011, 05:23 PM

Yeah, it could be the amp just getting a little warmer than normal. New electronic components can generate a little odor at first when running hot, but can eventually go away.

mcapote · #19 05-26-2011, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeydavidson

The MB210 is a combo right?

I believe it's normal. GKs can smell a little when you first start using them (especially when the fan kicks in), it goes away permamently after a while.

yeah its the combo

philter25 · #20 05-26-2011, 07:52 AM

Id call GK. This is the first Ive read of a smell coming from one, so its not normal.

The amps have a limiter on them, so if you push them too hard and they start to clip, it shuts itself down. People on here have clipped them or posted videos of them clipping. You need to push it pretty hard to get it to clip.

What EXACTLY are your settings? You mentioned 3/4 master and low gain with the EQs around noon. Exactly where is the gain and where is the "boost".

Ive never had to turn up the master volume on my MB210 past 1:00, but if the amp isnt supposed to go 3/4 volume, then why make a master volume knob which can turn all the way to 3/4.

And you said you are using a passive bass into the passive input, so you arent sending it a hot signal. If you gain is below noon and your boost is below noon, then I think theres something wrong because your combo should easily be able to handle gain at noon, EQs at noon, boost at noon, and master at 3:00 (3/4 volume).

You said you usually use PA support, so Im guessing this isnt a brand new MB210 and its been played awhile and is broken in.

While yes, I understand the logic some people have posted about pushing it too hard or expecting too much out of a 210, but from my experience gigging with the MB210 with a 6 piece band for a year without running an extension cabinet, and your settings, you should have been fine at those settings.