Need help with my new amp.

Metalbassmatt · #1 07-19-2010, 08:59 PM

I just got a new gallien krueger bass amp. It's 200 watts and I paid a little over 400$ for it. Anyway, the guy at guitar center said I would be able to drown out the drum set easily with it. But unfortunately I can barely even hear it over my bros drums. Do you think there's just something wrong with this particular item? Thanks guys.

**jmattbassplaya** · #2 07-19-2010, 09:05 PM

What model is it exactly? What kind of cab setup are you using?

IME and IMHO, 200watts is usually never enough for a bassist in a band. I'd consider returning it and picking up something used in the TB classifieds that packs a little more punch (scroll to the bottom of the topic pages).

johnk_10 · #3 07-19-2010, 09:06 PM

probably not. it really depends on how loud your 'bro' plays drums.

.........and i really wouldn't be taking the salesman at guitar center's word as gospel. not that he's lying, but possibly exaggerating a bit. (and he didn't say which drumset

).

Metalbassmatt · #4 07-19-2010, 10:44 PM

It's a gallien krueger mb115 bass combo. And my brother has a tama set with zilgan cymbals

a01020201 · #5 07-19-2010, 11:39 PM

I would buy an Ampeg hed and a 4x10 lol, that is what i tell anyone, in reality a GK setup is pretty awesome, but you might need more watts at your disposal, good luck with the rocking

johnk_10 · #6 07-19-2010, 11:40 PM

a GK MB115 is actually a 140 watts if you're using just internal 15" speaker. IME, a 140 watt solid state combo with a single 15 can have a hard time keeping up with a full set of drums. i think that your GK is a nice amp though. if you added another 15" cab, you'd be getting your amp's full 200 watts and with the additional 15" would make it ALOT louder and fuller.

JimmyM · #7 07-20-2010, 02:04 AM

+1. between adding a second matching 115 and the extra wattage you get, you'll probably come close to doubling your output as it sits now.

faulknersj · #8 07-20-2010, 03:03 AM

+1 for returning the amp to GC. It is truly shameful that they 'told you what you wanted to hear' to close the deal. By the time you purchase another 15' inch speaker, you will be $600 - $650 deep (at least). If you like GK, u could get a used GK 800rb + a decent cab for that amount and have a great sounding rig with plenty of headroom to keep up with live drums. Mr. Miyagi taught this young grasshopper long ago that your money goes much much further when spent on used gear. Personally, I would not hesitate to take the amp back to GC for a full refund. Best wishes!

rag · #9 07-20-2010, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

a GK MB115 is actually a 140 watts if you're using just internal 15" speaker. IME, a 140 watt solid state combo with a single 15 can have a hard time keeping up with a full set of drums. i think that your GK is a nice amp though. if you added another 15" cab, you'd be getting your amp's full 200 watts and with the additional 15" would make it ALOT louder and fuller.

The MB115 puts 200W into the internal speaker, it does not have an estension speaker jack. He probably should look at the MB210 or the MB212 if he needs more power in a combo.
Bob

jelwood · #10 07-20-2010, 03:18 AM

I'm going to guess you haven't had much experience playing? I could be wrong on that. But know that a lot of factors come in to play here. Room acoustics, how hard your drummer hits, and your eq. Crank the high mids on that little sucker, and put it on a raised platform so that it's more at your ear level. You will be happy. Back in my earlier days when I had a 100 watt combo, I could get it to be heard over my drummer, who hits immensely hard and breaks a couple of sticks per set, so it is possible, but of course you're not going to get the umph of say a 410 cabinet or adding another 15. If your guitarist is using a half stack, you're probably screwed (just saying). When I had my combo my guitarist used a single 12 inch speaker and just then I was really pushing it.

Of course, you could just tell your drummer to play quieter...

IMHO these GK combos are great but people buy them expecting them to be insanely loud, which GK's bigger rigs are notorious for. A 15 inch speaker is really only going to get so loud, no matter how much power you put in to it. And, unfortunately for you, salesmen seem to have taken the liberty of using GK's loud-big-rig reputation and carrying it on down to these smaller units. Tis a shame.

johnk_10 · #11 07-20-2010, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rag

The MB115 puts 200W into the internal speaker, it does not have an estension speaker jack. He probably should look at the MB210 or the MB212 if he needs more power in a combo.
Bob

thanks for correcting/clarifying that Bob.

oerk · #12 07-20-2010, 03:32 AM

Take it back and get a used head with at least 200 watts and a 2x12 or 4x10 cab 4 ohm cab. Or at least 300 watts if the cab is 8 ohm.

MIJ-VI · #13 07-20-2010, 03:48 AM

OP, how do you have each of your amp's controls set? (12 o'clock is ~flat)

"Still rocking my MB115 - just played a LOUD gig (two geetars w loud combos/loud drums and keys) with my rock n roll band over the weekend and the thing kicked ass. I run a VT Bass pedal into it for the rock gigs and man it sounds good..."
New Gallien Kreuger MB 210 & MB 115 PART 2:

Metalbassmatt · #14 07-20-2010, 05:27 PM

Thankd guys. I'm probably gonna take it back to gc tommorrow. I was lolling in to maybe getting a mb210. Hoe do you think that would match against a loud, aggressive drummer?

Metalbassmatt · #15 07-20-2010, 05:28 PM

****.. I had a lot of spelling errors. You guys know what I meant.

jelwood · #16 07-20-2010, 05:32 PM

Matt,

The MB210 won't be much louder despite having much more power. Volume is all about speaker area. The reason why the MB210 costs so much more is because it has the ability to power another cabinet and a larger power reserve to help power that extra cabinet. If you want more volume out of these combos, you would be best with the MB212. But if you're willing to spend that much money ($699) you could get a used 700rb-II and a very nice 410 to go with it, which would be the loudest of all.

RickenBoogie · #17 07-20-2010, 05:41 PM

+1 volume has much more to do with having adequet speakers, than it does having mucho wattage, though having both is best. Dump the 115 combo, and get something with at *least* 212's, or better yet, 4 10's. (Though I regularly jam and gig with 300 watts and a 2x12,..loud band).

bassdaddyfive · #18 07-20-2010, 05:48 PM

Don't listen to GC sales guys, period. There are much more tech savvy people on this forum that would be more than happy to help you with getting your rig together. In the mean time take that amp back and demand your money back. You were hoodwinked.

Metalbassmatt · #19 07-20-2010, 07:18 PM

Alright. What do you guys suggest I do? I want a setup that can at the very least MATCH a loud drum set with a very hard hitting drummer. But I am not looking to spend every cent I have.

MIJ-VI · #20 07-20-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metalbassmatt

Alright. What do you guys suggest I do? I want a setup that can at the very least MATCH a loud drum set with a very hard hitting drummer. But I am not looking to spend every cent I have.

The MB210 now and a matching 210MBE later on = 500 Watts RMS into a roughly vertical array of 4 X 10"?

Bigger watts + bigger air moving capability = bigger bass.