Second GK MB212 problems Help!!!

johnnybass01 · #1 02-20-2011, 03:17 PM

well I have had at this point 2 gallien krueger MB212 combo's the first one had some sort of speaker issue and was distorting , and got a new one to replace it , and really haven't had a chance to gig with it very much but last night it went south on me the settings were 9 oclock on the master and gain and 12 oclock on the eq section , with the boost at about 2 oclock , i got through the first set about 45 minutes , then it was starting to get an overdriven tone to it , so I backed off the boost, but it was still distorting . got through set two and it was still getting a distorted tone to it , i checked it in between set to see if it was hot to the touch but it wasn't . so I get into the third set and the problem got much worse If i attacked the strings it would just clip and the power light would flash from blue to orange. and when it did I had no volume at all , the only way it would play is if I just lightly touched the strings. so i had to give up grab my sansamp and go through the board , which was dissapointing to say the least . but what is up can't they get it right . i have never had this amp up past 3 oclock on the gain stages this shouldn't be happening..

craig.p · #2 02-20-2011, 03:44 PM

Are you running an active bass, and if so, what's the bass control set at?

Anything else in the signal chain, and if so, what are the settings?

You can probably see I'm trying to sniff out bass boost in places other than the amp's EQ section.

Only other thing I can think of is you're just playing it too loud (asking too much of it) and burning voice coils.

It's possible GK's having a bad run of amp guts or speakers, but let's first be 100% sure we're not causing the problem.

Hey, just thought of something: Are you SURE you were the very first user of each of those combos? I mean, were you the one who unboxed them, cutting the factory strapping tape and staples, or did you buy them already unboxed?

johnnybass01 · #3 02-20-2011, 04:04 PM

I have active basses, but I put them in the active input , and don't have any boost set into it. just bass mid treble set flat nothing else in the signal chain. i have been playing around with it this morning and the distortion has seemed to dissapear but I can only play about ten minutes before it clips and shuts off then powers up again , then as soon as I hit a note it clips , I took off the grill and it seams to be that both speakers are working . this is a pic of the settings on the amp , no where near max volume . i even tried it with a passive bass and the same issue prevails ..And yes they were both in the box special ordered for me shipped from stocton ca to my guitar center here in reno nv.

Cree · #4 02-20-2011, 04:24 PM

I have an MB 210 and I have really had no problems out if it, so I am sorry you are having a problem.

I would suggest that you put the master volume at 12 o'clock and leave the gain where it is in the picture. If the gain is louder than the master that will cause distortion.

Try it and see if it helps.

craig.p · #5 02-20-2011, 04:25 PM

One thing that pops out from that pic is that your master volume is set really low. Or did you do that because you ran out of gain adjustment at that control's low end? (This wouldn't cause the problem you're seeing, however.)

Are you using the contour or not?

I wonder if the fan's running, assuming those things do have fans. Could be a high-temp condition from a fan that never starts up. That would account for the problem taking a while to show up.

Just fyi on the "max volume" statement, max volume is not determined by amp settings. Volume/gain/level/master controls, regardless of how they're labeled, aren't power limiters, they're only gain controls.

johnnybass01 · #6 02-20-2011, 04:39 PM

I have been emailing back and forth to Jason Finley with gallien krueger to see if this can be rectified , i will have to send it in . it is still under warranty , so I am covered that way . but it just makes me look back to my last die hard gigging rig Gibson GB440 head and a dr bass 2x12 cab that thing was reliable as a claw hammer , and used to get so hot you could almost fry an egg on it but in never failed . As far as your comment on the fan issue that makes perfect sense to me , but I don't know where the fan is , it would have to be on the inside of the box because it isn't visible from the outside. But if you touch the amp it is cool to the touch. Reminds me of an issue that was common with trace elliot amps that were notorious for cold solder joints on the circuit boards witch would result in the same kind of problem in my opinion.But as it is I can play for about ten minutes and then it just clips ,turns off, comes on, clips as soon as I hit a note then repeats all over again..

johnnybass01 · #7 02-20-2011, 04:45 PM

I had read before about the issues with the MB212 and took a chance , I wish I would have went with the TC electronics combo or maybe even the fender Rumble 350 , I really do not feel confident with GK at this point. and that is Just a sad reality. I had a nemesis 115 combo that had almost as much volume and didn't let me down. And to me the MB212 does not have the focused sound I was used to with the DRbass 2x12, it just does not seem as refined in the tone department. Once I get it fixed I will probably cut my loss's and sell it and move on to something else. I need reliability more than anything else. period !! and GK has not delivered in my opinion..

craig.p · #8 02-20-2011, 04:49 PM

Yeah, you're right... I guess it doesn't matter what the problem is, it still has to go back. What a giant pain in the neck.

Back in my guitar days I ran a Gibson Ranger that would burn flesh if you touched its metal, but it was another workhorse that never failed. But that stuff was designed to run hot. This new stuff, though -- heat is its worst enemy.

Good luck with Unit Number Three.

craig.p · #9 02-20-2011, 04:55 PM

If you decide to stick with GK, assuming #3 is ok, check to make sure the cab's inside is lined. If you find bare walls, that could account for some of the tone problem. Also I don't know how well those cabs are braced. I'm not saying they're not, simply that I don't know.

jelwood · #10 02-20-2011, 04:57 PM

If you had the boost at 2 oclock, gain AND master at 3 oclock during that gig, unless the volume on your bass was turned way down I can tell you right now you were pushing that amp way too hard.

DWBass · #11 02-20-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelwood

If you had the boost at 2 o'clock, gain AND master at 3 o'clock during that gig, unless the volume on your bass was turned way down I can tell you right now you were pushing that amp way too hard.

+1

fenderhutz · #12 02-20-2011, 05:37 PM

Man did GK miss the mark on these amps or what, seems like the cheap tag comes with some issues.

I would actually like to see what the return rate on these are.

It's sad, because I like me some GK.

RickenBoogie · #13 02-20-2011, 05:38 PM

I agree, this seems a case of pushing a 212 combo farther than it'll go. Gain and Master @ 3 o clock seems extreme to me- sounds like you need more than 2 12's, and this problem is not due to "bad" combo amps.

johnnybass01 · #14 02-20-2011, 05:42 PM

When I talked to Jason At gk before he said you always want the boost at 12 oclock or higher , I usually do that and usually keep the gain and master at equal levels . still that being said the amp is still at only 1/3 what it is capable of so haw am I pushing it.I have read the manual repeatedly and still don't think I did anything wrong , I was playing at really moderate levels , and I was off on my original quote the gain and master were at 9 oclock and the boost at twelve , I have never had to turn thee amp up past about 10 oclock on either the gain or the master.

Jaco who? · #15 02-20-2011, 06:24 PM

Don't know how hot your input signal is, but you ought to be able to turn the gain up to just before you get clipping, maybe 5 1/2 to 6 or so (12:30 - 1:00) and the power section won't have to work quite so hard, just a thought, could be wrong.......

GaryLC · #16 02-20-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig.p

If you decide to stick with GK, assuming #3 is ok, check to make sure the cab's inside is lined. If you find bare walls, that could account for some of the tone problem. Also I don't know how well those cabs are braced. I'm not saying they're not, simply that I don't know.

The cabinets are not lined, and they're not braced well at all...there are many long threads about that.
But with that being said, I have one, and absolutely love it!

rag · #17 02-20-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnybass01

I have active basses, but I put them in the active input , and don't have any boost set into it. just bass mid treble set flat nothing else in the signal chain. i have been playing around with it this morning and the distortion has seemed to dissapear but I can only play about ten minutes before it clips and shuts off then powers up again , then as soon as I hit a note it clips , I took off the grill and it seams to be that both speakers are working . this is a pic of the settings on the amp , no where near max volume . i even tried it with a passive bass and the same issue prevails ..And yes they were both in the box special ordered for me shipped from stocton ca to my guitar center here in reno nv.

In this photo you have the master at 9:00. With this setting you will never get full power. I suggest you keep the master between 12:00 and 3:00 if you want full power. Leave the boost at 12:00 to start and bring down the gain control.
Bob

Bachatero36 · #18 02-20-2011, 10:40 PM

I have the GK MB15 combo this amp is really good manily for small type gigs i had mine for bout 1 year and i fried the amp my light would just stay red all the time but i got it fixed free of charge under warrenty its good as new now but i dont really trust these digital amps anymore because after a few months of giging it kinda loses its Punch but overall its a good amp for the price nice little combo for small gigs but the horn is useless hardly any diffrent at all.

johnnybass01 · #19 02-21-2011, 01:29 PM

Could I have caused the problem by not having the master up to 3 oclock , like it says in the manual , In the manual it says to set the master volume at 3 oclock the boost at 12 oclock and bring up the gain to the desired volume level. I am just wondering if the amp is that picky and maybe I caused the problem by having the gain up further than the master.

fenderhutz · #20 02-21-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bachatero36

I have the GK MB15 combo this amp is really good manily for small type gigs i had mine for bout 1 year and i fried the amp my light would just stay red all the time but i got it fixed free of charge under warrenty its good as new now but i dont really trust these digital amps anymore because after a few months of giging it kinda loses its Punch but overall its a good amp for the price nice little combo for small gigs but the horn is useless hardly any diffrent at all.

You forgot a couple points there.