Trouble in paradise!! (GK/Ampeg content)

jordy_on_bass · #1 10-28-2010, 10:14 AM

I have just recently been away from home attending to family matters and returned to find something definitely was not right with my rig.
Now, I noticed since I bought my setup that my rig definitely wasn't sounding right (and should have consulted you guys about it originally). But now, something has definitely gone awry. My bass sounds severely distorted. When I play a power chord, or even two notes at once, it just sounds absolutely terrible. My setup is a GK700RBII and an Ampeg V4B 215 folded horn cab. Before I had a chance to even take it out of it's box, my mate plugged in the amp, not knowing I still needed a step-down power converter, and he said there was a big zap and a very slight burning smell. I changed the fuse over and got the converter, and noticed that it didn't quite sound right but wasn't exactly too bothered. Now it just sounds terrible, and I am worried that first incident may have been a contributing factor to this problem, although it was to my understanding from the manual that the GK will not work if there is a problem with the amp. So if anything fried when he did that, then the amp won't work - right?

I am trying to diagnose what the problem could be as taking my cab anywhere to get it fixed is a minimum 2 hour drive. Oh, and getting it down three flights of stairs is also an issue. So I thought it would be best to consult the TB think-tank before doing anything.

Thanks for all advice guys!!
Jordan

JimmyM · #2 10-28-2010, 10:18 AM

jordy, sorry, but i think your dopey friend smoked your amp. however, if it still puts out sound, it may not be all that serious. time to have it checked out.

somegeezer · #3 10-28-2010, 11:11 AM

Sounds like it's blown indeed. Take it to your closest GK repair shop. Bad luck or what though? Damn. Now you know to never let your friends touch your gear too. =P I hate my band touching my cheap £130 bass, never mind EVER letting them get a hold of the £1500 of amp! =O

jordy_on_bass · #4 10-29-2010, 10:12 AM

Yeah, if I said I was extemely p*ssed off, that would be a major understatement. At the end of the day, he is my best mate, a fellow bassist (he is the guy who actually introduced me to the instrument) and it isn't the first stupid thing has done (put his arm through my bedroom window on his birthday, racked up a $200 hotel phone bill that I had to pay for, took ecstasy and acid in the same night to just name a few). It was an honest error for him as he wasn't aware I needed a step down converter, saw the package, knew what it was and just couldn't help himself. To be honest, I was more pissed off at him for trying to use it before I did than possibly damaging it.

At first, I thought the crappy sound may have been from the cab. The previous owner said it needed a re-wire, and I didn't have a chance to play any head through it until I got the GK. Plus there is also the factor of the cab's age, a possibly shoddy wiring job and me not having any idea hen the last time the speakers were re-coned (all these things, I am unsure of how they woud effect the sound). So that's why I was leaning towards it possibly being a problem with the cab.

God I am amp-illiterate lol

Cheers,
Jordan

topcat2069 · #5 10-29-2010, 10:21 AM

Is it a two hour drive to get to a music store?
You might want to take the amp to a music store and try it through another cab .....just to see... before you come to any conclusions.....

jordy_on_bass · #6 10-29-2010, 10:50 AM

Yeah that is a good idea topcat, I may need to bring it with me when I head back to civilization in order to diagnose the issue. It is just such a pain in the back-side being so far away from just about anything!!
At least I can crank up my amp without worrying about neighbours too much lol

Cheers,
Jordan