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Gallien Krueger MB115 problem

#41
Not trying to be critical, but check out the dates in the upper left corner of each post before jumping in. This post was started due to a problem 2 1/2 years ago. GK has moved back to the USA in the past year or so. Not so many posts in the past 12 - 15 months on GK issues so the move is most likely paying off for GK. Personally, I'm just trying to decide between the 500 or Fusion 500.
 
#43
Two years later and I'm still bitter. Haha.

I ended up giving the entire thing to a friend who in turn gave it all back to me when he moved. So now I have my old broken combo sitting in my spare room.

Heck, I even got the original box back. Think I can part it out or sell the entire thing to someone who is interested in a project?
 
#44
8liter said:
Two years later and I'm still bitter. Haha.

I ended up giving the entire thing to a friend who in turn gave it all back to me when he moved. So now I have my old broken combo sitting in my spare room.

Heck, I even got the original box back. Think I can part it out or sell the entire thing to someone who is interested in a project?
Click to expand...

I've had mine for 2 years with no problems. Love the tone. I figure if it ever dies I'll convert it into a compact 1x15 cab. It would also be fairly easy to take out the stock amp and drop in a MB200.
 
#46
Warfender said:
Well, I was just getting ready to pull the trigger, but thanks for saving me a ton of problems. I'll stay with my bombproof Genz Benz combo. I was wanting to switch to GK as I like the tone, but Reliability is MANDATORY! What is the best 500watt micro head for the GK tone that is reliable (if one exists)? I'll do a seperate unit system if possible maybe.
Click to expand...

I haven't heard of any problems with the MK II's if that's what you're looking at
 
#47
I got this amp about 3-4 years ago (unsure if I even have the receipt or where it might be, not that it matters much now). I've had similar issues to those mentioned…

1. Sometimes I power it on and it shuts off after a couple of seconds. I power it on again and it's fine after that. Sketchy, but it works.
2. The hissing… awful. Not as bad with the treble down on my bass, but still a glaring issue.
3. The pink light. Just happened today for the first time. I was playing for about an hour (not pushing it very hard), and I got the pink light. Turned it off and turned it back on. No problem, but that was earlier. Now I can't get it to stay on at all.

Unfortunately, I didn't really use this amp much in the first couple of years I had it so I didn't get to this point. Now, it's out of warranty and I'm stuck with it. Hoping GK will right this situation.
 
#48
Icculus said:
I got this amp about 3-4 years ago (unsure if I even have the receipt or where it might be, not that it matters much now). I've had similar issues to those mentioned…

1. Sometimes I power it on and it shuts off after a couple of seconds. I power it on again and it's fine after that. Sketchy, but it works.
2. The hissing… awful. Not as bad with the treble down on my bass, but still a glaring issue.
3. The pink light. Just happened today for the first time. I was playing for about an hour (not pushing it very hard), and I got the pink light. Turned it off and turned it back on. No problem, but that was earlier. Now I can't get it to stay on at all.

Unfortunately, I didn't really use this amp much in the first couple of years I had it so I didn't get to this point. Now, it's out of warranty and I'm stuck with it. Hoping GK will right this situation. If not, I will definitely not be buying again or recommending them to anyone.
Click to expand...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/looking-combo-similar-mb115-1034606/
 
#49
Now I am also getting the pink light. Bummer. It seems like it is getting worse too.

Anyone have any other leads on replacing components on the board?

Or swapping out the board?

Or people who have used the damaged goods as a cab?

Thanks
 
#50
Icculus said:
2. The hissing… awful. Not as bad with the treble down on my bass, but still a glaring issue.
Click to expand...

If the treble control on your bass decreases the hiss, then some of the hiss is coming from your bass. Check your shielding and ground connections (in the bass). Also, less expensive instrument cables tend to be less well shielded, so they pick up hiss (in addition to what the bass picks up). Both these hiss sources can be largely eliminated at nominal cost.
 
#51
RedBass11 said:
Now I am also getting the pink light. Bummer. It seems like it is getting worse too.

Anyone have any other leads on replacing components on the board?

Or swapping out the board?

Or people who have used the damaged goods as a cab?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I suspect that the power switch indicator light is monitoring volts and/or currents related to the class-D power amp module. Those are just replaced. The ss preamp is mature, reliable technology. The 'problem' may be that the module is being run close to its power (or temperature) limit, or that there were 'stability' issues with early production runs of the modules. I suspect that between the cost of a new module and labor, that it will come close to the street price for a MB200. Anyone had experience with this?
 
#52
RedBass11 said:
Now I am also getting the pink light. Bummer. It seems like it is getting worse too.

Anyone have any other leads on replacing components on the board?

Or swapping out the board?

Or people who have used the damaged goods as a cab?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I sold my GK MB115, when I needed funds, but before I did, I had to have mine repaired for the same problem. Luckily, I had purchased the extended warranty and I sent it in.

It turned out to be a bad power supply. It had nothing to do with the board. I wish I still had a copy of the repair order, I'd post it.
 
#53
I found another thread where someones power supply needed to be replaced and they were quoted $225.

I am assuming the power supply is the smaller of the 2 boards in the amp and that the entire board would probably need replacing?
 
#54
Chiming in with similar problem. No output. Light shifts from red to purple/pink. Output at the headphone jack, but distorted and not much volume.

Talked with GK. Referred me to local electronics dealer, who quoted me $116 - $276, including a $75 deposit to diagnose the problem.

Talked with GK Tech, who reminded me that blue light means all is good. The purple/pink light means the power supply is fried. Cost: $120 + shipping. Easy as pie to swap it out (all plug-n-play boards inside).

For that much, I'm not gonna find a better used amp, so I'm taking the plunge and doing it myself. Will let'cha know how it shakes out.
 
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#55
Reporting back: Success! 5 minute repair. Note that the new power supply had an extra wire tapping off one of the copper coils. I called up GK tech who very helpfully explained the wire is for the newer amps; it feeds the fan control (original MB115s don't have a fan). He instructed me to simply clip the zip tie and remove it.

Done. Nice blue light. Playing away on my new SUB Ray4. Happy camper once again.
 
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#56
RabbiShankar said:
Reporting back: Success! 5 minute repair. Note that the new power supply had an extra wire tapping off one of the copper coils. I called up GK tech who very helpfully explained the wire is for the newer amps; it feeds the fan control (original MB115s don't have a fan). He instructed me to simply clip the zip tie and remove it.

Done. Nice blue light. Playing away on my new SUB Ray4. Happy camper once again.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update! I have an MB115 with the same issue. The led ring around the power button starts off as red, and transitions to a pink/purple color. No sound comes out, whether from a bass or from my phone via aux cable. Upon turning the amp off, the ring will briefly turn blue and sound will come out for a second, and then the amp will shut off.

Can you share where you purchased the power supply?
 
#57
camelian said:
Thanks for the update! I have an MB115 with the same issue. The led ring around the power button starts off as red, and transitions to a pink/purple color. No sound comes out, whether from a bass or from my phone via aux cable. Upon turning the amp off, the ring will briefly turn blue and sound will come out for a second, and then the amp will shut off.

Can you share where you purchased the power supply?
Click to expand...

Sure. I bought it directly from GK. (209) 234-7300

I didn't have the issue of blue ring just before shut off, so you might want to talk w the tech bench to confirm first. Call right when they open (I think 9AM PT) and enter extension 116.

Good luck!
 
#58
Have a GK MB115...bought new 8/12. All good since purchase.

Anyway, at gig last weekend, i turn it on and it fires up, except got a "squeal"/RF kinda noise with the horn on. Can hear the bass, but the noise is NG. Never been a problem. Turn horn off, all good. Turn my on-board preamp (fender DLX J Bass) off, now all OK with horn on or off. So I play gig with horn off.....

Next morning I chk out my bass internal wiring and grounding using meter: all good. Also test it on 2 other amps, no problems at all...preamp on or off. Try another older J bass with the preamp on...cannot use the horn due to noise...seems OK with preamp off.

So, i think its the horn or the horn circuit...kind of an odd problem though....

any thoughts folks!

thanks
 
#59
BCY123 said:
Have a GK MB115...bought new 8/12. All good since purchase.

Anyway, at gig last weekend, i turn it on and it fires up, except got a "squeal"/RF kinda noise with the horn on. Can hear the bass, but the noise is NG. Never been a problem. Turn horn off, all good. Turn my on-board preamp (fender DLX J Bass) off, now all OK with horn on or off. So I play gig with horn off.....

Next morning I chk out my bass internal wiring and grounding using meter: all good. Also test it on 2 other amps, no problems at all...preamp on or off. Try another older J bass with the preamp on...cannot use the horn due to noise...seems OK with preamp off.

So, i think its the horn or the horn circuit...kind of an odd problem though....

any thoughts folks!

thanks
Click to expand...

1) Check preamp battery.

2) Check cable for continuity.

3) Try both inputs: 0db and -15db.

Did the 2 other amps have tweeters?
 

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