• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Gallien Krueger MB150S speaker Buzz

valloti

valloti

Mar 6, 2010
66
7
Berlin, Germany
tomasperalta.tk
#1
Hi There, finaly i got to buy a gk MB150S for a really cheap price. Sounds amazing with my DB and also with my fretless, very natural sound and loud! But it has a small buzz when i play specially the E string from G down to E. I'm pretty sure it's from the speaker, but it's just like new. I think it could be a tiny hole where the air is scaping and producing this small vibrations.
What do you think? What could i do without spending a lot of money?
Thanks a lot!
 
#2
If you can find that small hole in the speaker... you could glue another piece of thin paper over it. That's inexpensive. If that's really the cause. Another cheap thing to try is snug up every screw you can find with a Philips screwdriver. If this is an older unit there's a good chance screws have loosened up a bit.

I've had the same combo for many years. It's been used a lot and it's still going strong. Built to last!
 
#5
Which series of the MB150 do you have? The current Series III uses a welded aluminum case, however the older models have a cabinet that is fastened together with screws and gasket material. The new welded cabinets are usually very trouble free, but the older amps can develop buzzes when the fasteners get loose or threads get stripped. Also the power transformer is located in the back of the speaker cabinet on the older amps, and they have been known to get loose and cause buzzes. You can try tightening the four screws in the back that secure the transformer, if you have one those models. Of course the problem could be with the speaker itself. One common problem with older MB150 speakers is the foam surround starts to break down.
 
#6
I have the series III, i just squeezed the screws again but no change. I removed the speaker to see if there was something inside causing the noise but everything was in order. It is indeed weird, the speaker is brand new, now traces of use or scratches, holes, etc, everything is tight, but still there's this small buss on the three lower notes of the upright. It sounds like an air thing and not a malfunction on the cone it self. I don't know.
Any ideas?
Thanks a lot anyway people! :)
 
#9
Here are a couple things to try.

I once took my amp apart, to fix a buzz, and discovered that the problem was my input cable. :rollno:

The next thing to try, you have to be extremely careful not to damage your hearing. Put your ear close to the amp and try to figure out exactly where the buzz is coming from. This might help you chase an air leak. The MB150 has a couple of large screw holes in the sides. Do those holes have screws in them, or are they open? You can cover holes with tape.

When you removed the speaker, did it have a good gasket?

Finally, it could be something in your room that's buzzing. There's a cabinet in my living room that I have to stay away from because it buzzes.
 
#13
I had a similar issue after my MB150S was serviced. I took the amp head off and found some holes into the speaker cabinet which looked like they were once filled but were now open. I stuck blu-tak (as we call it in the UK - putty used to stick posters on walls) over the holes and reassembled. That fixed it the buzz.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back