Genz Benz amp problem ( Background distortion, loss of low end, possible loss of signal)

Hello and welcome to Talkbass!!!
If you could please fill out your profile page it'll really help us all out.

@agedhorse

He can help you with your problem as he is still a tech for Genz Benz products

 

Hi new guy! Welcome aboard.
Couple or three things that are easy to check.

Effects loop if you it... Plug a patch cable between the In and Out jacks ((Send, Return).
The jacks can get corrosion from not being used.
Sometimes just inserting the cable a few times might clear it.
Other times you might have to leave the patch cord in.

Are you sure it’s the amp and not the speakers?
Running too much bass can cause the speakers to hit their mechanical limits.
We call it -farting out- because the sound it makes kind of sounds like a farting noise.
Try EQ-ing with a lot less bass. Sounds counter-intuitive but in many cases it can make your low end sound better.

Are you running an active bass, one that uses a battery?
If so try a new batt. When the batteries in an active get low, the preamp in the bass is starved for voltage and starts sounding crappy.

Do you have dirty controls on your amp?
When you turn them is there a scratchy noise coming from the amp?

Try these things and check back in.

Good luck.

 

There are many possible causes, though the first thing I would double check is that it's not a failing battery in an active bass.

Your amp is covered under a factory supported service program. PM me and I will get you the details.

 

OK. Get some sleep then check back in.
In the morning, or afternoon, whever you rise and shine...

 

Sounds like the old effects loop/distortion problem.

 

Just a little of the old in-and-out.

 

GB ShuttleMax 9.2 owner here. I love this amp, I would clean all the jacks and see if that works.

I had a crazy little crackle going on with mine a few months ago. No matter what, it sounded like a bowl of rice crispies was being played through it. It wasn’t loud but it was audabile. I had to clean and reseat the preamp tube pins then all was good.

If you still have issues send it off to agedhorse for repair, I know I would.

These amps are the GOAT in my opinion.

 

Just don't hack a repair or spray anything in it, that increases repair costs.

 

For peace of mind, you can complete the troubleshooting process by removing the bypass and see if the issue returns (if you haven't already).

You can use it with the jumper in place as long as you want, but it might be best to get it back to the aged horse when it's a good time to do so. You'll get a full checkout and it's not expensive.

Just don't spray anything into the 1/4" jacks. It will get all over inside and cause trouble.

 

If the normalising contacts on the Effects Loop jacks are the problem, spraying contact cleaner into the jack will do nothing as the contacts will not be touched.

 

Opening and closing the contacts with the jumper may have cleaned them up enough for now. I'd leave the jumper out, but keep it handy. If it returns, mute the amp and insert the jumper again, un-mute. If the problem goes away again, it's likely to be the contacts.

 

Often, cycling a plug into the effects return jack a few times will re-establish the normaled connection.