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GK Backline 600 head

4

4Slater

May 23, 2008
96
0
#1
I bought one of these heads a 3 weeks ago. Mainly to downsize my live rig.

I'm having a problem with it overheating.

Does anyone own one of these and do they all have this problem?

It has a power protect feature that prevents it from catching fire.

There's no fan.

This is a solid state head so it really shouldn't over heat any way right?

Did I buy a "bad one"? am I just unlucky?

Should I just buy something better?

$300 isn't a whole lot for a bass head. But it should work pretty good because it is new.

I've never had a problem with new equipment. This is the first time I've owned a brand new amp that tanked.

It's a bad feeling.
 
#2
It shouldn't overheat as long as it's getting adequate ventilation and it's not being driven beyond its rated power output. I had an old GK400RB which also had no fan, just a large finned heatsink on the back. It had a little less power I believe. It got quite warm to the touch sometimes when I was really driving it hard for a whole night, but it never failed in over 10 years of hard gigging.

Since your amp is new, call GK and explain the problem. It should be easy to sort out.
 
#6
This amp model indeed has a fan (just like the Artist series).

Another poster on here a while back went through just what you're encountering, and after some informed coaxing from fellow TBers, he opened it up (having already unplugged the AC mains), located the power lead to the fan, and found it disconnected! He plugged it back in (it's usually a small circuit board style connector) and all was well!
 
#7
whacker said:
This amp model indeed has a fan (just like the Artist series).

Another poster on here a while back went through just what you're encountering, and after some informed coaxing from fellow TBers, he opened it up (having already unplugged the AC mains), located the power lead to the fan, and found it disconnected! He plugged it back in (it's usually a small circuit board style connector) and all was well!
Click to expand...

Mine has no fan.

Heat displacement - convection

right on the back.

I think they no longer come with one.

Also, solid state head should never produce heat.

They also adjust to wattage and ohms.

At least Peaveys do.

I'm new to GK.

My store is getting me a new one.

They are great.

It's the Laboratory in Deptford New Jersey.

I hope this is the last of my problems with this model head.

I got it so I didn't have to lug around the heavy stuff and still sound good.

Who wants to drag an 8-10 cab around?

I do not. The backline head weighs 16 lbs.

That's nice.
 
#11
4Slater said:
They also adjust to wattage and ohms.

At least Peaveys do.
Click to expand...

If this is in response to my question about what ohm load you are running (what cabs, and what ohm ratings), then you are only partially correct.

Solid State does allow different ohm loads, but only down to their minimum rating.

If you are running multiple cabs with that head, this may be part of the problem. If so, getting a new head won't correct it.

So, I ask again - how many cabs are you running, and what are their ratings ?
 
#12
4Slater said:
Mine has no fan.
Click to expand...

Sure it's not a Backline 250 head? You should be able to see the fan through the top vent holes. Here's a pic of a 1001RB with the cover off:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The BL600 power amp looks nearly identical, but has fewer rear panel connectors.

Also, solid state head should never produce heat.
Click to expand...

A Class-AB solid state amp can't be better than around 50% efficient, so they actually produce a fair amount of heat.

I got it so I didn't have to lug around the heavy stuff and still sound good.

Who wants to drag an 8-10 cab around?

I do not. The backline head weighs 16 lbs.

That's nice.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Click on my sig for a geeky review of the BL600 head.
 
#13
Here is a picture of the Backline 600. Like 4Slater said, it's similar to the 1001RB.


July 8 2008 014.JPG
 
#14
solid state heads produce minimal heat.

Compared to tube amps - solid state is the ice age.


The Backline Head does have a fan.

the one I had didn't work and or it had something wrong with it. It got really hot.

I just got another one. So far it's A okay.

I'm going to definately buy a GK cab to go with it.

I want to have no doubts about running my amp at gigs.
 
#15
i have a GK backline 1x12 combo that i bought probobly in 2001. i consider it the toyota camry of bass amps. cheap, and will last forever. i have absolutely ABUSED the thing, and it still runs fine all the time...

so thats my impression on GK..its gotta just be a defective head?
 

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