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GK horn issues

Bill G.

Bill G.

Dec 2, 2005
388
82
51
Baton Rouge
#1
Hi, folks. I've been searching, but I haven't seen any threads similar to what I'm about to post. I've been curious about this for a while, but it's never been a major enough issue for me to ask about. I figure I'll just ask now since I'm thinking about it.

Anyway, I have a GK 1001RB-II running through a GK Neo 212 and a GK Neo 115. Monster rig! :hyper: I run it biamped with the GK speakon cables so I can control the horn volume from the head. The horn on the 112 has this issue that I can't seem to find anywhere else online. Sometimes the horn won't work at first. If I crank the horn volume and then pop a string, the horn will suddenly come on & remain on the rest of the gig. I find that this happens just about every time I move the cabinet. I've looked inside & all the connections seem secure. What in the world could this be? Is this something I can check myself? (Caution: I'm not too fluent in "ampese" or electronics, so please go easy on me. :D )

Additionally, sometimes I plug in my old 400RB and run the rig in full-range mode. The dial on the back of the 212 controls the horn just fine. However, the horn won't work at all on the 115 in full-range mode! What's the deal here?

I like to have a little horn when I play my Stingrays through the rig. When I play my P-basses, I keep the horns off. That's why this isn't a huge deal. But it is a little annoying and I want my crap to work perfectly!

I'd appreciate any help. :help:
 
#2
I believe I've isolated the full range problem to the dial on the back of the Neo 115. The horn works biamped, but not in full-range mode. Is there any way I can check the dial to see if it's fried? I've popped the back panel off the cab, but everything seems fine at a glance.
 
#4
Yeah, I checked the speakon cables. One of them did have loose ends. I tightened the screws, but the horn problem remains. I'll take a closer look at the solder joints when I get home. I hope it's something simple like that!
 
#6
I've been tinkering and investigating...I think I know what's going on. B-string, you were right! The horn not working on the 115 in full-range mode is due to a loose capacitor! One lead apparently broke at the solder joint, so I'm gonna hunt for a new capacitor. The 212's horn issue when biamped is due to a bad wire. It has a short somewhere, so I'm going to get a new wire. Is it easy to find stuff like this without ordering it? I mean, can I find a 475K 100V capacitor at Radio Shack or something? What about the wire? I know GK carries replacement parts, but if I can get the goods locally, that would rock. Thanks for the help!
 
#8
Bill G. said:
I've been tinkering and investigating...I think I know what's going on. B-string, you were right! The horn not working on the 115 in full-range mode is due to a loose capacitor! One lead apparently broke at the solder joint, so I'm gonna hunt for a new capacitor. The 212's horn issue when biamped is due to a bad wire. It has a short somewhere, so I'm going to get a new wire. Is it easy to find stuff like this without ordering it? I mean, can I find a 475K 100V capacitor at Radio Shack or something? What about the wire? I know GK carries replacement parts, but if I can get the goods locally, that would rock. Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

Radio Shack probably won't be of any help. Check for an electronics parts store in your area. :)

lesliegl said:
Hi i bought a new GK Neo 212II late last year off Amazon and the Horn isnt working ..i havent got round to having it seen to yet...but its bloody annoying in a brand nw speaker box...

Leslie
Click to expand...

A Amazon vendor shipped to NSW? Your lucky the cab is in one piece!
 
#9
Yo Bill, I had the same issue with my 2000RB a while back except it was with the woofers. It wouldn't make any sound unless I turned it up and popped a string, then it was fine. Turned out to be a bad relay. Anyways if you try what you have in mind and it doesn't work that is always another possibility.
 
#10
Frys carries some stuff like that. If not the exact values, enough different ones you can put things together. Otherwise search up electronics supply shops. It'll be where people that work with electronics get their stuff. Probably names you've never heard of, but you should be able to find that stuff locally. Wire is just wire, just use the same type/guage, etc.

Ya, I'm stocking up on tin/lead solder and incandescent light bulbs.:p
 
#11
Hi i was lucky they sent it..lol..they changed their shipping policy to exclude Australia straight afterwards..it was sent sent by DHL air freight..ordered on sunday..got it following friday..pretty good id reckon...half the aussie price as well including freight..packagiing wasnt anything amazing..the normal GK box..no outside damage to the box


Leslie
 
#12
B-string said:
Radio Shack probably won't be of any help. Check for an electronics parts store in your area. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks! I ended up calling GK & getting the parts I need. I should have them next week. Yesterday I stopped at Radio Shack for something else, and out of curiosity I looked at their selection of electronic parts. Sure enough, they didn't have what I need.

jelwood said:
Yo Bill, I had the same issue with my 2000RB a while back except it was with the woofers. It wouldn't make any sound unless I turned it up and popped a string, then it was fine. Turned out to be a bad relay. Anyways if you try what you have in mind and it doesn't work that is always another possibility.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind if the new cap doesn't do the trick.
 
#13
After FedEx dropped off my package from GK to the next-door neighbor :scowl:, I installed the new capacitor in the 115 and the new tweeter wire in the 212. Everything's running like new now. :hyper: I'm glad I managed to get everything fixed up!
 
#15
Bill G. said:
Hi, folks. I've been searching, but I haven't seen any threads similar to what I'm about to post. I've been curious about this for a while, but it's never been a major enough issue for me to ask about. I figure I'll just ask now since I'm thinking about it.

Anyway, I have a GK 1001RB-II running through a GK Neo 212 and a GK Neo 115. Monster rig! :hyper: I run it biamped with the GK speakon cables so I can control the horn volume from the head. The horn on the 112 has this issue that I can't seem to find anywhere else online. Sometimes the horn won't work at first. If I crank the horn volume and then pop a string, the horn will suddenly come on & remain on the rest of the gig. I find that this happens just about every time I move the cabinet. I've looked inside & all the connections seem secure. What in the world could this be? Is this something I can check myself? (Caution: I'm not too fluent in "ampese" or electronics, so please go easy on me. :D )

Additionally, sometimes I plug in my old 400RB and run the rig in full-range mode. The dial on the back of the 212 controls the horn just fine. However, the horn won't work at all on the 115 in full-range mode! What's the deal here?

I like to have a little horn when I play my Stingrays through the rig. When I play my P-basses, I keep the horns off. That's why this isn't a huge deal. But it is a little annoying and I want my crap to work perfectly!

I'd appreciate any help. :help:
Click to expand...
Hi,
I'm finally lucky to find someone with the same issue ! I'own a GK700RB combo (bought new 2007) that has exactly the same problem, horn would come on only on a 'poped string' and then will stay on for the rest of the gig ! but not always, sometime it's ok from the beginning (at 'power on') ! I don't get it !
I was on line with GK, they don't get it neither ! I didn't have time to check it inside so I don't know yet if the problem comes from the 50W amp or from the horn (Foster) it self.
Let me know if you if you or someone got some info since.
Thanks
 
#16
Analogpower67 said:
Hi,
I'm finally lucky to find someone with the same issue ! I'own a GK700RB combo (bought new 2007) that has exactly the same problem, horn would come on only on a 'poped string' and then will stay on for the rest of the gig ! but not always, sometime it's ok from the beginning (at 'power on') ! I don't get it !
I was on line with GK, they don't get it neither ! I didn't have time to check it inside so I don't know yet if the problem comes from the 50W amp or from the horn (Foster) it self.
Let me know if you if you or someone got some info since.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Definitely take a look at the horn wire when you get a chance! I found out that this was the issue on mine when I popped the back panel of my cab & jiggled the horn wire around as I plucked a string. (The horn cut in & out from a short in the wire.) Now that I've installed the new wire I got from GK, the issue appears to have gone away. I'll find out for sure next time I transport my cab to a gig! :bassist:
 
#17
Check the speakon wire.

I just started using a brand new four wire speakon cable I got from Parts Express. Brand name on the cable was Peavey.

I needed to make it into two speakon cables of different lengths to daisy chain my fEarfuls. When I took the end off to see what color wires went to what poles, the wires fell right out of the pole sockets. The ends had been trimmed too short, the pole screws were still loose, a pretty crappy job all around.

I ended up re-doing all of the wire stripping and putting all four ends back together. It's not the most fun you can have with coffee, but now everything is tight.

Once you have the cable checked out, you need to move on to the cab itself. Sounds like an intermittent short or bad connection.
 

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