Hey everybody, it's been a long time since I've posted, but I've been lurking around since I started playing again and I'll get right to the point...
I bought a GK MB115-II and loved the tone, but it had this really bad mechanical buzzing when playing it. Sweetwater was really great about taking it back, and I ended up going with the MB212-II.
I've had this amp for a few weeks, and fairly early on it started with the same kind of buzzing. I've tried different outlets, cables, and areas of the house. I even bought an Auralex Gramma thinking that maybe it was my house vibrating. None of it worked, and last night I was able to isolate the noise to the top/back metal panel of the amp section. The buzzing is mechanical and clearly coming from that spot as I can stop the sound by putting pressure on the outside of the amp in certain spots.
I've reached out to Sweetwater, and based on my previous experience, I expect that they'll be great to work with. If this wasn't a new amp that's under warranty (and cost as much as it did), I would probably just open it up and see if I could fix the issue myself. However, I don't want to void the warranty and then not be able to fix it.
I really love the tone of this amp, but the buzzing is a dealbreaker. Considering this is the second new GK MB series that I've had that has done the same thing, I'm a bit hesitant to try to replace it with another GK. I don't have the EQ or other settings at something unreasonable that the amp shouldn't handle. And besides, it's not the speaker that's causing the issue, it's something buzzing against the back panel.
I'm thinking of replacing it with a Fender Rumble 500, but not completely sold on that idea either. For reference, I play a Fender MIA Jazz, an Ibanez BTB-765, and an older Fender JP-90. I don't play with a band, and at this point don't have plans to, BUT I want a powerful amp with good headroom that sounds good when playing at home. I know I don't NEED 500 watts (or 350 or even 200), but I like having it to be able to get the tone I like without pushing the amp too hard. I'm not tied to playing any specific type of music, and like a certain level of versatility (e.g., anything from finger style to pick to slap to R&B/hip-hop tone [think Hamilton/Quite Sane bass lines]).
Again, the GK tone is really great without even adding my Sans Amp BDDI, but the buzzing caused by what I'm assuming is a build issue is concerning.
Any thoughts from this community?
EDIT - there are two music stores in my area, but they don't carry much in the way of bass gear, so going to a store to try something out isn't an option that's on the table right now.
I bought a GK MB115-II and loved the tone, but it had this really bad mechanical buzzing when playing it. Sweetwater was really great about taking it back, and I ended up going with the MB212-II.
I've had this amp for a few weeks, and fairly early on it started with the same kind of buzzing. I've tried different outlets, cables, and areas of the house. I even bought an Auralex Gramma thinking that maybe it was my house vibrating. None of it worked, and last night I was able to isolate the noise to the top/back metal panel of the amp section. The buzzing is mechanical and clearly coming from that spot as I can stop the sound by putting pressure on the outside of the amp in certain spots.
I've reached out to Sweetwater, and based on my previous experience, I expect that they'll be great to work with. If this wasn't a new amp that's under warranty (and cost as much as it did), I would probably just open it up and see if I could fix the issue myself. However, I don't want to void the warranty and then not be able to fix it.
I really love the tone of this amp, but the buzzing is a dealbreaker. Considering this is the second new GK MB series that I've had that has done the same thing, I'm a bit hesitant to try to replace it with another GK. I don't have the EQ or other settings at something unreasonable that the amp shouldn't handle. And besides, it's not the speaker that's causing the issue, it's something buzzing against the back panel.
I'm thinking of replacing it with a Fender Rumble 500, but not completely sold on that idea either. For reference, I play a Fender MIA Jazz, an Ibanez BTB-765, and an older Fender JP-90. I don't play with a band, and at this point don't have plans to, BUT I want a powerful amp with good headroom that sounds good when playing at home. I know I don't NEED 500 watts (or 350 or even 200), but I like having it to be able to get the tone I like without pushing the amp too hard. I'm not tied to playing any specific type of music, and like a certain level of versatility (e.g., anything from finger style to pick to slap to R&B/hip-hop tone [think Hamilton/Quite Sane bass lines]).
Again, the GK tone is really great without even adding my Sans Amp BDDI, but the buzzing caused by what I'm assuming is a build issue is concerning.
Any thoughts from this community?
EDIT - there are two music stores in my area, but they don't carry much in the way of bass gear, so going to a store to try something out isn't an option that's on the table right now.
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