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Help me out on an Amp Decision
- Thread starter aaronweinacht
- Start date
I think GK generally has a broader range of tones available in their class D heads and I really dig their speakers. I've got a 212 GK cab that is outstanding. I use an Ampeg 215 at my rehearsal space and the GK 212 has just as much heft in the low end with more punch and clarity and less scooped, so slapping should shine in my opinion. If you're digging the GK tone, that's a good place to start. But the 212 won't sound the same as the 115.
I had a Markbass class D head that I thought was fine, very loud and clean, but too sterile for what I need. It might be just what you're looking for, but without being able to try ahead of time, I would hedge my bet by going with the GK, since you like the sound.
Agree with others that replacing your speaker is likely to be the most cost-effective solution in the short-term. And you could always get the extension so you don't have to push it as hard. If you go that route.
I switched to amp/cab components a few years ago because I like the versatility of being able to switch to different cabs as needs arise. Also, GAS.
I had a Markbass class D head that I thought was fine, very loud and clean, but too sterile for what I need. It might be just what you're looking for, but without being able to try ahead of time, I would hedge my bet by going with the GK, since you like the sound.
Agree with others that replacing your speaker is likely to be the most cost-effective solution in the short-term. And you could always get the extension so you don't have to push it as hard. If you go that route.
I switched to amp/cab components a few years ago because I like the versatility of being able to switch to different cabs as needs arise. Also, GAS.
Just for chits and giggles, try plugging a patch cord between the send and return jacks. If it fixes it, you need to clean the jacks. Pretty common on almost every amp.
Fx loop.
More likely you blew your speaker given your cavallier attitude to knob cranking. Stuff definitely is made to be broken by those who think it should be safe to crank stuff.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,000
- 5
- 220,797
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
It's not difficult unless you want to do it right and meet the original manufacturer's specifications. Few are willing to put enough attention to detail to get to this place.
"Better" actually means most appropriate. For example, a 12 gauge cable using some 1/4" connectors is completely inappropriate and result in a poorly assembled cable that will not strain relieve properly and may bend/break some jacks/jack plates.
For bass guitar, with any connector, 14 gauge is easily at the point of diminishing returns because the distance is so short.
You and Jimmy are full of it. 1. You'll notice that nothing in my original post indicated that I was looking for explanation as to why my amp is going out, I was looking for advice on what to replace it with. 2. I've probably never played that amp above the "5" setting on the volume, and so almost certainly the issue here was the eq settings in combination with the eq settings I was using on my pedal. So, I was overdoing it, but the amp volume setting almost certainly wasn't the issue. But hey, if it makes you feel better about yourself to by answering questions that people you don't know didn't ask, then go for it.
Aaron
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
As was pointed out above, manufacturers do sell gear that, when used improperly, can break. This is especially true for bass amps and speakers. Limiters on bass amps generally protect your amplifier and thus function to reduce or eliminate distortion from amplifier clipping due to sudden peaks in the input. They don't protect speakers (much) from being overdriven and thus damaged.
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Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
We can help, and we want to help, but need information and some forbearance. Internet social media too easily becomes combative, doesn't it?.
BTW, agedhorse and jimmym are just trying to help. They are amongst the most knowledgeable and experienced participants in this forum. Agedhorse quite possibly designed your amplifier. He designed at least 3 of those I have—he is an nice and awesome guy. Jimmym knows an awful lot about bass amps, and has a knack for hitting the nail on the head—and he has a great sense of humor. I advise providing as much detailed information to us as you can about your problem.
Most amps volume controls have already surrendered most of their throttling by the time you get to "5." Really.
Your pedal is likely capable of boosting the input significantly. When the input level is raised uniformly, it can cause the output of the amplifier to be much greater than you may realize because the effect may mask the sound of speakers in distress. Were you, by chance, using a pedal that featured distortion, wah-wah, or synthesizer effects?
BTW, agedhorse and jimmym are just trying to help. They are amongst the most knowledgeable and experienced participants in this forum. Agedhorse quite possibly designed your amplifier. He designed at least 3 of those I have—he is an nice and awesome guy. Jimmym knows an awful lot about bass amps, and has a knack for hitting the nail on the head—and he has a great sense of humor. I advise providing as much detailed information to us as you can about your problem.
Most amps volume controls have already surrendered most of their throttling by the time you get to "5." Really.
Your pedal is likely capable of boosting the input significantly. When the input level is raised uniformly, it can cause the output of the amplifier to be much greater than you may realize because the effect may mask the sound of speakers in distress. Were you, by chance, using a pedal that featured distortion, wah-wah, or synthesizer effects?
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Jim:
You said: "Your pedal is likely capable of boosting the input significantly." Yes, that was exactly what I was saying. I overdid it on my pedal, not on the amp. No, the pedal is just an eq pedal, no other effects. I'm not much of a gearhead, I've played a pretty simple rig for 30 or so years. From the general run of comments here, I think I'm going to either look into getting my amp fixed, or go with the 2-12 GK option, which sounds like a solid option for the type of stuff I play.
Aaron
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,000
- 5
- 220,797
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
When your pedal boosts your signal level, which is what happens when you boost eq on an eq pedal, it's no different than if the amp is turned up by the same amount over that frequency range.
The same applies to anything that affects the level that the amp sees at its input, things like hot pickups, a hot setup, active on-bass preamp with gain, even playing aggressively all factor into this.
For every increase in level to the amp, that means that the amp must be turned down to stay at the same power from the amp and the same volume.
Can an amp/speakers be overdriven with the amps volume set below say "5" on the knob? Absolutely, because it all depends on the particular amp and the level into the amp.
This is what folks are trying to tell you, though some perhaps a bit less diplomatic than others.
Agreed. This was exactly my conclusion as to what happened, so I'm not sure where the confusion started.
this is where you kicked off.
A limiter only stops peaks.
There are plenty of unusable settings even with a limiter engaged.
It's not just you and us here in your thread. It's a learning experience for anyone else reading. If there's stuff wrong it will be corrected.
Pay close attention when someone tells you you've got something wrong and you might never blow another speaker in your life! The correct response is to ask another question, not shoot the messengers.
An effect that delivers a compressed ''louder'' signal is by nature going to slip right by a limiter anyway.
As I clearly and originally made the distinction between my amplifier and my EQ pedal to begin with, and assigned the blame to my settings on the latter (as in: "An effect that delivers a compressed ''louder'' signal is by nature going to slip right by a limiter anyway") I'm not really sure what was so complicated.
If my next post is entitled "help me avoid doing this again," then you and others will have answered my question in advance. No "shooting the messenger" has occurred here: I was complaining about answers to questions I didn't ask. Oh well, that's why I spend my time practicing and not on social media, as Dr. Jim's reply nicely suggested.
Aaron
