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Major problem with my new Avatar 2x12

iScott

iScott

Jun 13, 2007
339
2
Decatur, GA
www.facebook.com
#1
Hey, friends. I'll start out by saying that I am no expert with amps and cabs and such, so I'll do my best to explain this.

Two weeks ago I got a brand new Avatar Neo 2x12 (4 ohm) cab. The head I'm using it with is a GK 1001. When I first got it I just used it for practice in the garage. Sounded great. Friday comes along and we have a gig. Sounds great once again.

After Friday night's gig, I load the cab into my car and that's where it spends the night. The next day we have another gig. I set up my rig and turn it on. The sounds I hear coming from that cab can only be described as crap. Very distorted, very rumbly, nothing remotely close to a nice, clean tone (like I had the night before). My first thought was that the speaker(s) were blown.

These are the things I did to try and rectify the sound:
- Changed my strings
- Set the amp settings to the GK manual's "rock" preset
- Used a SpeakOn cable instead of a 1/4"
- Replaced the batteries in both my bass and my wireless pack
- Hooked up the GK head to another cab; sounded fine

...nothing worked. And I have no idea what to do or what the problem is. I'm calling Avatar tomorrow to try and figure something out because I NEED a cab for this coming weekend. The show must go on. Sorry for the novel. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 
#2
Are you using the new GK1001 rbhII, with the biamping? If so, I don't think you're supposed to use the speakon cables with cabs that aren't biamp-able.
Otherwise, I think your problem may be that your head is 700watts at 4 ohms, and the avatar b212 is only 500 watts. You *could* use your head with that cab, but if you turn up your amp enough, you could blow your speakers.
 
#3
heat causes wood to warp. if it gets hot enough, the cab with warp, affecting your tone. also, speakers can warp due to heat. that's what sounds like happened.
a tip for storage: if you must store your cab in a place where it could get hot, store it with the speakers down so that if the material does run a bit, it won't go anywhere. storing it with the speakers up, when the cone material becomes more maleable, the magnet with just pull down hard and warp your cone.
 
#5
Bass Mule said:
Are you using the new GK1001 rbhII, with the biamping? If so, I don't think you're supposed to use the speakon cables with cabs that aren't biamp-able.
Otherwise, I think your problem may be that your head is 700watts at 4 ohms, and the avatar b212 is only 500 watts. You *could* use your head with that cab, but if you turn up your amp enough, you could blow your speakers.
Click to expand...
i'd hardly think that he'd blow the speakers unless he was using some serious distortion. with power ratings that close he should be safe. besides, unless he has both the input and output gain at max, that head isn't really putting out the full 700 watts. and if that's the case, then yes, he likely blew a speaker. but the entire audience would also be deaf. seriously, they'd never be able to hear again.
 
#6
Bass Mule said:
Are you using the new GK1001 rbhII, with the biamping? If so, I don't think you're supposed to use the speakon cables with cabs that aren't biamp-able.
Otherwise, I think your problem may be that your head is 700watts at 4 ohms, and the avatar b212 is only 500 watts. You *could* use your head with that cab, but if you turn up your amp enough, you could blow your speakers.
Click to expand...

That's very unlikely. I think the warping problem sounds more like it.
 
#9
Take off the grill, and make like a spider with your fingers on the outside of the dust cap and push lightly on the speaker cone. If you feel scraping as you push in - you've blown the speaker.

The Avatar is rated 500w - it will be interesting to see if Avatar covers the damage.
 
#14
Just to follow up...

I was able to find the bad speaker. Ended up just shaking both. One rattled a lot. Bingo. Let Dave know and he said to send it in. They called a few days ago and said a new one was on the way. Kinda took a while, but looks like everything will work out.

I did buy that GK 2x12 so I may go ahead and sell this Avatar cab. The GK fits in my car much easier so that's the major selling point for me.
 
#17
ElizabethC said:
Just curious...how would you compare or contrast the sound of both cabs?
Click to expand...

Well, I only got to play on the Avatar a few times before the speaker blew so I can't really say. I have had a great experience with the GK. Sounds great. Very light and portable. And with my GK 1001 head, it is able to get very loud. Handles a great range of sound.

Once I get the new speaker in, I'll do a better comparison and perhaps I can report back. I will say that the one gig I did play with the Avatar I was very pleased with it. Esp for the price. I doubt you could find much (if anything) better for that price.
 
#18
I have the Avatar 2x12 and use it with either a Thunderfunk 550,or my rack system with a 2100w poweramp,with no ill effects at all. Bass speakers will handle lots of clean power better than an overdriven signal of less wattage.
 

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