What makes me laugh is that I can turn the bass EQ right up and with hardly any volume at all make everything in the house vibrate, the bass on these amps is huge !!
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The GK MB210 RATTLE/BUZZ/VIBRATION Thread
- Thread starter Slackerprince
- Start date
I hate this thread! I was perfectly fine with my MB210 until this past week when I was practicing in my basement playing some slap riffs and I noticed a mechanical "buzz" near the top of the amp.
So now Im looking into repair shops in the area to take it into. Its not coming from the speakers, but in the top rear near the power amp section. It sounds like a screw might be loose or something is buzzing up against something else.
Arrgh!
OP: Did you ever solve your issue?
So now Im looking into repair shops in the area to take it into. Its not coming from the speakers, but in the top rear near the power amp section. It sounds like a screw might be loose or something is buzzing up against something else.
Arrgh!
OP: Did you ever solve your issue?
FIXED! Ha! I didnt want to take the cabinet apart and check all the screws and void the warranty, but there happens to be 4 screws on the outside holding the amp in place. Wouldnt ya know, but 3 of the 4 came a little loose. Nothing 10 seconds and a phillips head screwdriver couldnt fix.
Just checking back in with this thread.
The amp has been in the GK authorized shop since 11/9.
They put an order in for a new tweeter because they said it looked like it had a tear in it. GK didn't have them in stock, so I've been waiting for them on the slow boat (literally).
I called and the shop said they talked to GK and they were expecting them any day, and that was last week.
Hopefully I'll get it before Xmas and can start jamming with several new people that I've been in contact with.
Needless to say, not too happy or impressed.
BTW, the amp did rattle stuff close to it in my jam room, so I moved it to the living room which is way larger and I still heard the cabinet rattle. I even put my ear up to it while I played.
Anyway, that's the update.
Thanks for all the posts and input.
S
The sole reason I started looking over the amp to see if I could fix it was that my local repair shop wanted me to drop it off, then they said it was at least a 2 week wait before it even got to the bench. I then told them I gig on the weekends and dont have a backup amp, so could I just make an appointment to bring it in in 2 weeks and wait for it when they fixed it and they replied no, they couldnt guarantee it and have people drop off their amp.
IMO, this was more of a problem with my local repair shop than GK. I was in the same boat, I didnt want my amp sitting at a shop for 2 weeks then potentially sitting there for 2 more if they had to order a part. Ridiculous.
Also, the tweeter has an on/off switch. Did you try turning it "off" to see if the rattle went away?
IMO, this was more of a problem with my local repair shop than GK. I was in the same boat, I didnt want my amp sitting at a shop for 2 weeks then potentially sitting there for 2 more if they had to order a part. Ridiculous.
Also, the tweeter has an on/off switch. Did you try turning it "off" to see if the rattle went away?
Yesterday my MB115 showed up from FedEx. It sounds really nice except it has an annoying rattle/buzzing sound coming from the amp in the back. If I push right in the center of the amp while playing the rattle stops. I took the amp off the back and checked all screws and put it all back together...the rattle is still there. I will work on it some more and get it figured out, but it is kind of disappointing that I have to mess with this on a brand new amp. There really aren't any good repair shops around that I trust and I really don't want to have to ship this back to the seller or to GK.
I did check the tweeter in both on/off positions, for sure.
I also made sure to check that I wasn't hearing pictures and clocks rattling on the walls and mistaking it for the amp noise.
I moved it to a different room and even put my ear right on the cabinet.
With plenty of other people reporting similar issues, I think it has much to do with cabinet design and not being able to handle the "thump" of the amps power.
I'm hoping to get it resolved, as I really do like the tone, size and weight.
S
I'd be careful with doing any repairs in accordance with the warranty.
I tried to find repair shops near Amarillo, but don't seem to be any. You may have to go to Santa Fe or Albuquerque NM.
Here is the page to find authorized shops:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Good luck with yours.
S.
I'm definitely not doing any electronic work here, just trying to adjust some screws and/or add some felt pads to prevent the buzzing/rattling. I completely understand about the warranty concerns though and the possibility of voiding it. Santa Fe and Alb. are both 5 hours away from me. Oklahoma city would most likely be the closest but then again that's still 4 hours one way. 8 hours worth or driving is not worth it IMO. I have used the GK service center before when I had a 700 RB go out on me a couple of years ago. It wasn't as smooth and quick of a process as I had hoped for.
On the positive side...I'm really liking the MB115. It has a nice full sound with a great EQ section, quite a few more useable tones than what I was expecting. I was a little afraid that this small and light of a box would result in a thin, boxy tone but I've been pleasantly surprised. I've even A/B'ed the MB115 against my Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12 and Uber 212 cab and been blown away that the GK can hold it's own for what it is. Granted the Genz Benz rig is more refined, richer sounding, and will get louder but not by leaps and bounds like I was expecting. It would be tough to find a nicer sounding combo for the price.
blmeier7,
Ever resolve your rattling issue? Looking at an MB115 and concerned about the QC, things like missing/loose screws are just dumb. Almost like a poster boy for complaints about Chinese-made stuff
Ever resolve your rattling issue? Looking at an MB115 and concerned about the QC, things like missing/loose screws are just dumb. Almost like a poster boy for complaints about Chinese-made stuff
I have two MB115s and have no issues with rattling nor buzzing. Except for all the crap in my music room rattling sympathetically.
My MB210 was missing the screws in the back. I sent it back to GK. They fixed it with quick turnaround, but they didn't pay for the shipping-which was a bit expensive. I have now seen that other people had had the problem and claim to have had shipping paid. I am happy to have my amp back, I do love the sound and design -but I am pretty disappointed that I had to pay so much in shipping to get something fixed that was nothing more than a quality control issue on their side. In my opinion this should have been handled better.
It amazes me that the screws stay put in bass amps at all, considering the vibes that go through them, I check mine are tight every now and then, a bit of preventative maintenance is a good thing 
Well, the resolution for me is, Brian at GK sent me a pre-paid shipping form and sent me a new amp when mine was enroute to the GK plant in California.
The new one is better, for sure, and maybe it's my imagination, but the cabinet seems more solid and on a minor note, they changed the knobs.
You DO have to be careful mistaking the vibrations in the wall as vibrations coming from the amp. I put my ear right on the old amp and the vibrating was coming from inside the amp. I moved it out into the other room, to make sure.
All said, I give Kudos to GK for making it right, but honestly, I'm already looking at the new Ampeg PF-500 Portaflex stack:
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=431105
I'm finding the GK amp a little sterile, even with a VT Bass pedal, or maybe I'm just more drawn to the Ampeg tone.
We'll see once the new Ampegs are released. (Sorry, Brian)
I think the GK's are decent in their price point, but not incredible.
S
The new one is better, for sure, and maybe it's my imagination, but the cabinet seems more solid and on a minor note, they changed the knobs.
You DO have to be careful mistaking the vibrations in the wall as vibrations coming from the amp. I put my ear right on the old amp and the vibrating was coming from inside the amp. I moved it out into the other room, to make sure.
All said, I give Kudos to GK for making it right, but honestly, I'm already looking at the new Ampeg PF-500 Portaflex stack:
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=431105
I'm finding the GK amp a little sterile, even with a VT Bass pedal, or maybe I'm just more drawn to the Ampeg tone.
We'll see once the new Ampegs are released. (Sorry, Brian)
I think the GK's are decent in their price point, but not incredible.
S
guess ima revive the thread
Just picked up one of these used. This buzzing is quite noticeable. I'm thinking of opening it up and putting some dampening material inside. wish i would've saw this thread before.
Just picked up one of these used. This buzzing is quite noticeable. I'm thinking of opening it up and putting some dampening material inside. wish i would've saw this thread before.
I finally got the vibrational rattling controlled by adding some adhesive felt strips where the amp mounts to the cab.
I also adding the adhesive foam batting on the inside of the cab (probably covering about 75% of the interior). After the batting was added it seemed to help slightly with cab boom at higher volumes. If I had it to do over again I probably wouldn't add the batting because it didn't make that big of a difference.
I also adding the adhesive foam batting on the inside of the cab (probably covering about 75% of the interior). After the batting was added it seemed to help slightly with cab boom at higher volumes. If I had it to do over again I probably wouldn't add the batting because it didn't make that big of a difference.
Thanks blmeier7.
sounds like that's where the vibrations are coming from in my cab. the top right where the tweeter is. its definitely not electronic.
anyone else solve location-specific rattling on this combo, or is it just the dampening/bracing that solves all around general buzzing???
sounds like that's where the vibrations are coming from in my cab. the top right where the tweeter is. its definitely not electronic.
anyone else solve location-specific rattling on this combo, or is it just the dampening/bracing that solves all around general buzzing???
I'm jamming with mine tomorrow, so, I'll take a listen for any issues.
I jammed with it on Super Bowl Sunday, and didn't notice any issues.
I've moved-on to an SVT 7 Pro head and PF-210 cab, but I use the
MB210 for jams with buddies.
I'll try to check back in.
This thread just keeps living.
S
I jammed with it on Super Bowl Sunday, and didn't notice any issues.
I've moved-on to an SVT 7 Pro head and PF-210 cab, but I use the
MB210 for jams with buddies.
I'll try to check back in.
This thread just keeps living.
S
My MB210 rattled, actually the amp chassis rattled. It turned out that two of the screws on the outside were missing and that caused internal components to rattle against the chassis. I bought replacement screws, put them where they belong and problem was solved! Great combo BTW, very light and powerful for it's size.
