Gallien Krueger GK Fusion 550 motorized knob problem - Page 2

goran · #21 10-14-2012, 12:51 PM

Well, Jason replied within 30 minutes. And it's Sunday!!! Talk about customer support!

B-string · #22 10-14-2012, 01:05 PM

No doubt the people at G-K are stellar

!

Hey Bob, Jason deserves a raise

BassmanPaul · #23 10-14-2012, 02:24 PM

What did he say the problem is??

goran · #24 10-14-2012, 02:28 PM

It's probably the chip that controlls the pots, but he will get talk to the engineer who worked on Fusion when he gets back from vacation (he's on vacation and still finds the time to provide support!!!). No worry, I'll let you all know what the problem was.

ljazz · #25 10-14-2012, 06:45 PM

I really want to love the Fusion, but the motorized knobs is a "no-go" for me. I'd love to see them simplify, and go with a channel switching scheme like on the mb fusion. And shave a few pounds off of it..... cram it into a two space format..... and keep it under 20 lbs...... I'd be all over it.

All of that said, I'm lovin' my new/old 400rb..... killer with and without my VT pedal.

B-string · #26 10-14-2012, 08:33 PM

I've had my Fusion 550 for some years now, no problems. The Fusion 1050 was/is planned, 2 space and under 12lbs IIRC.

ljazz · #27 10-15-2012, 02:29 AM

yes, but smps..... i want transformers!

Really, the 550 sounds incredible. I've played it several times now, and really want to want one. I've also run the mbfusion pre into my 700rb, and it sounds wicked. Much thicker than the mbfusion by itself. And if I recall correctly, that left the boost active, which really made it sound as if it was running through a tube power section..... awesome! If I could get that pre into the 700, I would be all set!

B-string · #28 10-15-2012, 12:15 PM

No SMPS in the Fusion 550 and it uses the same class H output board as the 1001RB

Blankandson · #29 10-15-2012, 03:08 PM

I emailed a question about the block diagram to him Saturday night and had a reply Sunday morning. Agreed on the raise.

will33 · #30 10-15-2012, 03:40 PM

Ya dude needs a raise. Or at least some hours paid triple overtime for providing support, while on vacation, and on a weekend.

Although goran and the OP of this thread are the only 2 folks I've heard of with this problem, I have to admit, the motorized knobs are the only thing that's scared me away from the Fusion as well. May be just some mental block, but I just imagine them getting a mind of their own mid-song, and seem like more stuff to break down.

Don't really want to buy one only to open it up and disconnect all the motors, but damn, what a great sounding amp they are.

goran · #31 10-15-2012, 03:58 PM

I just re-read my initial post and I see that I wasn't 100% clear. During this 5-10 minutes, knobs mis-behaved only after the channel was switched. They spin randomly for 5-10 seconds and after that they stay in place. I re-did my EQ settings and everything seemed normal until I switched the channel again. During this 5-10 minutes, I switched channels at least 20 times and they went wild each time. And then, all of a sudden, everything got back to normal. I played two 2-hours rehearsals during which, the amp performed 100% normally, after this strange behavior stopped.

My (probably incorrect) assumption is that the tubes warmed the amp interior (including the chip that controls the knobs), which probably brought it back to it's normal operating temperature. Again, I'm not a tech, so take this with a grain of salt.

And the crackles I heard - that I can't explain. A friend of mine had Fusion 550 for over a year and he never had a slightest problem with it.

will33 · #32 10-15-2012, 04:26 PM

Well, the motors obviously work. Most likely is whatever little chip that tells them what to do.

The crackling could be for the same reason or could just be coincedental. I don't know if the motor controller chip is, or has to be, in the signal path or not.

B-string was a tremendous help to me when a few different problems I was having all mysteriously added up in such a way as to result in a smoked 800rb (not an easy thing to do

). I suggest taking him up on his offer of schematics and whatever other advice he may have. Nice guy, very helpful.

goran · #33 10-15-2012, 04:30 PM

Thank you Will, but I don't think this will be necessary. Jason from GK was very helpful and I expect him to get back to me tomorrow.

will33 · #34 10-15-2012, 04:44 PM

Here's hoping they can work something out, maybe through your local tech if there is no service center in Croatia. They are a worldwide brand. I would assume if you had to send it somewhere, it may be Germany, England, Italy or something closer than the US?

ljazz · #35 10-16-2012, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

No SMPS in the Fusion 550 and it uses the same class H output board as the 1001RB

I was commenting on your 1050 comment. I know the 550 has the class H. Again, I want to love it, but I'm not onboard with the motorized knob thing. I've only seen two bands where the bassist was using the 550, and in both cases, they couldn't use the feature because they would go all wacky, just like the op is saying. Maybe I should just break down, buy the mbfusion, and use it as a preamp with the 700...... it would still weigh less than the 550, and I would still have the boost and channel switching.

goran · #36 12-16-2012, 07:08 AM

I forgot to post an update: Jason and GK did good. The problem was the malfunctioning chip that controlled the pots. I replaced it and amp is running fine again.

I've had a lot of equipment, some of it has had problems, but I have never ever experienced such good customer support like GK's. Thank you Jason!

Pedulla-Player · #37 12-16-2012, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goran

Also, during that 10 minutes, I heard the "crackles" sound from the speakers when I played some notes.

I just got a new Fusion 550 and played it for the first time yesterday.

I also had a crackling sound come from the speakers (two GK Neo 112-II cabs) within the first several minutes of playing. It seemed to go away after that. What was the cause of your problem and it is anything to be concerned out??
Thanks ,
P-P

tradernick · #38 12-16-2012, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goran

Well, Jason replied within 30 minutes. And it's Sunday!!! Talk about customer support!

Wow. I have to say that I'm a bit shocked by this. I thought GK was too big a company to expect that type of support.

When I first saw this amp, I thought 'Gimmick!' I hope you guys are getting some actual functionality out of your motorized knobs.

In any case, what a great support story. Makes me more likely to look at GK in the future.

B-string · #39 12-16-2012, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tradernick

Wow. I have to say that I'm a bit shocked by this. I thought GK was too big a company to expect that type of support.

When I first saw this amp, I thought 'Gimmick!' I hope you guys are getting some actual functionality out of your motorized knobs.

In any case, what a great support story. Makes me more likely to look at GK in the future.

I use the motorized feature all the time even though I thought of it as a gimmick before I got my Fusion 550. I know now it is a tool not a toy.

G-K was started by Robert A Gallien (originally GMT) and he still owns, designs and runs G-K in California. They are the biggest small company I know. RAG also checks in here. The very small employee turn over is a good indication of his company and personal ethics

Pedulla-Player · #40 12-16-2012, 01:03 PM

I just tried my new Fusion 550 / two Neo 112-II rig today for the 2nd time (ever). It crackled the first time I used it , but only for a little while. This time the crackling was so bad and lasted a lot longer that I thought one of my tweeters was blown. The only reason that I think it's the amp is because it comes and goes and if it was the tweeter it would be all the time. It crackled non-stop for a few minutes , but it settled down some after a while but would still intermittently come back. I am very bummed out because when it isn't crackling I just love the sound of this amp. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to return it to musicians friend and maybe just go for the MB Fusion instead.