Gallien-Krueger owner needs reliability? Catch-22?

GrinningMouth88 · #1 07-18-2011, 11:10 PM

I'm leaning towards a neo 4x12 for my 700rbII head. Problem is, while I love, love, LOVE the sound I get from this company, I have blown 3 goldline speakers, the cabinet itself eventually rattled the bottom port apart. Sold it and didn't make that much back. I have a 115 blx that has rattle issues as well. My 700rbII just came out of the shop for broken solder points. (I guess they weren't very strong according to the repair shop). The place I got it repaired at said they see Gk in there almost more than any other company. Like I said, I love what the amps and cabs can do but I'm not made of money and I need long term reliability. What should I do? Is it time to walk away from my beloved sound?

GrinningMouth88 · #2 07-18-2011, 11:13 PM

Okay, I didn't necessarily blow the speakers out. One by one the started popping and buzzing and eventually not work. It literally tore the wires off on the other side of the cone. Excuse the rudimentary terms but I'm learning.

tribebass · #3 07-18-2011, 11:27 PM

I do not know what kind of reliability reports US music stores offer to their customers, but Thomann in Germany list how many % products are returned as defective within the 3 year warranty period.

You can look it up just by clicking on the website, look for "Defektquote (3 Jahre)"
Gallien Krueger: 5.27%
Gallien Krueger

compare to perhaps Markbass: 0.56%
Markbass

Thomann is the largest music store in EU and sell very much equipment so they should have good mean values. You can look up all the other brands they sell here:
Online-Katalog Herstellerübersicht

I am considering the very chep and light MBE series cabinets, but I read here about vibration issues, and the high amount of defective products does not encourage...

If it is the same in the US as here - If you buy from a reputable store with good warranty (3 years or more) you can always get it replaced if it should be one of the 5% defective products.

GrinningMouth88 · #4 07-18-2011, 11:36 PM

Thank you sir for the nice resource. I will be one this for oh, say the next hour or two.

GrinningMouth88 · #5 07-19-2011, 08:27 AM

Did not realize the acoustic b600 and 810 are so affordable. Sounds too good to be true. I also noticed that flea recently switched from gk to acoustic. Not that I play or sound at all like flea, but that's an interesting turn of events. Thoughts? I've read a couple threads around here state that new acoustic amps are cheap knock-offs of the once legendary company. Truth?

wcriley · #6 07-19-2011, 09:01 AM

Flea is not using the low-priced "Guitar Center Acoustic" rigs. He recently bought some of the ultra-expensive "Acoustic USA" rigs.

Neither of these are "knock-offs". The GC Acoustic stuff cosmetically resembles the old ACC gear, but is completely different in all other aspects. The Acoustic USA might be a termed an "updated" version of the ACC stuff, but has signifcant differences.

Slowgypsy · #7 07-19-2011, 09:56 AM

I've gigged my GK RB700-II for many years. Never abused it but used it and pushed it hard on many, many gigs. It has been rock solid for me. So my experience says that GK makes products that are pro-grade bullet-proof. Again that's my personal experience. And the Neo cabs I used (212's & 112's) have performed flawlessly. No problems whatsoever.

TinIndian · #8 07-19-2011, 10:06 AM

I love my GK 700RBII. Never have had any trouble with it. I have used it with a MESA PH410 and an old MESA Road Ready 15 (TL606). I sold the MESA 410 (too heavy, but sounded great!) and now I use a Hartke 410 Hydrive. It sounded like you're having problems with the cabs, you could try the Hartke. I highly recommend it.

tdub0199 · #9 07-19-2011, 10:13 AM

I love my 1001RB II, never had an issue with it, sounds to me your problem may be your cabs.... I have never been fond of the Goldline or Backline stuff GK makes.....

KsPiNeSh · #10 07-19-2011, 10:26 AM

Honestly, IMO and IME the Goldline and Backline series gear (particularly the Goldline) has always struck me as very cheap. I'd bet money that if you liek the sound you're getting from those cabs, moving up to higher-end GK stuff will make you smile and will probably not come with the reliability concerns.

That said, if you're doing some extreme EQ-ing and cranking the volume, it's possible that you could destroy any cabinet that you use. How do you set your amp now?

Marko5657 · #11 07-19-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tribebass

...

Gallien Krueger: 5.27%
Gallien Krueger

compare to perhaps Markbass: 0.56%
Markbass

Gallien Krueger 5.27%

Ashdown 1.79
Behringer 0.73
Bugera 2.24
Gemini, 2.86
Hughes&Kettner 1.43
Markbass 0.56
Orange 1.10

ManInPeril · #12 07-19-2011, 10:37 AM

My 1001RB-II has been golden, and I love my 410RBH. In fact, I'm desperately wanting another one to replace my Eden 4x10. I think that your concerns with reliability stem from the fact that the Goldline/Backline stuff isn't made in the main GK factory or in America, where the 1001RB/700RB is. I'm not entirely sure whether or not the RBH series cabinets are, but regardless they're extremely good quality to me.

GrinningMouth88 · #13 07-19-2011, 10:38 AM

Most everything goes to about noon. Volume at about 10 or 11, presence at about 11, Boost at 11, Woofer at 3ish depending on the venue. As far as eq goes, like I said everything at 12, I cut my treble a little bit when I use my riot 4 as there is a lot of highs on that bass. My eq'ing is mostly done with my Sansamp bass driver. Nothing too crazy. I have passive pickups and I still use the -10db pad (or is it 14? don't have my amp right now to look). Yes I am in a metal-ish band but I try to be smart about my settings. I hate it when people just crank the lows, crank the volume and call it a day in this type of music. I try to be a good example to other metal bassists

Al cisneros of sleep anyone?

GrinningMouth88 · #14 07-19-2011, 10:48 AM

Of all those companies listed however, I'm willing to bet that GK moves the most rigs. I may be wrong but that could be why the number is higher than the others. Like I said, I'm a huge fan of what these amps are capable of and if i'm getting some words of encouragement from fellow users who have had great success, then maybe i'll give it another go and order that 412. definitely putting my 700 in a rack, that i'm certain of. Oh, and yes goldline and backline cabs are POS. Everyone i've ever talked to that has owned a goldline says they blow speakers constantly. Kind of a sorry excuse for a cabinet. even if it is a cheaper one.

will33 · #15 07-19-2011, 10:57 AM

Uh oh,

GK use to be synonymous with reliable and was for a long time. Their new mb/mbe cabs cut a lot of corners that shouldn't be cut though as they're only saving literally a few dollars on a couple braces and some lining. Here's hoping that attitude hasn't found it's way in the rest of the line.

That Thomann stat page is a good resource although behringer's are so cheap nobody gets them repaired anyway, you just throw it away and get another one, like underwear.

ManInPeril · #16 07-19-2011, 10:57 AM

I refuse to believe that Behringer is that low. But, as for Orange/Markbass/Ashdown: They don't make uber cheap, low-end equipment. They're fantastic companies, sure, but they don't bother with entry-level equipment. GK is probably Ampeg's closest competitor along with Peavey, and has to match the same low end spread as those companies. I have very little respect for the Backline/Goldline series, and while I love the MB Ultralite combos, the one I had did suffer a few problems before I got rid of it. I find those numbers accurate... except Behringer/Bugera. Maybe since it's only recording data in Europe.

GrinningMouth88 · #17 07-19-2011, 11:19 AM

Well I literally just got a gk 210mb combo before I left for vaca (i'm on vaca now but I still visit tb......) and I certainly hope that it holds up but i'm going to be honest. I expect it to fail. Paid a little over 600 for this bad boy, not what I consider cheap or entry level. Maybe I'm just a poor bastard though. Idk but once I feel it is broken in, I plan on pushing it while it is still under warranty. Got it off sweetwater which btw from my first buying experience is an excellent place to get equipment. They even gave me a bag of tootsie rolls and smarties in my gk box

georgestrings · #18 07-19-2011, 11:43 AM

My 700rb-II has done quite a few gigs and many rehearsals over the 5 years I've owned it, and it's still stone reliable...

It's possible that you're not using enough speakers for your volume requirements, and also using cheap cabs - which are being pushed into destruction... I play in really loud 2 guitar bands, but always use either a 610, 810, or 215 - and my Input Volume is never above 10-11 o'clock, and my Boost and Woofer Volumes are never above 12 o'clock... Your settings tell me that you need a higher quality cab that's a 610 or 215 at a minimum... If I were to run your settings, I would drown out the rest of my band - and that's including 2 Triple Rec half stacks... Try a Goliath Sr with that head - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised...

- georgestrings

GrinningMouth88 · #19 07-19-2011, 12:00 PM

hmm, thanks for the recommendation. Is that what you currently use?

georgestrings · #20 07-19-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrinningMouth88

hmm, thanks for the recommendation. Is that what you currently use?

Currently, my main gigging rig is a Mesa M-pulse 600 into a Mesa PH810, but for a couple of years it was the 700rb-II into a PH610, and the 700rb-II into a Goliath Sr for rehearsals with the same band... I still use the 700rb-II for rehearsals, but now it's going into a Peavey 215D-BW that's loaded with Eminence Kappa LFAs - and it still works great... I've also gigged the 700 into an Ampeg 810 plenty of times with good results...

I really think your cabs are the weak link here - and regarding solder joints in your 700rb-II: did it get dropped??? I ask because the 700rb-II and 1001rb-II both have excellent track records for reliability...

- georgestrings