Is the new Gallien Krueger stuff becoming the most unreliable gear?

[PersonalTraynor]

I want to believe in this stuff but keep reading about bad cabs, speakers and heads.Also bogus release dates and whatnot.

I origionally wanted to go with a full Gallien setup, but chose the more reliable Traynor/Peavey setup.

I wonder if they'll go the way of Behringer because of all this?

[Grabow]

i have 2 GK amps
a fusion 550 and a MB Fusion
never had a seconds worth of grief with either
and great tone
I own Traynor also
not too hot on Peavey

Behringer is just poor qulaity, not the same for GK

[WJGreer]

[PersonalTraynor]

This is not a troll thread.(I know better than that)
Just looking for some honest insight.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by PersonalTraynor

I want to believe in this stuff but keep reading about bad cabs, speakers and heads.Also bogus release dates and whatnot.

I origionally wanted to go with a full Gallien setup, but chose the more reliable Traynor/Peavey setup.

I wonder if they'll go the way of Behringer because of all this?

I've owned three micro bass amps, the original 200MB, the series II 200 MB, and a MBE. None of them ever had any electronic or mechanical issues and I gigged with them all the time.
the only time I had trouble with my 200MB Series II, was when the shoulder strap on the carrying bag slipped and it hit a concrete floor hard enough to damage the power supply in the bottom of the cabinet, but that was an accident.
As far as the release dates to, well that's something that can happen to any company. Some of the MB combos are built in China so you're dealing with good people but there are bound to be time lags.
There was a initial problem with the MB500, and their power supplies, but as far as I now they fixed it over time and replaced all the problem units.

Even Acoustic Image and Walter Woods have had their occasional troubles with component parts.
My first Walter Woods MI-100-8 had a faulty power supply, and Walter had to replace a whole batch of defective one's all over the world.
When you stuff all these components into these tiny little boxes with very little air space then you're gonna eventually have some of them go down, especially on initial runs.

Ric

[Mugre]

I work (not technically) in a busy repair shop. We generally think of GK as a reliable brand (excepting the cheap Backline series which is no worse than anything else in it's price class like Crate). Class AB amps can get a little out of whack, DC offset, Bias etc. and still mostly work. The operator may not even notice but when the Class D's get a little out of whack. It's obvious and the amp "feels" broken. There have also been some issue across the industry as it has adapted to the lead free solder.

Mugre

[will33]

I think their pro line stuff (pretty much anything with a "rb") in it is as good as ever. Haven't heard too many problems soley contained to the micro amps themselves but the mb cabs and combo's now....I think they cut way too many corners trying to keep a budget pricepoint happening. There are countless stories of these things basically shaking themselves to pieces after some play time. I think the core problem is pretty much in the cab construction but when something is vibrating and shaking things around consistently like that, it's bound to cause issues with the amp that's built in to it. I like GK's RB amps, never owned one of their cabs but this other MB stuff isn't doing their rep. any favors.

[Joe Louvar]

Originally Posted by PersonalTraynor

This is not a troll thread.(I know better than that)
Just looking for some honest insight.

Well the bogus release dates have been a fact and customer service reports haven’t been favorable and I have read more complaints about cones not being properly glued and of course there were some problems with the earlier MB combo amps (grills rattling, etc) but other than that - no. One thing to remember is when you consider how many units GK sells even a few hundred lemons isn’t very many when compared to the tens of thousands good units sold.

[Eric Moesle]

MB200 about a year and half old, never a problem.

800RB I used for over 12 years back in the 80's and 90's, never a problem.

2000RB failed me in 1997-98 after three months, but they were discontinued and replaced with the 2001RB to remedy a design flaw.

There's nothing inherently bad about a GK, and to imply the brand is unreliable is a bit off the mark.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by Joe Louvar

....... One thing to remember is when you consider how many units GK sells even a few hundred lemons isn’t very many when compared to the tens of thousands good units sold.

+1
I'd also add that with those few hundred lemons, it's not so much what happens when they go down, as it is how well GK customer service handles the returns and repairs when they do, for the problem units. Personally, I've had great customer service from their local dealers.

Ric

[B-string]

Originally Posted by PersonalTraynor

This is not a troll thread.(I know better than that)
Just looking for some honest insight.

RAG (Robert A Gallien) Started GMT back in the late 60's and still owns it today (the name changed when a mechanical engineer joined with him and since has left). RAG takes his products very seriously (as his name is on them?). If products don't make target dates it is usually for a very good reason. Getting info is pretty tough but I did find out the MB Fusion was delayed by PT's that didn't meet world certification. The company as far as I know suffered no layoffs during tough economic times due to the ever cautious RAG. Gallien built and staffed his own factory over seas which can keep end users costs down but the logistics I think are the big hurdle? Units built over seas are tested there and then double tested after the arrive at the California factory. I think(JMHO) the boat ride to the states is the biggest problem with delivery. Training new G-K employees overseas to ramp up production being the second.
I am only connected to G-K through the products I use and the G-K people I have come into contact with. Quality in all respects. As an amp tech I appreciate the fact that schematics from G-K provide all necessary info to do trouble shooting and repair without breaking out a calculator to get critical voltage values and provide bias info right on the schematic.
Number of "trouble" posts? Lots of units out there and mostly the troubled ones are going to post.

[Joe Louvar]

I might add I’ve been a longtime GK user (about 30yrs) and personally I’ve never had any problems with any GK equipment except for one of three GK800RBs I owned - which worked perfect for about 30yrs until the filter caps needed replacing this year - so I replaced the caps and now that 800RB is as good as new again and my friends son is using it.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by Joe Louvar

I might add I’ve been a longtime GK user (about 30yrs) and personally I’ve never had any problems with any GK equipment except for one of three GK800RBs I owned - which worked perfect for about 30yrs until the filter caps needed replacing this year - so I replaced the caps and now that 800RB is as good as new again and my friends son is using it.

I was just lucky enough to find a Gallien Krueger 200RCB head in fine condition. Personally, I'm very partial to the original pre amp in the 200MB's (not to be confused with the MB200's, although I like those mighty mites too) The 200RCBs and 200MB's had one of the best EQ voicing's for Double Bass ever. That heads is sill working fine and in service.

Ric

[johnk_10]

not a single hiccup with my 1001RBII after running it very hard for the last 4 years, so for me G K stands for (very) Good Kuality.

[1954bassman]

Interesting post. The original question was "wili GK go the way of Behringer?"

Years ago, I used GK rigs with total satisfaction. Purely due to the tone and of course the volume. I switched to another brand about 10 years ago, not because of GK so much as I liked the tone of my current set-up better.

Through the years, I have owned several GK rigs, and I am not that good at remembering model numbers. But I have had the occasion to call on their repair/service dept, customer service, and warranty service. Frankly, I would give their service dept poor marks, their customer service I would rate as fair, but warranty coverage as excellant. Overall, GK support may not be stellar, but it is certainly better than a lot of other companies I have deal with through the years.

In fact, I just bought a used MB150E-III and the over-all construction, sound quality, and electronics seem to be high quality. I don't know where the amp was made, but it bears no resemblence to any Behringer gear that I have ever had the mis-fortune of owning.

To wrap up: In my personal exprience with GK and Behringer, there is really no comparison. Heaven help us if GK actually starts making cheap junk.

My reason for not buying a Chinese GK is that I am not in the market for a combo amp, and if I was, I probably would not consider one made in China.

Did I even get to answering the question?

[PersonalTraynor]

This thread has nothing to do with the RB series stuff. Its more focused on the new lightweight stuff they are putting out. (just to be clear.)

[B-string]

Originally Posted by PersonalTraynor

This thread has nothing to do with the RB series stuff. Its more focused on the new lightweight stuff they are putting out. (just to be clear.)

Then it is important to know that the MB series is still made by G-K employees, not a third party supply house contracted to make other company's stuff (unlike "most" overseas production).

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by WJGreer

+1...


- georgestrings

[JimmyM]

TB will make you think every piece of gear on the market is unreliable because people will complain when their amp breaks.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

TB will make you think every piece of gear on the market is unreliable because people will complain when their amp breaks.

Drove than one straight home Jimmy!