What's going on with GK?

knucklehead G · #1 04-04-2010, 02:21 AM

Gallien-Krueger gear is backordered everywhere and keeps getting pushed back further and further, plus their website doesn't have half of their new products on it.

Their forum has been down for months, with just a message saying they were working on it, and I haven't heard anything back the few times I've emailed with questions.

I've been looking to get a MB-Fusion but I can't seem to find one available, and I'm getting a bit nervous to buy from this at this point with whatever is going on with the company.

Does anyone have any news?

Jaco who? · #2 04-04-2010, 05:35 AM

No specific news, but I think it's just a matter of striving for micro head market share in sort of a dog eat dog world. If it bothers you too much, just order a 700rbII and let everyone else pull their hair out over the latest and greatest thing.

capnsandwich · #3 04-04-2010, 05:37 AM

Yep, I've been waiting close to a month for my GK MB212. It's getting to the point where I may just cancel my order and get a Mark Bass 210 combo from GC.

chiplexic · #4 04-04-2010, 06:55 AM

It was posted here earlier in week by a GK rep that they are working on updates to web site and will be added any day now. I have to say,it should have been done and updated a longggg time ago. Especially in this ultra competative global market.

RAG-Bob Gallien said unexpected demand of the new light weight combos have caught them by surprise.paraphrasing.

faulkner1953 · #5 04-04-2010, 08:21 AM

I've been waiting for my MB210 from RMC Audio since March 15th. Hopefully, it'll be here soon. I can wait. I don't think they were prepared for the response that came with the introduction of these small amps. I'm sure with the economy being the way it is now, they are minimally staffed, as most companies are now. Be patient, it'll work it.

DavePlaysBass · #6 04-04-2010, 09:49 AM

I have a MB-500 and it is a fine product. When I consider the features of the MB series along with pricing it appears that GK has a pricing structure that no one else in the industry has (maybe Carvin too). I have not played a MB cabinet but if they are as good as the MB head, GK will have price vs feature value proposition no else has. This will of course drive demand and as Bob has commented on here, they did not anticipate this demand with proper supply. As one who works in an industry that builds commericial products, I would anticipate there to be something on the order of a 6 month window where GK sorts things out and gets their supply chain on board. Unfortunately large supply chains just can't get turned on over night.

4Mal · #7 04-04-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulkner1953

I've been waiting for my MB210 from RMC Audio since March 15th. Hopefully, it'll be here soon. I can wait. I don't think they were prepared for the response that came with the introduction of these small amps. I'm sure with the economy being the way it is now, they are minimally staffed, as most companies are now. Be patient, it'll work it.

I think you got that half right. Given the state of the economy, GK probably decided not to hold excess inventory. Combine that with the response they've been getting to their new products and selling through the inventory is the result. It's a tough economy to guage at the moment and if playing it conservative inventory wise costs them a few sales, they may see that as an inevitable cost of playing it safe. These guys have been around a long time, I fully expect they will be around for a long time to come.

I guess I'm glad I snagged an MB2-500 when I did...

Gearhead43 · #8 04-04-2010, 05:35 PM

I have had an MB112 on order since March 3rd. I have been asking over and over for an update on the estimated shipping date - here on TB, and by email to GK - and have not heard back.

I am gonna wait as long as I can, but if I can't at least get a solid shipping date (so I can plan accordingly) I may have to cancel and order something else. I dont mind waiting, but the lack of info sucks.

I really want this MB112 though, it's exactly what I need for lower volume upright bass gigs and I could afford it right now.

Foz · #9 04-04-2010, 08:09 PM

Odd... I sent em an old 800Rb to fix and they rebuilt it from the ground up and back shipped in about 3 weeks.

Whatever the problem it aint the repair department.

Mike19 · #10 04-04-2010, 08:45 PM

All I can say is the MB210 is worth waiting for. Luckily, I bought mine at my local Tallahassee GC in late November, just before the big crunch started. They are still waiting on a stock replacement from GK. The Tal GC has one MB115 and plenty of the older/heavier stuff on the floor.

ljazz · #11 04-05-2010, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

I think you got that half right. Given the state of the economy, GK probably decided not to hold excess inventory. Combine that with the response they've been getting to their new products and selling through the inventory is the result. It's a tough economy to guage at the moment and if playing it conservative inventory wise costs them a few sales, they may see that as an inevitable cost of playing it safe. These guys have been around a long time, I fully expect they will be around for a long time to come.

I guess I'm glad I snagged an MB2-500 when I did...

100% correct. Inventory is tied up cash flow..... and staffing to properly manage inventory is tough. And that kind of conservative inventory management is happening through entire supply chains. Some materials can have up to 12 week lead times. No one is going to keep inventories in this kind of economy, especially when speculating on new products. Cash is king, not inventory.

faulkner1953 · #12 04-07-2010, 03:36 PM

My MB210 from RMC Audio is on it's way to me. They finally got a shipment in. I ordered on March 15.

will33 · #13 04-07-2010, 05:31 PM

So you come up with something that so many people want you can't keep up. That's not an entirely bad problem to have so long as they can resolve it before people's short attention spans lead them to purchase something that is availble, the instant gratification culture we have now.

Everybody has to cut back these days. I do admit I have a soft spot for GK, they seem to be a well run company that's been producing nice stuff for a long time but in full disclosure, there is no sponsorship thing affecting this opinion. I just hope they get it figured out fast enough to capitalize on it.

I dare say with this level of demand, they may have priced themselves a little low.

Adam Bomb · #14 04-07-2010, 07:59 PM

+1 on worth the wait.

--Bomb

doktorfeelgood · #15 04-07-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

So you come up with something that so many people want you can't keep up. That's not an entirely bad problem to have so long as they can resolve it before people's short attention spans lead them to purchase something that is availble, the instant gratification culture we have now.

Everybody has to cut back these days. I do admit I have a soft spot for GK, they seem to be a well run company that's been producing nice stuff for a long time but in full disclosure, there is no sponsorship thing affecting this opinion. I just hope they get it figured out fast enough to capitalize on it.

I dare say with this level of demand, they may have priced themselves a little low.

I called MF today and came sooo close to pre-ordering an MB 112 it wasn't funny, but at the last second I pulled out of the deal. It was priced at $299 and I could have gotten free shipping and a little bit of a discount for a total of $294 out-the-door. The dude told me that they weren't expecting to see those amps 'till at least 6/22 and when I asked him if he thought they would actually ship for $299 in June, he said that he couldn't guarantee it because it was too long a wait time and the MSR was $426 on it. So that didn't sound good and although I had 2 original series 1001 RB's for quite awhile with no problems, I had a more current model MB150S 112 that gave me nothing but problems from the day I took it out of the box at GC and first played it on the floor. And I had some real problems with GK's Customer Service trying to get that amp fixed and since then I haven't have a good feeling about GK. It is what it is. And for me, considering all that, and the "teething" problems they had very recently with the mb2 500 amp, although I'm really interested in that MB 112, I'm going to wait for six months or so after they actually hit the stores. I try to never buy something first generation. That amp is perfect for what I want it for and that price is really incredible....almost too good to be true. And you know what they say about that. But I'm hoping it will work out. I'd like to see GK do well with that line because if they can keep those prices at what they have advertised, they'll sell a whole lot of those amps. )-(

Gearhead43 · #16 04-08-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

I dare say with this level of demand, they may have priced themselves a little low.

SHHHHHUUSH!!!!

I'm just glad I can afford one!

Calaverasgrande · #17 04-08-2010, 04:07 PM

At least they aint DR Bass.

DrVenkman · #18 04-08-2010, 04:18 PM

For anybody in Seattle, or that cares to order from them I guess, Bass Northwest as of this morning have a MB212 and an MB115 in stock.

They HAD an MB210, but it went home with me!

Gearhead43 · #19 04-09-2010, 12:41 AM

Played a nice P-bass through an MB210 at geetard center last weekend.

That is a really nice powerfull combo, even without an extension it sounds really full and fat - almost, even old-school fat sounding. Way fatter tone with everything flat than I expected.

Still had that GK clarity though, very nice combo at a hell of a price.

capnsandwich · #20 04-13-2010, 05:05 PM

I got an email from RMC Audio just now with a tracking # so my MB212 should be here this Thursday!!!