You need to remember people are more likely to come to the internet to complain about a product then they are to praise one.
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Best Gallien Krueger Bass head?
- Thread starter Pedulla-Player
- Start date
While you are correct IMO and IME, this bias impacts ALL brands equally. So, while this tends to overstate the absolute rate of failure or problem, the relative mix of positive to problem post is a VERY good indicator of a brand or individual product within a product line or brand that has greater than normal failure rates, which results in a higher probability of failure down the road.
That being said, given my contacts in the industry from being an old coot who has been a fanatic about bass amplification for a long long time (e.g., retailers, repair techs, etc.), the 'relative failure/problem rate' postings seem to correlate relatively highly with the reality of the issue (although, again, the LEVEL of that issue is overstated across all brands, per your post).
Then you would have to assume all brands are selling equal amounts of there products. My guess would be the GK out sells Genz Benz by a good margin.
On another note, I played a gig the other night and one of the other bands bass player was using a Genz Benz, It sounded amazing but I believe he was only using the power section to feed a RPM pre amp.
Nope... proportions are not dependent on the absolute denominator. You are again correct in that you can't just 'count up the numbers' and come to any conclusion.
Per an explanation of this issue I posted earlier, of course, if a brand is tiny like Glockenklang, it is hard to come to any conclusions on differential failure rates, since there are only a handful of posters even talking about the heads. For example, TecAmp had some systematic issues with the original Bonafide and Puma1000 heads, but it never really become clear on TB due to the very low sales volume of those boutique, expensive units (the only way I became aware of it is talking to an honest retailer about those particular models.
Once a brand gets as large as Markbass, Ampeg, Genz, GK, even Mesa, it is pretty easy to see where the issues are, like with the Markbass piezo tweeters, various GK models, the Mesa M9, some of the EA heads and cabs, etc.
Again, this isn't a 'GK versus Genz' thing at all, but Genz is the brand that the OP currently has, and that particular head (Max 9.2) has virtually no 'problem posts'.
I think if a company had so many problems they would not be in business. If you have a product that is imperfect and they have a policy to exchange it or fix it, do that only if you like the product. Because chances are the next one will not give you problems. If for any other reason you decide to exchange it instead and buy something you feel may not be better in anyway, you have a bigger problem. I have the MB fusion. I really like the product with the bass and cabinets I have. After trying just about all the micro amps i know about I chose the GK fusion. If something is wrong or went wrong I would exchange of have it fixed (warranty) to work properly. I would not get any other micro amp as i did not like them as much. Chances are as many who do have that amp, the next or fixed will be OK. I think some are going to deep with this.
Pretty polite, respectful, interesting (IMO) discussion that directly addresses the OP's primary concern for reliability.
No reason to come back to the thread if it is 'too deep' or whatever
. That being said, the OP has pretty much made his decision with plenty of information, so all is good
Pretty polite, respectful, interesting (IMO) discussion that directly addresses the OP's primary concern for reliability.
No reason to come back to the thread if it is 'too deep' or whatever
Hey its all good, been exactly like you described it. I just feel like Im sittin in the same room with the cast of "Big Band Theory" Just no hot blond. LOL
Chef
In Memoriam
I'm willing to dye my hair blonde, given certain contingencies are met.
And a sense of humor makes an appearance! Sorry guys feelin a bit flakey today. Happy New Year!
Always easier to just say everything 'kicks a**' or whatever. Gets a little more difficult when discussing both the positives and negatives of a brand (and EVERY brand has positives AND negatives). I like TB for the ability to 'get into the weeds' (and on the many occasions where I'm off the mark or whatever, I tend to learn a lot from other posts, etc.).All is good, and Happy New Year! I could be pretty happy gigging an MBFusion500.
I'm willing to dye my hair blonde, given certain contingencies are met.
Might I suggest a nice quality wig instead
I was a repair tech in a shop for many major brands of the time (before Genz Benz hit main stream). G-K was our least problem product just under Crown. We only covered Ventura county, part of Santa Barbara and northern LA.
Happy New Years all.
Chef
In Memoriam
What, you think I don't have nights where I wear a wig already?
You misunderestimate me sir!
You misunderestimate me sir!
Might I suggest a nice quality wig instead
Happy New Years all.
Pretty polite, respectful, interesting (IMO) discussion that directly addresses the OP's primary concern for reliability.
No reason to come back to the thread if it is 'too deep' or whatever
Close , but not quite... I'm still torn between the 550 and the 500. I truly loved the 550 (when it wasn't crackling). I guess if I could cop the same tone and warmth with the MB Fusion I may give that a try and save the extra money.
I need to make up my mind soon because it looks like the SM 9.2 is going to California.
Chef
In Memoriam
Good point. Just trying to figure out if it's worth the extra money over the MB Fusion 500 , and if the 500 can cop the same tone that I loved out of the 550.
So do blondes actually have more fun?? lol
If warmth is a priority, IMO you should go for a Fusion variant or a 700RB-II. I have a 700RB-II and an MB-500, and the RB generally sounds warmer and more substantial. I can get into the RB's neighborhood with the MB-500 by cutting the highs and high mids to about 9:00. I cut the bass a little too. They have a similar presence/feel in a band mix, at least at the modest gigs I play, at which I don't push either one that hard. As a result, I use the MB-500 most of the time for convenience, but purely for tone the 700RB-II is superior, and you would likely notice the difference more at the higher volumes you apparently use.
