Darkglass 212 Cab Frustrations

[Aloe]

The cab's In connector doesn't work with a brown cable. The cab's Out connector does work with a brown cable.

well, my guess is use it a bit and it will also stop working. it took a year of use for your original connector to start cutting out, right?

as Andy already said, your best bet is just avoiding the brown/green plugs. the blue ones work reliably.

he's a respected engineer who had troubleshooted this exact problem due to customer complains (albeit, for a different company) and come to a conclusion, new plugs are the ones to blame: they just don't work good with the combo jacks. other plugs made over latest 40 years work good, but the brown/green ones don't. that's it, really.

 

[dumbuser]

well, my guess is use it a bit and it will also stop working. it took a year of use for your original connector to start cutting out, right?

Yeah, that's a good point. I don't use the Out connector really because I'm not running a second cab.

Like I said before, I respect Andy's work, but man he coulda been a hell of a lot more chill instead of telling me to work on my comprehension. Besides, communication is a two way street. It's the internet, people. I'm not trying to twist people's panties in a bunch. And really, sorry I couldn't understand over text. I'm more than confident it would have been more clear to me if we were talking face to face.

 

[agedhorse]

Here's the part where I'm stuck. Seriously, help me understand.

The cab's In connector doesn't work with a brown cable. The cab's Out connector does work with a brown cable. And you're telling me there's nothing wrong with the In connector? Seems to me like they could improve the tolerances of the combo jacks, especially if cab manufacturers are going to tell customers they can use any NL2 cable.

Yes, that’s exactly what I am saying. The primary variable is in the plugs because both jacks will work properly with the older plugs.

 

[Saetia]

Shipped the massive thing. What felt like a million weeks later, I get my "new" unit on the doorstep.

Instead of giving me a new cab or fixing my current cab, they sent me a used one that was cosmetically in much worse shape. But hey, at least it worked. Darkglass was even kind enough to supply me with a free pedal as a way of saying sorry. Very cool.

Not trying to stir the pot, but RMA’ing for Warranty and getting a different cab back in lesser cosmetic condition and not the cab you purchased new is pretty crazy. I get it, they threw in a pedal? But all this over a known Speakon issue… I’d be kind of miffed especially when the lesser replacement did the same thing.

Perhaps others are way cooler than I am but if that wasn’t communicated to me and I didn’t authorized that… well that’s a problem. More than a know issue.

Sorry, just didn’t see that approached here. If you’re cool with that then by all means carry on.

 

[dumbuser]

Not trying to stir the pot, but RMA’ing for Warranty and getting a different cab back in lesser cosmetic condition and not the cab you purchased new is pretty crazy. I get it, they threw in a pedal? But all this over a known Speakon issue… I’d be kind of miffed especially when the lesser replacement did the same thing.

Perhaps others are way cooler than I am but if that wasn’t communicated to me and I didn’t authorized that… well that’s a problem. More than a know issue.

Sorry, just didn’t see that approached here. If you’re cool with that then by all means carry on.

Oh trust me, I was plenty miffed. Still am pretty disappointed every time I look at the stain on the grill and the ripped Tolex. But then, I pick up and play the brand new Ibanez Mode that I bought partially with the help of selling the Luminal Booster Ultra they sent me and I start feeling at least slightly better.

 

[dumbuser]

Another update from Korg. @agedhorse is gonna love this one.

They really wanted me to try a new amp with my cable (the brown one that we know is the culprit) and my cab. So I took it back to Guitar Center, connected it to a Markbass combo (which was CRAZY lightweight at 500w), and whaddya know, it still doesn't work. So, just for giggles, I asked to borrow a new cable. They grabbed a brand new cable off the rack (brown plugs, again. Don't hit me, agedhorse), and that one didn't work either.

I'm going to get a blue cable at this point, but first I'm going to see what Korg says. Maybe they'll buy me a blue one or something since they claim that any NL2 plug should work. Or maybe they'll do something else. Who knows?

 

[Saetia]

Another update from Korg. @agedhorse is gonna love this one.

They really wanted me to try a new amp with my cable (the brown one that we know is the culprit) and my cab. So I took it back to Guitar Center, connected it to a Markbass combo (which was CRAZY lightweight at 500w), and whaddya know, it still doesn't work. So, just for giggles, I asked to borrow a new cable. They grabbed a brand new cable off the rack (brown plugs, again. Don't hit me, agedhorse), and that one didn't work either.

I'm going to get a blue cable at this point, but first I'm going to see what Korg says. Maybe they'll buy me a blue one or something since they claim that any NL2 plug should work. Or maybe they'll do something else. Who knows?

They should get you your old cab back… I’m still pissed reading that.

I know you got a pedal that you didn’t ask for and that got you a bass you’re happy with - but all that over a known issue with combo speak ons.

Again, not trying to stir the pot, but that’s extremely egregious on their part to send you a cosmetically damaged and inferior condition to what you sent them… big faux pa even with adding a pedal… it’s a $30 cable issue… you should have absolutely gotten “YOUR” cab back and not get run around with having to go to a store to prove to them what the issue is… they had the cab, they returned an inferior version with the addition of a pedal that did the same thing because of the known issue.

I’d be cutting my losses and moving on to someone else but that’s just me. Market is flooded with amazing gear at that price point.

 

[dumbuser]

They should get you your old cab back… I’m still pissed reading that.

I know you got a pedal that you didn’t ask for and that got you a bass you’re happy with - but all that over a known issue with combo speak ons.

Again, not trying to stir the pot, but that’s extremely egregious on their part to send you a cosmetically damaged and inferior condition to what you sent them… big faux pa even with adding a pedal… it’s a $30 cable issue… you should have absolutely gotten “YOUR” cab back and not get run around with having to go to a store to prove to them what the issue is… they had the cab, they returned an inferior version with the addition of a pedal that did the same thing because of the known issue.

I’d be cutting my losses and moving on to someone else but that’s just me. Market is flooded with amazing gear at that price point.

Trust me, I'm not happy about it either. I asked about getting my old cab back, but it seems like it disappeared into the ether. Maybe at this point I'll just wait for them to tell me they have new 212s in stock and ask for one of those.

But yeah, it's beginning to sound like the cable issue is fairly well-known by manufacturers, so they should have explored that route further before all these shenanigans. I've thought several times over about selling my Darkglass stuff and replacing it with another brand just because of this experience.

 

[Saetia]

They really should make the cab situation right. If something goes missing in their care… sending a lesser unit and then hoping you’re cool with them making up the “difference” in a pedal you didn’t ask for…

At that point they should have replaced it with something in better or new condition and at the loss… you don’t just get to lose someone’s amp they paid for to support your brand.

How can they substantiate their “findings” when they can’t produce your cab… especially when the replacement acts the same with the cable.

Kinda goes against trouble shooting best practices.

 

[_Obra_]

I'm here just to vent a little bit and also see if anyone else has had an experience like this.

I bought a brand-new Darkglass 212 cab about a year ago. Earlier this year, I noticed the sound cutting out randomly. Looking at the back of the cab, I could tell it was the Speakon connector. When you wiggle it, the sound cuts in and out. Switching the connector from the "In" port to the "Out" port produced a rock solid connection. I emailed Darkglass, they connected me with Korg, did a little troubleshooting (new cable, etc). They determined it was under warranty and eligible for replacement. Shipped the massive thing. What felt like a million weeks later, I get my "new" unit on the doorstep.

Instead of giving me a new cab or fixing my current cab, they sent me a used one that was cosmetically in much worse shape. But hey, at least it worked. Darkglass was even kind enough to supply me with a free pedal as a way of saying sorry. Very cool.

A couple of weeks later, the issue surfaces again. The "In" port cuts in and out while the "Out" port works perfectly fine. They had me try a new cable - no difference. Now they want me to try a different amp. That's where I'm at right now. A bit of a pain since I don't have another amp, but I'll get it figured out.

Anyone else have this problem with their 212 cab? Did it ever get fixed?

What pedal did they send You?

 

[dumbuser]

They really should make the cab situation right. If something goes missing in their care… sending a lesser unit and then hoping you’re cool with them making up the “difference” in a pedal you didn’t ask for…

At that point they should have replaced it with something in better or new condition and at the loss… you don’t just get to lose someone’s amp they paid for to support your brand.

How can they substantiate their “findings” when they can’t produce your cab… especially when the replacement acts the same with the cable.

Kinda goes against trouble shooting best practices.

Yeah, that's a really good point. Them saying sorry feels nice, but doesn't ultimately fix the problem.

 

[dumbuser]

What pedal did they send You?

A Luminal Booster Ultra.

 

[Saetia]

I mean a $500 pedal is cool. But just sending as what seems like a hush for the issue and losing your cab seems shady.

Was this discussed - perhaps I got the wrong impression and you just got a pedal and a damaged cab back and a sorry rather than a “this is what happened - we are very sorry - here is what we can do for you to rectify our mistake”

You didn’t even need to send them the cab in the first place is the kicker…when the most basic trouble shooting protocol would have isolated the issue.

Sorry for getting in my feels about this. Just find it hard to believe.

If my company RMA’d a product and then returned something else or something in lesser quality and condition it would definitely end up effecting our net promoter score.

 

[agedhorse]

I mean a $500 pedal is cool. But just sending as what seems like a hush for the issue and losing your cab seems shady.

Was this discussed - perhaps I got the wrong impression and you just got a pedal and a damaged cab back and a sorry rather than a “this is what happened - we are very sorry - here is what we can do for you to rectify our mistake”

You didn’t even need to send them the cab in the first place is the kicker…when the most basic trouble shooting protocol would have isolated the issue.

Sorry for getting in my feels about this. Just find it hard to believe.

If my company RMA’d a product and then returned something else or something in lesser quality and condition it would definitely end up effecting our net promoter score.

Maybe he got somebody else's order and the screw-up was even more screwed up?

 

[Saetia]

Maybe he got somebody else's order and the screw-up was even more screwed up?

That should be traceable at least?

 

[_Obra_]

A Luminal Booster Ultra.

I haven't played it but it looks interesting. I just watched a video by Ivan the Bassist from Darkglass YT channel. It's a shame it doesn't have any drive in it.
Did you find it useful?

 

[Saetia]

We keep a back up archive in the quality inbox for customer returns - we also have a database with all the details - I can’t photograph that though.

 

[agedhorse]

That should be traceable at least?

That would be too easy.

They may have a LOT of moving parts, something common to many large companies these days.

 

[Saetia]

That would be too easy.

They may have a LOT of moving parts, something common to many large companies these days.

I hear you there - not quite sure that’s an excuse haha I come from AS9100 and our products are UL listed so compliance and all… when an auditor comes in there have been times when I had to take an Item number and a customer serial and drill up to the raw materials and material certifications from the supplier.

 

[dumbuser]

I mean a $500 pedal is cool. But just sending as what seems like a hush for the issue and losing your cab seems shady.

Was this discussed - perhaps I got the wrong impression and you just got a pedal and a damaged cab back and a sorry rather than a “this is what happened - we are very sorry - here is what we can do for you to rectify our mistake”

You didn’t even need to send them the cab in the first place is the kicker…when the most basic trouble shooting protocol would have isolated the issue.

Sorry for getting in my feels about this. Just find it hard to believe.

If my company RMA’d a product and then returned something else or something in lesser quality and condition it would definitely end up effecting our net promoter score.

They didn't realize they had sent me back an entirely different cab until I brought it up to them. They apologized profusely and offered me any choice of pedal (well maybe any choice. I didn't ask for an Anagram).