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Dont think i can ever trust a GK head again.
- Thread starter dave_bass5
- Start date
I've never met a GK amp that didn't have input distortion issues (15 amps demo-ed so far) so my run of bad luck must be beyond catastrophic. However, if you love them, you love them. I'll never have a GK because of my experiences while others will never have anything but...
Meanwhile, I own the newest favorite whipping-boy amp....a Carvin. So far no issues with 3 of them. Sure, they screwed a ton of people over but mine works great...for now.
Meanwhile, I own the newest favorite whipping-boy amp....a Carvin. So far no issues with 3 of them. Sure, they screwed a ton of people over but mine works great...for now.
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Just so I'm understanding, it failed you and you didn't take it to a tech. It failed you more frequently and you still didn't take it to a tech.
And then it failed again and it was the last straw. Right?
I had a 400rb whose case was made out of no parking sign. It fell out of a truck at speed and was ran ran over.
Crushed but still worked. Tech bent a case up for it using a no parking sign hanging on the wall.
Another “wish I still had it story”.
Crushed but still worked. Tech bent a case up for it using a no parking sign hanging on the wall.
Another “wish I still had it story”.
Nothing is full proof, it’s all machine and machines break, nothing is perfect..I had a GK 400RB that I bought new back in the 90s it was my only amp, I gigged it for more than 25 years with not one single issue, it even had the stock slow blow fuse on it when I sold it...the guy I sold it to has been continuing the gigging and hasn’t had anything happen to it...
The only issues I've seen with GK heads are dirty Effects jacks and some cracked solder joints, but this happens on most amps. The jacks corrode from lack of use and since most circuit boards hang from the pots or jacks, sometimes the solder joints crack. The only other things I've seen are from abuse or crappy repairs. If you want to sell the MB800, I'd be interested.
Stick with the American made gk stuff you'll be fine....
I've got the mb 150s,,,and 700rb ,,,,not a problem
But deep down,,,I'm a tube amp guy......
I've got the mb 150s,,,and 700rb ,,,,not a problem
But deep down,,,I'm a tube amp guy......
I've had a ton of GK stuff including a couple of MB200's(still have one I use as a backup), MB500, 700RB, 1001RB, MB150S. Never an issue and literally hundreds of gigs. My tastes/needs have since changed to the vintage tube thing, but I would never hesitate to gig a GK again. I guess YMMV!
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Concerning input distortion across that many amps, it does make me wonder if there might be a way that you're setting up the amp that might be giving you the issue. Which amps specifically?
I say this with all the respect in the world - depending on what you're used to the GK input stages might operate differently than other amps. Not to derail this thread, but where did you typically run "volume", or the first adjustable gain stage? Was the input light flashing? I'm just super curious what was going on.
Al Kraft
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- May 2, 2016
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Even if a company's reputation is that only one in a million heads have any kind of a problem, if you get that head, you have a 100% problem. Based on my own experience and that of a number of colleagues, GK produces solid, reliable gear, and they stand behind their products.
Occasional failures are to be expected even in the most well built products (which is one reason why Rolls Royce dealerships have a repair department). I know you're frustrated with the failures and I would be too, but give GK a chance to impress with with their ability to make it right - you might be very surprised.
It's always tough if you get the "exception to the rule" product, but if I were you I'd contact GK and avail yourself of their customer support and desire to maintain a good reputation. Good luck with getting this sorted out!
Occasional failures are to be expected even in the most well built products (which is one reason why Rolls Royce dealerships have a repair department). I know you're frustrated with the failures and I would be too, but give GK a chance to impress with with their ability to make it right - you might be very surprised.
It's always tough if you get the "exception to the rule" product, but if I were you I'd contact GK and avail yourself of their customer support and desire to maintain a good reputation. Good luck with getting this sorted out!
Given that I've been playing professionally for 30 years and had one rig go down on me mid-gig, it would seem that you have incredibly bad luck.
I have used my GK1001RB II for eight years now with no problem. If you had taken the amp in to be checked out after the first failure your problems most likely could have been solved.
Don't let someone plug a 4ohm cab into the high channel, use Deoxit when necessary, and 800rbs will be hard to kill.
One happy GK user here, have no intention of changing brand. I also have great experience with US GK support (being in Europe, with out of warranty amp).
Why do you think that? Really, why jump on me without actually asking in a civilised way. Do you act like a knob in real life as well? Pathetic posts like yours dont help anyone but if they make you feel better go for it.
I have had all items fixed and then sold, expect my MB800 which of course i will get fixed and then sell.
My point is its only the GK gear that ive had issues with, so i wont use them again as i dont have confidence in this brand. Im not saying they are rubbish or poorly made, although obviously mine were.
This was the Fusion i had. Hardly good workmanship for an amp that costs what it does. No, not the end of the world but this left GK like this. The screw's on the other side of the box we not seated correctly anyway.
im just trying to show im not trolling and have had genuine issues, and why my confidence GK has gone.
im just trying to show im not trolling and have had genuine issues, and why my confidence GK has gone.
GK rules. Tho frankly I don't know anything about your new GK stuff. My GKs are from 30 years ago. All four of them run like atomic clocks, and sound like the thunder and fury that I crave. They (everybody-not just GK) apparently don't build the stuff quite like they used to.
Buy old.
Buy old.
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This, I can't answer with any reliability because the last one I tried was over a year ago. It could have been something I was doing but either way, it meant that there wasn't much volume available if I dialed it to where the distortion stopped. Like I say, if they are for you then that's great. I've just had,terrible luck with them.
The ones I remember trying were a couple of rb1001 and a backline combo. They were also played with active or high-output passive basses with and without the 10db pad engaged.
