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Dont think i can ever trust a GK head again.

#41
I used a GK-2000RB, a 400RBIII, and a 1001RB 2-10" combo for years and years, playing clubs.

I sent my 2000RB to GK for a repair, and turnaround was fast, and the bill for the repair was very reasonable. The amp ran flawlessly for many years after.

I did buy a 400RBIII that arrived faulty out of the box, but GK immediately drop shipped a replacement to my house, and paid return shipping for the faulty head.

I never had a GK head fail on a gig, and I played a LOT of gigs with them.

I don't know how the current GK amps are, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.
 
#42
Cowboy in Latvia said:
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.
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One recommendation, should you ever decided to try your 16th, and I'll leave it at that. Assuming that you weren't overloading the input, in which case there would have been a clip-light flashing, the first gain stage on many of the GK amps including 1001RBs is designed to start to overdrive with volume settings a bit above noon for a bass with typical instrument level signal strength.

With that being said, with a hot enough signal (still under the clip light threshold), I've personally seen very hot unpadded signals start to overdrive that stage with a volume setting as low as 10:00.

For this reason, it isn't uncommon for GK to actually recommend in manuals to run the master from 3:00 and above for maximum clean power, only using as much "volume" or "gain" as necessary to get to the needed volume level. This recommendation only applies to users that want the cleanest signal however, and many don't.

Of course, your end output will be very much dependent on your cabinet, but even with no boost a 1001RB with a 10:00 volume setting and 3:00 woofer should be IMO incredibly loud.
 
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#43
I own my gk1001rbII since 2007 (first owner) and it works flawlessly. The only thing that happened was a slightly oxidized volume pot that crackled a bit in the zero-9 o’clockish. Didn’t even have to deox-it. A slight pot massage turning it left and right rapidly did the job.

Everything else - pure tank.
 
#44
Kro said:
One recommendation, should you ever decided to try your 16th, and I'll leave it at that. Assuming that you weren't overloading the input, in which case there would have been a clip-light flashing, the first gain stage on many of the GK amps including 1001RBs is designed to start to overdrive with volume settings a bit above noon for a bass with typical instrument level signal strength.

With that being said, with a hot enough signal (still under the clip light threshold), I've personally seen very hot unpadded signals start to overdrive that stage with a volume setting as low as 10:00.

For this reason, it isn't uncommon for GK to actually recommend in manuals to run the master from 3:00 and above for maximum clean power, only using as much "volume" or "gain" as necessary to get to the needed volume level. This recommendation only applies to users that want the cleanest signal however, and many don't.

Of course, your end output will be very much dependent on your cabinet, but even with no boost a 1001RB with a 10:00 volume setting and 3:00 woofer should be IMO incredibly loud.
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If I'm ever in the market for another amp, I'll remember this. I am never one to completely rule out operator error.
 
#46
scotch said:
Call me crazy, but if the op had issues with it in the first year (and at least anecdotally didn't have it serviced) why be surprised when it continues to have issues years later?
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Agree. This head has issues multiple times and yet you don't have it looked at? Are you surprised when it finally dies on the job?
 
#47
any amp, from any company, will have a couple of stories of failure, but your story is most definitely in the very small minority when it comes to GK. what i dont get is if you had problems with it from the beginning that you thought it would just magically get better with no treatment. getting no sound out of it for the first 15 minutes is a clear sign of problems and its no surprise that it eventually would start cutting out during use. what did you expect? no equipment is exempt from mechanical failure, if theres a problem and you just ignore it.... to me that then becomes user error and no longer the amps fault.
 
#48
scotch said:
Call me crazy, but if the op had issues with it in the first year (and at least anecdotally didn't have it serviced) why be surprised when it continues to have issues years later?
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Quote from OP " I have had all items fixed and then sold, expect my MB800 which of course i will get fixed and then sell. "
 
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#49
Sorry for your bad luck.
I have had a RB400, RB1001, Fusion 800, and one of those small metal GK combo's.
Only the Fusion was bought new and the rest all had big hours on them before I got them.
I did have an MB800 that had a small issue with the front panel switches.
Liked it so much I returned it and moved up to the Fusion.

IME, these amps are as realiable as Peavey, Mesa, GB, Ampeg (at least pre-Loud) etc.
Seems like the established companies have figured out reliability.
 
#50
dave_bass5 said:
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.
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Wasn’t trying to jump on you. Sorry.
 
#51
scotch said:
Call me crazy, but if the op had issues with it in the first year (and at least anecdotally didn't have it serviced) why be surprised when it continues to have issues years later?
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Eh? How do you work out that because i have one issue it stands to reason i will have a different one further down the line?

And yes, it was serviced although i was never told what the issue was. Whatever it was never came back. As i had never used the DI i wasnt to know it was faulty was i?
 
#53
tradernick said:
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.
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That could indeed be the case. Been playing bass for two and a half decades now and played full time (professionally) for eight years, part time these days.
Everything GK related has been unsatisfactory for me. The GK tone, which is not my cup of tea is one thing, and that's entirely subjective, but the technical failures have made it a big 'no' for me.
I'd never say every GK amp is like that, that's obviously not the case, there are many happy bassists using their stuff. If my experience were representative, the company would have gone out of business a long time ago but they aren't.
As a side note: former bass student of mine bought an new Ampeg tube head (I forgot which model) and a new 6x10, both made in Vietnam. Within the first five months he had to send the amp back for repairs three times. He also knows about ohms/impedance.
 
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#55
dave_bass5 said:
Eh? How do you work out that because i have one issue it stands to reason i will have a different one further down the line?

And yes, it was serviced although i was never told what the issue was. Whatever it was never came back. As i had never used the DI i wasnt to know it was faulty was i?
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Well, I was curious based on your original post. The syntax of which mentions no attempt to address original problems and then outlines continued problems years later. Quoted:
"Ive had my MB800 for about 2-3 years. First year it was used a lot, but on more than one occasion i could not get anything out of it for 10-15mins at gigs. It never cut out once it came on, but i started to need to take a back up amp just in case, and needed it a few times. All the lights would come on, but no sound. After a while it would work, but that’s really not good enough when I’m trying to set up or sound check.
I haven’t used it for about a year, but started again a few months ago. Jump to last week and we finally went in to the studio. Engineer plugged his lead in to the XLR out....nothing. Stone dead. Switched to Post EQ and i got a very distorted, low level sound. Totally useless."
 
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#57
scotch said:
I missed that but still doesn't really answer my question. That's ok since it's more rhetorical, of course.
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But why assume having one fault will result in having another? Thats like saying its bound to have more faults. Pretty much what ive experienced and the point i was making in the first place.

All the mud slinging at me in this thread is fine, its the way of the internet, a few haven't bothered to read what ive said, a few think its my fault and a few obviously don't believe me because they haven't had any issues, but the fact is i have been unlucky with GK gear, and to the point where i wont use it again.

On top of it all the company i brought it from wont help, and it looks like ill have to pay for it to be fixed as its out of warranty. Ill probably not bother getting it fixed now. Ill keep it as a last resort back up. As long as i dont need the DI im sure it will be fine.
 
#58
dave_bass5 said:
But why assume having one fault will result in having another? Thats like saying its bound to have more faults. Pretty much what ive experienced and the point i was making in the first place.

All the mud slinging at me in this thread is fine, its the way of the internet, a few haven't bothered to read what ive said, a few think its my fault and a few obviously don't believe me because they haven't had any issues, but the fact is i have been unlucky with GK gear, and to the point where i wont use it again.

On top of it all the company i brought it from wont help, and it looks like ill have to pay for it to be fixed as its out of warranty. Ill probably not bother getting it fixed now. Ill keep it as a last resort back up. As long as i dont need the DI im sure it will be fine.
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I'm not sure I'm "mud-slinging", but yes- if my amp cut out on me (even only briefly) I'm going to have it serviced properly before I trust it on a gig. Same with an automobile, or toaster oven, or most things I rely on. ;-)

With complicated electronics one problem is OFTEN an indication of other problems.
 
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#59
I have no experience with the current models, but my 400RBs have been among the most reliable pieces of gear I've ever owned. Zero problems with those other than a gain pot that had to be replaced after 20+ years of constant use.
 
#60
I have never had an issue with a GK product and I have played their gear off an on for 40+ years.

My GK MB500 Fusion sounds so darn good if it went down Id be getting it repaired in short order.

I use it with a pair of vintage GK Thiele 1x12 cabs that have lasted the test of time.
 

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