GK let me down :[

[shoot-r]

I was very excited to finally move away from my combo amp years to a cab....Well, I got a GK 4x10 blx II cab with the Backline 600 gk head. I was sooo excited...until I tried it. Well the Speakers have rattling and when you turn the head on the power light stays on Red for a while and then goes to green...hmm? So while Im playing on the clean channel the overdrive channel light starts flickering and then turns completely solid green [but no overdrive effect and while Im playing on the clean channel ] I will admit however minus the flaws, the rig gave great tone for the price, maybe I just got unlucky with my set up... But Im taking it back while I can and am buying an ampeg b200r combo amp! =D Anyone heard good specs about this ampeg product?

Sorry about your problems, but as you read through the threads here at T.B. you'll see every manufacturer has some problems, and the longer you play you'll have other equipment problems from time to time, just happens when you move them from gig to gig.
In my 40 plus years of being in working bands, the only gear I've owned that's been 100% reliable is a G.K. 800 head I bought new in 1984.
It's still in use.

 

[Vic Winters]

Bought my BL600 used 4 years ago, I've had no issues.

The first "flaw" you mentioned, is not a flaw. It's how all GK heads operate. Backline goes red to green, RB goes red to blue, etc. The second flaw could be as simple as the foot switch jack being dirty.

If it sounds good it is good.

 

[April Ethereal]

Sounds to me like the OP wasn't "let down" by G-K, but basically bought some of their cheapest gear that was used, and probably already broken - then used that as a basis to decide that G-K's aren't very good...

Nevermind the fact that G-K has been used by many touring professionals for many, many years - and still is, actually...


- georgestrings

Oh no, I fully know higher end gk gear is great,the bassist from lamb of god uses a GK head. Plus you have Flea, enough said :] lol

 

[April Ethereal]

Bought my BL600 used 4 years ago, I've had no issues.

The first "flaw" you mentioned, is not a flaw. It's how all GK heads operate. Backline goes red to green, RB goes red to blue, etc. The second flaw could be as simple as the foot switch jack being dirty.

If it sounds good it is good.

Oh, I didnt know that it switches on purpose, my bad. But the speakers are definitely eh.... in poor condition. Im surprised Guitar Center sold a cab in the condition mine was in. I really like GK but I am on a very low budget and cant afford higher end GK. But for about the price as the gear Im returning I can get an ampeg b200r which I would be happy with.

 

[Nightlyraider]

Im surprised Guitar Center sold a cab in the condition mine was in. I really like GK but I am on a very low budget and cant afford higher end GK. But for about the price as the gear Im returning I can get an ampeg b200r which I would be happy with.

Not to knock you or anything, but you must be either young, naive, or both.

G.C. is only out to screw you (out of money), and if they can on used gear they will.

If you buy a bad product they just made some more money, thats all. I've seen way too many items with "issues" at my Guitar Center for it to be a fluke in the used dept.

 

[trjazzluva05]

Hey man, to continue on what the guy above me said, you just have to be more observant when buying used gear from GC. if you bought it from you local GC, dont buy without trying it first. if you're buying it from another store in another state, look at the picture, star rating, and even call in first to get a description of the item. ive seen alot of cheap stuff on GC's used inventory, but with 2 and 3 star ratings, it always makes me leery. i always try to aim for items with 4 and 5 star ratings and i havent have a problem yet. My only problem is when you buy used from another GC store, they take their sweet time to ship your stuff to you. I bug the heck out of them and make sure they do ship my stuff though.

 

[Smitherafender]

I love the tone of GK heads & am a big GK fan.I currently own 5 GK's.4 of them work & sound great.One has a blown power supply and isn't cost effective to fix.The older GK's are total workhorses & seem to last forever.

OTOH IME-I've seen quite a few newer GK's that tend to develop problems after a few years.A couple of years ago I bought a 400RB III that the fan was broken on.Something about the III series having faulty D-boards?I didn't want to deal with it so,returned it.One of my 400 RB IV's shut down in the middle of a gig,and now will only turn on in "protect mode".Acoording to GK,the power amp is likely blown & the board will need replacing.To fix the IV it will cost close to $300w/shipping to fix(for an amp that cost me $400)Not worth it!

Most of the Backlines I've tried sound very good.However I'd stay away from anything Backline used.Most of the use Backlines that I've seen locally have had problems.My local tech has 6,yes 6 Backline broken heads in his shop that are sitting collecting dust.Reason being it's almost as expensive to repair those amps that it is to get a new one!

My local Guitar Center currently has a used GK1001RB and a used 400RB.BOTH have intermittant problems & are broken.

So I've concluded that when buying GK-Basically use it till it breaks.Then just buy another.Bass amps,like most other things these days are disposable.

 

[TonyP-]

Amps are so cheap now...You can bay a used Markbass LMII for about $400 in the classifieds...

Done.

 

[pstyle]

My 4ohm GK RBH-410 + 1001RBII = awesomeness in every aspect. LOUD as hell and I love the tone.

 

[April Ethereal]

Hey man, to continue on what the guy above me said, you just have to be more observant when buying used gear from GC. if you bought it from you local GC, dont buy without trying it first. if you're buying it from another store in another state, look at the picture, star rating, and even call in first to get a description of the item. ive seen alot of cheap stuff on GC's used inventory, but with 2 and 3 star ratings, it always makes me leery. i always try to aim for items with 4 and 5 star ratings and i havent have a problem yet. My only problem is when you buy used from another GC store, they take their sweet time to ship your stuff to you. I bug the heck out of them and make sure they do ship my stuff though.

I completely understand what you mean trjazzluva, I bought it used online from texas and it had 5 STARS!?! lol I dont know, just a very dishonest rating. The pic even looked good but when I got it there were very noticeable wear and tear signs.

 

[trjazzluva05]

I completely understand what you mean trjazzluva, I bought it used online from texas and it had 5 STARS!?! lol I dont know, just a very dishonest rating. The pic even looked good but when I got it there were very noticeable wear and tear signs.

Yeah man its funny you say that, cause i just got my used GK MB2-500 from UPS today and i was quite disappointed. They gave it a 5 star rating and it came with one of the rack ends broken, like someone at the store dropped it, broke the end and packed it up anyway.:scowl: The top of the amp its also clearly scratched up, but thats no biggie. I called and talked to the manager and all he did was apologize and said i could return it to them or my GC for my money back. Havent got a chance to try it yet to see if it works. If it doesnt, ill be highly upset. but opened it up and screwed it back, but its still technically broken. I feel they were very dishonest with their rating. Ive got 30 days to think about if i want to keep it, but this is a first for me too.:scowl: Hope my Neo 4x10 doesnt come messed up, or i think ill never buy another used GC item again!!!!

 

[Phishr]

I've got a GK800rb from the 80's that's never let me down and it gets used daily. The only thing I've done is open it up to clean the contacts. I also have the Neo 212 and 115 cabs that I've never had an issue with but these days I tend to use my Eden 210xlt instead of the Neo's. Guitar Center is the Wal Mart of music gear. I avoid them as much as possible.

 

[Syco_bass]

I've been using a GK 1001RBll head and NEO cabs for the better part of 3 years now. Road worn and all. Cabs still sound new, 1001RBll still going strong, never any issues never needed any repairs, never let me down once. Just sold the RB to a new owner and purchese a Fusion 550 (here on TB). Sounds even better. Tubes picked up where solid state left off. Hope its as reliable as the RB. I was sad to see that one go, but needed the cash for the Fusion.

In my opinion, if budget is a concern, get rid of the BL stuff and pickup a 400RBll or a 700RBll and get a used NEO cab. GK equipment is bullet proof and a used rig will do just fine.

 

[April Ethereal]

Yeah man its funny you say that, cause i just got my used GK MB2-500 from UPS today and i was quite disappointed. They gave it a 5 star rating and it came with one of the rack ends broken, like someone at the store dropped it, broke the end and packed it up anyway.:scowl: The top of the amp its also clearly scratched up, but thats no biggie. I called and talked to the manager and all he did was apologize and said i could return it to them or my GC for my money back. Havent got a chance to try it yet to see if it works. If it doesnt, ill be highly upset. but opened it up and screwed it back, but its still technically broken. I feel they were very dishonest with their rating. Ive got 30 days to think about if i want to keep it, but this is a first for me too.:scowl: Hope my Neo 4x10 doesnt come messed up, or i think ill never buy another used GC item again!!!!

aw man, Im sorry to hear that. :/ But I hope it still works and sounds great! As for me, Ill be taking a 2 hr road trip next week to Guitar Center in Rockville MD to return my rig and swap for an ampeg b200r combo. [ill try before I buy] Have you or anyone else on here had any experience with this ampeg combo?
Thanks, Jacob

 

[Bassdirty]

GK makes great amps, but stay away from the Backline series.

+1

Yeah, I thought that was common knowledge.




.

 

[Bluesy Soul]

...Well the Speakers have rattling...

I've never owned a Backline series product, but I've encountered many at GC and other stores on which the stamped screen appeared to be insufficiently tightened or mounted without rubber washers or any other damping devices. Check to be sure it's really the speakers rattling and not a poorly-mounted grill.

 

[trjazzluva05]

aw man, Im sorry to hear that. :/ But I hope it still works and sounds great! As for me, Ill be taking a 2 hr road trip next week to Guitar Center in Rockville MD to return my rig and swap for an ampeg b200r combo. [ill try before I buy] Have you or anyone else on here had any experience with this ampeg combo?
Thanks, Jacob

Hey man yeah its a bummer. im just tried it with headphones and it works fine. Also the -10 Pad button on it sticks and it doesnt engage unless you press it in a few times. I never use it though. i actually just use it as a portable power section for my Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp, so i never even use the EQ on the MB2. Although i fixed the end so its not hanging, it still bothers me hat the sent it to me like that. like i said i'll use it for a couple weeks and see how i feel. Sorry to hear you gotta travel two hours to exchange defective gear. Ive never tried the Ampeg B200R, so i couldn't tell ya how it sounds.

 

[April Ethereal]

Hey man yeah its a bummer. im just tried it with headphones and it works fine. Also the -10 Pad button on it sticks and it doesnt engage unless you press it in a few times. I never use it though. i actually just use it as a portable power section for my Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp, so i never even use the EQ on the MB2. Although i fixed the end so its not hanging, it still bothers me hat the sent it to me like that. like i said i'll use it for a couple weeks and see how i feel. Sorry to hear you gotta travel two hours to exchange defective gear. Ive never tried the Ampeg B200R, so i couldn't tell ya how it sounds.

hmm, its a shame they ship gear to customers like us in that kind of shape, I mean its not like were only spending a couple bucks, this stuff is expensive! Well in the end just make sure youre satisfied and it makes you happy, dont settle for anything less. And yes, despite having to drive 2 hours away Im excited and hopeful that the ampeg b200r combo will meet my expectations and function properly. Anyways thanks for your input and I hope all goes well for you in the end with the GK!

Thanks very much, Jacob

 

[Ronny49]

Ampeg combo's in my opinion sound too solid state and boring. I've not ever really been a GK fan and I have heard from guys who have had problems with their GK stuff in all their lines. I will say that I was looking at a GK combo amp the other day at GC and to my amazement, it sounded pretty good and in MY opinion, better than the 1001 head. I almost bought the 350 combo with an add-on 15 cab. But I decided to wait for Black Friday and get 15% off!