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GK MB 212 II Rant. Not Happy

#141
I had an issue with GK years go. I have a first version of the 1001RB purchased new. I rewired a 4X10 with a Fostex/Foster horn to use the biamp function. The tweeter hissed, but no sonic sound from it. GK wanted it back to repair it, so I shipped it to them.

6 weeks later, I got the amp back. The tweeter amp still didn't work but they said they upgraded the amp, modifying the turn on transient function to current specs. I was livid.

I had a service manual, and called them and got permission to fix the tweeter amp without voiding the warranty. I found it in 10 minutes...a coupling cap before the tweeter amp was way out of spec. It passe 10kHz but nothing below it. GK only tested at 10k that's why they missed it. The crossover point is 5kHz.

I found some disturbing things in the amp. They had replaced a dual op amp, adding a socket. GK techs severely burned the circuit board. They had also replaced a couple components, but didn't take the circuit board out to do it right. They heated up the resistor legs from the top...pulled out the resistors and tried to solder the new ones in from the top.

Underneath there were solder blobs dripping from the pads, almost touching the chassis...like stalagmites. I sent them pictures of their extremely crappy work.

GK apologized. They said they had a tech instructional meeting on proper rework and soldering techniques. They changed their tweeter amp testing to include testing at the crossover frequency.

Meanwhile, I had a new amp with a burned board that I had to repair.

I'm sure they have tightened up their repairs...or at least I hope they did, but it really left a bad taste in my mouth concerning GK. There are good companies out there. I don't consider GK in that group.

My GK went down three years ago. (not GK's fault...a glass of water fell off a shelf at a gig, and dumped into the fan vent on top.) I bought a PF-500. I love the Ampeg so much, I still haven't fixed it. I will someday. I won't send it to GK to fix.
 
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#142
In response to the OP, Chuck's isn't what it used to be. A decade ago, you would have likely quickly been offered a replacement if they could not quickly fix it there.

I have spent many thousands there, but never went back in after they were completely s#%tty to my son when he asked to try some e-drums they had in the "special area" across from the drum counter. Jackasses, I just went over to GC in Rockville and gave them the $2500 I was going to spend on drums at Chuck Levin's.

You can only support local small business's when they give the sort of customer service some big box stores just can't. I was always willing to spend more for superior service.

When mom and pop get too big for their britches, customers will walk for "decent service," and usually much better prices.

As for GK, I've owned a lot of their gear, but never had a repair issue, so I don't know what is up there, but I would, at a minimum, send them something in writing about the poor service you received.
 
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#143
My problems with my GK were over 10 years ago...maybe 2005 or so. I was a repair tech for many decades and I've dealt with all manner of companies...some good to deal with, some awful. The worst of all was Loud around the time they took over SLM. They were worse than awful. It took days of letting the phone ring before someone answered. Support for SLM repair shops, like ours disappeared. I vowed never to buy one of their products just because their customer service and tech support was so, so, so bad. It was worse than bad. I remember telling them that I never imagined Behringer would have better customer support than Mackie. The service guy at Loud said, "I hear that a lot."

I've heard they cleaned up their act, and I do love my PF-500. As for GK, I will say I rarely had one in for repair.
 
#145
StudioGC said:
July 6 Update. Still nothing from GK or repair shop.

My last communication with GK asking for a replacement has been ignored.
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I would be tempted to write a personal letter to Bob Gallien or contact him directly. It's hard to believe that GK is being so unresponsive and allowing this topic, which is now at 8 pages, to tarnish their reputation, especially when sending a replacement unit would cost them very little.

Companies can spend all they want on advertising, but forums like this can just as easily bolster or destroy a company's reputation with a significant percentage of their potential customers.

This is simply embarrassing and in no way confidence inspiring. Your experience and the response you've received have me seriously asking myself if GK products should no longer be something I would recommend to a friend or purchase myself - and I own a lot of GK gear.

I sincerely hope GK does right by you, as it would be a shame to see yet another well-established American company forget that customer service and loyalty is the currency that buys them brand loyalty with consumers.
 
#146
StudioGC said:
July 6 Update. Still nothing from GK or repair shop.

My last communication with GK asking for a replacement has been ignored.
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Yeah...this thread is giving Fat Freddy and me strong second thoughts. I was giving GK the benefit of the doubt, but the longer this is dragging out the worse it is looking.
 
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#149
Deak said:
I can back this up with personal experience. My Sweetwater rep is always a step ahead and went over and above for a bass that had a defective pickup. He even sent the replacement bass before I returned the original to make sure I was satisfied. Thank you Jeff! It's the only place I purchase gear now.

Edit: I just ordered the same amp (GK212 II) from them, out of stock atm but I have no concern about product support from Sweetwater. I saw all I needed at GearFest 2016 to convince me this company knows how to run a business(s). I'm not going down that finger pointing road again.

So sorry to hear you had to deal with such a long wait. What a train wreck.

Deak
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Fat Freddy said:
I've been saving for a GK212 II but having read about the amount of problems that people seem to be having with them, PLUS the apparent service issues, I'm having serious doubts as to where my hard earned money should go when I finally have enough saved....sigh......I can feel yet another 'Help Me Choose A Combo' thread coming on in the near future.....

Noooooo! I hear you cry! :sorry:
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FWIW, I purchased a MB212-ii from Sweetwater about 3-4 weeks ago, and considered sending it back so I could fund an all-tube head, but the thing sounds so good that I just couldn't do it. I haven't gigged it or played it hard for several hours yet, but so far it has been a really nice, super lightweight piece of gear. I've fired it up for about 30 mins to an hour of playing everyday since buying it with no problems. It is crystal clear, and has plenty of power for small gigs and larger gigs with PA support. If you're looking for a wall of sound, you'll be disappointed, but otherwise its a great little combo.

This may place me on some kind of watch list, but the MB212 is causing me to sell my Bergantino CN212. Its that nice. I know it probably won't get as loud as the Berg, but for my needs, the MB212 is a perfect combination of tone and size/weight.
 
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#151
backin82 said:
FWIW, I purchased a MB212-ii from Sweetwater about 3-4 weeks ago, and considered sending it back so I could fund an all-tube head, but the thing sounds so good that I just couldn't do it. I haven't gigged it or played it hard for several hours yet, but so far it has been a really nice, super lightweight piece of gear. I've fired it up for about 30 mins worth of playing everyday since buying it with no problems. It is crystal clear, and has plenty of power for small gigs and larger gigs with PA support. If you're looking for a wall of sound, you'll be disappointed, but otherwise its a great little combo.

This may place me on some kind of watch list, but the MB212 is causing me to sell my Bergantino CN212. Its that nice. I know it probably won't get as loud as the Berg, but for my needs, the MB212 is a perfect combination of tone and size/weight.
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Good to hear another 'sounds great' review but my hesitation isn't to do with worrying how it sounds....

My ONLY present concerns involve reliability and a seemingly major problem with servicing....:)
 
#153
Fat Freddy said:
Good to hear another 'sounds great' review but my hesitation isn't to do with worrying how it sounds....

My ONLY present concerns involve reliability and a seemingly major problem with servicing....:)
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Totally understandable. This is my first GK product and my first time buying from Sweetwater. I can say that Sweetwater has been fantastic to deal with so far.
 
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#155
backin82 said:
FWIW, I purchased a MB212-ii from Sweetwater about 3-4 weeks ago, and considered sending it back so I could fund an all-tube head, but the thing sounds so good that I just couldn't do it. I haven't gigged it or played it hard for several hours yet, but so far it has been a really nice, super lightweight piece of gear. I've fired it up for about 30 mins to an hour of playing everyday since buying it with no problems. It is crystal clear, and has plenty of power for small gigs and larger gigs with PA support. If you're looking for a wall of sound, you'll be disappointed, but otherwise its a great little combo.

This may place me on some kind of watch list, but the MB212 is causing me to sell my Bergantino CN212. Its that nice. I know it probably won't get as loud as the Berg, but for my needs, the MB212 is a perfect combination of tone and size/weight.
Click to expand...
Ya, when mine worked it sounded great. I just can't remember that long ago.
 
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#159
This is Jason from GK. I don’t frequent this site often but I received an email from a user that notified me of a thread going around related to me so I figured I would chime in.

I have reviewed my previous emails with Gunnar ( Studio GC ). I responded to his initial email the same day he inquired about the delay. I did explain that we don’t run the service centers ourselves but work with them to supply parts and reimburse them for warranty service etc. Unfortunately, I had no knowledge of any delay with his unit until he emailed me. I notified him we had shipped the requested part previously but the service center had lost it and reordered it recently and had received it two days prior. At that time I bowed out since the service center had the part that was apparently holding up the repair and his issue was being addressed.

When he contacted me after he received it back with the same issue, I immediately called the tech. at the service center and gave him the information regarding the other possible things to check and asked him to get back to me if he needed parts so I could get the amp back up and running asap. I let Studio GC know that I had already spoken with the tech. and supplied him additional information to help determine the issue and offered my assistance. Had SGC requested to send it here I would have been happy to have it checked out but he had already returned the unit to the service center when I called them. Since they had the unit, the information to further diagnose the issue and my offer to assist to get this guy up and running, I felt that was the reasonable approach.

One important thing to note is.... According to Gunnar’s initial email to me, the amp was purchased in 2013 and the early 2013 serial number that was supplied would also indicate this as well. Its not a warranty covered unit and pretty far beyond a replacement option at this point. This does not lessen my interest in getting it back up and running but there does come a point that a replacement is not possible.


I work hard to support the stuff we make and may have even dealt with some of you before. As a player myself, I always try to help guys out whenever possible. In this case I did what I felt was reasonable and within my power to do but you cant please everybody I guess. Like I said, I don’t frequent this site so if anyone has any questions related to this or any other GK service related issue I can be reached at [email protected] .


Jason

GK
 
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