GR Bass AT-112H – Structural Reliability Issue

[JimChjones]

GWR

? How thick are these panels, how are they held together, is there any bracing?

Very unlikely to be any bracing, it would be at cross purposes with the inner carbon skin.
There are an almost infinite number of layups possible, but in the sort of lightweight racing dinghy construction I'm familiar with 8mm or 10mm foam core with a couple of layers of carbon cloth is common. The carbon cloth is roughly speaking soaked in epoxy resin and then compressed onto the core with vacuum bags. My guess is the GRcabs will have a more substantial layups on the outside though as race boats are handled with great delicacy and music gear... isn't.
Joining the flat panels will be where most of the design work was focused. Strong is easy, cheap is easy, strong and cheap, as AH has indicated, is more challenging.

 

[smeet]

I had a GR AT212, sold it on TB. The box was bumped en route and the cab was quite damaged. The bump was gentle enough that the cardboard box had very little damage. A wood cab would probably have been 100% fine. Even before I sold it, the border around the face had separated - purely cosmetic but I was super gentle with it.

I sold it because although it was super light and pretty loud, I found the sound to be bland and lacking in character. After the damage it took so easily, no more GR for me. Wood is sturdier AND sounds better.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I had a GR AT212, sold it on TB. The box was bumped en route and the cab was quite damaged. The bump was gentle enough that the cardboard box had very little damage. A wood cab would probably have been 100% fine. Even before I sold it, the border around the face had separated - purely cosmetic but I was super gentle with it.

I sold it because although it was super light and pretty loud, I found the sound to be bland and lacking in character. After the damage it took so easily, no more GR for me. Wood is sturdier AND sounds better.

Thanks for sharing, great info.

 

[Relsom]

I had a GR AT212, sold it on TB. The box was bumped en route and the cab was quite damaged. The bump was gentle enough that the cardboard box had very little damage. A wood cab would probably have been 100% fine. Even before I sold it, the border around the face had separated - purely cosmetic but I was super gentle with it.

I sold it because although it was super light and pretty loud, I found the sound to be bland and lacking in character. After the damage it took so easily, no more GR for me. Wood is sturdier AND sounds better.

Still keeping my eye out for a Barefaced Super Compact....or 2. There's some other design features not mentioned yet that I'm not real crazy about, but time will tell whether I'm just being overly concerned.

 

[Relsom]

I had a GR AT212, sold it on TB. The box was bumped en route and the cab was quite damaged. The bump was gentle enough that the cardboard box had very little damage. A wood cab would probably have been 100% fine. Even before I sold it, the border around the face had separated - purely cosmetic but I was super gentle with it.

I sold it because although it was super light and pretty loud, I found the sound to be bland and lacking in character. After the damage it took so easily, no more GR for me. Wood is sturdier AND sounds better.

I'm actually pretty happy with the performance of my AT 212 Slim ACT. I think it sounds fantastic. Yes, the hardware is fragile. I'm generally pretty careful handling all my gear. I'm more concerned about unsolicited "help" moving my things around without them realizing just how fragile they can be. GR has been pretty helpful with spare corners and answering questions.

 

[dawind99]

There is immense SPL inside a bass cabinet. I believe it's doable but always think of the Titan. One thing carbon fiber does not like is repeated flexing or impact. jmho. Any new tech will have some wrinkles but, they are not insurmountable. I tried some foam core surfboard types of construction and Mike Arnopol did a lot of work using different materials. If he's out there perhaps he'll weigh in. It just reached a point of diminishing return for me. The chemicals are brutal.