no love from (and now for) Markbass

[blackmail man]

well, I can sympathise, but also not.
I've got an acoustic image amp which has had a hard llife. It's been rackmounted for all of it, but gig take their toll. Once a power capacitor ripped clean out of the board for no reason that I can fathom. Recently it just stopped working and has been in for repair for the last 6 weeks. Still idea when it will be done
But, the question is, if I dropped a bass in the gig bag it was supplied it, would the manufacturer be required to cover the damage? no.
Another thing to consider about Markbass is that it is an international company.
Genz Benz have the advantage of being on the same continent, so they can deal directly with customers. No middle men, or subcontractors make communication easier and turn arounds a lot quicker.
I work in retail, and see the difference daily in the customer service of local brands vs. international brands.
In saying that, Markbass have overlooked one way to make their product sturdier, probably in order to make it cheaper. I've just order one for myself, so fingers crossed I can look after it

 

[DavidE]

Mounting pots directly to a PCB is a cost-saving decision that compromises durability. It's something worth avoiding in an amp, especially if you're carrying it in a bag.

That I agree with, but as a guitard, I can tell you that almost every mass produced guitar amp has PC board mounted pots. Even worse, so many of them have PC board mounted input jacks that are bound to fail with much use. But that's what you get for the price of consumer grade goods. You want chassis mounted input jacks, pots, tube sockets etc....? You pay a lot more. What it comes down to is that you get what you pay for.

My MB SD800 head is mounted in a rack bag with a rack tuner. Still light, but decently protected.

 

[BassyBill]

No love for you, TR!!!

Love #3, by the way - and I wholly agree. MB + GC + PRC = B A D

As has been pointed out, Markbass products are manufactured in Italy, not China.

Posted purely for factual correctness.

 

[FooHead]

I love Traynor's "two year (even if you break it) unlimited transferable warranty"

 

[georgestrings]

I'd say the vast majority of us gig regularly.


FWIW, there was a thread here a few months ago about these front mounted PCBs , so you weren't the only one to notice. As for your plan of action, I agree completely. Take your lumps like a man, sell the POS and move on to bigger and better.

I don't think the "vast majority" of TBers gig regularly, but I do - I average 70+ gigs per year, and have for quite a few years... IMO, saying "I gig regularly" is a poor excuse for dropping one's amp... If I broke my amp by dropping it, I certainly wouldn't expect the manufacturer to fix it for free - doing something dumb should hurt atleast a little...


- georgestrings

 

[JimmyM]

it's not always doing something dumb. ok, most of the time it is, but sometimes they just fall. but yeah, i can't say that was too bad a price for that particular repair. sometimes you drop stuff and it still works, but the potential for breakage is always there.

 

[georgestrings]

My first Genz Benz amp was a used Neopak. When I bought it (from a TB'er) I emailed GB to ask about having the 2-ohm-capability mod done. I would have paid to have it done.
They said "We're doing those for free for all original purchasers, but just have the amp shipped to us, we'll do the mod, and ship it on to you - no charge".
On top of that they turned it around in a day.

I had the same identical experience with Genz-Benz - without a doubt, they are the best in the biz regarding customer service...


- georgestrings

 

[tradernick]

Guess I'll just add a +1 to all the guys who have pointed out that it's ridiculous to censure Markbass in this situation, at least for the whole damage thing. Turnaround is a separate issue. If you drop your gear and it breaks, you pay for it. Surprising that anyone wouldn't understand that. I've used 3 different Markbass heads (and I do more than the quoted 70 gigs a year). I've thrown them around pretty good, and they've slid off my cab a few times. Never had an issue with any one of them. They are reliable workhorses, in my view.

It's especially funny that the OP thought a soft sided bag (but it was PADDED!! But they were SUITED!!!) was going to provide protection from a fall. Bags are to protect from scratches. That's it.

 

[tradernick]

I played through a couple MB rigs. Didn't like them a bit. Personally, I think the OP should not have bought a crappy product in the first place. He certainly shouldn't expect them to fix something he clearly broke for free though.

Isn't a $100 repair pretty cheap all things considered.

Just a clarification please. You're saying that MB is a CRAPPY PRODUCT because... because you didn't like it the ones you played through? No, no one could be that misguided. It's a CRAPPY PRODUCT because the OP dropped his and it broke? Ummm, no, that couldn't be it either. I guess I must have missed an earlier post of yours win which you explain why you think MB makes a CRAPPY PRODUCT.

You're right about one thing - if the OP got this fixed for $100, it's a cheap repair.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Markbass, Markbass, Markbass!
All you read about are problems.
Glad when I was on the fence I drove to southern NH to buy Eden WTX260. It takes a beating and going on three years now is the best backup head ever.
I liked the sound of the Markbass head I tried, but went with Eden instead.
Eden customer service is unbelievable too.
Not trying to rub it in, but I have been justified since day one with my choice after reading dozens of posts like this.
David Nordshow is building amps again BTW. DNA amps- the heads should be out this year I bet!

 

[EpiRipper]

Maybe it's just me, but I've never dropped an amp in over 30 years of gigging. They are, after all, electrical equipment with fragile components inside. I know accidents can happen, but it shouldn't be on the manufacturers head if you break it.
The rather long turnaround on your amp though, is something that Markbass should have a look at.
BTW most mass produced amps have PCB mounted pots, it allows for cheaper manufacturing costs and ease of assembly. Normally though, they are also mounted to the chassis with a nut from the outside to support the pot. For an over-priced amp (here in Australia) I didn't think they would cut corners as much as this...

 

[Floyd Eye]

Just a clarification please. You're saying that MB is a CRAPPY PRODUCT because... because you didn't like it the ones you played through? No, no one could be that misguided. It's a CRAPPY PRODUCT because the OP dropped his and it broke? Ummm, no, that couldn't be it either. I guess I must have missed an earlier post of yours win which you explain why you think MB makes a CRAPPY PRODUCT.

You're right about one thing - if the OP got this fixed for $100, it's a cheap repair.

I'm pretty sure the OP thinks it's a crappy product. Of course crappy is subjective. Personally, none of the ones I played impressed me. The PCB mounted pots, the fact that you would have to manufacture something to mount it securely and the fact that 500 watts just ain't enough all equals crappy to me.

 

[craig.p]

Kesslari's example is a poor analog to the OP's. In Kesslari's example, the number of units involved is only a fraction of total units shipped; if it's an intelligently-run company, then someone "ran the numbers" beforehand under a worst-case model of every unit of that type being sent in for an upgrade, deemed the cost-vs-goodwill outcome favorable, and made the decision to provide the service for free. Secondly, from a warranty/contractual perspective, it did not involve unit damage; it was a design upgrade, so the legal exposure was probably far less. Thirdly, we can not assume that one company's profits are the same as another's; one company's may be razor-thin, or its profit targets set in stone, and so it may not be able to offer the same goodwill that another company can.

 

[wvbass]

Interesting that this thread popped up now. After my last gig, I dropped my LMII and it was in a MarkBass bag. Wasn't that far of a fall, but it did hit pretty hard.

Won't get a chance to test it until tonight...

 

[mongo2]

Did you really think that little bag would protect the amp from the damage of a fall? It's "protective" in the sense that it keeps your amp from getting scratched up. that's all

+1

I carry my micro amp head in a third party foam padded bag covered with heavy cordura-like nylon. I carry it slung across my body to keep it from falling. I place it between my gigstuff bag and the wall of the trunk of my car with my cabinet abutting the gigstuff bag so nothing bounces around back there.

The operative word above is "carry". It's just a carry bag and I don't really exepct it to protect the amp at all, that's my job.

 

[Musicman20]

+1

I carry my micro amp head in a third party foam padded bag covered with heavy cordura-like nylon. I carry it slung across my body to keep it from falling. I place it between my gigstuff bag and the wall of the trunk of my car with my cabinet abutting the gigstuff bag so nothing bounces around back there.

The operative word above is "carry". It's just a carry bag and I don't really exepct it to protect the amp at all, that's my job.

Agreed!

 

[solarplexus]

I love Traynor's "two year (even if you break it) unlimited transferable warranty"

+1. Yup. That warranty influenced my decision over other amps that I was worried would not be as reliable as could be and also I wanted to protect my own clumsiness.

 

[DWBass]

Why would they fix something under warranty that you caused? For what it's worth, I own both a Markbass and Genz Benz Shuttle. Both are kept in their cases. Both are treated with kid gloves. When transported, they are slung over my shoulder. No chance for a drop. I will say I don't like the protruding LED's on the Genz as I pushed one in once thinking I was pushing the mute button. Fixed it on my own and now I'm very concious of what I'm touching. No issues with the Markbass. Yeah the knobs are kinda large and protruding with no protection but so are many other amps fullsize or micro.

The gig bag is not designed to provide maximum protection. It is a carry bag with some protection and allows the amp to be used while still inside. I'll relate another story.....had my bass (Tobias) in a gig bag going to a studio in the winter once. Parking lot was a sheet of ice. I slipped and landed squarely on my back right on top of my bass. All 200lbs of me (at the time). I knew for sure it was toast. Got inside, opened the bag, pulled out the bass. Not a scratch on her and still in tune! What has this got to do with Markbass? Absolutely nothing!

Lastly, I am a gigging musician.

 

[RCCollins]

As has been pointed out, Markbass products are manufactured in Italy, not China.

Posted purely for factual correctness.

are the PCBs also made in Italy? that would surprise me.

 

[Sav'nBass]

You dropped it. Why should they warranty a product against abuse? You might have a legitimate gripe about their turnaround time, but you're the one that didn't research the product fully before you bought it and you're also the guy that dropped it.

I disagree with that... Yes he dropped it.. but like he said..

A)It was an accident.. Not abuse. He didn't toss it..

B)It was in a MarkBass bag. That bag should be capable of protecting the equipment it is made for. It isn't like the bag was dropped from a 2nd story window, or even more realistically thw top of a 5 foot stack and un protected. or dropped from a moving vehicle. It fell off a cart.. all of what.. maybe 3 feet if the cab was on it... If a head in a padded bag made by the manufacturer supposedly to protect the product cant survive a 3 foot fall.. then it is poorly made. Period. Even if it sounds great under normal circumstances.

C)All things considered.. he bought the product in March of 2010.. that's less than a year.. if MarkBass can't support their products when they suffer damage, while being protected in a bag of their design then that is just shoddy customer service. If they are too greedy to eat the cost of a $100 repair in order to boost their reputation then ......

I wonder how many customers they will loose behind similar incidents and the damage that it will do to their reputation ... Compare that to how may customers Genz Benz just to name one manufacturer with stellar customer service ratings has gained over the years because of their reputation for great service. And the comparisons of trucks and such are apples and oranges.. I am curious to see how GB would handle that.. Having said all that.. $100 is not a bad price to pay.. but for a working musician 5 weeks turnaround... not good.

For what it's worth I carry my Shuttle in a laptop bag... on my shoulder.