Why do people "hate" Gallien Krueger speakers?

[Werwolf]

I don't mean eveyone, but I see a lot of people telling other TB'ers to stay away from their cabinets. Heads are highly recommended, but the cabinets are not as welcomed by some folks.

The reason I'm asking is because I'm considering a GK 1001rb-II and a GK-cabinet to fully utilize the bi-amp feature.

The "trouble" with bad mouthing a brand is lack of intelligence and understanding one critical factor in humans. No ones ears hear the same thing Period., I have been an audio engineer and retail sales manager of high end equipment for decades. and I have seen people blind test chose the cheapest speakers in my display room over others costing loads More cash. And reputation for "quality" . GK cabinets are loaded with good sounding drivers. I have no idea who made them,. But I personally love F5's setup GK 800 watt head and 1X15 + 4X10 stack. and he loves mine another "low respect" Behringer 8X10 cab fueled by an Ampeg SVT450 solid state. And Everyone LOVES Bose stuff too. and I personally wouldn't wipe my %#@ with them." No Highs No Lows that's the sound of BOSE!" If You hear the "Tone" (*) you like then go with it. put a Marshall tag on a painted black Dean Markley cab. No one would know, Sound Equipment is all Relevant to the listeners ears. . Good thing Us rock bands make everyone deaf. so no one will notice a blown speaker or two down the road, Enjoy what you have guys and gals,
Lifes too short to bitch about cheap and VERY use-full gear. ,(*) Tone a 4 letter word for Distortion.

 

[freshbass]

I don't mean eveyone, but I see a lot of people telling other TB'ers to stay away from their cabinets. Heads are highly recommended, but the cabinets are not as welcomed by some folks.

The reason I'm asking is because I'm considering a GK 1001rb-II and a GK-cabinet to fully utilize the bi-amp feature.

I use thier MB combos live, either a 112 or 115, they both sound great. the MB115 in particular can be eq'd very precisely for the room and to your taste. It weighs 38lbs 200 watts and is capable of being very loud. IMO these and the cx baas are fantastic with ceramic magnet speakers, not neo, and front ported.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Feb 12, 2013 Holy zombie thread Batman!

 

[DrMole]

Replying to double-zombie thread-
Have been in and around working bands for 30+ years and never heard that people hated GK speakers until reading this thread.

MB212II, MBP 212 powered extension. 1000 watts, four-twelves, less than 90lbs.
Have used and owned a LOT of pro-level PA/monitor gear for my keyboards over 3 decades and am very pleased with the GK stuff ( and I realize mine is not even the top-level offering from GK.

 

[Werwolf]

Problem with all speakers/amps/guitars is that Every one has a different "sound" in their head that sounds great to them, But frankly in the 51 years as an audio technician and sales representative in all 3 fields of audio . (home,theater,automotive)I found that there is No Great speaker or Horrible speaker Even OEM car 6X9's outsold Jensen Triaxials due to more db per watt. GK uses Outsourced drivers and cabinet builders, So.... You may actually have the same cabinet & drivers as Dean Markley,Mesa Boogie, Marshall etc etc designs and since they use similar plywood and glue instead of concrete. Pretty much the sound is in the ear of the beholder. My Behringer 8X10 bass cabinet reloaded with Eminence 10's sounds as good as the GK, Ampeg,Orange,HiWatt and Fender cabinets I've used and to everyone who's heard them in our band, I only chose the size depending on the venue, If you think that a speakers better because of the name, You Better get a new set of hes hearing aids bro,,

 

[jeff7bass]

If you're looking into the 212NEO, be aware that the current model is not stackable with the 410. The new 212NEO should be out in a month or so (not sure of exact date), and it features different dimensions making it stackable with the 410 and the new 115 (which was also redesigned)

I wouldn't stack a 212 with a 410. I would add another 212 but I can't imagine needing it.

 

[jeff7bass]

Its been a few years since I tried a GK cab, but I remember them being cold, sterile and lifeless with a really honky midrange and very little low end

Sorry but that's fake news. Not sure what head you used but I could dial up almost any sound with my GK700RBII + GK cabs. It came alive the way I set the EQ and once I set it, all I really used to modify my sound was maybe a little more contour (scoop) and the knobs on my Spector Euro bass. Punched liked a mule and sang like a bird, all with deep bass.

 

[jeff7bass]

I see nothing wrong with GK cabs.........


View attachment 1313697

The RBH cabs were killer but they were heavy. Still very professional cabs built for the road.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

But frankly in the 51 years as an audio technician and sales representative in all 3 fields of audio . (home,theater,automotive)I found that there is No Great speaker or Horrible speaker Even OEM car 6X9's outsold Jensen Triaxials due to more db per watt.

Yup, all different versions of good or good enough.

GK uses Outsourced drivers and cabinet builders,

NOPE!
They make their speakers and cabs as well as their amps all in house. One of the few that still do it all.

So.... You may actually have the same cabinet & drivers as Dean Markley,Mesa Boogie, Marshall etc etc designs and since they use similar plywood and glue instead of concrete. Pretty much the sound is in the ear of the beholder.

Mesa is also one that makes their own boxes, and yes they use speakers from an OEM Speaker manufactures like Eminence and Faital, BUT they are made to their specks and performance goals and for the box they go into's tuning.
You will not match the performance or tonal goals if you just get an Eminence made driver that is available for retail purchase and shove it in a Mesa box.

My Behringer 8X10 bass cabinet reloaded with Eminence 10's sounds as good as the GK, Ampeg,Orange,HiWatt and Fender cabinets I've used and to everyone who's heard them in our band,

Did this Behringer cab sound as good with its original speakers?
Why the change if a 10 is a 10 is a 10?

If you think that a speakers better because of the name, You Better get a new set of hes hearing aids bro,,

Not because of the name but the voicing and tuning.
Heck Ampeg have currently four different 15 cabs available, they each preform and sound different.

Remember it is not just about tone but a speakers ability to handle the low end for the desired volume that is desired by the player. Some cabs do this better than others regardless of the brand.
Their B-15 will not boom at high volume like their PN-15HLF

If a cab has weaker lows it will not appeal to some and will to others, take the GK Neo 15. That thing is not your stereotypical 15 sound, it is very mid forward and is actually the highest tuned cab in their Neo line. If you want deeper lows, get one of their other cabs, if you want mids to cut through and the stereotypical 10's sound, get the 15.
Definitely not the Stereotypical slow boomy sound people think of for a 15*.

You are basically saying that a practice amp's 12 inch speaker is as durable performance wise as a touring cabs 12 inch speaker because they are both round things make sound.

*Using the old tale of 10's for mids and 15's for boom.

 

[Al Kraft]

GK uses Outsourced drivers and cabinet builders, So.... You may actually have the same cabinet & drivers as Dean Markley,Mesa Boogie, Marshall etc etc designs and since they use similar plywood and glue instead of concrete.

I am relatively sure GK actually builds their own speakers which is admittedly rare (maybe unique would be more accurate). They also design and build their own cabs to match up with their speakers.

I can assure you that Mesa designs and builds their own cabs and while they have their speakers produced for them by major manufacturers, they are almost always to a Mesa custom design spec IME. I think you'd be surprised to find that, at least in the upper end bass cabinet world, many of the manufacturers have similar arrangements to get custom parameters they specify in the speakers they use in their cabs.

At the raw materials level I would agree that everyone uses essentially the same stuff from the earth, and in the area of electrical components and connectors, etc. most everyone uses the same sources (albeit some suppliers are higher quality than others). The meaningful difference in my mind are the design goals for the end product (that we actually purchase) and the level of collaboration between all the engineers to ensure quality and consistency in all product aspects. As always, YMMV!

 

[FFFH242]

GK 115 BPX? Any good?

 

[joebar]

Their old stuff is great but for almost the same money new, you can buy a subway cab. It comes down to the tweeters a lot of time as people have already said.

 

[WayneDupuis]

I don't mean eveyone, but I see a lot of people telling other TB'ers to stay away from their cabinets. Heads are highly recommended, but the cabinets are not as welcomed by some folks.

The reason I'm asking is because I'm considering a GK 1001rb-II and a GK-cabinet to fully utilize the bi-amp feature.

I've been playing an GK RB head with a 4 by 10 Geo cabinet for about 2 years now and it's the finest rig I've ever performed with in more than 40 some years of gigging.

 

[B-string]

I have nice looking ACC Acoustic 215 and a Fender Single Showman cabs that sound pretty good, but it is the GK Neo 212 or GK Neo 412 that has been giving people the goose bumps for many years now. GK made many different cabs ranging from beginner stuff to pro, sealed, ported, ceramic drivers and neo drivers. There may have been cabs that would not fit someone's use so a blanket assumption was made, that is on them. Case in point, a bassist that kept blowing his Backline cabs with his 2001RB after stepping up from a 400RB, not the cabs fault.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Dis guy liked ‘em

 

[WayneDupuis]

I have nice looking ACC Acoustic 215 and a Fender Single Showman cabs that sound pretty good, but it is the GK Neo 212 or GK Neo 412 that has been giving people the goose bumps for many years now. GK made many different cabs ranging from beginner stuff to pro, sealed, ported, ceramic drivers and neo drivers. There may have been cabs that would not fit someone's use so a blanket assumption was made, that is on them. Case in point, a bassist that kept blowing his Backline cabs with his 2001RB after stepping up from a 400RB, not the cabs fault.

Hey thank you for that clarification and yes all I can say good about the GEO 4x10 but i know nothing about the other cabs by GK.
Yes I get that too; impedance matching and power handling as well.

 

[Al Kraft]

Used as intended and within their design capabilities I think GK speakers and cabs are right up there with any of the competition.

Depending on what a person values most or is looking/listening for when shopping for a cab, there could be better choices for them in other product lines. However, that doesn't say anything bad about GK products IMO...and whatever brand they buy means they said no to a lot more product choices than just GK.

There is a reason the GK brand has been so successful for so long...they are certainly getting something right that appeals to many of us. As always YMMV!

 

[Wood and Wire]

(Yes, I appreciate this is an ancient thread, back from the dead for the third, or fourth time).


Hate is a strong word.

Personally, whenever I played GK's old stuff at gigs / full rehearsals (haven't really had much experience with the newer gear, besides some of the light weight combos), I always felt like I was fighting against the natural compression of the drivers.

That, coupled with the fact that when you pushed the old GK heads into "rails" territory, the whole rig sounded like a runaway steam train, with the boiler about to explode - it just felt like the wheels were about to come off at any second, and I could never feel confident that I wasn't about to kill the rig, which just made me anxious, and more focused on the impending disaster, and less focused on performing.

I'm sure it could handle it, and that's just part of the sound, but personally I need something that feels dynamic, and responsive - not something that feels like it's right at it's elastic limit (in the end I favoured Trace Elliot, whose amps actually sounded very similar to GK, but leaned more towards clean headroom - it was the speakers that made all the difference to me).