Markbass v Gallien-Krueger

[prestoj]

My Dear RR Friends, I tried out a Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 and a 4x10 cabinet at GC in Richmond. I really liked the versatility of tone on this little amp. I wanted to check out the TA501, but there were none in stock.
As much as I liked the sound out of the 800, I was a little put off when the sales guy told me thus: “You know that since the Markbass products are made in Italy, there really is no warranty past the 30-day return period.” Naturally, I challenged him on this (seems to me GC has a 60 day return policy in MB amps and that MB has a two year warranty....could be wrong). I never really got a satisfactory answer. I think the young man was trying to push the extended warranty, which is his job; however, I generally don’t buy extended warranties as I believe them to be borderline scamacious.
Having slept on this a couple of nights, I’m still nearly sold on the Markbass amps and cabinets. Based on what I’ve seen posted here regarding MB I don’t anticipate any reliability issues with a MB product. That said, I’ve decided to test drive some of the Gallien-Krueger amp heads, particularly the G-K Fusion 550. I like the fact that the G-Ks are US made and I hear good things about their reliability and customer support.
As a point of reference, I think 500 watts of power to a 2x10 or 12 will suit my current playing needs very well for now. I like the sound one gets using a tube pre-amp and I would like the flexibility to be able to add a cabinet at some point in the future.
I’d be interested to get the thoughts and input of my fellow forum members. Thanks….Jack.

[rickaddict]

I don't usually go for the extended warranties either, but I did have an experience that may be of interest to you: I bought a MarkBass CMD121P from GC a year or two ago. Not positive if the model number has changed, but it was the 500w combo with the 12" speaker. I didn't buy the extended warranty. After about 3 or 4 weeks, the amp cut out so I brought it back to GC. Luckily it was still in their trial period, 'cuz the thing was fried and they had to send it back to Italy. So I just traded the combo in on an F1 head (and then bought an extended warranty for the head)! The head has been fine so far, but I don't use it often.

[FretlessOnly]

I've heard one Markbass, but I've never played through one. From what I can tell and what I've read, they are quite good.

That said, I am 100% thrilled with my GK set-up. Mine's the 700-RBII w/ a neo 2x12, so there's no direct comparison w/ the Fusion 550, but I highly recommend the Neo 2x12 w/ horn. Using a speakon cable allows for individual control of the horn via a second amp within the 700.

Here's my experience w/ GK customer support:

I bought the Neo 2x12 at a bargain price on Amazon back in about January. I noticed some crackling in the signal, so I wanted some warranty work. GK indicated I could ship it back to them, which didn't thrill me (time, expense, risk). GK also has authorized repair shops around the country, but the closest one to me is in Maine. So, they granted a one-time authorization to my regular repair shop right here where I work and the work was covered 100%.

I will say that it took a bit of coddling to get this all to happen, but at the end of it all, my rig got repaired for no charge by the person I wanted to have do it.

[jps]

Your GC salesdroid is an idiot!

Why does GC not train their employees properly.

There is a 2 year replacement warranty on all Markbass gear; I have had my F1 and Minimark for a couple years now with faultless performance (watch, now I will have problems!).

[johnallg]

.... I have had my F1 and Minimark for a couple years now with faultless performance (watch, now I will have problems!).

Quick. knock on wood!!

[cjj]

.... I have had my F1 and Minimark for a couple years now with faultless performance (watch, now I will have problems!).

Quick. knock on wood!!

Just don't give yourself a headache...

[prestoj]

Jeff, Somebody, somewhere in the past (I'm old and tend to forget..........sometimes on purpose ) told me that with most electronic equipment, you plug it in, burn it in, and if nothing smokes or explodes, it probably will never smoke or explode. Not sure I fully agree with that in every case, but it gives me a high enough level of confidence to forego almost any extended warranty. Now, that certainly is not to say that I would't have done just the same as you when you traded in for your MB F1.

John, Thanks for the insight onthe GK customer support. Sounds like they are willing to bend to please the folks who pay the light bill.

Jeffrey, Thank you.

Now...............I've looked on their website, but I cannot find out which (NEO, MBX, RBH), if any, of the GK cabinet lines are US made. They are up-front on which amps are US made, but I don't see the same info on cabinets. All things equal, I would rather to buy US made products. I prefer not to buy amps or cabs manufactured in China as I've heard way too many complaints on build quality.

[Len]

The GC bass guy in Atlanta told me the same thing Jeff said. Within two years GC will swap a MarkBass if it breaks.

[rickenbrother]

All things equal, I would rather to buy US made products. I prefer not to buy amps or cabs manufactured in China as I've heard way too many complaints on build quality.

I' prefer to buy US made products also, but if I understand correctly, GK products made in China are made in a GK owned and run factory, not farmed out to some other generic electronics maker. That would give me a bit more confidence in a GK product made in China as opposed to those companies who farm out the manufacturing of their products.

As much as I liked the sound out of the 800, I was a little put off when the sales guy told me thus: “You know that since the Markbass products are made in Italy, there really is no warranty past the 30-day return period.” .

If GC is the main dealer of MB in the US and if that was true, then I'd think MB would have a hard time selling products in the US. Salesmen try to push those extended warranties however they can.

[jps]

Now...............I've looked on their website, but I cannot find out which (NEO, MBX, RBH), if any, of the GK cabinet lines are US made

I am pretty certain only the RBH series is USA made.

[jps]

All things equal, I would rather to buy US made products. I prefer not to buy amps or cabs manufactured in China as I've heard way too many complaints on build quality.

I' prefer to buy US made products also, but if I understand correctly, GK products made in China are made in a GK owned and run factory, not farmed out to some other generic electronics maker. That would give me a bit more confidence in a GK product made in China as opposed to those companies who farm out the manufacturing of their products.

I inquired about the origin of manufacture of the MB Fusion amp and Bob Gallien responded that they are indeed made by a GK built and run factory; Bob is over there almost more than he is in his own office in California, it seems, to ensure things go right.

[prestoj]

Joey/Jeffrey, Thanks for the very important clarification. With that stipulation, I'm generally okay with it. With a former employer, I gained a bit of familiarity with US managed production operations overseas (China, UK). To paraphrase Joey, the problems are generated in sub-contractor shops.

[FretlessOnly]

I inquired about the origin of manufacture of the MB Fusion amp and Bob Gallien responded that they are indeed made by a GK built and run factory; Bob is over there almost more than he is in his own office in California, it seems, to ensure things go right.

To be clear, Jeff, you mentioned MB Fusion and Bob Gallien. Am I missing something? Is GK making Markbass in China?

This is how silly rumours start...

[jps]

MB Fusion is a amp model made by GK; the MB in this case stands for Micro Bass.

[aceonbass]

Joey/Jeffrey, Thanks for the very important clarification. With that stipulation, I'm generally okay with it. With a former employer, I gained a bit of familiarity with US managed production operations overseas (China, UK).

The reason to buy American is not just about quality, it's about buying products made here. There's also the question of the circumstances under which a product is made in places like China, Pakistan and Mexico. These countries are also major human rights violators with little concern for the environment. Are these REALLY the kinds of places you want to do business with just to save money? Don't forget that EVERY worker that Bob Gallien hired THERE is someone he didn't have to hire HERE.