Gnx's falling apart
Seems like alot of threads lately about button failures, strange blinking lights etc, etc. So I was just curious as to all of you out there experiencing some form of malfunction on your gnx. Is your unit...... uh gnx that is,... getting moved around alot ie.. banged/bumped exposed to the elements etc. Are yous gigging with it? Just use it at home etc.
I don't gig so my gnx just stays here in my back room/studio? The only problem I have had with my gnx is the up/down buttons on the OBR. but I found I was to impatient and pushing the button before the gnx got it's signal sent. And I still have the clear plastic covering on the OBR, matrix and utility/drum face plates. So I don't know if that is helping to keep the dirt/dust out of it. My gnx is around 4,5 yrs old and no real problems.... yet! I also still have the little orange mp3 demo sticker on it! LoL Which is starting to fade white now.
So don't be shy!... How is your gnx being used? What problems if any have you had? Chime in!
Just want to know if it is near the end of it's shelf life or being used hard.!?
Uh ... your gnx that is!
I don't gig so my gnx just stays here in my back room/studio? The only problem I have had with my gnx is the up/down buttons on the OBR. but I found I was to impatient and pushing the button before the gnx got it's signal sent. And I still have the clear plastic covering on the OBR, matrix and utility/drum face plates. So I don't know if that is helping to keep the dirt/dust out of it. My gnx is around 4,5 yrs old and no real problems.... yet! I also still have the little orange mp3 demo sticker on it! LoL Which is starting to fade white now.
So don't be shy!... How is your gnx being used? What problems if any have you had? Chime in!
Just want to know if it is near the end of it's shelf life or being used hard.!?
Uh ... your gnx that is!
Comments
Switches FS 2-3 needed resoldered but I use them heavily in both assigns and as effects. For the tiny switches they are, they hold up well.
OTOH I have seen some come in more abused than mine. Most of the time a healthy cleaning and maintenance to fix them. Nothing electronic on mine although it has been modified :twisted:
Some repairs seen, the owners were brutal. Some sling the GNX in the backseat, no case, no gig bag. Busted up LED panels, many had seen stage damage from liquid (full beer) etc. Many of which clean up or some boards have to be dipped in ultrasonic baths to get them clean. It really depends on it's usage, but dirt and debris are and seem to be the most common contributor of failure.
Early '05 runs of the GNX4 Production had faulty ribbon cables. Most of those are probably out of circulation and limited to certain serials. Those early runs were returned by most vendors dealers and repaired/sold as refurbs with upgraded ribbons.
Most common- switches, switch contacts, and dirt buildup. Some residues can build up enough to make the switch not even move. If you get one like that, try using a toothpick and clean the gummy area around the switches. Particularly in the recording or drum/utility switches. All around, they hold up well. Second thing I expected a fault in were the jacks. Never have replaced any of them on the GNX lines. Quality parts where they needed them most.
What I expected to see more defects on that I didn't are the rotary encoders, dial wheel encoder etc. Those types of controls are faulty or are the first to go flaky on most machines but surprisingly, the encoders chosen for the GNX line are much better. I have never seen any faulty ones even when they get the stage abuse. Most common problem on modeling amps and foot controllers multieffects have always been those encoders and they can ruin your day when they decide to change settings randomly out of nowhere.
I watched a Vetta head user go ape over his expensive amp. Bass player hit a note and the amp changed presets, sounds, efx weird. Guitar player was very upset. I gave him a Crate Powerblock to use for his gig since he had no backup.
Anyway, you'll hear different things about the GNX. Some have had less luck with USB ports, some switches too but considering the shelf life so far, the GNX lines are workhorses. No doubt one of the better units I had seen from Digitech. Considering the encoders and switches and jacks I've replaced on competitor products ( no names to be fair) .... GNX are pretty darn good.
To keep them running:
Avoid accidental spills, bumping of the USB cable / port , other jacks.
Don't leave the PSU plugged in all the time. They overheat even when not having the GNX on.
Don't leave CF cards in the reader, especially when you move the unit or transport. Some keep tape over the CF reader when not in use to minimize debris from lint, dust etc from entering.
Like your guitars, wipe it down immediately after shows. Mine has seen a fair amt of road sluggage and my former singer loved getting crazy on stage and dripping drinks right over top my GNX4. Wipe it up asap! Same goes for the floors on the stage... keep the area clean as possible and you'll have less worries. My GNX has seen at least 1000 different shows, rehearsals not to mention home stuff, recording jamming since I've had it.
Annnnyway. I've had my GNX4 for going on 3 years. Or is it 4? It's been so long since I played thru anything else, I love the thing.
I play mostly in my little home \"studio\". So my GNX doesn't travel much. But I do use it every time I play and it sits on the floor and uncovered, which means it gets dusty and other floor-stuff (carpet fluff, yada). But except for occasional difficulty with slow response from the \"down\" arrow on the matrix controls, I've had no noticeable problems. Lots of guys have had probs with the p/s, the USB port, footswitches, etc...but my GNX has been a gem.
Surely this is karma, to make up for the complete lack of interest from women. Surely no force in the universe would make me bear GNX problems AND utter disinterest from women.
My other gripe is that the black plastic/rubber tabs that are stuck to the bottom of both GNX's I've owned come off a lot. Its usually just one that comes off so it makes the whole unit sit wonky on the floor. For me, they always come off when I slide the unit with my foot on the carpet lol - but thats just my stupid fault :roll:
But these are only minor complaints I guess - for what they are and what they're expected to tolerate the GNX's are built pretty well. I can imagine some are flogged no end.....
BBoo 8)
I still carry it in the original box with all the original packing .
I do think that the store who sold mine to me sold me a returned unit.
I will send mine in for a total overhaul as soon as I can afford to buy another GNX4.
I am extremely careful of my stuff and even more so of my music gear and yet most of the buttons are hard to engage. One of the arrow buttons pushed through into the case two weeks ago.
All the footswitches work yet I use them the most.
I hope Digitech will do a total overhaul on my GNX4 for a reasonable price.
It would suck if Digitech stops making them or if mine breaks.
I need another GNX4...it is the best piece of gear i have bought except for my guitar. I have been playing since 1980 and have been through a lot of different stuff and the GNX4 is the best.
JV
The only problem I have is a slight occaisonal buzzing the the left channel which drives me nuts. I've talked to tech and posted on this forum, and nothing I've done fixes it. I've just learned to live with it-I think it's some static electricity thing 'cause I can get it to stop by touching the unit lightly until it goes away. However, yesterday I noticed the power supply connection at the block is loose, and now I have to move it around to get power to the GNX4, so maybe that's the problem.
Robert Anthony
If Digitech ever comes out with a GNX5, I'd buy it in a heartbeat based on my satisfaction with the GNX4. In the meantime, if my GNX4 did break, I'd send it in for repair without thinking about it. It's my favorite piece of gear. Take care.
Love mine..
Just wish I could get a true bypass straight to the on-board recorder..
Maybe on the GNX5???