I don't know much, and don't own either a
Masterbuilt smoker or a ceramic cooker like the Big Green Egg (or Kamado Joe). I have owned a 22"
Weber Smokey Mountain for about 5 years and have no complaints and it has produced great smokes every time I have used it. The only issue I have with it is using it in cold temperature where I have to use more charcoal and watch it closer.
So I ended up on this forum when I decided I might need to add an electric smoker to the mix. My reasoning was to get into low temp smoking, jerky, snack sticks and other smoked/cured meats. The combination of steady regulated temperature and more space for product lead me to the electric smokers.
I arrived here before purchasing a 40"
Masterbuilt and have been mulling it over for a few weeks now. During that time I had come to the conclusion I would be better served with a Smokin-It #3 or perhaps the #4 from Steve at -
http://www.smokin-it.com/
My thoughts are well documented here:
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/...c-smoker-masterbuilt-40-or-cookshack-clone/40
I had also been looking at ceramic cookers and had made the decision to buy a Kamado Joe.
http://www.kamadojoe.com/index.php
I believe these are different and complementary products and see no reason, for me, not to have both. The ceramic cooker/smoker will allow me to smoke ribs, butts, brisket, poultry, etc. with little concern for ambient temperature. It will also be used for high temp grilling/cooking such as steaks and with a pizza stone and 700 degree temperature should make a nice pie!. The electric smoker will do ribs, butts, brisket, etc. if I choose to use it for them, but will give me the space and temperature control for smoked/cured meats (and hopefully cheese).
The only downside I see is cost, and I'm old, employed, and work hard to allow myself to buy things like this. I'm still looking at the
Masterbuilt as an option, I believe it would work fine if you didn't experience any of the reported problems. And I think for every problem reported on the old interweb, there are many satisfied users who don't bother getting online to say it's working fine, so I don't have a good feel for the percentage of failures.
I've talked to
Masterbuilt several times and read a lot of mostly good feedback on the company and their service, with a few not so good. I've talked with Steve at Smokin-It and found almost 100% good feedback on them, so that's the direction I;m leaning for my electric smoker purchase.
I've been following your delimma and sure am sorry to hear of the problems (product and service) you have had. Smoking is supposed ot be fun and relaxing! (my opinion) Based on what you are trying to do with your smoker, you may want to take a look at Smokin-It and give Steve a call if you have any questions.
Best of luck in the new year with you smoking!