All Genz Benz products on "standby" by Fender ??

[60bass]

Originally Posted by rapidfirerob

Here is the response I got this morning from the same Fender rep I quoted earlier, regarding GB continuing and the fact that Jeff Genzler used to answer the phone himself:

Absolutely Rob. Jeff is actually in our R&D department working with all of our lines now; so although he does not answer the phones anymore he is still very much part of the company and now part of our other brands as well.

Best Regards,

Eric Molinari
Consumer Relations Representative

I take that to mean that Fender is going into the class D arena with GB designed amps branded as Fender.

Honestly it would make sense for Fender to do that because GB already knows how to make professional level class D amps and GB also has a state of the art manufacturing facility in place. That's a way better solution than fender trying to do everything on their own.

I don't care if it says Genz Benz or Fender on the front, If it's designed by the Genz team you know it's going to be good.

Just my .02 YMMV

[NWB]

Originally Posted by rapidfirerob

Here is the response I got this morning from the same Fender rep I quoted earlier, regarding GB continuing and the fact that Jeff Genzler used to answer the phone himself:

Absolutely Rob. Jeff is actually in our R&D department working with all of our lines now; so although he does not answer the phones anymore he is still very much part of the company and now part of our other brands as well.

Best Regards,

Eric Molinari
Consumer Relations Representative

OK. It looks like GB will continue on.

Although it looks to be a much different arrangement going forward. As I understand it from previous threads, although Kaman owned GB, they were allowed to operate as a more-or-less independent company.

Now it looks like Fender, who owns Kaman, has assumed some degree of control and GB will be more of a side-brand than a quasi-independent entity.

Perhaps Fender wants to inject some of GB's quality into its own brand.

[wcriley]

Originally Posted by NWB

Now it looks like Fender, who owns Kaman, has assumed some degree of control and GB will be more of a side-brand than a quasi-independent entity.

That's not how I read it.
I read it as Fender simply making the best use of people who are already on the payroll to acomplish this:

...inject some of GB's quality into its own brand.

[Jeff Scott]

Well, if this how it will play out with Jeff the brains behind Fender products maybe the amps could be renamed Gender.

[Limeman]

I'm actually more concerned that if the Genz products remain, they will take a huge step down in quality (cheaper components, cost-cutting, etc...). I don't know, but I think it's time to nab another pre-Fender ShuttleMax 9.2, Shuttle 9.2 and a STL-900 before they're gone. Just thinking out loud and wondering if my pocketbook can absorb all that at once.

[sratas]

Originally Posted by rimbaud

"A part le délai d'une semaine (et les ruptures de stocks européennes), nous n'avons pas de problème particulier pour l'approvisionnement des marques KMC. Par contre si vous désirez une autre enceinte Genz-Benz, il faudra que vous puissiez vous décider rapidement car la marque va réduire sa production de manière drastique.


Cordialement,
Guillaume"

Copy of the email I received today to confirm. Jazz Ad can call Guillaume Radouan @ Mproshop (http://quedesamplis.com/) if you prefer trust him.

Fact is: as it is said here, Genz Benz "will harshly decrease its production volume" so not a problem that only concern Europe, but everyone, what I feared the first time I heard about that.

When I put forward a information, it's not to raise it as a rumor. I HAVE facts, and I can provide my own sources, as I do here.

kthxbye

sorry if someone else has already posted this, but Bassdirect.co.uk (greatest UK dealer I think) has started a massive clearance on all Gb products, lowering the price considerably. Good for me, I'm prone to buy a Gb amp soon, but this sounds quite suspect to me, I never saw this kind of policy from that retailer except the clearance on bergantino AEs, wich, also, were discontinued (but I own two )...
ah, i forgot, no Gb dealers at all in Italy. there were two until a year ago, who did the same selling GB products at reduced price point, and then nothing...

For you american friends: Europe is 1/3 of the world...if the rumors are right I will cut some heads, literally, a big big knife, and no mercy...

[wcriley]

Originally Posted by Limeman

I'm actually more concerned that if the Genz products remain, they will take a huge step down in quality (cheaper components, cost-cutting, etc...). I don't know, but I think it's time to nab another pre-Fender ShuttleMax 9.2, Shuttle 9.2 and a STL-900 before they're gone. Just thinking out loud and wondering if my pocketbook can absorb all that at once.

Ummm...don't you think that Fender/FMIC would have used "cheaper components, cost-cutting, etc..." in Genz Benz products from the onset if that was their intent? All the amps you mentioned were designed/marketed/manufactured after Fender/FMIC acquired Kaman.

[Mehve]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Well, if this how it will play out with Jeff the brains behind Fender products maybe the amps could be renamed Gender.

Or better still, Gender-Bender.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Well, if this how it will play out with Jeff the brains behind Fender products maybe the amps could be renamed Gender.

Maybe they could put out a tremolo pedal called the Gender Bender.

Edit: Crap! Mehve beat me to it!

[Musicman20]

Originally Posted by 60bass

I take that to mean that Fender is going into the class D arena with GB designed amps branded as Fender.

Honestly it would make sense for Fender to do that because GB already knows how to make professional level class D amps and GB also has a state of the art manufacturing facility in place. That's a way better solution than fender trying to do everything on their own.

I don't care if it says Genz Benz or Fender on the front, If it's designed by the Genz team you know it's going to be good.

Just my .02 YMMV

Agreed. I also hope the pre-Fender products retain more value now :P

If Jeff is there, he will get it right.

[Musicman20]

Originally Posted by sratas

sorry if someone else has already posted this, but Bassdirect.co.uk (greatest UK dealer I think) has started a massive clearance on all Gb products, lowering the price considerably. Good for me, I'm prone to buy a Gb amp soon, but this sounds quite suspect to me, I never saw this kind of policy from that retailer except the clearance on bergantino AEs, wich, also, were discontinued (but I own two )...
ah, i forgot, no Gb dealers at all in Italy. there were two until a year ago, who did the same selling GB products at reduced price point, and then nothing...

For you american friends: Europe is 1/3 of the world...if the rumors are right I will cut some heads, literally, a big big knife, and no mercy...

AFAIK, Bass Direct have been a huge Genz seller in Europe, (no doubt the biggest seller) and Mark always has pretty good offers on Genz gear. Those prices are clearance on the older discontinued models. They have been like that for months.

The NX2 cabs say 'arriving in March' - http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_...ox_Cabs_2.html

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Agreed. I also hope the pre-Fender products retain more value now :P

If Jeff is there, he will get it right.

If Jeff is there, he will get it as right as the boss will let him within a certain cost/budget range. There's a difference. He's not in control of every decision. He can DESIGN the great amp. And then the bean counters can say "Make something that looks exactly like that but costs $75 less per unit to build." Not that they would, but they can. Just pointing out that even if Jeff is the bass amp super hero you claim he is, he doesn't control every aspect of a bass amp from the first sketch to the final product that lands on the shelves of your favorite or least favorite store. He works within SOMEONE ELSE'S parameters. That may or may not equal a bad amp, but it's at least part of the whole equation.

[DrumsAndBass]

Originally Posted by Limeman

I'm actually more concerned that if the Genz products remain, they will take a huge step down in quality (cheaper components, cost-cutting, etc...). I don't know, but I think it's time to nab another pre-Fender ShuttleMax 9.2, Shuttle 9.2 and a STL-900 before they're gone. Just thinking out loud and wondering if my pocketbook can absorb all that at once.

Yes, there may be something said for a pre-Fender Genz product. We all hope that Fender will not screw up the bass amps designed by Genzler. I mean, what amps has Fender improved over the years ?

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by Musicman20

Agreed. I also hope the pre-Fender products retain more value now :P

If Jeff is there, he will get it right.

I'm sure you wish that for personal gain reasons; but I would hope that there is no change to the Genz Benz products themselves and as such the value remains typical for used gear (as in depreciates with use and wear/tear). If there was a real reason the old stuff was worth more; that might make sense. The problem with these amps is that there is no user serviceable parts. A board swap is necessary in most cases. If the old stuff was different and discontinued, and then had specific parts that could not be sources due to being out of production your amp is going to be a paperweight. I would be hoping and praying for there to remain parts for your amps instead of wishing your amp was unique and different so you can charge more on the used market.

Unlike old tube amps with standard electronics parts that can be easily worked on; I don't see that happening with these small lightweight class-d amplifiers. Their value to me will always be in decline the moment a customer takes it home and switches it on; as in time is ticking till paperweight status sets in.

To me as a customer who has not bought GB, there is no value lost to a design once the company president is not accessible via the phone. I don't think that you can measure that against the cost of the amp and charge more for product built during the time when Jeff was available on the phone. I care more about how available spare parts are, the cost of those parts, and how easily it will be to get service. I care if my amp tech can work on the amp past the warranty period without telling me "you need to order the board and swap it for $xxx."

This whole GB is done because Jeff isn't available and we should charge more for our "legacy" GB stuff is crazy speak to me.

[RhinoBass]

Ironic, considering the history of FMIC and the thought that it went to the dogs after Leo sold to CBS and the long fight back thereafter, that now Genz -Benz (proud owner of a 6.0-12T here) is rumored to be going to the dogs after being bought by FMIC.

[Tunaman]

Glad I'm rocking both a Streamliner 900 & Shuttlemax 9.2

The Shuttlemax 9.2 is by far the best amp I've ever had. As it stands I would NOT buy a Fender amp but if they become a rebranded GenzBenz... hmm... could be worth a look

[chuck3]

I have nothing to add to this discussion except to say that this has been the single most addictive thread on the internet for me the last couple of weeks.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by DrumsAndBass

Yes, there may be something said for a pre-Fender Genz product. We all hope that Fender will not screw up the bass amps designed by Genzler. I mean, what amps has Fender improved over the years ?

How about the new Super Bassmans ? Seems like a hell of an improvement over the old Bassman, which alot of us had to use back in the day.

[Musicman20]

Originally Posted by joelb79

I'm sure you wish that for personal gain reasons; but I would hope that there is no change to the Genz Benz products themselves and as such the value remains typical for used gear (as in depreciates with use and wear/tear). If there was a real reason the old stuff was worth more; that might make sense. The problem with these amps is that there is no user serviceable parts. A board swap is necessary in most cases. If the old stuff was different and discontinued, and then had specific parts that could not be sources due to being out of production your amp is going to be a paperweight. I would be hoping and praying for there to remain parts for your amps instead of wishing your amp was unique and different so you can charge more on the used market.

Unlike old tube amps with standard electronics parts that can be easily worked on; I don't see that happening with these small lightweight class-d amplifiers. Their value to me will always be in decline the moment a customer takes it home and switches it on; as in time is ticking till paperweight status sets in.

To me as a customer who has not bought GB, there is no value lost to a design once the company president is not accessible via the phone. I don't think that you can measure that against the cost of the amp and charge more for product built during the time when Jeff was available on the phone. I care more about how available spare parts are, the cost of those parts, and how easily it will be to get service. I care if my amp tech can work on the amp past the warranty period without telling me "you need to order the board and swap it for $xxx."

This whole GB is done because Jeff isn't available and we should charge more for our "legacy" GB stuff is crazy speak to me.

I was only saying it in jest. I hope they stay as good as they are now. Not really bothered about the value, because I bought one before a price rise, and the other was a very clean second hand amp.

[Nomadskills]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Again, I ask, if Genz Benz bass heads continue to be made, but will be labled, Fender, are all you GB lovers going to refuse to use them or continue to buy them , all things being equal, just because they are now Fenders ? Or is this just an excuse to bash a successful, 65 year old company , just because they don't make 5 lb, 500 watt micro heads ?

Many have said that some of these companies, Guild and SWR for example, have gotten worse over time. So the answer likely depends on if the Genz Benz line gets worse or not. I get where you're going, but if Fender makes a great product, people will buy it. As they continue to buy it today...