Class D amps/combos made in the USA

[davkane]

I know that the BX500 is made in the USA, but are any others?

I love my Markbass combo (absolutely love it), but I started wondering if their are ones built in the USA (so for I know that Carvin is). I would like to start like supporting local businesses when I can, meaning if there is a comparable product that cost roughly the same I may give it a shot first.

I am not asking to bash other brands for being build overseas (really), but just wondering because I can not seem to find info on where many amps/combos are produced. perhaps I just need a lesson in searching

[faceinbass]

Originally Posted by davkane

I know that the BX500 is made in the USA, but are any others?

I love my Markbass combo (absolutely love it), but I started wondering if their are ones built in the USA (so for I know that Carvin is). I would like to start like supporting local businesses when I can, meaning if there is a comparable product that cost roughly the same I may give it a shot first.

I am not asking to bash other brands for being build overseas (really), but just wondering because I can not seem to find info on where many amps/combos are produced. perhaps I just need a lesson in searching

I commend you on want to keep it Made In America.

...and that's all the help I am on this issue.

[flipper_gv]

Genz Benz

[namuxtree]

genz benz manufactures in taiwan. not usa made.

[Hoss]

I believe that a lot of US/EU Manufacturers let their PC boards build in China.
So does Markbass for example. The amps are "Made in italy" but the PC Boards are mass produced in China.
Maybe MESA produces their Boards in USA?
But they have no Class D as far as I know?

[namuxtree]

only class D that i've tried so far that i really liked was the F1/500. Really nice head. didnt like GB too much...

[OldogNewTrick]

One question is, which manufacturer produces their own class D power amp module....

in case of Genz Benz, they don't that would be B&O (good), neither do Puma, that would be Powersoft.
I can't imagine however the actual manufacturing process to be situated in Denmark,resp. Italy, China is far more likely.

Markbass do, but they are not in the US and the boards are made in China.

Carvin do, but most of their product is also made in China.

Peavey do (stretching to PA amps), but all that is also made in China...

IIRC, even app. 80% of US domestic furniture is produced in China...

[babebambi]

how about EA?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by babebambi

how about EA?

nope

[jweiss]

Acoustic Image.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jweiss

Acoustic Image.

+1 Walter Woods also.

I'm more interested in the manufacturer actually assembling on site (Markbass, TecAmp from what I understand, AI, Walter Woods, not sure about TC) versus just branding an entire unit made at a remote location (GK, Genz, EA, etc. I think anyway). Even that isn't a big thing for me personally (I would not 'not buy' based on this). If it sounds good and is reliable, all is good for me!

[lowmid1]

I think that the Carvin stuff is all made in California in huge quantities. My B1500 was......boards were all made in big sheets and components wave soldered on a big assembly line etc. I could be wrong about the latest ones but it would be easy enough to find out.

[Rick Auricchio]

What makes you think that was done in California?

[lowmid1]

hmmmm.....because they had a DVD that showed the whole process being done in their factory in California. It also explained the economy of scale where they were using the same chassis for multiple amps and making their own transformers etc. Could have changed by now......do you have some reason to believe that this has changed?

[251]

+1 www.acousticimg.com

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by lowmid1

hmmmm.....because they had a DVD that showed the whole process being done in their factory in California......do you have some reason to believe that this has changed?

No, just wondering where you got the idea from.

But I suspect a lot has moved offshore, especially if that DVD was several years old. There is just so much electronic manufacturing capacity in China that it's hard for any company to not use it.

[lowmid1]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

No, just wondering where you got the idea from.

But I suspect a lot has moved offshore, especially if that DVD was several years old. There is just so much electronic manufacturing capacity in China that it's hard for any company to not use it.

Just called and asked. They said some individual components that are not made here (tubes, semiconducters, etc....) are globally purchased but boards, assembly transformers etc. is all still done in house. Pretty cool considering that these amps seem to be really good performers. The B1500 I had was quite impressive.

[Rick Auricchio]

I saw on their site that they cited the bass amps are "USA made," which leaves room for interpretation. But calling them trumps my guesswork.

Probably 90% of the individual components are made overseas in China, Singapore, etc. Been that way for years.

Carvin's direct sales is probably why they can afford US manufacturing.

[Bassamatic]

Just FYI - the Markbass amps are class AB out, with a switching power supply.

A lot of the Carvin stuff is now Made in China. I took a good look at this at NAMM.

Even items that are ASSEMBLED here have most of the parts sourced from China or elsewhere. If they weren't, we could not afford them

HOWEVER - the cost of labor is skyrocketing in China and everywhere else. If the product manufacturers will properly design their products for automated assembly, most items can be moved back here, as the labor cost will not be significant.

[Smallequestrian]

Originally Posted by Gio S

Just FYI - the Markbass amps are class AB out, with a switching power supply.

Only some of them. The F1 and F500 are both class D for instance.