Did Thunderfunk Make a mistake..........?

[JOME77]

Am I the only one that's disappointed that Dave @ Thunderfunk dropped the TFB550 and only offers the TFB750 model?

The TFB420 was loud enough for most any gig that I played but I upgraded it to the TFB550 to get the mute, SS/Tube Sw., and extra wattage for headroom.

I really like the TF amp and I could justify the direct prices for the TFB420 and TFB500, but now if I want a new TF amp the only option that I've got is to shell out $1934 for a new TFB750!

I don't need 750 watts for the gigs that I play and I don't need an amp that goes down to 2 ohms. I could've purchased both a new TFB420 and a TFB550B for the same price as one TFB750.

How 'bout it Dave? What's the chances of resurrecting one of your earlier models or a less expensive revamped version? I still use a 420 at church and it has more than enough power for what I do there. How about a new version of it with mute and some of the other new enhancements.

[JimmyM]

It's possible he may not have had a choice. Thunderfunk is a very small company and maybe it costs way too much to make two amps at once cost effectively. To make it cost effective, you have to buy a lot of parts in large quantities, some cheap, some pretty expensive.

[fenderhutz]

I think only offering one product (regardless of what business you are) to sell when you have potential buyers and a market doesn't make sense.

I wouldn't think building the 750 would cost a bunch more than the 550, but that may be the reason why that only option in there.

[Chef]

His decision to make, but man...$2k?
I'm out.

Like you, I had a 420. Late run, one of the last ones.
When a minty 550B came up f/s here, cheap, I bought it, and flipped my 420.

I won't ever be in on a 750. Sorry Dave...thanks for the two great TFB's I've had to date tho!

[JimmyM]

Yeah, but then you have to buy twice as many parts at once to get the prices low enough not to be making minimum wage for building them.

[funkydanbass]

Surely many of parts in these amps are exactly the same?

[JimmyM]

Not the parts that make the 750 a higher power amp They are usually the highest priced parts, too.

[duff2]

Didn't Morley just buy Thunderfunk? Perhaps that's why the price has went so high?

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/th...y/oct-08/87927

Cheers,
Duff2

[Kael]

I haven't bought a few thunderfunk as the one I currently have is sufficient for my needs. Should I ever need a higher powered head (and I don't want to use my Crown Macrotech for some reason) I will certainly be looking at the 750. Sure it's pricey, but the Aguilar db750 (the amp which the thunderfunk 750 is most frequently compared to) appears to be more. Seems competitively priced to me.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Just reminds me what a great deal the LMII is.

[burk48237]

I really think the strength of the 550B is that it is a great working mans gig amp. The 750 is a big gun, and while the price is competitive, you don't really need it unless you play arenas. To me the 550B is a classic, the 750B hasn't yet obtained that mantra.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I think only offering one product (regardless of what business you are) to sell when you have potential buyers and a market doesn't make sense.

I wouldn't think building the 750 would cost a bunch more than the 550, but that may be the reason why that only option in there.

I agree. It is often the case that the "lesser" product can't be sold for a low enough price to make a credible difference. There are some hidden costs to maintaining two models, such as keeping more parts inventory for production and service, that could inflate the price of both models.

[tmw]

Originally Posted by burk48237

I really think the strength of the 550B is that it is a great working mans gig amp. The 750 is a big gun, and while the price is competitive, you don't really need it unless you play arenas. To me the 550B is a classic...

+1

[Petebass]

Originally Posted by burk48237

..... you don't really need it unless you play arenas..

What if I told you I don't ever run my amp any harder than normal at arena gigs. In fact I often have to turn down to hear the rest of the band, because they're so far away.... I tend to run my rig hardest when the stage is small but the PA is big, and unfortunately that's how most of my gigs pan out, so a heft dose of watts comes in handy!

I love both TF amps, and it would be nice if they were able to produce both versions. But IMO it would be even nicer if TF made something D-class to compete with the other "weigh nearly nothing" amps, but with the TF quality tone shaping (especially the timbre control). Something tells me they'd do a great job of it.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It's possible he may not have had a choice. Thunderfunk is a very small company and maybe it costs way too much to make two amps at once cost effectively. To make it cost effective, you have to buy a lot of parts in large quantities, some cheap, some pretty expensive.

+1

maybe w/ the morley buyout, dave can start doing some different iterations of his famed amp.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by Petebass

(...)

I love both TF amps, and it would be nice if they were able to produce both versions. But IMO it would be even nicer if TF made something D-class to compete with the other "weigh nearly nothing" amps, but with the TF quality tone shaping (especially the timbre control). Something tells me they'd do a great job of it.

no doubt,

i could easily live w/ just the timbre and enhance knobs!

[Bassist30]

Wow to think I have one of the few 550B amps with the 750A
pre amp inside ( which was a trial for the 750A so its not an option)................ I am thinking this may be a hot item. Still I wish I had the 750 watts of power.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

+1

maybe w/ the morley buyout, dave can start doing some different iterations of his famed amp.

Morley is a Distributor not the owners. Morley did not buyout Thunderfunk.

[4-string]

I'm only familiar with the 750, but agree that the price compared to the previous model seems high. However, I'm sure the 750 compares well with its competition, and it is an extremely well made amp in a (for what it is) light package.

Nevertheless, I miss the shimmering highs from my Eden WT-600, so the 750 has to go, the treble just seems too attenuated.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by 4-string

I'm only familiar with the 750, but agree that the price compared to the previous model seems high. However, I'm sure the 750 compares well with its competition, and it is an extremely well made amp in a (for what it is) light package.

Nevertheless, I miss the shimmering highs from my Eden WT-600, so the 750 has to go, the treble just seems too attenuated.

+1 From all the reviews I've read, it seems while the 750 does extend the low end nicely versus the very tight 550 model, the high end is still a little 'polite'. Of course, that's not a bad thing for a lot of playing styles, but my TF550b (which I still have) sounds a bit dull and attenuated down low and especially up top compared to some of the other recently released stuff that I now own.

There was a thread quite a while ago where we were all providing input to Dave on the '550 upgrade' specs, which eventually became the 750a. I think Dave hit the suggested design specs nicely, but I don't think many of us anticipated that very high selling price at the time. I was guessing a $200 price premium, not $500+.

As many have said, it's probably worth every penny, but an amp at that price point has a pretty limited market.

Of course, Dave's a smart guy. He knows better than anyone if he's meeting his sales goals, etc. If he is, then by definition, it's a success. If he isn't, I would be pretty sure he is working on some sort of 'TF550c'.