Epifani amp range shrinking?

[Thombo30]

Hi all

Any news on what’s going on at Epifani? Look under the “Products” part of the web site and it appears the 902 and 502 are discontinued (see also Musicians Friend). The Piccolo link has also gone. Even the Epifunky 300 head seems to have gone. You can find the pages if you Google them directly but the products section doesn’t link to them any more. That just leaves the PS1000 and 400.

Are the 902 and 502 getting replaced? I hope so. I’ve got the 502 and it’s an amazing amp. Will the Piccolo ever arrive? Does anyone have any insight into what’s happening at Epifani?

Thanks

Paul

[Vakmere]

They may have new products on the horizion. Not uncommon to phase out some of the older stuff.

[craig.p]

Yeah, Carvin did the same thing recently just before their new stuff went up. The product line was so sparse for a few weeks that it almost looked like they were getting out of the M.I. amp business.

[bass4him1]

Mario at Epifani said that the UL series amps were being redisigned due out next year.

[Thombo30]

Originally Posted by bass4him1

Mario at Epifani said that the UL series amps were being redisigned due out next year.

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to seeing them but it seems like a long time away. You'd think they'd line up new models before discontinuing the old ones wouldn't you?

The Piccolo seems very mysterious. As far as I know it never shipped. Does anyone know if that's part of the new range or has it been shelved? I'd really like one if they existed.

Also, the Epifunky head seems to have had a very short life. Did it ever ship? Does anybody know what's happening to that range?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Thombo30

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to seeing them but it seems like a long time away. You'd think they'd line up new models before discontinuing the old ones wouldn't you?

The Piccolo seems very mysterious. As far as I know it never shipped. Does anyone know if that's part of the new range or has it been shelved? I'd really like one if they existed.

Also, the Epifunky head seems to have had a very short life. Did it ever ship? Does anybody know what's happening to that range?

I would guess that the Piccolo was never nor ever will be introduced.

I'm pretty sure the Epifunky heads never made it into production either.

I would guess we will not see any new Epi amps in the future. I don't think they were particularly well received.

[Thombo30]

Originally Posted by KJung

I would guess we will not see any new Epi amps in the future. I don't think they were particularly well received.

Very interesting! I love my Epifani 502 and I assumed there are lots of fans out there, but it sounds like I might be in a minority. It would be a real shame if discontinued the UL amps - I think they're amongst the best I've heard. I guess they face pretty stiff competition from Markbass right now.

[SlingBass4]

I talked to them a couple weeks ago in regards to some cherry older Epi cabs I was getting, and also asked about the absence of amps. They said there weren't going to be major changes, BUT...changes were in process. Uncommitted on ETA. Seemed strange, somehow, but not necessarily in a bad way

[Rodger Bryan]

IMO, they were probably offering too many models.
The bass amp market is changing too quickly for companies to make announcements about half-baked products. When I was first interested in the Piccolo, I had already checked out the Genz Shuttles, GK's, TC Electronic models, Markbass F-1 and F-500, etc. 6 months had passed and the rest of the market had already been there and surpassed that.

On another note, I wonder how Markbass can sustain the number of flavors they offer.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Rodger Bryan

IMO, they were probably offering too many models.
The bass amp market is changing too quickly for companies to make announcements about half-baked products. When I was first interested in the Piccolo, I had already checked out the Genz Shuttles, GK's, TC Electronic models, Markbass F-1 and F-500, etc. 6 months had passed and the rest of the market had already been there and surpassed that.

On another note, I wonder how Markbass can sustain the number of flavors they offer.

The new MB product/product line model is pretty cool. They seem to have it figured out. Many of the models have common components (the box, the power supply, the amp, etc., etc.), so a pretty streamlined parts supply chain. They are also very good about eliminating models that are not selling, etc.

And, +1 to your comments about the Epi amps. It isn't that they are 'bad' at all (although I personally didn't dig my 502 when I had one for a variety of reasons), but rather that the features, weight, and price-point didn't really result in much interest, given the many other great product out there that are less expensive, lighter, and are just as good or better in their own way.

[burk48237]

I still think Epifunky was the worse name a marketing focus group could have ever come up with for a bass amp. Can you imagine an amp for Country music bass players called Epihonkey?

[Dr Funk]

The word I got from Nick on the phone was that the UL502 was discontinued and being replaced by a single channel version. When I asked him about the Piccolo he said he was changing from what was going to be class A/B to class D and there were problems. That was earlier this year.

[Thombo30]

Originally Posted by KJung

many other great product out there that are less expensive, lighter, and are just as good or better in their own way.

Agreed. The 502 is very heavy and quite large compared to my Tecamp Puma 1000 and was more expensive than the MarkBass gear. I prefer the tone of my 502 compared to the Markbass but there wasn't much in it and it's all down to personal preference.

If the Piccolo had shipped around the time it was announced it would have been killer but the market is moving fast. I had an Eden WTX260 for a while and within 6 months is seemed under powered compared the to the competition. Still, I'd love to see some more Epifani amps. I love the tone plus my 502 has been really reliable and it runs cool.

By the way, I really like your Tecamp Puma demos on Youtube. Most gear videos fail to capture the tone but yours sound great.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Thombo30

Agreed. The 502 is very heavy and quite large compared to my Tecamp Puma 1000 and was more expensive than the MarkBass gear. I prefer the tone of my 502 compared to the Markbass but there wasn't much in it and it's all down to personal preference.

If the Piccolo had shipped around the time it was announced it would have been killer but the market is moving fast. I had an Eden WTX260 for a while and within 6 months is seemed under powered compared the to the competition. Still, I'd love to see some more Epifani amps. I love the tone plus my 502 has been really reliable and it runs cool.

By the way, I really like your Tecamp Puma demos on Youtube. Most gear videos fail to capture the tone but yours sound great.

Thanks!

The 502 is a great amp for what it is. I had a hard time controlling that big low end, and the top end seemed to get eaten up in the mix for me (which is why, I assume, quite a few call these heads 'dark' sounding). However, the 502 does wump down low! Like you say, all good stuff that will speak to some and not to others. I do like the TecAmp stuff for that kind of 'creamy' tone you get with the Epi 502, but with more control of the mids and top end IMO.

[SoonerMatt]

Originally Posted by Dr Funk

The word I got from Nick on the phone was that the UL502 was discontinued and being replaced by a single channel version. When I asked him about the Piccolo he said he was changing from what was going to be class A/B to class D and there were problems. That was earlier this year.

I'm okay with a single channel UL head. I just hope they allow 8 ohm support.

[Dr Funk]

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

I'm okay with a single channel UL head. I just hope they allow 8 ohm support.

Me too but I want 2 ohm support, 8 ohm is pretty much a given.

[gkbass13]

I love Epifani cabs but this company frustrates me. I was right on the bandwagon from the get-go for the Piccalo, and I know a lot fo Tb'ers had deposits placed at certain dealers for preproduction models with multiple promises from the company. I would love to check out new Epi heads, but I hope the company can continue to make strides with their honesty and treatment of players/customers.

[Dr Funk]

Yes you are right, but you're singing to the choir. I think the economy is tanked and perhaps they are in survival mode. I like to hope that's what the communication issues are. I love all my ULs really.