New Epifani Amps.......very interesting!

[kevbassman]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Epifani premiers three revolutionary new bass amplifiers at NAMM 2011.


NEW YORK, NY, (January 13, 2011) -- Epifani today announces the availability of three new bass amplifiers, heading up three completely new product lines – the UL501, Piccolo 600 and EpiFunky 300. Each combines industry-legend Nick Epifani’s finest new electronics coupled with industrial design by Romano Ferretti, an award-winning designer. The trio of amplifiers represents a four-year research effort and include an exclusive Epifani-designed Digital amplifier and the highly-refined tone that is the hallmark of Epifani’s sound.

“We were the first to design and produce ultra-light, ultra high-performance bass products with our best-selling UL502 and UL902 amplifiers, and UL cabinets, ” says Nick Epifani, CEO of Epifani. “Our goal then as now, was to not imitate, but to innovate. Moving to even smaller chassis designs and under 7-pound amplifiers required us to start from the ground up to achieve the performance our bass artists demand. While it would have been easy to make a me-too ultralight amplifier before, we didn’t feel the existing technology could compete with analog. So we started with a clean slate. With the UL501, Piccolo 600 and Epifunky 300, you’ll hear bass anew.”

While Nick was rethinking the circuits and sound, he began a collaboration with leading Industrial Designer Romano Ferretti to create innovative styling and packaging for the new product lines. Since both were born and raised in Italy, a country with a long tradition of musical craftsmanship and high-performance design, it was a natural pairing. “As a designer and a touring bassist, I wanted to bring the styling cues of Ferrari and Armani to bass equipment. Why should bassists be stuck with elemental black boxes when musical performance is all about creativity? Epifani wanted to be the first to bring a bit of style and function to the bass world. One glance at the new amplifiers and you’ll ‘get it’”, notes Romano, Design Director at Epifani. The new amplifiers feature stunning graphics, striking colors, ergonomic controls and stylized built-in handles.

While the preamp in the new UL501 has its roots in the studio-grade UL502, the UL501 goes in a whole new direction with a newly-designed lightweight Epifani-designed SMPS and an exclusive Epifani 800-watt Class AB amplifier to create a completely new audiophile sound. This flagship design goes beyond the sound benchmarks set by the UL902, an amplifier that became the go-to choice for many of today’s bass legends. The UL501 auto-selects for voltages from 84V to 240V and 50 or 60 cycles, without the need to change settings. It measures 3.5”h x 12.5”w x 10”d and weighs 7 pounds. Street price is $1199. The UL501 is engineered and assembled in the US.

The new Piccolo 600 features an audiophile-grade Epifani preamp with a ‘Vintage’ tone control selector and a newly-designed lightweight Epifani-designed SMPS. This power supply is coupled with an Epifani-designed, conservatively-rated 600-watt Digital amplifier for a transparent and very powerful bass sound. The Piccolo’s new ‘Vintage’ tone control adds an instant ‘tube amp’ sound to the mix, ideal for classic bass tones. The amplifier dual selects for voltages from 115 to 240V and 50 or 60 cycles. The Piccolo 600 measures 3”h x 11.25”w x 10”d and weighs 4.5 pounds. Street price is $899. The Piccolo 600 is engineered and assembled in the US.

If the UL501 and Piccolo weren’t enough, Epifani is also releasing the new EpiFunky 300 bass amp. The Epifunky 300 borrows liberally from the Piccolo 600’s circuit design, but tones down the power to a very conservatively rated 350-watts. The 300 also incorporates a new “70’s” circuit activated from the front panel for a warmer, rounder tone, and the legendary Epifani Mid Cut ideal for slap players. The EpiFunky 300 includes a newly-designed lightweight Epifani 350-watt Class Digital amplifier for a transparent and punchy sound. The dual-selects for voltages from 115 to 240 and 50 or 60 cycle. It measures 3.5”h x 13”w x 10”d and weighs 4.5 pounds. Street price is $599. The EpiFunky 300 is also engineered and assembled in the US.

About Epifani
Epifani is one of the most innovative bass product design companies in the world today. Founded and run by Nick Epifani, who originally built custom cabinets for bass legends such as Anthony Jackson, Andrew Gouché and Lincoln Goines, Epifani’s cabinets and amplifiers combine audiophile sound quality with circuit design innovation, cutting-edge product style, intuitive controls and reliability that can handle the rigors of arena touring and weekend warriors. Most importantly, Nick listens to each and every product to make sure it meets his standards of sonic excellence. The future has been drawn.

[kevbassman]

I'm very interested in the Piccolo 600! Would love to hear that.

[Nightlyraider]

But when are they on sale?

[KJung]

God help us.... this is probably the fifth announcement of these amps being available over the past three years.. happens every NAMM.

[kevbassman]

Really Ken? I didn't see these before...........where they under another name?
Wow, if that's correct...........order it now & wait three years? That would suck!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by kevbassman

Really Ken? I didn't see these before...........where they under another name?
Wow, if that's correct...........order it now & wait three years? That would suck!

The Piccolo 600 has been for sale on the Bass Central website for almost 2 years

The 501 was listed as 'shipping in three weeks' about half a year ago.

I am TOTALLY unimpressed with this company at this point. I'm sure some of these amps will eventually get to market, but the whole thing leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

[kevbassman]

Here we go.

[dreasher54]

Thanks for posting
I'm definitley interested

[kevbassman]

Originally Posted by KJung

The Piccolo 600 has been for sale on the Bass Central website for almost 2 years

The 501 was listed as 'shipping in three weeks' about half a year ago.

I am TOTALLY unimpressed with this company at this point. I'm sure some of these amps will eventually get to market, but the whole thing leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

You're not the only one. I've heard allot of "talk". Thanks Ken. It seems that since Shawn "left" that company has been on a downward spiral. It's ashame......because the initial products were there.
I have my own issues with them as well, that I will not air in a public forum.

[kevbassman]

Those photos also appear to be drawings........why not a picture of the real thing?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by kevbassman

You're not the only one. I've heard allot of "talk". Thanks Ken. It seems that since Shawn "left" that company has been on a downward spiral. It's ashame......because the initial products were there.
I have my own issues with them as well, that I will not air in a public forum.

I know I'm being a bit harsh here, but as one of their first retail customers back in the day, this is no longer the company that I grew to love in the 90's. I guess it's kind of like the 'lover scorned' in my case, so put my comments in that context

[kevbassman]

Well, same here...........I own a Epifani UL410 S1 bass cab that I love......but had a UL501 that had problems.
The old Ian Hunter song applies:
Once Bitten Twice Shy.

[rodneyat]

Originally Posted by KJung

God help us.... this is probably the fifth announcement of these amps being available over the past three years.. happens every NAMM.

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read it Ken. Like you, I really liked some of their earlier products. But, their habit of over-promising and under-delivering has become really old.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by kevbassman

Here we go.

The look of the 600 reminds me of tecamp puma amps a lot.
Not the colour,but all else looks at least "inspired" by them.
And...it talks about epifani being innovative...what exactly have they done that is or was innovative?-This is a genuine question and not meant as a slur!
I do like the look of the amps in the computer drawings,a few posts up.
A nice simple layout on both :-).

[bassclef04]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDF8fhENMj8

[alexofc69]

I want a green MTD!

[silky smoove]

Originally Posted by KJung

I know I'm being a bit harsh here, but as one of their first retail customers back in the day, this is no longer the company that I grew to love in the 90's. I guess it's kind of like the 'lover scorned' in my case, so put my comments in that context

Oh come on Ken... You know you still love your UL410 paired with the right amp

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bassclef04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDF8fhENMj8

A great example of NAMM hell.... bad recordings, massive ambient noise, and slap wanking in every bass booth

Let's again hope that this isn't just another year of Epi amp prototypes at NAMM that will never see the light of day They actually look pretty nice.

[Lennard III.]

Originally Posted by kevbassman

Here we go.

what is this thing in the middle with the Epifani logo on it ?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by silky smoove

Oh come on Ken... You know you still love your UL410 paired with the right amp

410UL is gone