After hearing that Ampeg is going to start producing their goods overseas, I think someone mentioned Vietnam. Does anyone know if the new gear coming out is still USA built, or is built in Asia?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
08 Ampeg gear, USA built or Asian?
- Thread starter lukas86
- Start date
According to Kevin Van Pamel, the person at Loud responsible for Ampeg, that isn't going to change anytime soon either.
Vietnam and China it is.
Vietnam and China it is.
When I first stumbled upon my Ampeg b100r (MIA) the first thing the shop owner said to me was that Ampeg had moved its production over to Vietnam. He wasn't to happy about it and decided not to carry their line anymore. Funny thing is that he'll carry Epiphone, Line 6, Behringers and Fender products that are made in Asia, go figure. That's like hating Wal-mart for the same reason, then going to Sears 
.
.
+1. Without getting into gory details, I much prefer MIA Ampeg to VN made Ampeg.
I have all MIA Ampeg gear and love it all. When I think of Ampeg, I think of Ampeg USA.
Also, keep in mind that there is still quite a bit of MIA Ampeg floating around out there.
This topic has been beat to death. However, if it stays non-political I will allow it to remain open.
Are you sure?
I had a MIA SVT 3-Pro a couple of weeks ago with the PCBs dated May 07. BTW I had a Viet 3-Pro dated July 07 sitting next to it which was essentially identical. Some of the components were branded differently but many of them were the same eg: Sovtek tubes and Comair fan. I did a bit of research on some of the other components; The "MIA" ones were also from Asia.
Apologies to the Viet Ampeg haterers, but build quality and sound was was indistinguishable, (IMO IME).
Vin, LOUD started out using American parts for the stuff they hadn't sourced out, plus whatever was leftover in the SLM stock. But according to those in the know here, they are sourcing out everything as much as possible to Chinese and Vietnamese contractors now. I don't know how that affects microprocessors and FET's and all that, but one casualty has been the great Electrical Windings transformers in the all-tube SVT's.
Who is using US made components? Not many companies outside of military projects. I am sure like most everyone in the electronics industry. They source parts from any franchise or distributer. That will have the parts ready when they need them at the lowest cost.
Whether it is US made or not inside most all the parts inside modern electronics are from: china, indonesia, isreal, malaysai, mexico, morocco, philipines, singapore, slovakia, thailand, etc.
Were it is made only has the potential to affect a few things. That mainly being quality control. Usually lower in developing countries. As the factories, often contracted, want to excede production quota and keep internal costs down.
So practices such as if it lights up it is considered tested vs fully testing each circuit might be deployed. Other than cutting corners on production quality, to compansate for unskilled assemblers. The amps are mostly the same components.
Only real difference is where it is made and who made it. Personally I would expect a new factory or contractor, to have a lower quality product. And when production was moved to an emerging economy, even more so. Atleast for the first few years. Then as the assemblers gain experience and skill. The technique of the better assemblers will be past to new hires. But unless there is a drop in demand. (usually due to inferior product) The factory won't look for quality production, to raise QC standards. They will just keep a high turn over rate of both assemblers and product to meet quota deadlines.
Now you're just nitpicking. While I'm sure that not every single part was made in the US, Ampeg certainly had more than their share of US-made parts, and they were assembled in the US.
My BA115 is made in China, and I really can't see any difference. Great tone.
And mine does not hiss...
And mine does not hiss...
You'll see the difference in quality after few years. And of course, in ten years, USA made ones will be collectible and Ampeg VN will be a second brand, like Epiphone, Squier and others. I hope someday Ampeg will return to USA or Mexico.
