• 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.

American Made Amps?

N

nocontrols

Apr 2, 2011
915
31
#1
Just because I'm curious and not because it's vitally important, which commonly available and widely distributed (meaning boutique amps sold through limited channels don't count) amps are made in America?

Again, this is not a deal maker or breaker and I'm not even shopping right now, I'm just asking for the sake of curiosity. :) And let's not make it political.

Are there still Peavey models made in the US?

I think Ashdowns are made in Kentucky but which ones? Does Ashdown make heads or just cabs and combos?

Are all Ampegs made overseas these days or just a lot of them?

Thanks!
 
#3
All Ampeg are made overseas now except for the Heritage series which are USA.

I'd add Gallien Krueger as USA made amps, but I think their backline series might be made overseas. The artist series are USA made.
 
#9
Can add Ampeg and GK to the list of, top of the line models made here, budget and midgrade stuff overseas. Should really say assembled here or something. Nearly all the little parts inside come from somewhere else.
 
#11
nocontrols said:
Thanks for the contributions so far, everyone. :) Good stuff.





I wonder which models specifically? Sometimes you can just guess by looking at price but not always.
Click to expand...

That I'm not sure about. I think I remember something in the VB-2/VB-3 threads about controversy over origin country, and BbyBld (who works with/is associated with Peavey) stepped in and clarified that they were made in the US.

Now, I could be remembering this incorrectly... it was a while ago.
 
#14
KsPiNeSh said:
Genz Benz cabs are made in Arizona, amps are made in their dedicated factory in Taiwan and inspected here.
Click to expand...

Off hand I can't think of any that are "totally" manufactured in the U.S.
Genz has been very honest, their amps are designed in the U.S. and have some assembly work done in the U.S., GK is the same.
I read here at T.B. somewhere, Eminence now has a manufacturing facility in China.......Sooooo
 
#19
I think the only way you know is to ask the manufacturer, or look at the country of origin printed on the gear.

Part of engineering gear is designing a build process, to allow it to be made. A good process is going to be portable to where the components come from. It's easier to keep a constant flow of components in an area of where they are manufactured themselves. Importing components into the US at the time they're needed for manufacturing it tougher than collecting the components for assemblies in an area where most of the components are made.

"Engineered in America" and assume this means the designer put together a manufacturing process to duplicate the amps anywhere.

Low tech amps, I don't care where they're made. I like to see US focus on high tech. Leading technology is much more important than just building stuff.
 
#20
I believe peavey,carvin,gallien krueger are the main 3 that i am aware of made in the U.S. although they are outsourcing some of their lower line gear. People always say that the inner components all come from other countries which I am sure happens to a degree but I have never taken an amp apart to see where the guts come from. I try to buy American made gear/merchandise as much as possible as long as the quality is there and the price is'nt totally rediculous simply to keep jobs here,especially in tough economic times like we see today.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back