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Ampeg going down the tubes ?

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#41
As far as continued existence of Ampeg..... Loud may sell it off, or maybe just close it down.

They have closed most all of SLM.

So far, Loud has closed down Crate, whether by default (they asked for NO new product for a whole year) or by intent. They closed down the SLM PA gear, they are selling off the SLM Violin shop and the Knilling line, if they can find a buyer, otherwise they'll probably close it. The guitar shop and guitar business they seem to be keeping, for now. The accessories biz they don't seem to know what to do with, it's partly in Seattle, and was supposed to be consolidated as an outsourced service in Memphis, but that seems to have fallen through.

Basically, they paid 38 million for a company, and have trash-canned most of it for a loss. Can Ampeg be far behind?

However, as I mentioned elsewhere, the head of Loud China ("Jonathan" Chen) has quit, and the Loud CEO (Jamie Engen) just left, apparently on only one day's notice........

If the new CEO is smart, and if he is allowed to operate, maybe something will happen. Otherwise, if the Sun Capital Partners beancounters are running the show, it will be curtains for sure. They might try to sell Ampeg, or they might just decide it isn't worth anything, and close it.

Odd how SLM made money and had good service, and Loud can't do either one, even with SLM there to make money for them, (if they had only just left it alone).
 
#42
It is amasing what happens when the objective is soley to make money with no care for craft. Youc an throw all the money in the world at greed and greed just becomes a black hole. Someone had an idea of how to make money out of this venture by cost cutting in manufacturing. I guess that backfired.
 
#43
Jerrold Tiers said:
...they might just decide [Ampeg] isn't worth anything
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I don't doubt you're right, but the idea of that is horrifying to me. It's one of the most recognizable brand names in the entire MI world, alongside Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, etc. For them to treat it like dirt, chop it up and flush it away, deciding (after their own failure) that it isn't worth anything, would be just a travesty. That would bother me far more than the move overseas etc.
 
#44
bongomania said:
I don't doubt you're right, but the idea of that is horrifying to me. It's one of the most recognizable brand names in the entire MI world, alongside Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, etc. For them to treat it like dirt, chop it up and flush it away, deciding (after their own failure) that it isn't worth anything, would be just a travesty. That would bother me far more than the move overseas etc.
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That's why the name will go on. It's a classic name with a history, and that would be worth something to a healthier company looking to increase their market share.
 
#45
Right, but there have been a number of good brands that were bought and then hoarded, not resold, as the buyer didn't want to invest in the brand succeeding but they also don't want to relinquish the intellectual property rights, so they just stuff the company away in a filing cabinet.
 
#46
fenderhutz said:
Mod Kelly is VERY particular about Ampeg threads.
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Yes, I am. This topic brings out the political side of many and it is not allowed here. However, I think you guys have seen now that these threads are being allowed now as the politics have died down in them. If it starts to return then, well... :hmm:

Jeff Scott said:
Does he own stock in Loud Technologies? :D
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Nope. I personally don't care for Ampeg amps, past or present. They are just not my cup-o-tea.
 
#47
bongomania said:
Right, but there have been a number of good brands that were bought and then hoarded, not resold, as the buyer didn't want to invest in the brand succeeding but they also don't want to relinquish the intellectual property rights, so they just stuff the company away in a filing cabinet.
Click to expand...

Like Fender did with Sunn and DeArmond and a ton of other brands.:scowl:
 
#48
I wouldn't want to live in a world without Ampeg. Ampeg defined bass amplification since 1948 and continues to do so, regardless of anyone's opinions of them. They could be a huge moneymaker for LOUD if they get their QC together (which seems to be happening since complaints are fewer these days).

The problem is that Ampeg can't be treated as just another big money generating machine to be successful. Ampeg has to be massaged by people who truly care about putting out the best amps on the market. That's why SLM was successful with it when a huge conglomerate like Magnavox struggled with it. SLM wasn't perfect but the people really cared about the product.

Also, Ampeg needs to get back to their roots with their tube amps. The only all-tube amp they make right now is the SVT. If I ran Ampeg you'd always be able to get a V4 and a B-15 (with the Thiele cab AND the double baffle cab), and maybe a 200w tuber as well.
 
#49
JimmyM said:
I wouldn't want to live in a world without Ampeg. Ampeg defined bass amplification since 1948 and continues to do so, regardless of anyone's opinions of them. They could be a huge moneymaker for LOUD if they get their QC together (which seems to be happening since complaints are fewer these days).

The problem is that Ampeg can't be treated as just another big money generating machine to be successful. Ampeg has to be massaged by people who truly care about putting out the best amps on the market. That's why SLM was successful with it when a huge conglomerate like Magnavox struggled with it. SLM wasn't perfect but the people really cared about the product.

Also, Ampeg needs to get back to their roots with their tube amps. The only all-tube amp they make right now is the SVT. If I ran Ampeg you'd always be able to get a V4 and a B-15 (with the Thiele cab AND the double baffle cab), and maybe a 200w tuber as well.
Click to expand...


man...you sure do love ampeg hahahaha.
 
#50
Yes I do love me some Ampeg! It's defined my tonal ideal for over 30 years now. I spent 25 years using it almost exclusively, save for about 6 months I did on a borrowed Mesa D-180. I'd probably still use nothing but SVT's if I could still stand to move them.
 
#54
I tihink it's interesting that Loud has no means of public access on their website. That screams we're not really interested in your input on our products.

And if you look at the directors, exactly as Jerrold said - beancounters. These are not people that have any passion for music.

The very best thing that could happen would be for them to sell Ampeg back to an investment group that is aware of the heritage of the line and able to capitalize on it.

I know their bread and butter has to be affordable and competitive combos, but I'd bet they could also successfully market more stuff along the lines of what Jimmy was talking about up there. Since the all tube designs are still sought after and in use, why on earth not continue to make them?

If the price point was somewhere between entry (traynor & peavey) and the boutique-y stuff, I think folks would pony up for it if they could be assured it was built to the same rugged standard that have kept so many of us using these amps 30 years after they were built.
 
#55
bongomania said:
I don't doubt you're right, but the idea of that is horrifying to me. It's one of the most recognizable brand names in the entire MI world, alongside Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, etc. For them to treat it like dirt, chop it up and flush it away, deciding (after their own failure) that it isn't worth anything, would be just a travesty. That would bother me far more than the move overseas etc.
Click to expand...

+1

Let's hope we're wrong, for above all it would be a great shame.
 
#56
Hawaii Islander said:
It would be cool if members of the music community (especially bass players) bought Ampeg to insure the survival of the brand and keep product quality the primary goal of the company.
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Hoss said:
+1 But that needs some investors with some cash in their pockets...
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... and if there were ever a group with worse potential it's the consumer musicians ... well, maybe some of those mega ENDORSERS could pool their resources!
 
#60
NOLA Bass said:
For an 810 behind me, it did not cut through the guitar cab next to it very well. I could hear and feel more out of my Epifani PS410 on a similar size stage, so maybe that bit about the change in cabs is spot on.
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:eyebrow:
Sorry, I just can't believe that, because of this formula:

The more drivers= More db.

With the same everything (Amp,cables,bass,any other hair splitting factors), except the cab;

Even if the quality of epifani drivers are way better (in a 410), it will not yield the same comparable db as an 810, maybe an epifany 610 might be an "almost" closer statement (IME). Vented cabs can make a somewhat difference,(Both the us and viet are sealed, don't know about the epifany that you mention) but to compare an 810 to a 410, not on any planet, at least not these cabs.

I own an SLM 810, have used the viet 810 also, I used my same amp, that I use for my SLM (SWR 'Mo Bass), No way, will i take a 410 cab and push the same air, not physically possible (imo)
 
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