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Ampeg going down the tubes ?

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#121
I've read many reports of SWR QC issues, as well as various other 'quirks' since the takeover.

Look in the classifieds... Any SWR for sale that was made before the takeover is very clearly advertised as PRE-Fender for a reason. No one tries to sell their post-aquisition SWR gear as "post-Fender" :p

Jimmy, you're a typical old school guy that likes Ampeg and Fender... And that's cool. But don't assume that because your company of choice takes over a smaller company that the quality of their work won't suffer. Maybe it will, and maybe it won't. But objectivity is key. :)

I personally dig the SWR tone. It's modern, and hi-fi, and gnarly, and awesome... But I'd never buy a post-Fender one.
 
#122
Eric618 said:
I've read many reports of SWR QC issues, as well as various other 'quirks' since the takeover.

Look in the classifieds... Any SWR for sale that was made before the takeover is very clearly advertised as PRE-Fender for a reason. No one tries to sell their post-aquisition SWR gear as "post-Fender" :p

Jimmy, you're a typical old school guy that likes Ampeg and Fender... And that's cool. But don't assume that because your company of choice takes over a smaller company that the quality of their work won't suffer. Maybe it will, and maybe it won't. But objectivity is key. :)
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Yeah, and I'd say the same to you when you refer to me as a "typical old school guy." Ain't anything the least bit typical about me. I don't thump out root-5 on a Precision with 50 year old flats. I came back to Fender and Ampeg because it works for every single kind of music I have ever played, and it works better than anything else I've played. Has zip to do with old school. If a 10-string with cocobolo top and Barts into an Eden rig worked for me in every situation as well as Fender and Ampeg, I'd use it.

It's clear you have an anti-Fender bias. Whatever. Buy what you want. But I've used many an SWR rig, both pre and post Fender, and I've never been disappointed. I heard a few rumblings at the early stage of the buyout, but I haven't heard unreliability reports about them for quite a while. And I certainly don't see Genz Benz or Gretsch or King Doublebass hurting over their Fender involvement. As a matter of fact, Gretsch under Fender has become way better than they were as an indie...ask Brian Setzer.

So yeah, objectivity is key, huh? Well if I'm looking at it objectively, I'd say Fender could do a lot better job than Loud. But I guess it's only objective if I agree with you and look at only the negative, right?
 
#123
There didn't have to be an internet back then. Pre-CBS Fender was considered superior and post-CBS was automatically suspect. Everybody was certain that if not down the tubes, Fender was unquestionably degraded by CBS. Nowadays you hear about the great 73 Jazz Bass (or whatever) so it's good some rational objectivity has entered into looking at post-Leo Fender products. People are resistant to change and it took another generation that didn't really know or care about Leo, CBS or any of that, who simply looked at the products individually for what they are.

Sifl said:
I wonder if there had been internet in the '60s when CBS bought Fender, if we'd be talking about Fender going down the tubes? Hopefully this is just a bump in the road that is Ampeg's history.
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#125
JimmyM said:
Yeah, and I'd say the same to you when you refer to me as a "typical old school guy." Ain't anything the least bit typical about me. I don't thump out root-5 on a Precision with 50 year old flats. I came back to Fender and Ampeg because it works for every single kind of music I have ever played, and it works better than anything else I've played. Has zip to do with old school. If a 10-string with cocobolo top and Barts into an Eden rig worked for me in every situation as well as Fender and Ampeg, I'd use it.

It's clear you have an anti-Fender bias. Whatever. Buy what you want. But I've used many an SWR rig, both pre and post Fender, and I've never been disappointed. I heard a few rumblings at the early stage of the buyout, but I haven't heard unreliability reports about them for quite a while. And I certainly don't see Genz Benz or Gretsch or King Doublebass hurting over their Fender involvement. As a matter of fact, Gretsch under Fender has become way better than they were as an indie...ask Brian Setzer.

So yeah, objectivity is key, huh? Well if I'm looking at it objectively, I'd say Fender could do a lot better job than Loud. But I guess it's only objective if I agree with you and look at only the negative, right?
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+ 1 ;)
 
#126
JimmyM said:
The guy on Youtube is pulling a fast one. There has been no SVT made with 500w. All of them are rated at 300w, although it's true that the ones with 6146B's have an extra little kick. But it's a 30w kick, not a 200w kick.

Got a link to the vid?
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I'll try to find, in the video he also told the he bought the amp ina a not so good condition and ampeg restored it and confirmed the 500w history or something like that , i'll try to post later ;)
 
#128
JimmyM said:
Yeah, and I'd say the same to you when you refer to me as a "typical old school guy." Ain't anything the least bit typical about me. I don't thump out root-5 on a Precision with 50 year old flats. I came back to Fender and Ampeg because it works for every single kind of music I have ever played, and it works better than anything else I've played. Has zip to do with old school. If a 10-string with cocobolo top and Barts into an Eden rig worked for me in every situation as well as Fender and Ampeg, I'd use it.

It's clear you have an anti-Fender bias. Whatever. Buy what you want. But I've used many an SWR rig, both pre and post Fender, and I've never been disappointed. I heard a few rumblings at the early stage of the buyout, but I haven't heard unreliability reports about them for quite a while. And I certainly don't see Genz Benz or Gretsch or King Doublebass hurting over their Fender involvement. As a matter of fact, Gretsch under Fender has become way better than they were as an indie...ask Brian Setzer.

So yeah, objectivity is key, huh? Well if I'm looking at it objectively, I'd say Fender could do a lot better job than Loud. But I guess it's only objective if I agree with you and look at only the negative, right?
Click to expand...
Oh! Snap!
 
#130
#134
fenderhutz said:
Wow. This thread went stale for a while.

Epifani took the same road, who is next?
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Well looks like GK cabs are going down the same path, everything made in china but the speakers.

Go look on the GK community boards. Still good stuff though.

My rule with Ampeg? I dont couldnt care less where it was made.
 
#137
Rhythm5 said:
If made in the USA is really that important to everyone, then why are products like the LMII and the Shuttle selling so well? One can only assume that features and tone count first and the fact that these products are made overseas, makes them a good value.
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I don't think the issue is if it is made overseas. But rather US brands being moved overseas. If Markbass originated in Ohio and then moved to Italy I'm sure people would be raising holy hell over it. If Loud tanks the Ampeg brand some other corp. will pick up the torch and do what they want with it.
These days it is just branding. You really can't look at the name anymore. You have to look at the actual quality of the product. Regardless of where it is from.
 
#138
Hmmmmmmm I personally don't see any major "crappy-ness" with the Ampegs.either cabs or heads....sure,the St. louis days are gone........ just as the Fullerton days are for Fender,but I'm quite content and happy with my rig.Matter of taste I suppose.:rolleyes:






Spector club member # 109
Ampeg club member # 436
 
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