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Ampeg Heritage Line

#341
Wow! I just read all 17 pages of this thread after getting a link from google for my "Ampeg Heritage" search. I need some eye drops to lube my orbs!
Several well thought-out posts here. I seldom have time to read these boards, much less post. I appreciate the intelligent thoughts; hate it when it becomes a pissing contest.
Fortunately, we live in a time when there is a vast array of great-sounding bass gear from many makers. I'm an Ampeg guy. I play a P-bass with flat-wounds and an Ampeg Baby Bass, and set my PortaBass rig to sound as close to a B15 as I can. I also own many original B15s, a B15R, a vintage SVT, as well as a (dare I say it) Vietnam-made SVT VR. I can also appreciate the players who like lots of high-end, even lower-end, and play basses with more strings than I need or know how to use.
As one of the co-authors of "Ampeg: The Story Behind the Sound," I've studied the 60 year history of the name and have seen it's many highs and lows. Living in St Louis, I was fortunate to be a fly on the wall during what I consider one of Ampeg's golden eras, it's ownership by SLM.
Since 2005, I've been cautiously optimistic about the "Loud chapter." I've tried to give them plenty of slack in their chain (as if I actually came close to holding the leash) to do with it what a new owner might do with their company, house, car, bass, etc. I've been disappointed to witness many of their decisions, but am confident that the Ampeg name will survive the (sometimes) ham-fisted efforts to make the products more profitable or appeal to a wider audience, at the expense of those of us who hold deep brand/product loyalty.
At the first inkling of the closing of the US Ampeg manufacturing plant, I sent a heart-felt letter to the (then) CEO of Loud encouraging him to re-consider this move and look at the business model of other iconic MI companies such as Fender which offer their customers a range of products manufactured all over the world -- beginner and mid-line products for which bang-for-buck is the ultimate consideration, and professional products, made in the US, with first-rate sound, engineering, quality control and customer service. He didn't acknowledge receiving my letter. It even included a copy of our book and notations about past failed efforts to manufacture solely off-shore.
With the introduction of the Heritage line and the EAW-made Pro Neo products, I'm encouraged, though not yet convinced, that today's Ampeg is turning a corner. I'm eager to see and hear them. If anyone at the Loud office is reading this, my shipping address is in the back of the Ampeg book.
 
#342
are you gregg or bill? that is a fantastic book and i use it all the time as a reference (thanks to your book, people think I actually know something about these amps) but i would love to see an update, especially by you guys...you're not afraid to pull any punches, are you? ;) unfortunately, this loud story has been so controversial and is still ongoing so i guess it would be a little bit premature.

but i think i know why jaime engen never replied to your letter...he's a soulless moron. i get a better vibe from the new guys, though i'm still approaching this whole new chapter very cautiously. but i can't say anything bad about the new ones that i've played.
 
#346
Lowstrings said:
Hey, Jim, I'm Gregg. Thanks for the kind words about the book. Glad you've enjoyed it and found it useful. With all you know about Ampeg, you must be a real chick magnet, eh?
Me neither.
Click to expand...

Hey, there, Gregg! Thanks again for all the help with the Ampeg stories in issue #4! :cool:
 
#348
Lowstrings said:
Wow! I just read all 17 pages of this thread after getting a link from google for my "Ampeg Heritage" search. I need some eye drops to lube my orbs!
Several well thought-out posts here. I seldom have time to read these boards, much less post. I appreciate the intelligent thoughts; hate it when it becomes a pissing contest.
Fortunately, we live in a time when there is a vast array of great-sounding bass gear from many makers. I'm an Ampeg guy. I play a P-bass with flat-wounds and an Ampeg Baby Bass, and set my PortaBass rig to sound as close to a B15 as I can. I also own many original B15s, a B15R, a vintage SVT, as well as a (dare I say it) Vietnam-made SVT VR. I can also appreciate the players who like lots of high-end, even lower-end, and play basses with more strings than I need or know how to use.
As one of the co-authors of "Ampeg: The Story Behind the Sound," I've studied the 60 year history of the name and have seen it's many highs and lows. Living in St Louis, I was fortunate to be a fly on the wall during what I consider one of Ampeg's golden eras, it's ownership by SLM.
Since 2005, I've been cautiously optimistic about the "Loud chapter." I've tried to give them plenty of slack in their chain (as if I actually came close to holding the leash) to do with it what a new owner might do with their company, house, car, bass, etc. I've been disappointed to witness many of their decisions, but am confident that the Ampeg name will survive the (sometimes) ham-fisted efforts to make the products more profitable or appeal to a wider audience, at the expense of those of us who hold deep brand/product loyalty.
At the first inkling of the closing of the US Ampeg manufacturing plant, I sent a heart-felt letter to the (then) CEO of Loud encouraging him to re-consider this move and look at the business model of other iconic MI companies such as Fender which offer their customers a range of products manufactured all over the world -- beginner and mid-line products for which bang-for-buck is the ultimate consideration, and professional products, made in the US, with first-rate sound, engineering, quality control and customer service. He didn't acknowledge receiving my letter. It even included a copy of our book and notations about past failed efforts to manufacture solely off-shore.
With the introduction of the Heritage line and the EAW-made Pro Neo products, I'm encouraged, though not yet convinced, that today's Ampeg is turning a corner. I'm eager to see and hear them. If anyone at the Loud office is reading this, my shipping address is in the back of the Ampeg book.
Click to expand...

Thanks Gregg!!! (I've had The Book for a few years now and find it an invaluable resource no doubt, thank you!)

Though it has become somewhat redundant now, your argument about the Fender biz model is right on the money, no pun intended. Some of us here had said that all along when we first learned about the move... . It's really nice to know that other's like yourself who are directly involved also thought the exact same thing... . Kind of a no-brainer, huh?

Thank you again. And thanks Tom for the great article in your new rag!!!! Awesome!!!!

Jimbob
 
#349
Williamsburgjim said:
Thanks Gregg!!! (I've had The Book for a few years now and find it an invaluable resource no doubt, thank you!)

Though it has become somewhat redundant now, your argument about the Fender biz model is right on the money, no pun intended. Some of us here had said that all along when we first learned about the move... . It's really nice to know that other's like yourself who are directly involved also thought the exact same thing... . Kind of a no-brainer, huh?

Thank you again. And thanks Tom for the great article in your new rag!!!! Awesome!!!!

Jimbob
Click to expand...
know what scares me about this heritage line? that it's going to catch on, but people aren't going to want to buy US amps if the foreign amps are just as good, so i have a feeling we're going to see dumbed down chinese versions of the amps, and the us versions won't be significantly better than what we're getting from china now. much like what fender is doing with guitars and basses. then they'll be able to justify the higher prices for the heritage.
 
#350
Thanks Gregg. Your book is the Ampeg Bible. I too as a fan of the brand, and it's influence on what most bass players consider to be a definitive , classic sound for electric bass as far as amplification goes. I wasn't happy with what LOUD did either. I'm hoping beyond hope, that this new Heritage line leads to restoring some luster to the once mighty Ampeg name. That is going to take a solid product line worthy of respect from musicians.

The problem is that LOUD created it's own problems that it shouldn't have in the first place. Sadly what was done is done, and I have to accept that as an Ampeg fan boy. They should look at the Fender model of how to do business in a time of crisis. Fender's then new owners had no choice but to reconstruct their manufacturing in the U.S. as they didn't get the U.S. facilities in the CBS deal they made to buy the Fender brand, but dang if they didn't recover against all odds, given what was handed them. LOUD at least seems to be trying for what it's worth at this point in time. I'm hoping it's not too little, too little too late.

As one of many feeling battered Ampeg fans, I too wait with a sense of caution, and healthy skepticism about this latest move by LOUD. I'm hoping it becomes a new golden era for the name of Ampeg. If LOUD's current management can pull it off, it will be seen as return from the wilderness miracle story, which Ampeg as a brand seems to be plagued by in it's more than colorful history. If it is too little, too late for LOUD's current attempts, they will be judged accordingly. Here's hoping. Once again Gregg, thanks for your book, and your love of all that is good about Ampeg.
 
#351
JimmyM said:
know what scares me about this heritage line? that it's going to catch on, but people aren't going to want to buy US amps if the foreign amps are just as good, so i have a feeling we're going to see dumbed down chinese versions of the amps, and the us versions won't be significantly better than what we're getting from china now. much like what fender is doing with guitars and basses. then they'll be able to justify the higher prices for the heritage.
Click to expand...

...good point Jimmy, I never thought of that. I'm thinking, what we're talking about here is if the Heritage line is in name only, and not say theoretically comprising the 'chicago windings', and other features inherent with the original, then there is a REAL concern from, at least, a marketing perspective.

Knowing you well enough on TB, I'm thinking you would even go so far as expecting the old pre-amp tube/design instead of the half-half deal, right? And I'd probably agree if you did.... .

Jimbob
 
#354
Williamsburgjim said:
...good point Jimmy, I never thought of that. I'm thinking, what we're talking about here is if the Heritage line is in name only, and not say theoretically comprising the 'chicago windings', and other features inherent with the original, then there is a REAL concern from, at least, a marketing perspective.

Knowing you well enough on TB, I'm thinking you would even go so far as expecting the old pre-amp tube/design instead of the half-half deal, right? And I'd probably agree if you did.... .
Click to expand...
i was not only expecting 12dw7's, but i was expecting 6146b's for the power tubes, too ;)
 
#356
well ok, i guess there's good reason not to use 6146's, but jj makes 12dw7's. why not bring back the original preamp? it's a great preamp. doesn't make much of a difference in tone imho, but it's cool.
 
#360
I hope you don't mind this post being here but I thought you guys might be interested in seeing this:

BlondeSVT.jpg


Gale
 

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