Ampeg offshore manufacturing

[J.P.]

I'm sorry, but I don't see any positiveness to it at all. I know a lot of you will disagree. O.K. Go ahead.

I try to buy M.I.A. when I can. Especially my music gear. I can't tell you exactly why. But I do. It's something like this: I feel closer to my sister than I do to the nice lady across the street. I feel closer to the lady across the street and the rest of the people in my neighborhood than I do to other neighborhoods. Then, as you know, there is more of a bond with the people from your own state than with people from other states. And then, of course, your country.

When Ampeg, or any other company for that matter, moves operations oversees, people here are losing their jobs. Period.
And it all boils down to money. And when money is ALL that matters we all lose. CEO's salaries are through the roof and growing exponentially. Do you think the CEO of Ampeg cares how your tone on your new rig sounds? I'm not just picking on Ampeg. I think there is much more to come with other companies as well. Just in the music industry think about how many smaller companies have been bought out by larger ones.
Are things better or worse?

Now, you may say "I don't care as long as their product is good." But, what if you like playing in your local clubs in an area where Ford has just shut one of their factories and also happens to be in the same town as an Ampeg factory, and on and on. You get the point. Do you think the clientel at the local clubs just might dwindle? "I'll find somewhere else to play" you say. I say "How far would you go to play? Vietnam?"

I know it sounds like I'm stretching. Right now maybe I am. But 2, 5, 10, 20 years from now we may all wish we would have had more concern for the working people of our country.

For me, for now, I'll do my part. I won't buy any (more) Ampeg products.

Oh, and to the moderator. I'm not bashing them (Ampeg). In my eyes they are bashing the people who have been loyal to them for years by moving.

One more thing. Since the company will probably be saving/making more money from moving overseas the prices on all their amps should be coming down. Yea, right!!!!!!!
More money at the top.

 

[rodl2005]

I'm sorry, but I don't see any positiveness to it at all. I know a lot of you will disagree. O.K. Go ahead.
When Ampeg, or any other company for that matter, moves operations oversees, people here are losing their jobs. Period.
And it all boils down to money. And when money is ALL that matters we all lose. CEO's salaries are through the roof and growing exponentially. Do you think the CEO of Ampeg cares how your tone on your new rig sounds? I'm not just picking on Ampeg. I think there is much more to come with other companies as well. Just in the music industry think about how many smaller companies have been bought out by larger ones.
Are things better or worse?
I know it sounds like I'm stretching. Right now maybe I am. But 2, 5, 10, 20 years from now we may all wish we would have had more concern for the working people of our country.

For me, for now, I'll do my part. I won't buy any (more) Ampeg products.

Oh, and to the moderator. I'm not bashing them (Ampeg). In my eyes they are bashing the people who have been loyal to them for years by moving.

One more thing. Since the company will probably be saving/making more money from moving overseas the prices on all their amps should be coming down. Yea, right!!!!!!!
More money at the top.

+10000 good points its GOTTA stop somewhere, but, sadly, I don't think it will

 

[Spector_Ray]

I'm sorry, but I don't see any positiveness to it at all. I know a lot of you will disagree. O.K. Go ahead.

I try to buy M.I.A. when I can. Especially my music gear. I can't tell you exactly why. But I do. It's something like this: I feel closer to my sister than I do to the nice lady across the street. I feel closer to the lady across the street and the rest of the people in my neighborhood than I do to other neighborhoods. Then, as you know, there is more of a bond with the people from your own state than with people from other states. And then, of course, your country.

When Ampeg, or any other company for that matter, moves operations oversees, people here are losing their jobs. Period.
And it all boils down to money. And when money is ALL that matters we all lose. CEO's salaries are through the roof and growing exponentially. Do you think the CEO of Ampeg cares how your tone on your new rig sounds? I'm not just picking on Ampeg. I think there is much more to come with other companies as well. Just in the music industry think about how many smaller companies have been bought out by larger ones.
Are things better or worse?

Now, you may say "I don't care as long as their product is good." But, what if you like playing in your local clubs in an area where Ford has just shut one of their factories and also happens to be in the same town as an Ampeg factory, and on and on. You get the point. Do you think the clientel at the local clubs just might dwindle? "I'll find somewhere else to play" you say. I say "How far would you go to play? Vietnam?"

I know it sounds like I'm stretching. Right now maybe I am. But 2, 5, 10, 20 years from now we may all wish we would have had more concern for the working people of our country.

For me, for now, I'll do my part. I won't buy any (more) Ampeg products.

Oh, and to the moderator. I'm not bashing them (Ampeg). In my eyes they are bashing the people who have been loyal to them for years by moving.

One more thing. Since the company will probably be saving/making more money from moving overseas the prices on all their amps should be coming down. Yea, right!!!!!!!
More money at the top.

I've only got one thing to say and it's no flame here, but I think you need to take an economics course and while you're at it, take a course in humanity. If you think people are going to turn belly up because a company moves overseas you're nuts. If that was the case, unemployment would be skyrocketing through the roof, but it's not. People are resilient as heck and they will find other jobs. Fear is a huge motivator. Fear mongering is dangerous.

Like it or not, this is a global economy which means we are in a symbiotic relationship with other countries. Everything effects everybody. I'm pro U.S. as anybody, but if you're looking to be solely U.S. as far as the retail market is concerned, you're going to be alone.

"And that's all I have to say about that." - Forrest Gump

 

[8mmOD]

I tour China, I'll put Vietnam on my to do list...

SLM isn't "bashing the people who have been loyal to them for years ", they don't own Ampeg anymore. And I don't know about LOUD Tech's CEO, but I think guys like Jerrold care about how my tone sounds. Business is business. Yes, it sucks for the people of Yellville, but I am sure they will work it out & be stronger for it.

Why is it again these Ampeg threads keep getting deleted?

 

[J.P.]

I don't have all the answers. I really don't know much. I'm just a working class guy. Some things just feel right and some feel wrong. All these companies moving oversees just feels wrong.

I'm sure Jerrold does care about tone. My understanding is he is an engineer, not a CEO.

And to Spector Ray: I could take economics classes and humanity classes all day long and I would still feel the same way. People are losing jobs and I think it sucks.

And I know we can't be soley U.S. as far as the retail market but I still choose to try to buy American 1st. I do know sometimes it's not always practical.

And one more thing I've learned is never say never. As far as Ampeg products down the line. Who knows? Maybe I'll feel different about things if I could just ever become more educated.

 

[Kelly Lee]

J.P. I understand your post not to be an Ampeg bashing statement per se but a statement on out sourcing to foreign countries in general and the stateside ramifications that go along with it. As much as I understand where your coming from, it doesn't belong in this thread. (BTW, I'm not flaming you here. Just trying to help you see a mods point of view )

The reason being is that is a political issue and political issues are not allowed at TB. Politics always start a flame war which turns members against each other and gets a thread closed. Add to that it has been discussed many times before in relation to several different brands and the debate never changes anybody's mind. So please, just let it go. We know where you stand and that's about all you will be able to sccomplish with it anyways because like I said, nobody will change their mind.
__________________________________________

To All: Please guys/gals, lets not go down the political road. We are actually getting real info this time around that is of importance to quite a few members here. Let's not ruin it with politics. I don't want to start deleting tons of post again and/or handing out infractions. Let's be the great TB community that we are and keep this thread on track. Thanks.

 

[Spector_Ray]

J.P. I understand your post not to be an Ampeg bashing statement per se but a statement on out sourcing to foreign countries in general and the stateside ramifications that go along with it. As much as I understand where your coming from, it doesn't belong in this thread. (BTW, I'm not flaming you here. Just trying to help you see a mods point of view )

The reason being is that is a political issue and political issues are not allowed at TB. Politics always start a flame war which turns members against each other and gets a thread closed. Add to that it has been discussed many times before in relation to several different brands and the debate never changes anybody's mind. So please, just let it go. We know where you stand and that's about all you will be able to sccomplish with it anyways because like I said, nobody will change their mind.
__________________________________________

To All: Please guys/gals, lets not go down the political road. We are actually getting real info this time around that is of importance to quite a few members here. Let's not ruin it with politics. I don't want to start deleting tons of post again and/or handing out infractions. Let's be the great TB community that we are and keep this thread on track. Thanks.

I'm sorry, but I don't see the politics in this issue. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's nothing more than simple economics. True it sucks that jobs are lost, but that's only half the point. Jobs are also gained and that's why there is stability in the unemployment rate. I say this with all due respect to the forum and no animosity whatsoever.
I would really like to get this thread back on topic by saying we'll not know anything about the new Ampeg until the newly manufactured products start hitting the market. I'll be welcoming the opinions of those who will have experience with the new products and, of course Jerrold!

 

[svtb15]

+100,000,000
very lucid and well said.

I'm sorry, but I don't see any positiveness to it at all. I know a lot of you will disagree. O.K. Go ahead.

I try to buy M.I.A. when I can. Especially my music gear. I can't tell you exactly why. But I do. It's something like this: I feel closer to my sister than I do to the nice lady across the street. I feel closer to the lady across the street and the rest of the people in my neighborhood than I do to other neighborhoods. Then, as you know, there is more of a bond with the people from your own state than with people from other states. And then, of course, your country.

When Ampeg, or any other company for that matter, moves operations oversees, people here are losing their jobs. Period.
And it all boils down to money. And when money is ALL that matters we all lose. CEO's salaries are through the roof and growing exponentially. Do you think the CEO of Ampeg cares how your tone on your new rig sounds? I'm not just picking on Ampeg. I think there is much more to come with other companies as well. Just in the music industry think about how many smaller companies have been bought out by larger ones.
Are things better or worse?

Now, you may say "I don't care as long as their product is good." But, what if you like playing in your local clubs in an area where Ford has just shut one of their factories and also happens to be in the same town as an Ampeg factory, and on and on. You get the point. Do you think the clientel at the local clubs just might dwindle? "I'll find somewhere else to play" you say. I say "How far would you go to play? Vietnam?"

I know it sounds like I'm stretching. Right now maybe I am. But 2, 5, 10, 20 years from now we may all wish we would have had more concern for the working people of our country.

For me, for now, I'll do my part. I won't buy any (more) Ampeg products.

Oh, and to the moderator. I'm not bashing them (Ampeg). In my eyes they are bashing the people who have been loyal to them for years by moving.

One more thing. Since the company will probably be saving/making more money from moving overseas the prices on all their amps should be coming down. Yea, right!!!!!!!
More money at the top.

 

[Crabby]

I gotta say, I am glad my three Ampeg cabs are USA made. If I had the money I would go pick up an SVT head asap so that I could say I had "the real thing"

But I feel the same way about Trace and SWR gear. I owned both in their respective heyday, and now that both companies have been taken over by bigger giants of the industry, the newer products made by these brands holds no interest to me.

There may be no factual evidence to suggest that a new SWR or Trace product is any different than the originals, but I don't feel the "mojo". I suspect thet Ampeg stuff may lose some appeal to some peoplefor the same reasons. But in the end, if you really want the Ampeg sound, the majority of consumers will likely buy and overseas made Ampeg product without batting an eye.

 

[seamonkey]

Some possible positives

1. Prices go down, more people can afford to play.

2. Startups happen quite a bit when companies do major changes in directions. Either those unemployed get a kick in the pants and get something going, or somebody waiting in the wings jumps in to fill the void.

There's some great new talent out there. Maybe there's some great new talents in the amp gear world who need a chance.

 

[svtb15]

+1 It is clearly not a political issue. Some folks may like to make it out to be.
I am a full Ampeg endorser, I signed on with them in 1989.
But I am moving on at this time.
Not because they are leaving the USA as a manufacturing base although that has made the move easier for me. But for other reasons, one being is my taste in sound has changed.

I toured the Ampeg factory years ago and met the folks making the gear. It was awesome.
But now,those folks will be on unemployment and changing jobs, and getting training to do something else. Where does it end? After all we all can’t work at McDonalds.


So in my new quest I bought a Thunderfunk, Crown power amp, Aguilar, and a Carvin B1550, and Bag Ends this year. They just happen to all be made in the USA.
I try to buy American Made as often as possible. And not just American owned.


You need to be able to help yourself before you can help others after all.

I'm sorry, but I don't see the politics in this issue. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's nothing more than simple economics. True it sucks that jobs are lost, but that's only half the point. Jobs are also gained and that's why there is stability in the unemployment rate. I say this with all due respect to the forum and no animosity whatsoever.
I would really like to get this thread back on topic by saying we'll not know anything about the new Ampeg until the newly manufactured products start hitting the market. I'll be welcoming the opinions of those who will have experience with the new products and, of course Jerrold!

 

[svtb15]

I have some old ampeg gear from the 70s and 80s.. built like a tank.
Trace Elliot used to be good back in the 80s. I would work in the UK alot back then and backline was always Trace gear. But when gibson took them over they took a nose dive. Kamman had them prior and a bud that worked there told me many , many unit came back for problems..you couldnot get me to play that stuff for any amount of money these days... I owned a Trace mk2 and the preamp board had so many cold solder problems it was silly... It was always in surgey..
Maybe the new Trace will be better, time will show us... the new trace gear does look like a plastic boom box vibe though.. Bring back the old blacklight vibe and heavy transformers.

I gotta say, I am glad my three Ampeg cabs are USA made. If I had the money I would go pick up an SVT head asap so that I could say I had "the real thing"

But I feel the same way about Trace and SWR gear. I owned both in their respective heyday, and now that both companies have been taken over by bigger giants of the industry, the newer products made by these brands holds no interest to me.

There may be no factual evidence to suggest that a new SWR or Trace product is any different than the originals, but I don't feel the "mojo". I suspect thet Ampeg stuff may lose some appeal to some peoplefor the same reasons. But in the end, if you really want the Ampeg sound, the majority of consumers will likely buy and overseas made Ampeg product without batting an eye.

 

[Kelly Lee]

I'm sorry, but I don't see the politics in this issue. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's nothing more than simple economics. True it sucks that jobs are lost, but that's only half the point. Jobs are also gained and that's why there is stability in the unemployment rate. I say this with all due respect to the forum and no animosity whatsoever.
I would really like to get this thread back on topic by saying we'll not know anything about the new Ampeg until the newly manufactured products start hitting the market. I'll be welcoming the opinions of those who will have experience with the new products and, of course Jerrold!

Economics are always tied to politics. It is for the very facts you point out. These are all hot buttons of the political parties in our country and it normally leads to fighting here on the board.

However, I'll let the talk continue unless it starts getting nasty. If everyone treats everyone else with respect, all is good.

 

[Spector_Ray]

Economics are always tied to politics. It is for the very facts you point out. These are all hot buttons of the political parties in our country and it normally leads to fighting here on the board.

However, I'll let the talk continue unless it starts getting nasty. If everyone treats everyone else with respect, all is good.

Duly noted!

 

[Seb_VitusFreak]

But in the end, if you really want the Ampeg sound, the majority of consumers will likely buy and overseas made Ampeg product without batting an eye.

That's what I will do no matter what!