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Ashdown amp quality went down?

#22
JAUQO III-X said:
Pretty much all the major bass amp companies are having product outsourced to China.
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edbass said:
...it's pretty hard to be market competitive with a transistor amp built in the UK or US anymore.*
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*Unless you go factory direct, like Carvin; but then you suffer from lack of retail exposure which can limit your potential volume.

The average player wants/needs cheap, and they like established brand names on their gear; endorsements, distributors, and a broad retail presence have proven to reinforce brand appeal but add greatly to the cost to the end user.
It’s a dilemma for sure, and the answer for most companies is contracts with Asian manufacturers.
 
#24
JAUQO III-X said:
I my self could care less about needing to know that.

I'm more interested in sound and qaulity.
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As am I.
The OP's question was, did the quality go down with off shore manufacturing.
I like most here don't automaticaly believe that China makes bad amps. No matter where anything is made, lowering the quality of raw materials or components does tend to lower the quality of the end product.
 
#28
mysticola said:
That's indeed what he said! He was talking about a gallien krueger, wich wasn't bad, but very expensive.
Seems that sales guys are all the same :p
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Which are also made in China (at least the micros) interestingly enough...
I have and like both GK (Chinese made) and Ashdown (UK made) - different flavors. I'd love to get one of the new Ashdown B-15 type tube combos...
 
#29
I've got an Ashdown Evo 1x15 combo (180w, China-made) that's been my main amp for several years now. It's overall pretty good. The VU meter on front decides to work based on how the planets are aligned, and the grill buzzes sometimes, but it's built like a tank and hasn't let me down when the crunch was one.
 
#30
I have played all 3 EVO versions of the ABM500.
EVO 1 and 2 were made in the UK, EVO 3 was made in China.

The fan on the EVO3 was humming into the audio circuit like mad.

I am no "overseas production" basher at all, as one of my latest fav amps is the Hartke LH-500, made in China as well.
 
#36
Even a company like Mesa Boogie has its share of QC issues. The M6 Carbine has had thermal issues as well as the M9 and Big block 750 I believe. Look into GK and Ampeg threads. Full of problems. Ashdown still has a better track record than most. American or otherwise.
 
#37
JAUQO III-X said:
Yes that's exactly what I said.

Mesa is a smart company. They fully understand survival.






And no I am not a Mesa basher.
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No, it isn't - in case you've forgotten, here it is again:


Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X
Pretty much all the major bass amp companies are having product outsourced to China.


...which most definitely is not the same as saying:

"Not yet."

Just so that we're clear, "are having" is not the same as "may have", or "will have"... - or, are you trying to say that those phrases mean the same thing???


- georgestrings
 
#38
georgestrings said:
No, it isn't - in case you've forgotten, here it is again:


Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X
Pretty much all the major bass amp companies are having product outsourced to China.


...which most definitely is not the same as saying:

"Not yet."

Just so that we're clear, "are having" is not the same as "may have", or "will have"... - or, are you trying to say that those phrases mean the same thing???


- georgestrings
Click to expand...


Whats the problem?


Below is exactly what I said.


JAUQO III-X said:
Pretty much all the major bass amp companies are having product outsourced to China.
Click to expand...
 

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