Bass Amps not from China

[Lamar Fandango]

I've had a Mesa/Boogie for a long time, but it conked out and I wanted to buy a cheap backup...you know, for when I have to ship the amp back to Mesa and wait around for 3-4 weeks. So I start looking at 200-300 watt amps heads, preferably with an FX loop or power amp in.

Ampeg Micro VT: Made in China
Trace ELF: Made in China
Peavey: Made in China
GK MB200: have been made in China, can't tell about the new ones

Anybody have any insight on newer amps made anywhere but China?

 

[mmbongo]

Mesa/Boogie.

 

[Bassdirty]

I "heard" GK amps are not in china anymore, someone please confirm.?..

If you are looking for an "inexpensive" backup, then no, they will all (most likely) be made in china. What about a 2nd Mesa?


And welcome to the world of manufacturing, its kinda been headed this way since at least the mid to late 70's (that's when I figured it out anyway).

T$

 

[quickfix]

Traynor SB200H and SB500H made in Canada.
Have a look at the following links, especially the "Key Features" para.
SB200H – Traynor Amps
and
SB500H – Traynor Amps

As most things though, I would suspect that many of its individual parts are made...elsewhere.

 

[ahbass2500]

Define inexpensive.... At a little more than the new price of the amps you mentioned, you could pick up a used Quilter Bass Block. BB800 for XLR in that bypasses the preamp or BB802 if you need the effects loop (802 will be harder to find used, since they just came out).

 

[SJan3]

I've had a Mesa/Boogie for a long time, but it conked out and I wanted to buy a cheap backup...you know, for when I have to ship the amp back to Mesa and wait around for 3-4 weeks. So I start looking at 200-300 watt amps heads, preferably with an FX loop or power amp in.

Ampeg Micro VT: Made in China
Trace ELF: Made in China
Peavey: Made in China
GK MB200: have been made in China, can't tell about the new ones

Anybody have any insight on newer amps made anywhere but China?

Markbass Nano.
300 watts made in Indonesia

 

[Stevorebob]

GK ceased manufacturing in China many years ago.

 

[Lamar Fandango]

Thanks for these suggestions. The Traynor looks almost perfect (but no FX loop), the GK 200 watter looks good, but it's hard to determine whether its a chinese version or not, so I'll steer clear. The Markbass nano is interesting since it has an FX loop,.

 

[BioWeapon]

... what's wrong with China?

 

[SwitchGear]

GK - USA all the way baby

 

[Stevorebob]

Thanks for these suggestions. The Traynor looks almost perfect (but no FX loop), the GK 200 watter looks good, but it's hard to determine whether its a chinese version or not, so I'll steer clear. The Markbass nano is interesting since it has an FX loop,.

The MB200 has been USA made for many years. Mine is 5-plus years old. Easy to tell — it’ll say made in USA. I’m not sure if these were ever made offshore.

 

[yodedude2]

Anybody have any insight on newer amps made anywhere but China?

off topic a bit, but...how about a rental?

 

[MMiller28]

... what's wrong with China?

Right now, quite a bit actually.

 

[mikeswals]

Love my Mesas, but I wouldn't hesitate to pick up an old GK 400/800RB again.

 

[TNCreature]

You can't go wrong with the MB200. I use it on many gigs even though I have a more powerful amp. Light, small, easy to use, LOUD a heck. I love mine.

 

[Lamar Fandango]

Hard to get into this without breaking forum rules on politics."

Just don't address it. It's not the subject of the thread.

 

[Blind owl bass]

Thanks for these suggestions. The Traynor looks almost perfect (but no FX loop), the GK 200 watter looks good, but it's hard to determine whether its a chinese version or not, so I'll steer clear. The Markbass nano is interesting since it has an FX loop,.

just bought one, it works great. I bought it for the effects loop but riddle me this. my other amps when I plug into the return of te effects loops with my demeter preamp, the eq section of the amp is now bypassed. not with the nano. the eq still effects the signal. is this not a true effects loop. when I do the same on my ampeg pf350, no eq, same for all my other amps. still happy with the nano and its half the size of the ampeg. thoughts anyone?

 

[Mark Reccord]

Even if an amp is assembled elsewhere, most if not all of the electronic components inside it came from China. So even "made in the US" amps are really assembled in the US from Chinese parts. 99% of all electronic components are made there. All amps are made in China but some are more made in China than others.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

Thanks for these suggestions. The Traynor looks almost perfect (but no FX loop), the GK 200 watter looks good, but it's hard to determine whether its a chinese version or not, so I'll steer clear. The Markbass nano is interesting since it has an FX loop,.

The SB500H that he linked has an effects loop with jacks on the back:

 

[deff]

Just don't address it. It's not the subject of the thread.

Ahh but it kind of is. 99% of the non hand wired amps that exist have parts from Asia. There are lots of amps that are assembled in the US, but even that doesn't guarantee that the CM for at least a portion of the product is. I'm also not sure that outside of the manufacturers themselves that anyone knows to what degree there are parts of partial assembly done there. Also I assume that you mean specifically China and not Taiwan