Billy Sheehan parts ways with Ampeg?

[JimmyM]

Ampeg has a new "Heritage Series" with better quality - you would think if the quality was the only thing this might have held him. Unless - poor quality overall with his name was an issue.

But I doubt that was the only issue. Hartke is not a high quality brand or even the Ampeg level. Last I heard at least.

Maybe he wants to stay USA made - Hartke is last I heard.

Or maybe Ampeg just ain't payin' the big bucks anymore.

hartke makes a lot of stuff in china. however, even though their amps aren't exactly the greatest amps ever made, their hydrive cabs are extremely good and way better than anything else they ever made.

 

[rmkesler]

I dig that he's got sticky dot's on it, to preserve preferred settings. That's pretty cool Too bad I don't have the $800 to start it off.

Yeah, I thought the dots were neat. (and noted them for posterity sake.)

 

[Metal Mitch]

just don't go all tom cruise insane and think you know everything about everything.

this should be in the TalkBass TOS

 

[Handyman]

hey, it ain't my thing but whatever gets you through the night, you know? just don't go all tom cruise insane and think you know everything about everything. jeez, what a complete nutcase he's become!

I heard Tom Cruise doesn't use an SVT, either.

 

[zagralin_arf]

Niether the time nor place to bash Scientoligists...but.... I'm no fan...but look for Billy Sheehan Scientology on youtube and there is a 4 part candid interview outside a protest he did. He was a lot more humble about it than most celebrities are. Sure a few moments are the classic "AAAH! Gotcha!" But again...this isn't the place. I bring it up because he is a genuine person when it comes to almost everything...and his stance on those videos are evidence. If Tom Cruise were like that...I wouldn't have pirated The Last Samurai.

As for my OP I can't find an official article. Its just the posts Billy made and the eBay listings. I figured he would go to Hartke if anything else...just hard to imagine the guy with anything but an SVT behind him.

 

[Korladis]

listen, i play rented ampegs all the time, and other than the brief period where that slappy college boy moron jaime engen ran ampeg (he got fired a year and a half ago), the quality is no worse or better than at any time in their history. as a matter of fact, the cabs are a LOT better than the slm cabs from 2000 on.

what made billy switch are probably one of two things...

1. moving to china left a bad taste in some endorsees' mouths. i know for a fact that justin meldal-johnsen left ampeg because of it.

B. the slappy college boy moron jaime engen completely decimated the artists relations department and fired the people their then-current endorsee roster liked. which probably means they weren't making with the free gear like they used to, and it's very possible they weren't making with the special needs stuff that billy wanted, like eden speakers.

Hey, I'm a college boy, too! But I've got some sense of ethics...

But yeah, the second one especially would probably piss off a lot of endorsees. Most of them probably had good working relationships with the artists relations departments. People don't like it when someone comes in and screws up everything they liked.

 

[odin70]

Or maybe Ampeg just ain't payin' the big bucks anymore.

+1

 

[Johnny Crab]

Billy just posted on all his network pages that he had a bunch of gear going up on ebay

Billy gave out the auction numbers on his MySpace bulletins, too. I think it's probably legit.

Ya'll got links?

 

[zagralin_arf]

Check my op for one auction, then hit up the sellers other items and you can see them all.

 

[MNAirHead]

Ampeg has a new "Heritage Series" with better quality - you would think if the quality was the only thing this might have held him. Unless - poor quality overall with his name was an issue.

But I doubt that was the only issue. Hartke is not a high quality brand or even the Ampeg level. Last I heard at least.

Maybe he wants to stay USA made - Hartke is last I heard.

Or maybe Ampeg just ain't payin' the big bucks anymore.

Do they make Yamaha in the USA?

 

[Jamie_Funk]

Radical thought - maybe he just wants a change?

J

 

[Savage_Dreams]

it doesnt say anywhere that hes dumped ampeg.

"Cleaning out one of my storage lockers"

theres a few ampeg things listed, as well as alvarez, taylor, yamaha, a POD. gee....maybe hes just giving up music. people read way too much into things. if he was really dumping ampeg im sure there would be a lot more gear there than whats listed.

 

[JimmyM]

no, it said in the 4 pro auction that he did leave ampeg.

 

[LilRay]

INVENTORY #2111

BRAND-Ampeg

MODEL-SVT-4 PRO

......................................................................................

INVENTORY #2144

BRAND-Ampeg

MODEL-SVT 810E


DESCRIPTION/LINK-Up for auction here is a USA made SVT-810E Bass cabinet owned by famed bass player Billy Sheehan. Billy recently parted ways with Ampeg and we are fortunate to be able to present for auction all of his Ampeg gear. Please see our current and coming auctions for SVT-4 Pro Heads, guitars and related gear.



DESCRIPTION/LINK-Up for auction here is a USA made SVT-4 PRO Head owned and used by famed bass player Billy Sheehan. Billy recently parted ways with Ampeg and we are fortunate to be able to present for auction all of his Ampeg gear. Please see our current and coming auctions for 8x10 cabinets, guitars and related gear.



Copied direct from the auctions



God Bless, Ray

 

[JAUQO III-X]

All I saw were the 810's. Ampeg seems to be dropping/losing artist left and right. Quality may have gone to the crapper

but I wouldn't think that would cause their EA deals to go sour.

Why not?

 

[Savage_Dreams]

ok...i didnt read the auctions. i just couldnt even think of looking at the auctions because i have no money right now...argh

maybe will get a chance to see a new version of his preamp with whatever company he goes with. i love my svp-bsp but had to buy one used. i dont know what i would do if it ever croaks. theyre damn hard to come by.

 

[LarkinLondon]

Hopefully he slips in a copy of the Scientology: Spells and Potions for Dummies book in the padded cover.

 

[LilRay]

Why not?

Well Jauqo, My assumption would be(Yes I know about assuming) that companies such as Loud/Ampeg that offer a player an "Endorsing Artist" platform would not only keep the EA fully functioning equipment(above mass produced quality) but also keep them as content as possible in the EA contract. I don't believe Mr. Sheehan has any personal concern for Loud/Ampeg's current quality(as far as his equipment is concerned).

Although I'm not an EA for any company and I know you have several you represent, I do have what I believe to be a decent amount of common sense(I hope). My common sense tells me that Loud is generating revenue on Sheehan's representation and Sheehan has had benefit. And it'd be uncommon yet not impossible for Mr Sheehan to take the moral stance of ending his EA contract simply due to poor quality output to the general public by Loud.

Maybe you can share some insight for guys like me who aren't EA's as far as the inner workings of an EA relationship.

Just my opinion.

God Bless, Ray

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Well Jauqo, My assumption would be(Yes I know about assuming) that companies such as Loud/Ampeg that offer a player an "Endorsing Artist" platform would not only keep the EA fully functioning equipment(above mass produced quality) but aalso keep them as content as possible in the EA contract. I don't believe Mr. Sheehan has any personal concern for Loud/Ampeg's current quality.

Although I'm not an EA for any company and I know you have several you represent, I do have what I believe to be a decent amount of common sense(I hope). My common sense tells me that Loud is generating revenue on Sheehan's representation and Sheehan has had benefit. And it'd be uncommon yet not impossible for Mr Sheehan to take the moral stance of ending his EA contract simply due to poor quality output to the general public by Loud.

Maybe you can share some insight for guys like me who aren't EA's as far as the inner workings of an EA relationship.

Just my opinion.

God Bless, Ray

It varies how a company deals with it's endorsing artists. And believe me, there are so many variations.



Sometimes a new guy(corporate suit) comes along and knows nothing about artist relations or how to actually deal with people to begin with. Some times that artist relations person might not like the music of a particular artist endorsing the product and decides that that artist has to go. And simply stops supporting the artist. A lot of artist who where poster artist for Ampeg are no longer using the brand.

That in and of itself should tell the bass playing community something.

 

[LilRay]

It varies how a company deals with it's endorsing artists. And believe me, there are so many variations.



Sometimes a new guy(corporate suit) comes along and knows nothing about artist relations or how to actually deal with people to begin with. Some times that artist relations person might not like the music of a particular artist endorsing the product and decides that that artist has to go. And simply stops supporting the artist..

No support from the parent company would be my first reason for departure (If I were an EA). From what I gather Loud has managed the entire situation poorly.

A lot of artist who where poster artist for Ampeg are no longer using the brand.

That in and of itself should tell the bass playing community something.

That's EXACTLY what I was referring to when I noted the loss of artists in my earlier post.

IMO the bottom line is A companies long standing reputation can be quickly ruined not only noted by the current situation at Loud but many other companies who have ceased production.

All the horror stories reguarding all facets of Loud simply tells me to look elsewhere for gear.

God Bless, Ray