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EBS scaling back amp portfolio...

A

AlexanderB

Feb 25, 2007
4,204
2,181
Sweden
#1
It has been a while since I noticed on their home page (bass.se), but suspecting maintenance or something else, I decided to wait. However, as it seems now, they have actually phased out the amps produced in Sweden. The Fafner and TD660 are gone, and for a while, I think also the HD360 was flagged "discontinued". However, there was a link to a final "anniversary" HD360 with different graphics?

The "regular" Reidmar is also gone!

What remains:
- the new Reidmar 502 (China)
- the Reidmar 750 (China)
- the Classic 500 (China)
- and maybe the HD360 (made in Sweden?).

It could be the HD360 will remain in the homepage until stocks are depleted?

Or maybe I am all wrong about the predictions? I really hope they will still have something a bit more refined in their line-up than the Reidmar...

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#2
AlexanderB said:
It has been a while since I noticed on their home page (bass.se), but suspecting maintenance or something else, I decided to wait. However, as it seems now, they have actually phased out the amps produced in Sweden. The Fafner and TD660 are gone, and for a while, I think also the HD360 was flagged "discontinued". However, there was a link to a final "anniversary" HD360 with different graphics?

The "regular" Reidmar is also gone!

What remains:
- the new Reidmar 502 (China)
- the Reidmar 750 (China)
- the Classic 500 (China)
- and maybe the HD360 (made in Sweden).

It could be the HD360 will remain in the homepage until stocks are depleted?
Click to expand...
What would you attribute this to?
 
#3
Jeff Scott said:
What would you attribute this to?
Click to expand...

Supply and demand? Or, the lack of?

EBS makes some very nice, reliable gear, with their own profile and approach. Still, their amps do not hold their value that well in the home market. We typically see the HD350/HD360 second hand for less than a used SVT 350/450 or at Hartke LH prices!

No affiliaton, just a long term owner.
 
#5
I've never owned any EBS gear, but have played some of their amps over the years. Very likely, cost of production and (probably) diminishing profits (greed, comes into play here, too - see Ampeg, for one example) forced their hand to go overseas, an unfortunate situation that many companies have faced/are facing in our increasingly money-hungry world.

One of the amps I've played through (not me, but that is a bass I used to own).
Mark-Walker_1200_6415.jpg
 
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#6
This reply isn't meant to be definitive of where the new topography is headed but there is a guy named Thomas Blug who has an amp named the BluGuitar Amp1 which is 100 watts of hybrid (tube and SS) into a large pedal format.
One can imagine a bass version on its way.

 
#7
Jeff Scott said:
I've never owned any EBS gear, but have played some of their amps over the years. Very likely, cost of production and (probably) diminishing profits (greed, comes into play here, too - see Ampeg, for one example) forced their hand to go overseas, an unfortunate situation that many companies have faced/are facing in our increasingly money-hungry world.

One of the amps I've played through (not me, but that is a bass I used to own).
View attachment 3520698
Click to expand...

A smaller company like EBS better have a very devoted group of customers, that are keen on buying new gear ever so often, just because there is something new and cool. Or they could have some "niche" products, like the Avalon U5, that "everybody" wants. Or they could be always the "trendsetter in new technology", like LabGruppen or tc electronics.
Or something else (lightest gear, loudest gear, most refined gear...) I really like EBS, but I think they do nothing of the above.

Making well designed, reliable, "easy to use" gear that will last for many, many years is maybe not a strong enough business model, even if you resort to Asian production and modularisation of your product(ion) setup.
 
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#8
AlexanderB said:
Oh... By the way, it does not really say "made in Sweden" on the HD360, which it did on the 660!
Click to expand...

The 30th anniversary edition was supposed to be a run of just 50 units. That does not exactly sound like Chinese mass production although what do I know really... If you download the manual and zoom on the image of the back of the amp it says "designed and manufactured by EBS Sweden", oh, also there is a photo on the site here: Invalid Link Removed Makes me think HD360 is still made in Sweden. Or was if it is discontinued.
 
#9
a-37 said:
The 30th anniversary edition was supposed to be a run of just 50 units. That does not exactly sound like Chinese mass production although what do I know really... If you download the manual and zoom on the image of the back of the amp it says "designed and manufactured by EBS Sweden", oh, also there is a photo on the site here: Invalid Link Removed Makes me think HD360 is still made in Sweden. Or was if it is discontinued.
Click to expand...

The operative word being "BY", as in "manufactured BY EBS Sweden"... The same text is also on the front panel of TD660. (And on the clearly China made Reidmar 750 as well!) No mentioning of the actual country of manufacture... However, on the REAR panel of the TD660, the text is "designed and manufactured entirely in Sweden".

Edit: Cannot make the links or pics work on the stupid iPhone...
 
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#10
AlexanderB said:
The operative word being "BY", as in "manufactured BY EBS Sweden"... The same text is also on the front panel of TD660. (And on the clearly China made Reidmar 750 as well!) No mentioning of the actual country of manufacture... However, on the REAR panel of the TD660, the text is "designed and manufactured entirely in Sweden".

Edit: Cannot make the links or pics work on the stupid iPhone...
Click to expand...
Both Reidmars also have "made in China" or "made in PRC" printed on the back. 360 does not. Front of the current models such as the 750 say "developed and designed entirely by EBS Sweden" while in the past as you mention for the older models, it used to be "designed and manufactured". I still think 360 is actually made in Sweden. (I have a Made in China Reidmar myself and no EBS affiliation, no real knowledge, just curious.)
 

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#11
I think the fairly low interest activity in this thread shows that there is a limited interest in the amplifiers offered by EBS... While it is if course not uplifting to see, I think it just shows how market responds to recent technology development.

As various "super singles" (high performance FRFR cabs) are getting ever more popular with discriminating and well-off players, there is a rising demand for light AND small amps that crank out hefty power into 8 Ohms. "Full size" EBS amps have rather modest output into 8 Ohms, and while Reidmar 750 is a better amp for 8Ohm operation, it is fairly wide and deep for a "class D" amp. It is also not super well known, and could be mixed up with the regular Reidmar, further reducing market penetration.

To compare with Markbass; noone can mistake the Ninja 1000 or Marcus limited 1000 for an LMIII!
 
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#12
I recall that EBS gear always got high praise in reviews in Bass Player (and other) magazines, so it is most like a market driven issue. Also, keep in mind that a large part of the market is in the US where EBS products are more expensive, perhaps?
 
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#13
With other made in USA class D amplifiers getting very affordable, the made in Sweden amps seems pricey for what they offer. A few years ago, it was not the case and they were more in the same price range as other made in USA amps IMHO. Never tried their Class-D, but the Sweden line is (was) very unique sounding (in a good way!)
 
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#16
EBS make great gear, but it is disappointing to see them going over to China for manufacture when the Swedish stuff has been held in high regard for so long. However, with the flood of new 'boutique' amps into the market over the past few years, EBS have rather suffered. It's a difficult marketplace for an amp builder that is neither 'new kid on the block' or 'industry standard'.
 
#18
Well, it says "designed and manufactured by" (company name) EBS Sweden AB. So that could mean anything. I really hate that companies can't just be honest and open about where their stuff is made. Like, no **** it was designed in Sweden. I really thought you were paying some unskilled labor 30 cents an hour to design bass amps for you. Whatever market choices you've made, just own it.

But integrity and customer service are dying arts ("coincidentally" occurring right alongside the rise of outsourcing).
 

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