Is Ampeg done for?

[dbsfgyd1]

I hear ya. But for the first time in forever I was really impressed and inspired by the Grammys. The whole show was an old school r&b throwback. The Bruno Mars performance featured really great songs and great bass playing.

Oh, I love Bruno Mars!! The band I work with in Pittsburgh plays classic Motown, has a horn section 5 singers. Great stuff.

 

[Rib 13]

people keep bringing up fender. I get why. But it's apples and oranges. Amplification is inherently about technology. Stringed instruments are inherently about craftsmanship. Stringed instrument technology has barely changed in 60 years, amplifier technology has changed dramatically, more than once, in that same timeframe

thats not the point: Yes, the products are apples and oranges.....A business having the knowledge to self-profile their target demographic variable isn't

 

[mexicant]

Yeah,unfortunately when I'm asked for a recommendation for a bass amp,ampeg isn't one of them. The track record and lack of innovative has definitely put a ding in the once mighty amp company. But now that yamaha owns them, their is hope for the future...just my opinion.

 

[greengoblin]

100%. I would argue that amplification technology and guitar technology are like comparing apples and oranges though. A centuries old stradivarius is probably the most precious musical instrument on the planet because instruments are inherently about artisan craftsmanship, and amps are inherently about the technology behind them. Ampeg fridge was designed at a time when technology limitations were everywhere - PA systems, home theater speakers, the vinyl medium, etc. People romanticize how things sounded "back in the day", but there's a reason why even old timers like a Paul McCartney are releasing modern "hi fi" sounding music and not music that is riddled with sonic limitations.

I disagree with you on this point and you are really comparing apples to oranges.. There is craftsmanship in all instruments and craftsmanship in technology. You compare a handmade non-electric instrument to electric amps. But there are also electric instruments. If you look at an electric bass, that has technology and some of the most popular versions haven't changed much, or at all, since they were inception. Some people add their own twists with active electronics, preamps, etc, but the most iconic basses are mostly the same today on the electric front. When you look at a stage anywhere across the USA, there is still a high probability that you will see a fridge on a high percentage of those stages or some derivative of that classic design.. Seems their sonic limitations were not really limiting.

Less than 15% of all music consumed in this country is rock music, and even less is classic rock obviously.

Interested in where you acquired this information from or is it purely personal opinion? From some of the most recent statistics I could find online, Rock and country are at the tops of the list.

people keep bringing up fender. I get why. But it's apples and oranges. Amplification is inherently about technology. Stringed instruments are inherently about craftsmanship. Stringed instrument technology has barely changed in 60 years, amplifier technology has changed dramatically, more than once, in that same timeframe

Technology is still considered a work of art and craftsmanship. What people like Aged Horse do to bring technology into a smaller package or technologically advancing it... This is a work of art. Even handwired.

 

[Skullheadrac]

Markbass took over the floor at GC because GC is their exclusive dealer in the US.

I've mostly played Markbass when it was the backline for the international gigs i played. I was never disappointed, but it was never a set up that had me jonesing to go home and buy it either. More often than not i'd run a sansamp bbdi in front of it (which i never do with any of my ampegs).

 

[pie_man_25]

You are trying to say that Ampeg hasn't caught up because their micros weigh a couple pounds more than some others?

Among other things. This thread is a bit of a series of moving goalposts and stuff that doesn't matter. I don't mind, something to think about while I go on the slow march to expiration

Honestly, as much as I like my PF head, seeing them do a bit more micro stuff or a superlight cab would be sweet - you know, something "modern-ish". Or heck, reintroducing those guitar amps that they periodically make would be interesting. I dunno, I can't make any claims about Ampeg being "done for" or not without sales figures. The only thing Yamaha can do is sit back, observe the Ampeg process, make improvements in production, logistics, and management - and make adjustements to the product roster as perceived necessary.

edit: I've said it before, Ampeg had a pretty good product roster before the Yamaha buyout. The BA series is a cool entry level product consistently cheaper than the rumbles. I tend to see them right next to each other at L&M, so they've got to be selling. The SVT will ALWAYS be there, kinda can't go away. The PF series manages most niches in between, alongside the SVT PRO series, and they've got a couple pedals to round out that niche.

 

[Honkey tonk]

When I suck it makes me feel better about my self to diss something

 

[Skullheadrac]

I really like my Ampeg SVT7-pro, and I love to play through an Ampeg 810E....when it's offered as a backline

But I think the OP has a point, and I mentioned it before on a separate thread.

Mesa, GK, Aguilar, Genzler et al. have pretty cohesive lineups of portable, lightweight and powerful gear that sounds great.

Ampeg's stuff is just older and heavier/clunkier than the competition. The PF series, IMO, is a specialty item, and it definitely doesn't work for me.

I'd love to see Ampeg update the SVT7-pro and tighten/lighten up their cabinet line. And ditch the lead sleds. I mean, really, are people still buying the SVT3-pro? It was a dog when I bought it over 20 years ago.

Let's see what Yamaha can do with them.

Start the campaign for a Yamaha SVT-9Pro

 

[3bc]

You are trying to say that Ampeg hasn't caught up because their micros weigh a couple pounds more than some others?

Are you trying to say that they have been keeping up pace with the technology employed by Mesa, Genzler, Berg, Aggy, etc. even the most diehard ampeg fans who have been roasting me aren't trying to make that argument (because even they know deep down it's a losing argument). It's all about the legacy product and those old school tones.

 

[dalkowski]

So what's the problem? Disappointed that Ampeg still exists or something?

The bear hath been poked!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I own Mesa and Genzler, but Ampeg is no slouch. Ampeg is serving a market that they know well. They still make SVTs and sell some of those. They are arguably the best bass tone ever made, but they probably make the most revenue and profit from the $499 and below combos. If anything, I'd say that the Fender Rumble owns the category known as "bass amps".

 

[3bc]

I disagree with you on this point and you are really comparing apples to oranges.. There is craftsmanship in all instruments and craftsmanship in technology. You compare a handmade non-electric instrument to electric amps. But there are also electric instruments. If you look at an electric bass, that has technology and some of the most popular versions haven't changed much, or at all, since they were inception. Some people add their own twists with active electronics, preamps, etc, but the most iconic basses are mostly the same today on the electric front. When you look at a stage anywhere across the USA, there is still a high probability that you will see a fridge on a high percentage of those stages or some derivative of that classic design.. Seems their sonic limitations were not really limiting.




Interested in where you acquired this information from or is it purely personal opinion? From some of the most recent statistics I could find online, Rock and country are at the tops of the list.



Technology is still considered a work of art and craftsmanship. What people like Aged Horse do to bring technology into a smaller package or technologically advancing it... This is a work of art. Even handwired.

So I accidentally cherry picked the first thing I saw in my google search. 2018 album sales. Rap was #1 and pop was #2, both over 20%. Rock was third at 14. Other hi

 

[Jim C]

There have been some inaccuracies in this post but here are two truths about Ampeg:

1. Yamaha bought Ampeg nearly 3 years ago and have not made any changes or added new products that the consumer is aware of.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

2. Many long time Ampeg users (myself included) are hoping that they will introduce new products as well as some possible updates on existing platforms.

 

[BassVibes]

1. The 3 Pro is still in production after 27 years, so SOMEONE is buying them, and not many amps can claim over 25 years of continuous production.

2. I sure see a hell of a lot of Ampeg being used on pro stages worldwide, so I'd say the idea that they're irrelevant nowadays is absurd.

I've had Mesa, GK D class amps but preferred the Pro 3 and V4B. For balance of weight and sound I have found nothing better. So very relevant for me.

 

[MtManiac]

Please educate me.

I am unable to assess your current level of understanding based on what you've posted here, and would not want to insult you with starting at "small sound go in, big sound go out," but why not do some reading on your own? The internet is full of about 40-50 Zettabytes of information as of a year ago, and Google has a nice tool that can be used for directing your study. I can't remember the name, by try just typing "google" in your browser address field and see if it comes up in the search results.

Here's one great article. Jump down to section 2. Your understanding seems to be focused on speaker frequency response, but missing all of the stuff about speaker excursion, reflex, baffling, wavelength reinforcement, and so on. You cannot reproduce these factors adequately with software and headphones.

Loudspeaker Enclosure Design Guidelines

Strangely, the SVT and its family of speaker cabinets are wildly popular, and have been for literally decades. Perhaps generations of experts in the music field know something that you don't?

 

[ueezb]

The reliability issues draw me away from Ampeg. While I really like SVT tube heads, I wouldn't carry around an amp that weighs as much as a Marshall 4x12 Cab anymore. We're in the age of lightweight class D amps, I'd love to see a well designed, up-to-date and made in the US class D SVT approach (similar to what Mesa does with the WD/TT or GK with the Legacy amps).

 

[drumvsbass]

As a sidenote to this conversation: I recently bought an EB Stingray HH. While shopping, I came across a used Fender Dimension HH. Knowing this was Fender's bid into the Ray market, it was electronically (including pickup wiring/Parallel and selection wiring) was identical to the Ray HH.......I plugged it in aaaand.......for whatever reason, it sounded more like a Jazz bass (I play Js so Im very familiar with what they sound like) than a Ray. It was kind of a headscratcher for me. Had it had that Ray-like sizzle that other non-EB basses can get, even without the proprietary EB Pre (such as Ibby ATKs), I wouldve snagged it (at 700 bucks, it was far less expensive than the 2K Ray I wound up getting) but it didnt deliver on its Ray promise so it went back on the wall...IMO, of course

You are unfortunately not wrong. The Dimension basses although being nice instruments didn't really sound like stingrays more like steroidy Jaco fart machines. But the Cutlass and Caprice, both did justice to what they were going for, and still failed. The marked is weird. People are weird. One mans gold is another's garbage. I once had a person look at my Zon in disgust when finding out it wasn't a Warwick??? Takes all kinds.

 

[40Hz]

Are you trying to say that they have been keeping up pace with the technology employed by Mesa, Genzler, Berg, Aggy, etc. even the most diehard ampeg fans who have been roasting me aren't trying to make that argument (because even they know deep down it's a losing argument). It's all about the legacy product and those old school tones.

I think the question really is more about if anybody cares?

What does "keeping up with technology" even mean? There are many different technologies. To an Apple fanboy, only owning the newest iPhone will do. To someone else it's just hipster posturing and yet another childish manifestation of "mine's bigger."

You're projecting your personal preferences as if they're some sort of absolute standard. Not everybody sees it your way, or feels it's their job to get into a long drawn out argument with you about Ampeg amps when, based on some of the factual errors in some in your previous postings, you're not an expert on either Ampeg amps or amplifier technology in general. And to anticipate your response- being an Ampeg player/owner doesn't make you an expert. Having experience is one thing. Possessing expertise is another.

If someone like @agedhorse or @Wasnex raised your question you can bet people here would have sat up and paid attention. However, when a VCIW tosses it out it comes across more as somebody just flame baiting. And the fact some of the people here who have made a career out of designing amps and actually have genuine expertise in electronics technology haven't raised the question you have, I think that kinda speaks volumes.

 

[Samatza]

Yamaha are are clever company, they'll do things but not mess around with the heritage of Ampeg.

I've played a few Ampeg rigs over the years and I liked them a lot. The last one I tried was the little 100W CL with 2x10" cab, it sounded great with a Spector bass.

I know a lot of people want a tiny rig that sounds huge but I'd rather carry the cabs and amp I need to satisfy the requirements of the gig and I'm no spring chicken.

I think Ampeg is safe with Yamaha, you don't buy a company just to phase it out.

 

[drumvsbass]

Ampeg isn't chasing anything, because the industry isn't done chasing Ampeg. When there were still concerts I'd guess that the big black monolith was on 9/10 stages. Ampeg is good enough to be polarizing. You are either with it or against it. But if you're against it, it isn't the companies fault for doing what they have done well. It's your own good taste. It's like, I hate The Beatles, but I don't ask why they were popular. They were good, just not my taste.