Ditto. I would buy an SVT VR MIV as long as I knew would get excellent support after the purchase.
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LOUD..going...going....GONE
- Thread starter Tony Gray
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Ditto. I would buy an SVT VR MIV as long as I knew would get excellent support after the purchase.
It's nice to see this thread getting back to what it is about, Ampeg. Please hold the discussion of Peavey and it's logo for another thread.
Found this 2005 Catalog in a pile of paperwork and magazines here in the studio at home. Couldn't resist snapping this pic with my BB and posting it up.
If we knew then what we know now
If we knew then what we know now
Hearing everyone's opinions on this subject actually helps me confront my own feelings on this issue...and makes me want to know more about product quality and the quality of life (or not) in the Asian electronics manufacturing biz - especially for US import bass products. We've done a China feature story in each issue of the mag and will continue to report from around the world to get the perspective from the other side.
Ampeg won't go under. There's too much money to be made from it. Worst case scenario is they'll sell it (actually that's the best case scenario, but you know what I mean).
Even if they did go under, I don't see used prices skyrocketing. People already generally shun the non-US stuff on the used market, yet I haven't seen prices for the US-made gear going up.
Well, that's sort of my point. You get NONE of that with these newer Ampegs. And I can say that because I have vintage Ampeg gear and I've played through new Ampeg gear and there is NO comparison.
I see very little quality control. Seems like they are more concerned with seeing how fast they can get the product out the factory door and into the store and finally into our hands. Quality control takes too much time I guess. But your point is also taken. A good amp is a good amp no matter who manufactures it.
My overall point was that Ampeg has become little more than just another name brand. A name that used to stand for quality and now stands for quantity.
It's not just overall quality control, but the quality of the individual small subcontractor knock-off components that you have to worry about.
I also have a huge problem with supporting sweatshop labor rates and then paying
more than 400% mark-up just for a Big Logo on a clearly inferior product.
I think the music community has already sent them a LOUD and clear message
that their move to Asia was a huge mistake.
I also have a huge problem with supporting sweatshop labor rates and then paying
more than 400% mark-up just for a Big Logo on a clearly inferior product.
I think the music community has already sent them a LOUD and clear message
that their move to Asia was a huge mistake.
+1 Trillion
And I'll up the anty. Show me a high quality Bass Amplifier Made in a 3rd world country. China does not fall under that anymore, there are some quality products coming out of there now.
Just picked up my SIXTH and final SVT-4PRO from GC this morning. This one arrived a week ago and came from Korea. I assume SOUTH, but you never know. 
So my collection now consists of Two USA, Two Vietnam and Two Korean units.
This tells me that the Vietnam contractor was quite possibly the assembly company that went gaflooie.
I haven't cranked this one up yet, as I need to do a lot of modifying of cabling etc to get it in the rack. I have been shaking the house with 5 running. (8:45PM NOW ITS RUNNING)
I got a 50 amp 240V circuit mounted up next to the circuit panel in the laundry room. I also made a new 6 ga 50 foot power cord for the rack that runs from the living room downstairs to the laundry.
The home remodel is taking out the dining room wall that had the old outlet for the amp. Anyway, I'm back in business as of last night.
Later this afternoon after the wife heads to work I will mount up the final amp. She doesn't know...
I've been playing my new Theremin so I have to split my time between projects.
The good news AMPEG is still delivering product.
BOB
So my collection now consists of Two USA, Two Vietnam and Two Korean units.
This tells me that the Vietnam contractor was quite possibly the assembly company that went gaflooie.
I haven't cranked this one up yet, as I need to do a lot of modifying of cabling etc to get it in the rack. I have been shaking the house with 5 running. (8:45PM NOW ITS RUNNING)
I got a 50 amp 240V circuit mounted up next to the circuit panel in the laundry room. I also made a new 6 ga 50 foot power cord for the rack that runs from the living room downstairs to the laundry.
The home remodel is taking out the dining room wall that had the old outlet for the amp. Anyway, I'm back in business as of last night.
Later this afternoon after the wife heads to work I will mount up the final amp. She doesn't know...I've been playing my new Theremin so I have to split my time between projects.
The good news AMPEG is still delivering product.
BOB
Looks like Loud killed Mackie too.
The original RCF guys bought the co back from Loud. They were originally purchased by Mackie.
The weird thing is the large majority of media placement backline is Ampeg for bass guitar, still.
The original RCF guys bought the co back from Loud. They were originally purchased by Mackie.
The weird thing is the large majority of media placement backline is Ampeg for bass guitar, still.
hasbeen
Commercial User
- Sep 23, 2004
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...if I'm not mistaken, Loud bought Mackie several years back and started making their PA stuff from China as well. (Our band leader had both USA and China Mackie equip... .)
Again, IMO, Loud thought they could do the same with Ampeg but underestimated our customer base, not to mention the other marketing blunders... .
Jimbob
Again, IMO, Loud thought they could do the same with Ampeg but underestimated our customer base, not to mention the other marketing blunders... .
Jimbob
bongomania
Commercial User
I did some Googling and couldn't find anything more recent than 2005 on the ownership of RCF. The RCF website doesn't say anything one way or the other about who owns who.
Where did you hear that Loud sold Mackie?
Loud bought Mackie and has already run it in to the ground. From Mackie or the RCF US guys last Friday.
Old RCF guys bought RCF back.
hasbeen
Commercial User
- Sep 23, 2004
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- Disclosures
- Executive Vice President, The Adam Hall Group
hmm....good to know. I'm suprised this is off my radar but, it is certainly possible.
I was looking at the Mackie sight and it looks like everything's cool.:scowl:
I was looking for a Mackie part from RCF and the RCF US rep said the Italian guys bought it back because they know what Loud does.
Mackie's trying to keep from going into bankruptcy right now. Good job Loud.
Loud is "the new Mackie".......... post Sun-Capital buyout.
Mackie went public years ago in the 90's, and was basically renamed Loud back a number of years prior to buying Ampeg. Sun Capital bought them, and still owns them, as far as I know.
Loud/Mackie bought the RCF company, and then were sold EAW since EAW was the major customer for RCF and stated that they were not going to buy from a competitor, "so buy us, or lose your investment in RCF, cuz we are moving on"..... And Mackie/Loud bought EAW. This told me by an EAW muckety-muck.
They were basically burning Jamie Engen in effigy over there in Italy, and when Loud sold them back, they were very happy.
Mackie? forget Mackie, Loud did-in EAW at least as thoroughly as they did Ampeg /SLM. They've done OK with Mackie by comparison, aside from firing the whole factory........ Ok, they messed that up too...... whatever.
Now, origins...... The Korean company that is making Ampeg stuff was operating the Vietnam factory, as I understand it. For sure the Koreans DID operate the vietnam factory, and I am told they took it back to their own place in Korea when vietnam didn't work out well.
The supplier that went bad on Loud was "Amoi", in china. They made a lot of Mackie stuff, which has been in short supply since. Supposedly Loud have a new vendor... but tooling is probably still in progress.
OTHER problems with supply are likely due to cash flow issues....... Loud doesn't exactly have the largest cash reserves at the moment, especially after having to pay for all-new molds and tooling that Amoi held on to (or never paid THEIR suppliers for).
I expect that "abandoned" Makie tooling is even now making counterfeit Mackie product in china somewhere.
Mackie went public years ago in the 90's, and was basically renamed Loud back a number of years prior to buying Ampeg. Sun Capital bought them, and still owns them, as far as I know.
Loud/Mackie bought the RCF company, and then were sold EAW since EAW was the major customer for RCF and stated that they were not going to buy from a competitor, "so buy us, or lose your investment in RCF, cuz we are moving on"..... And Mackie/Loud bought EAW. This told me by an EAW muckety-muck.
They were basically burning Jamie Engen in effigy over there in Italy, and when Loud sold them back, they were very happy.
Mackie? forget Mackie, Loud did-in EAW at least as thoroughly as they did Ampeg /SLM. They've done OK with Mackie by comparison, aside from firing the whole factory........ Ok, they messed that up too...... whatever.
Now, origins...... The Korean company that is making Ampeg stuff was operating the Vietnam factory, as I understand it. For sure the Koreans DID operate the vietnam factory, and I am told they took it back to their own place in Korea when vietnam didn't work out well.
The supplier that went bad on Loud was "Amoi", in china. They made a lot of Mackie stuff, which has been in short supply since. Supposedly Loud have a new vendor... but tooling is probably still in progress.
OTHER problems with supply are likely due to cash flow issues....... Loud doesn't exactly have the largest cash reserves at the moment, especially after having to pay for all-new molds and tooling that Amoi held on to (or never paid THEIR suppliers for).
I expect that "abandoned" Makie tooling is even now making counterfeit Mackie product in china somewhere.
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