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Man, prices for amps nowadays are insane.

Mounting the head to a cabinet is still close enough to $2k unfortunately, I've looked at this several times.

Costs of truly premium components have gone up a lot, premium Neo speakers especially. This is just one of the challenges...
Thanks.

Okay some folks may think it is crazy, since I have used a Fishman Loudbox Mini for pracxtice, I actually used a Mesa Rosetta Combo because I forgot my bass amp and the host of a mostly acoustic jam let me used that instead even though he has Roland Keyboard amp. It sounded great and I was careful. It was loud enough and the drummer was also very controlled,. Apparently he uses it even with his keyboards.

Do you have to redo the boards, can the D350 work or you have to add more features for differentiation. I am sure you will surprise us. I am guessing your loyal customers will tolerate more than 2X the price of a Markbass or Ampeg combo, or maybe not.
 
Mounting the head to a cabinet is still close enough to $2k unfortunately, I've looked at this several times.

Costs of truly premium components have gone up a lot, premium Neo speakers especially. This is just one of the challenges...
From your post on this thread my guess of Combo being Mesa's surprise product this Summer you mentioned is slim and none :)

GK MB series has 200 watt 1x12 for $799 and mention CaB is built and manufactured in US with Ceramic driver not Amp and can't add extension speaker[they discontinued MBP powered extension that was available with special output on back of Combo Amp]

They also have 500 watt at 4 ohm 2x10 version where you can add extension for $1199

To compete in 'price conscious' Combo market a Mesa Combo may have to come from same place as new Preamp Pedal; not sure if that's a good Idea

Yes there are a few companies selling Combo's from $1800 to 3500; Demeter, Fuchs, GK, Fender ACB, PJB Again not sure getting in that market would be best for Mesa

The Genzler 'Pseudo' Combo's are about $100-150 approx. less than buying separates [MG-12 V/ BA 110] not really cost conscious

Music Gear cost nowadays is in line with everything else Rent/new homes, New Auto's/Parts and Repairs, Groceries, Etc
Don't want to know what I just paid for Tree Removal of 4 trees' and stump/root grinding[ but it was cool watching it be done with remote control Grapple Saw arm and truck] Lets say I could have bought a Sadowsky NYC:)
 
Totally agree. Not just amps but standalone cabinets too.
I found a great way around it though. I was totally frustrated with the sound of class D heads and the neo-cabs so I sold them all and over the year I purchased several old school amps and cabinets at great prices (Eden WT-550 @ $400, GK 400RB @ $175 and GK 1001RB @ $425 and a Berg XT112 cab @ $300, Berg HT210 cab @ $250 and a Peavey 410TX cab @ $100).
I couldn't be happier!

View attachment 7485301View attachment 7485302

View attachment 7485304
That 400RB was and is a great amp.
 
You are correct, it's not small… it's tiny.

I've looked at built in compressors in our amps several times, but one player's favorite is another player's worst choice… too divisive IME.
Yep. There are so many quality pedal compressors of various flavors it's a losing proposition.

I've mentioned elsewhere that adding a bunch of functionality/tech to what is at its heart a pretty basic tool isn't appealing to me. Simple things like a usb power source and an onboard high pass filter, on the other hand, are fantastic.
 
Thanks.

Okay some folks may think it is crazy, since I have used a Fishman Loudbox Mini for pracxtice, I actually used a Mesa Rosetta Combo because I forgot my bass amp and the host of a mostly acoustic jam let me used that instead even though he has Roland Keyboard amp. It sounded great and I was careful. It was loud enough and the drummer was also very controlled,. Apparently he uses it even with his keyboards.

Do you have to redo the boards, can the D350 work or you have to add more features for differentiation. I am sure you will surprise us. I am guessing your loyal customers will tolerate more than 2X the price of a Markbass or Ampeg combo, or maybe not.
The Rosette combo makes a great upright amp when used at reasonable volume, and makes an ok bass amp at reasonable volume too but not ideal. The Rosette was discontinued because it was WAY too expensive at $1,399, at $999 it was a viable contender.

2X the price of Markbass or Ampeg would make me nervous, above that would be a real challenge I would think, May never know for sure.

From your post on this thread my guess of Combo being Mesa's surprise product this Summer you mentioned is slim and none :)

GK MB series has 200 watt 1x12 for $799 and mention CaB is built and manufactured in US with Ceramic driver not Amp and can't add extension speaker[they discontinued MBP powered extension that was available with special output on back of Combo Amp]

They also have 500 watt at 4 ohm 2x10 version where you can add extension for $1199

To compete in 'price conscious' Combo market a Mesa Combo may have to come from same place as new Preamp Pedal; not sure if that's a good Idea

Yes there are a few companies selling Combo's from $1800 to 3500; Demeter, Fuchs, GK, Fender ACB, PJB Again not sure getting in that market would be best for Mesa

The Genzler 'Pseudo' Combo's are about $100-150 approx. less than buying separates [MG-12 V/ BA 110] not really cost conscious

Music Gear cost nowadays is in line with everything else Rent/new homes, New Auto's/Parts and Repairs, Groceries, Etc
Don't want to know what I just paid for Tree Removal of 4 trees' and stump/root grinding[ but it was cool watching it be done with remote control Grapple Saw arm and truck] Lets say I could have bought a Sadowsky NYC:)
I think you are seeing the challenges of doing this. Yes, everything is going up, and with less disposable income I understand the reluctance to spend $2k or even $1.5k on a bass combo. This is exactly what I am seeing in the messages I get too, and I really appreciate the perspectives.
 
Totally agree. I won't name names, but I saw one boutique builder top the 10k mark on new builds recently and as recently as 5 years ago this brand wasn't anywhere near that.

+1!

Not long ago I stopped even contemplating new equipment.

At the time a decent 1x15" driver loaded cabinet started selling for over 1K, a decent 2x10" driver loaded cab at twelve hundred plus, I decided to pass, (for me), I thought the price exceeded the value.
 
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I'm … just flabbergated at prices nowadays

Serious question: Because they're so expensive, or because they're so cheap?

Back in 2020 I bought a tc electronic BQ500 head for something like $375 or $400.
This month a bunch of folks on the jazz guitar.be website have been spooging over the fact that you can get a BQ500 for less than $200 now.

Yeah, I'm flabbergasted too…
 
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You just have to come up with a way to mount your heads on your cabs like Genzler and Ai toward the end did. Although mostly used by DB players, AI combos after 25 years or even more, are still working and being used. I met a guy with a first gen contra and using them on acoustic and country band gigd. My Series III is already 20 years old and is on it's second Moradian bag. Yeah a lot of use to need a second bag.. When it dies I have Series IV + and a Doebleshot cab and then use that actively. Maybe I'll be dead before they die.

I agree that the ideal solution to this issue of the "2000 dollar combo problem" Agedhorse is talking about is making a bracket system to connect amps to cabs. Genzler does it for a couple cabs with their 350 watt head, but they could probably come up with a way to generalize it to more of their lineup. There's another amp maker (I can't remember who now) who has a magnet system to marry their amps and cabs, which is a useful middle ground for tilting them back on gigs. Being able to buy the components separately and then use them separately makes spending that kind of money more practical as well.

I will say that I do struggle with the extremely expensive combos where the head can't be removed. I wouldn't want to spend that kind of money for that lack of flexibility. I bought a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 12t combo, and don't even own the 12t cab anymore because I prefer the amp with other cabs. Also, one part the combo it breaks out of warranty you might have an extremely expensive brick on your hands.
 
Man, wait till you guys hit the gas pump...
IMG_3725.jpeg
 
The cost, and the willingness (and/or ability) of players willing to pay what it costs to build such products in the US and Europe is why we haven't been able to offer our amp/cabinet concepts at a price players are willing to pay.

The appetite for a $2k combo is very limited. I have looked at option after option, received over a hundred "strong" opinions from TB members who have advocated for light weight combos that are high quality but not necessarily Subway quality.

So far, I haven't been successful at an acceptable solution, but I am always open to hearing more suggestions.
I wish I had something that would help.
 
My perspective is: Everything, product-related is contingent upon the concept of Supply and Demand. The salient issue is the pumping of trillions of dollars into the economy during the early 2020's. This has reduced the value of the dollar by about 60% (my guess).

The spot-price of gold is the best indicator of the purchasing power of the dollar. Today, that rests just above $4,600, down from a high of over 5k. Prior to 2020, it was mostly below $1,500.

Outside of that, we have an old saying on TB: Cheap, lightweight, good . . . Pick 2. I'm kinda a fan of spending once for durability, features, and quality. That's why I use Mesa Subway components, along with Barefaced cabs on occasion.

I have a Fender Rumble 200 combo which a friend has been using for several years as a practice amp, but it never impressed me either for sound or quality of construction. He recently reported that it's cutting out on him intermittently, and has been used almost exclusively as a home practice amp.
 

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