• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Head: Valkyrie from Baer Amps... Thoughts?

#223
It's definitely been a challenging year for us, but we are getting closer to having the gear available. We will be sharing a booth at NAMM with Nordstrand Guitars and Skjold Design and should be showing the production versions of the cabs as well as the final amp prototypes. The amp front panel had to be redesigned, due to manufacturing issues with the old design and there were a couple other improvements we wanted to make internally as well, but I feel the amp looks and sounds even better than before. Cabs should be available sometime shortly after NAMM.

In retrospect, we should have waited before showing our stuff at NAMM last January. We really only went with the intent to gauge the bass communities response to what we were doing before going forward with such a huge investment. We never expected the gear to get such a warm response. That combined with the fact that a TB'er discovered the website within about 2 minutes of it going online while our web design company was testing the site, got the hype train going way sooner than we had planned on. Live and learn. Things are moving forward, more slowly than I would like, but we're getting there!
 
#224
R Baer said:
It's definitely been a challenging year for us, but we are getting closer to having the gear available. We will be sharing a booth at NAMM with Nordstrand Guitars and Skjold Design and should be showing the production versions of the cabs as well as the final amp prototypes. The amp front panel had to be redesigned, due to manufacturing issues with the old design, but I feel the amp looks even better than before. Cabs should be available sometime shortly after NAMM.

In retrospect, we should have waited before showing our stuff at NAMM last January. We really only went with the intent to gauge the bass communities response to what we were doing before going forward with such a huge investment. We never expected the gear to get such a warm response. That combined with the fact that a TB'er discovered the website within about 2 minutes of it going online while our web company was testing the site, got the hype train going way sooner than we had planned on. Live and learn. Things are moving forward, more slowly than I would like, but we're getting there!
Click to expand...



Still pumped to see the production amp, and hear some reviews. Glad things are still going ahead.


-RTK
 
#226
R Baer said:
In retrospect, we should have waited before showing our stuff at NAMM last January. We really only went with the intent to gauge the bass communities response to what we were doing before going forward with such a huge investment. We never expected the gear to get such a warm response. That combined with the fact that a TB'er discovered the website within about 2 minutes of it going online while our web design company was testing the site, got the hype train going way sooner than we had planned on. Live and learn. Things are moving forward, more slowly than I would like, but we're getting there!
Click to expand...

While I'm usually quite critical of long 'pre announcements' before a new product is actually ready to ship, a small company just starting out gets a pass from me IMO. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to 'start from scratch', and also not really having much of a budget to get the word out. It would be pretty tough for a company starting out to keep totally quiet about the product, sink all those fixed costs into development and the first production run, and only then let potential customers know that the product exists.

Your process of showing prototypes at NAMM, 'gently' generating a bit of buzz on TB from 'early adopters and gear heads', and then keeping potential customers updated on progress seems reasonable to me.

I like your entire approach, and also your design philosophy. I can't say that I'd personally ever carry a large, relatively heavy head around any more, but that's just me. And, who knows! I sure do look forward to checking your head and cabs out.:bassist:

I really respect companies like yours, Duke's Audiokinesis, Jim Bergantino's, Roger Sadowsky, Carey Nordstrand, etc.... high quality products, very little 'marketing hype' or talking other people's stuff down, clear communication on performance, price, etc., and a respect for people who ask questions or that even dislike the design goals you chose, etc.

Nice!
 
#227
KJung said:
While I'm usually quite critical of long 'pre announcements' before a new product is actually ready to ship, a small company just starting out gets a pass from me IMO. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to 'start from scratch', and also not really having much of a budget to get the word out. It would be pretty tough for a company starting out to keep totally quiet about the product, sink all those fixed costs into development and the first production run, and only then let potential customers know that the product exists.

Your process of showing prototypes at NAMM, 'gently' generating a bit of buzz on TB from 'early adopters and gear heads', and then keeping potential customers updated on progress seems reasonable to me.

I like your entire approach, and also your design philosophy. I can't say that I'd personally ever carry a large, relatively heavy head around any more, but that's just me. And, who knows! I sure do look forward to checking your head and cabs out.:bassist:

I really respect companies like yours, Duke's Audiokinesis, Jim Bergantino's, Roger Sadowsky, Carey Nordstrand, etc.... high quality products, very little 'marketing hype' or talking other people's stuff down, clear communication on performance, price, etc., and a respect for people who ask questions or that even dislike the design goals you chose, etc.

Nice!
Click to expand...

+ 1 ... and if I can quote "her" from last night ... KEEP GOING!!!!!!!!! :) Cheers.
 
#228
Big as as Big does;)

I get your point, but, one man's micro is another man's light...

I've had a few micro heads that were ok, more or less, but none that float my boat. Maybe there's one out there now, but I haven't laid hands on the two that interest me, yet.

Right now, Walkabout and M9 seems "micro enough" compared to some of the junk I used to schlepp. 13lbs. 25lbs...not too bad. Not 3lbs either, and I get that...

I have an empty three space rack, loaded with a tuner and cables, waiting for Rogers rig. It "reads well" to me.

I echo your sentiments on how this is being approached by Roger, 100%.

KJung said:
While I'm usually quite critical of long 'pre announcements' before a new product is actually ready to ship, a small company just starting out gets a pass from me IMO. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to 'start from scratch', and also not really having much of a budget to get the word out. It would be pretty tough for a company starting out to keep totally quiet about the product, sink all those fixed costs into development and the first production run, and only then let potential customers know that the product exists.

Your process of showing prototypes at NAMM, 'gently' generating a bit of buzz on TB from 'early adopters and gear heads', and then keeping potential customers updated on progress seems reasonable to me.

I like your entire approach, and also your design philosophy. I can't say that I'd personally ever carry a large, relatively heavy head around any more, but that's just me. And, who knows! I sure do look forward to checking your head and cabs out.:bassist:

I really respect companies like yours, Duke's Audiokinesis, Jim Bergantino's, Roger Sadowsky, Carey Nordstrand, etc.... high quality products, very little 'marketing hype' or talking other people's stuff down, clear communication on performance, price, etc., and a respect for people who ask questions or that even dislike the design goals you chose, etc.

Nice!
Click to expand...
 
#229
Wanted to say thank you to everyone that visited the booth at NAMM. It was great to meet some of you in person. Also a special thank you to Carey Nordstrand and Pete Skjold for letting me share a booth with their amazing instruments!
 
#234
I could only find one video and you can't really hear anything distinguishable. Not a slam, just the dull tones that the guys were using. I am so sick of hearing slap. It's been done. How many of these guys have this crazy slap technique and then when they switch to the bread and butter finger style, they still try to play fast and all you hear is clackity clack. Im really looking forward to hearing some good clips of Roger's gear.
 
#235
I don't think it's a matter of the tone the guys were using. The acoustics at NAMM leave a lot to be desired and the audio you are hearing was from a camcorder microphone...also not good. We really didn't have any of the flashy slap guys at our booth. We were very lucky in that all the players that stopped by the booth were awesome players that know how to hold down a groove.

When we get the first production run of cabs in, I will try and come up with a couple sound clips... keeping in mind that I'm not a big fan of sound clips. IMO, they can be made to sound like anything you want them to sound like. The player, bass, strings, recording gear and playback speakers all have as much of an impact on the sound you are hearing as the cabinet and amp does. Maybe we can find a way to do a couple clips that actually provides some reference.
 
#236
R Baer said:
I don't think it's a matter of the tone the guys were using. The acoustics at NAMM leave a lot to be desired and the audio you are hearing was from a camcorder microphone...also not good. We really didn't have any of the flashy slap guys at our booth. We were very lucky in that all the players that stopped by the booth were awesome players that know how to hold down a groove.

When we get the first production run of cabs in, I will try and come up with a couple sound clips... keeping in mind that I'm not a big fan of sound clips. IMO, they can be made to sound like anything you want them to sound like. The player, bass, strings, recording gear and playback speakers all have as much of an impact on the sound you are hearing as the cabinet and amp does. Maybe we can find a way to do a couple clips that actually provides some reference.
Click to expand...
i don't disagree with this. but it's a necessary evil in this day and age.
 
#237
Chef said:
Big as as Big does;)

I get your point, but, one man's micro is another man's light...

I've had a few micro heads that were ok, more or less, but none that float my boat. Maybe there's one out there now, but I haven't laid hands on the two that interest me, yet.

Right now, Walkabout and M9 seems "micro enough" compared to some of the junk I used to schlepp. 13lbs. 25lbs...not too bad. Not 3lbs either, and I get that...

I have an empty three space rack, loaded with a tuner and cables, waiting for Rogers rig. It "reads well" to me.

I echo your sentiments on how this is being approached by Roger, 100%.
Click to expand...

I'm on the same page. I've been attracted to the featherweight stuff, but after auditions this week, I'm staying put with conventional designs.

I am not willing to even think about a compromise in tone. Not going there. As an artist our tone is our voice. What, want to compromise that for a few pounds? I don't.

Moving an amp that weighs 25 pounds IS NOT A BIG DEAL.

Roger's designs are something I'd love to give whirl. His thinking makes sense.









I really want to hear Roger's stuff.
 
#238
Congratulations, Roger! I wish you almost all the success in the world... just leave me a few cab customers...

And thanks for your encouragement and support of my little venture, even long before I knew we were destined to be fishing in the same pond. You are a true gentleman.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back