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Tech 21 lost their minds?

Nephilymbass

Nephilymbass

Feb 7, 2011
10,785
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Fayetteville/ Ft Bragg, NC
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#1
So I've been exploring YouTube checking out all the latest namm videos and stuff. Came across a video for the new tech 21 Dug head. Seems like a lot of what many is us want. It's got build in crossovers clean and dirty channels and a blend of both. Simple compressor. I watched the video like i might have to get one of these. Then he said the price.. Over $1,800!!! Seriously? Seems like our money isn't worth anything anymore. I mean you can buy the individual components and build the signal chain yourself for less money and have more flexibility. For example the dirty channel is essentially a guitar sans amp. I already have a gt2 and an RBI. And the gt2 has several flavors or dirt. I just don't see why this amp has to be so expensive. It doesn't have a single tube in it. I mean were not talking an all tube svt, 400+ or anything. What makes it so expensive?
 
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#3
Maybe, they might not and they might discontinue it after a short run because i know for me my RBI gt2 and crown XLs 1500 all put together cost about half as much as the dug head. Don't get me wrong im interested in it. But I'll more likely wait and try to find one used a year or two down the road . If it was a grand or less if have been one of the first to have one.
 
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#6
Is it the "street" price or the "list" price (sorry, can't do the youtubes here at the widget factory).

And while I am all for buying Made in the USA, that does seem a lot of $$$ for a 2 channel amp head, assuming it's the street price. I'm not familiar with Tech 21's previous amplification efforts, but their pedals and such don't seem ridiculously priced...
 
#8
their amplifiers are handmade to order...yes, it's part of their product line, but there is no assembly line per se...it's definitely a unique item...i might be going out on a limb and i could be totally wrong, but i'm pretty sure you would be remiss to say you could just stack a couple of their rack preamps on top of a power amp and think you're going to be close to this head
 
#10
It's very unique and the street price will probably be a lot less. Need more info, like from real buyers. I've always been intrigued by their heads but my Carvin BX1200 does it all for me so....
 
#12
callofcthulhu said:
If the dirty pre and/or power stage was tube I'd probably be tempted.

I hope they release a pedal version for like 1/5th or 1/6th of the price.

The video said that $1879 was street price (not list).
Click to expand...

That's a lotta dough but people will pay for unique features and excellent quality. Maybe Tombowlus will review one at Bass Gear for us! ;)
 
#16
I was surprised Tech21 didnt bring much gear to the show. A couple of DUGs, a couple of Flyrigs, no pedals. When I spoke to Andrew about the Dug at the show, I got the impression that this was a one-off made for the artist, not necessarily going into production (the back side of one of the prototypes still said "VT Bass 1000"). Its very different sonically I think due to the HPF/LPF filters. The combined tone was an interesting grind composed of solid bottom with a distinct driven component in the upper freqs. I think this kind of like a custom-shop rig, its available if you are willing to spend the cash and part of what you are getting is rig that is not mass produced, and somewhat 'exclusive' in that sense. I was disappointed that there were no other product on display.
 
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#17
Nephilymbass said:
So I've been exploring YouTube checking out all the latest namm videos and stuff. Came across a video for the new tech 21 Dug head. Seems like a lot of what many is us want. It's got build in crossovers clean and dirty channels and a blend of both. Simple compressor. I watched the video like i might have to get one of these. Then he said the price.. Over $1,800!!! Seriously? Seems like our money isn't worth anything anymore. I mean you can buy the individual components and build the signal chain yourself for less money and have more flexibility. For example the dirty channel is essentially a guitar sans amp. I already have a gt2 and an RBI. And the gt2 has several flavors or dirt. I just don't see why this amp has to be so expensive. It doesn't have a single tube in it. I mean were not talking an all tube svt, 400+ or anything. What makes it so expensive?
Click to expand...

Inflation sucks.

Part of the cost is US labor...you have Aguilar selling their DB751's for over $2k, with just a single channel and no effects.

Another added cost is the artist (Mr Pinnick in this case), who is going to be making a small percentage of each sale.

As far as 'you could build the exact same signal chain yourself for less money and have more flexibility'....for the engineers among us that may be true, but in that case the saved cost is obviously the skilled labor, and most consumers aren't engineers.

What were you expecting it to cost? This seems about right for the current amp market, considering the prices of comparable Aguilar, Mesa, and other US made gear.
 
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