Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Tech 21 lost their minds?
- Thread starter Nephilymbass
- Start date
I don't know about this amp in particular but I will say that the Landmark 600 that I use is one bad mother. It's got 2 channels that can be blended. It can go from super-modern-grindy, to old school wooley tubey warmth, to clean-crisp, to warm tubish-clean. It's loud as all hell (like rivals 300 watt tube heads). And I've never had a single issue with it. For some reason people just didn't see the value in the thing so I got it for 500 bucks used.
Tech 21 makes some seriously good stuff in the USA and the only thing I can figure on why their products wouldn't garner the dough that other boutique amp makers garner is that every guitar center in the world sells Sansamp pedals for a couple hundred bucks so people think they're "commonplace." (And to that point, the reason those things are everywhere is because they work so well)
Tech 21 makes some seriously good stuff in the USA and the only thing I can figure on why their products wouldn't garner the dough that other boutique amp makers garner is that every guitar center in the world sells Sansamp pedals for a couple hundred bucks so people think they're "commonplace." (And to that point, the reason those things are everywhere is because they work so well)
The Orange TB1000 is a grand new. It has one channel. No tubes. And is made in China.
It isn't just about the cost of labor in the US.
Their asking price includes the cost of engineering, production, marketing including endorsee payments, warranty and support, dealer profit, and Tech21NYC profit. If they don't make enough, they wouldn't offer the amp. After all that is factored in, they set the price at what they figure the market will bear and based on the competition. You'd think that sales are probably not anticipated to be high at that price but you never know. If their target market has deep pockets, the price isn't a factor.
Their asking price includes the cost of engineering, production, marketing including endorsee payments, warranty and support, dealer profit, and Tech21NYC profit. If they don't make enough, they wouldn't offer the amp. After all that is factored in, they set the price at what they figure the market will bear and based on the competition. You'd think that sales are probably not anticipated to be high at that price but you never know. If their target market has deep pockets, the price isn't a factor.
Last edited:
MDBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,892
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
That Orange TB1000 is a perfect example of my point...why were you expecting a boutique piece of gear that is handmade to order in the US to cost the same as a factory made Chinese piece of gear that is mass produced with considerably less features?
It seems like you just aren't/weren't aware of what the current retail cost of bass amps is...personally, I won't buy anything at retail price, especially considering how much of a buyers market used gear is currently.
Last edited:
MDBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,892
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
Guys don't get me wrong. I love my tech 21 gear and have used different sans amps for a decade now. I'm a fan of the brand. Just a little bummed at the price of this head. I don't mean it as an insult to tech 21. But if your a tech 21 fan you have to somewhat agree. I mean my main rig is a tech 21 sans amp RBI (maybe $300) i to a crown XLS 1500 (less then $400) so I'm already using a sans amp and a class d power amp and it cost me less than half the price of the dug head.
Sure... Now add to that a compressor, another preamp, a blend circuit between the two, variable HPF, variable LPF, a rack to hold all of it, all of the signal cables, all of the power cables, and adjust for the convenience factor of having this in a single package, the fact that this is effectively built in what could be considered their "custom shop" as a one-off (i.e. not off the shelf) item, the fact that this is a 2U as opposed the 5U (minimum) you'd wind up with going separates, and... Well.. Suddenly the price seems pretty justified.
MDBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,892
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
I'd certainly like for it to be cheaper too, but as the above post illustrates an RBI into a single power amp is nowhere near what the dUg amp actually is...considering the price points of their market competition (Mesa, Aguilar, Warwick, etc.), $1800 seems right unfortunately....if it was only $1k I would have left NAMM with one
I honestly think they wont sell well at that price point. They will realise this and it will drop.
The Landmarks sold very poorly to my knowledge.
The Landmarks sold very poorly to my knowledge.
Yep, and why is beyond me. Tech21 makes bad ass handmade in the US stuff. Why there is a public perception that Tech21 doesn't deserve the same prices as other products by the likes of Aguilar, Orange, or Mesa, which may not even be on the same level, is simply a "popularity contest" issue in my eyes.
I got a super awesome handmade amp for cheap because of this perception so, Im happy about it. Doesn't make me understand it any better though.
I don't think that they are aiming to sell a ton, that's what the pedals are for. Those landmark 300/600 are not aboundnt on the used market because I'm always looking hoping for a cheap deal. If you wanted to have a rack powered set up with the other pedals that compromise this amp you would be hauling around a lot of gear and it would cost the same or more to equal the parts. It's cool that they make a streamline system that encompases their idea of what the complete picture of their sound is packaged as in a 2u amp with out having to peice meal a ton of gear.
I thinks its as simple as they don't have a reputation as an Amp builder.
If Mesa made a bass, it wouldn't rush out the door as they are a renowned Amp company.
I am sure the Tech 21 Amps are great but they need to push lower prices amps to solidify their rep as a quality amp builder.
Not many will pay $1800 for a product line that isn't tested and proven.
If Mesa made a bass, it wouldn't rush out the door as they are a renowned Amp company.
I am sure the Tech 21 Amps are great but they need to push lower prices amps to solidify their rep as a quality amp builder.
Not many will pay $1800 for a product line that isn't tested and proven.
If these are hand built to custom order one at a time ( USA no less) these may actually be a bargain.
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
- None
Don't you mean made in America by robots maintained by a very few technicians paid a living wage?
The whole made here or there thing is garbage. Most everything in manufacturing is automated now that the labor part of the equation is a joke...
