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What can we possibly expect from Yamaha taking over Ampeg?

gwangi

gwangi

Supporting Member
Jul 4, 2009
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Forbidden Valley
#1
I guess where I'm going with the title question above is will there be a total over-haul look at everything amps & cabinet wise as far as even better quality with the way Ampeg amps & cabinets are better built?
I guess what I'm trying to also say is I really hate it when amp companies use cheaper ways to build amps or cabinets to save money in the long run instead of building a quality piece of gear that will last forever.
Will the Yamaha/Ampeg cabinet versions will they maybe go back to using Baltic Birch or even something better for a even more superior cabinet design/structure, better speakers?
What about the amps, will the Yamaha/Ampeg versions have better quality electronics, tubes just everything better about the amps to be a better superior amps as well?
I guess what I'm hoping for is Yamaha making AMPEG even better than it has ever been before.
Back in the 1984 I had 2 Ampeg 810 cabinets & a SVT head the versions made in Japan in 1978 and this set-up was AMAZING!!!! I wished I still had that set-up but it seems like old age dictates that one.
 
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#5
Jim C said:
What can we expect?
Complete speculation based on players dreams and wishes.

I would think that they are still studying the buisness model, advanced marketing studies, a new buisness plan, and possible new products as well as the deletion of others.
Click to expand...

Yes I'm dreaming & wishing they make there cabinets and tube amps even better!!!!
 
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#8
I'm not 100% positive. Yamaha doesn't give products enough time. If they don't sell many units fast, they abandon them.
Examples:
The n8 and n12 digital mixers. (they were incredible good and the concept was good)
Their last attempt on bass amps and first on digital amps many years ago, the BBT series. Esp. the cabinets were very very good, still have 2 BBT-110 cabinets and like them so much. They sold them out after months, 'cause the amps had some minor problems with noise and the cabinets with Formaldehyd.
 
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#13
I would LOVE to see Yamaha add the SVT-VR into the Heritage line.

IMO Yamaha's upper end products are made with impeccable attention to detail, so I can only see them doing great things with Ampeg.

I'm pretty excited to see what Yamaha does. I suspect it may be some time before any changes are made.
 
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#14
Jim C said:
What can we expect?
Complete speculation based on players dreams and wishes.

I would think that they are still studying the buisness model, advanced marketing studies, a new buisness plan, and possible new products as well as the deletion of others.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, @Jim C
I honestly don't think Yamaha will do anything drastic. I'm not sure if anything drastic is necessary. I haven't owned an Ampeg since the SLM-era. I've tried a few LOUD-era SVTs in music stores, and to my ears, there wasn't any differences in their tone or in their appearance.

And @JimmyM has stated many times the LOUD products were on par with the SLM-era products, once they moved manufacturing from Vietnam to China.
 
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#15
noveltea93 said:
Like maybe we'll get smaller lighter amps with the same big sound, or some kind of modeling amp that features the full history of Ampeg tones
Click to expand...
Agree with everything said here so far, especially this. I'd like to see some competition in that genre, and the new Ampeg might just be the ones to do it.

Imagine a series of low, medium, and high-powered combos and separates that indeed offer all of the classic 'Peg tones. Heck, I'll just take those; you can leave out the other brands!

I'm gonna be patient though and do a wait-and-see on all that might take place. My current equipment is playing just fine, and I want this to new chapter in Ampeg's storied history to be done right.
 
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#16
I expect it to be similar to what they have done with Line 6. Fairly hands off but they seem to have identified a synergy over Variax guitars and hence the Variax Standard. Also, seeing the promotional videos for line 6 amps using Yamaha Pacifica’s (or vice versa).
 
#17
Arthur U. Poon said:
I would LOVE to see Yamaha add the SVT-VR into the Heritage line.
Click to expand...

Holy crikey!!! That would be *AWESOME*!!! I would buy one in a heartbeat! :thumbsup:

Many years ago, I owned a USA-made SVT-VR. That was the best sounding amp I have ever owned in my life (and I've had many amps since I started playing bass in 1972, including other SVT's over the years). I'm still trying to locate the malfunctioning neuron in my brain that convinced me to sell that SVT-VR! :thumbsdown:
 
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#20
My question is not so much their lineup under Yamaha, but what sort of marketing and production are they envisioning?

TELL ME they're going to go into serious production and compete with the Mesas, GK's, MarkBass, and so on, and not that they'll follow their usual 'Big NAMM Intro!---Perpetual BackOrder---NOS Blowout 2 years Later' product cycle. Break THAT chain and then later we can argue about what they did or didn't carry over, improve, etc.
 

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