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What can we possibly expect from Yamaha taking over Ampeg?

#41
beans-on-toast said:
The co-president of the Yamaha Guitar Group that bought Ampeg and Line-6 is the founder of Line-6.

I would expect to see integration of Line-6 digital technology into some Ampeg products. They will want to introduce something small as soon as possible. As a starter, perhaps look for a digital Ampeg pedal that competes with EHX, maybe in time for winter Namm. Major new products may not be the top priority but are certainly in the works. Some current products will be discontinued.

There will be a massive push just to set up the infastructure, distributors, manufacturing, customers service, and engineering. This is a lot of work. People have to be hired and quickly trained in the Yamaha way of doing business. Those retailers that carried Ampeg products will have to be willing to take on the Yamaha lines. They want a good supply of products in the stores and visibility.
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I agree. It is said the definition of insanity is to continually repeat the same mistakes and expect a different result. This isn't saying Ampeg made colossal mistakes, but I'm sure Yamaha will make some changes to improve production manufacturing and marketing, where the past owners of Ampeg were lacking.
 
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#42
I would like to see rackmout preamps return. I absolutely love my tone with my SVP-Pro. If it goes out which I read the transformers can, I may be hard pressed to find another.

I prefer Solid State amps for power over power tubes but the tone from the all tube SVP preamp is what I always wanted to hear, especially coupled to a high power SS amp.

I also have the SVP-BSP but that single driver tube tone just isn't close to the tone of the SVP-Pro, it's too thick sounding for my tastes. I just like the overdrive channel for screwing around.

But, we have an ongoing thread on how rack gear is out of fashion so it's not likely we'll see any preamps from the new Ampeg.
 
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#43
I wouldn’t say it’s entirely unlikely that we’ll see any preamps from the new Ampeg but given the current product focus with the Yamaha modelling amps for guitar, Helix family etc. it’s quite likely that Ampeg will head in a digital direction. Not a bad thing, given how much experience Yammy already have in that field. Expect some cool stuff to start getting released!
 
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#48
fourstringburn said:
I would like to see rackmout preamps return. I absolutely love my tone with my SVP-Pro. If it goes out which I read the transformers can, I may be hard pressed to find another.

I prefer Solid State amps for power over power tubes but the tone from the all tube SVP preamp is what I always wanted to hear, especially coupled to a high power SS amp.

I also have the SVP-BSP but that single driver tube tone just isn't close to the tone of the SVP-Pro, it's too thick sounding for my tastes. I just like the overdrive channel for screwing around.

But, we have an ongoing thread on how rack gear is out of fashion so it's not likely we'll see any preamps from the new Ampeg.
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Ya, and SLM discontinued them all because they weren't selling, too, and that never bodes well for a repeat performance. Too bad...the SVP-CL was a real gem.
 
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#51
fourstringburn said:
I would like to see rackmout preamps return. I absolutely love my tone with my SVP-Pro.
But, we have an ongoing thread on how rack gear is out of fashion so it's not likely we'll see any preamps from the new Ampeg.
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Yamaha certainly knows about rack mount bass preamps, I still have a PB-1 from the 80’s.
 
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#56
Yeah the wider heavier and lower power the better. Those B100 are fun.

But yeah looking at the current Yamaha line up. I'd expect some digital thing containing emulations of all the classic amps and cabs. ....blahhh
 
#57
The short version would be: Not much in the short term. Better build quality on Ampeg-branded product in the medium term. New products in the long term. What those new products would be is anyone's guess, but my first guess would be more onboard trickery.
 
#58
I bought a new PF-350, SVT210av, and PF-112 this year. I also bought a BA108v3. All the Ampeg stuff performed flawlessly. Everything came double boxed, the amps and cabs were wrapped in sealed plastic with a humidifier pack. Great paper instructions.

Everyone complains about Ampeg QC but I've had nothing but perfect results from my new Ampeg stuff. The only reason I returned the BA108v3 is to buy the BA110v3, for louder practice situations. I say for me all my experiences with Ampeg have been A-OK, 100% solid.

My complaints? I wish Ampeg would put out a PF-110 cab for portability, although the PF-112 is very portable, I'd like something a little smaller for sitting next to my living room chair. Only other complaint-- On the PF-112, why would they put the recessed handle on the SIDE of the cab, and the opposite side has no feet? It would be a perfect cab if they put the recessed handle on top of the cab. Now that's something I hope Yamaha changes.

I wish Ampeg best of luck through the merger and I hope they leave it industrial strength. Leave the effects and toys for the Yamaha and Line 6 amps. They already do that. Keep building Ampegs that are built and sound like Ampegs.
 
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