Which Discontinued Gear Do You Think Needs to Come Back?

[two fingers]

was anyone angry about anything?

Yes.

They are mad at Fender for shutting down SWR and Tacoma. They are mad at Gibson for trying to fool them with imitations (something about a Ripper vs a G3?). Several other Fender bashers were obviously frustrated. Ric fans, frustrated. It was obvious to me.

 

[Nephilymbass]

And my father's last 4 trucks cost way more than the house he still lives in cost in 1972. I could have bought waterfront property in Atlantic Beach NC for only $40K a couple decades ago. When I graduated high school in 1989, $100 shoes made everyone blush and 24 hour grocery stored seemed like a Martian idea. Inflation and change happens to everyone and every product.

It's not as though bass manufacturers who sold basses for $149 in 1959 could sell for those prices today. Nor could Levi's, Nike or Craftsman.

That's true, the cost of everything goes up. But they have NOT gone up as dramatically from one company to the Next. I remember when fenders and musicmans cost half of what they do now. For some basses you're talking a 100% increase from 15 years ago. Over the same period of time ESP basses have only gone up 15-20% for the same models that have stayed around. The ESP I own now cost $950 but I don't remember ever seeing them selling new for less than $700.

 

[fhm555]

Those 12 ounce cans of talent, but with a pull tab this time.

 

[Neon Blues]

I didn't read the previous pages as I am at work and trying to look less conspicuous.

My list:

Every Sunn amp ever made
Aguilar JC185
Yamaha TRBII
Mesa Boogie 400+
Ashdown 200w Drophead / 115 Classic

 

[fhm555]

Peavey should make a new lightweight version of the T-40:

Where did you find my old bass?

 

[bdplaid]

Not sure I got an actual anger out of it, just frustrated that things that were supposed to be "reissues" were in fact different. I think that's understandable. But I have to say, getting out of shape over a Ripper or G3 is kinda weird, if you ask me. Not exactly the pinnacle of bassdom.

As for frustration with Fender - I am too, in some ways. To swallow up companies with cool products only to just kill it strike me as not good business, but foolish. For example, A Sunn 200S might compete directly with a Bassman, but what about the guy who will buy both, or the guy who won't buy a Bassman but will buy a Sunn? I have a bunch of class D amps, but might like to have another look at the Genz stuff, which Fender killed. Seems to me Fender is cutting themselves out of some market share, rather than getting the monopoly they seem to desire.

And why can't Fender just add a simple Jazz neck to a Precision bass and keep it in their catalog, rather than making it "Special" this or "Deluxe" that, only to stop making those right after they announce it. It's very frustrating for the consumer.

Rant over.

This thread is about playing with the idea of getting back our old mojo though our old equipment. And I still want my octave divider, thank you very much!

 

[theduke1]

An easy to use drum machine

 

[Stevorebob]

Boss OC2 Octave

Music Man Big Al 5SSS

Ric 5-string (though re-engendered)

Washburn AB95 semi-hollowbody 5-string

Gibson teardrop pics

I would buy these today. Maybe not all at once, mind you, but they are on my search. Except the Ric, that is — I really have no interest in collectable basses; I want to play it out.

 

[Spectrum]

They need to find the old Matsumoku employees, rebuild the factory, and start building Westone basses and guitars in Japan again.

 

[ColonelZulu]

Acacia basses

 

[ianuaditis]

Hamer USA

Ovation was a sister brand of Hamer sold to FMIC that came back from the dead recently, and is even being made in the USA again.

So maybe there's hope for Hamer?

 

[Spectrum]

Ha! Out of those of you who listed half a dozen basses and amps, I wonder how many of you would run out and drop $12,000 if they were all released tomorrow.

(Answer: None)

Short version: If any of these items were profitable they would still be made today. They weren't so they aren't.


Sure, half a dozen of you would rush right out and buy am Aria Pro II Elite something or other. 45 of you would "like" it on somebody else's NBD thread.

Another 10 of you would buy a new Gibson Ripper for $2,500 (and the rest would complain about quality control and the price).

5 string Ric? They made a few. Nobody cared.

GK800RB? I could buy you ten right now for what it would cost for a brand new one. Why not just buy half a dozen of them and keep the change and four for spare parts?

Peizo bridge on a Ray? How many of you would actually run right out and buy a brand new one tomorrow (and, after all, brand new instruments is where they make a profit) if that came back? Probably 5 of you. The rest wouldn't care at all....just like they didn't before.

Now, let's talk Fender. Sure, it would be neat if they brought back the Roscoe Beck Signature V in Sheorwood Green with tort guard and blocks and binding neck. But I would be one of about three people who would care enough to pull the trigger. The rest of you would just complain that they didn't make a 32" reverse PJ in the same color (or whatever your favorite OBSCURE combo would be).

They can't win. So why try? They already get complained about for price now. These reissues would not be cheap.

A brand new Peavey T-40 would be made overseas and cost $1,500 or more. The outrage here over both of those facts would make your head spin. They would be silly to even try it. Never mind that if they weighed less than 11 pound you would swear they "aren't right" but complain they Allred so heavy anyway.

Meh. Forget reissues. Make something new and cool. Ampeg made the new PF50T. It nods to tradition without being a B15 half @$$ imitation. That's what I want to see. Tip your hat to the old but bring in some new tricks.

This is a fantasy thread. Try not to be such a...trying to think of a word here...hmm...don't want to get banned...

 

[jimmyjames77]

Warwick german made, non custom shop, fortress one basses.

 

[Gizmot]

Another vote for SWR - I'd take a Redhead anytime! Yeah I'm probably stuck in the 80s but I kike it

 

[FilterFunk]

What a great thread!
Hands down, MuTron Octave Divider. I wish I could get my hands of the effer that stole it from my car.

View attachment 904480

I wish ALL the original Mu-Trons would come back, although I hear the Mu-FX Tru-Tron 3X nails the original Mu-Tron III sound. Of course, it's designed by Mike Beigel, the man who designed the original. He also released the Mu-FX Octave Divider:

You might want to give it a try!

 

[two fingers]

This is a fantasy thread. Try not to be such a...trying to think of a word here...hmm...don't want to get banned...

For some it was. For some it was another reason to lash out at their favorite targets for not making a bass or amp they would be one of the few to buy.

 

[mindwell]

SWR Electric Blue head, original spec for the preamp, updated with an 800-watt ICE power module. Do that and lose the rat fur, and I'd have my amp for life.

 

[Chicken Dog]

 

[ofajen]

You know, I didn't catch that vibe coming from this thread. Maybe I should have paid more attention.

Apparently, it's not the nostalgic thread I thought it was. A business plan is evidently required. I'm out of my league.

Otto

 

[Matthew Barrack]

Fender Mustang bass, Gibson G3 (Not that reissue bass they call a g3, put this pickups where they belong along with other things), Epiphone Rivoli, Rickenbacker 4003FL,