iommi1423 Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 Ampeg have just outsoured their manufacture to China, Korea etc Any ampeg enthusiasts out there who want to voice their opinion on this feel free to on this forum Is the quality affected from this because the price doesnt seem to be affected !!!!!!!! Would it be wise to fork out extra for the Heritage series instead of opting for the (relativley) cheaper all valve ampegs ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 (edited) Ampeg moved most of their production to Vietnam over two years ago now. I've not noted any negative comments about reliability with the new stuff, but then again I can't say I've really been looking for them. Edited December 7, 2010 by Musky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 [quote name='Musky' post='1051102' date='Dec 7 2010, 05:24 PM']Ampeg moved most of their production to Vietnam over two years ago now. I've not noted any negative comments about reliability with the new stuff, but then again I can't say I've really been looking for them.[/quote] Word is the gear is OK, but mismanagement by LOUD may result in their bankruptcy, and Ampeg is currently on the block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 I think these types of things can be a mistake. An iconic name in the industry needs to keep a lid on things. Swapping out for lowering production costs but keeping the price premium isn't smart if the quality suffers. The current trend for outsourcing in many things can backfire easily.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 I think it was a BAD move, considering the prices seem to RISE over here. Now you have to pay silly premiums for the USA made Ampeg gear. Absolutely ridiculous, and one of the reasons I went with Orange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumnote Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Outsourcing to vietnam in particular didnt go down that well with some americans. I remember reading a comment from an ex Ampeg employee who said thirty years ago I was fighting them and now they have taken my job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 I've only really noticed a difference with the pro series, in reviews the USA ones don't seem to suffer from QC issues. The pricing thing is ridiculous though, if it's cheaper to make it should be cheaper to buy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 [quote name='bumnote' post='1051373' date='Dec 8 2010, 09:36 AM']Outsourcing to vietnam in particular didnt go down that well with some americans. I remember reading a comment from an ex Ampeg employee who said thirty years ago I was fighting them and now they have taken my job[/quote] That is amazing, he was supposed to be fighting for them, unless he was some sort of communist who was fighting for North Vietnam against the south who make things for export. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iommi1423 Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 Its no wonder why the price of old US made ampegs have sky rocketed I cant seem to find one anywhere for a decent price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 (edited) [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1051714' date='Dec 8 2010, 03:22 PM']That is amazing, he was supposed to be fighting for them, unless he was some sort of communist who was fighting for North Vietnam against the south who make things for export.[/quote] beat me to it Why is something being made in the far east so bad? The best TV's are made in the far east The top of the range Laptops' are made in the far east IPhones are made in the far east Ok, we can argue about wether or not IPhones are good quality phones, but if the best electronics goods are made there then why is making bass gear in the far east automatically a bad thing? I would propose that the Japanese fenders etc are [b]made to be worse than the american equivalents[/b] in order to protect the perceived value of an american fender. I don't have a problem with that marketing strategy, but it leads to the conclusion that if Ampeg [u]wanted[/u] to they can ensure that the far east manufactured stuff is just as good as the other stuff. If they decide to give the customer a choice between products with 2 levels of quality by having american and east models, then how is that different from fenders strategy? Of course the 3rd option is to make cheap tat, sell it at the same prices as old and destroy the brand image thus killing the company. Cant really see the board making that decision. Edited December 8, 2010 by SteveO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumnote Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1051714' date='Dec 8 2010, 02:22 PM']That is amazing, he was supposed to be fighting for them, unless he was some sort of communist who was fighting for North Vietnam against the south who make things for export.[/quote] Perhaps it was a malicious post, I have no idea of the status or opinions of the original poster, but it did cause some controversy on one of the US based forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 [quote name='SteveO' post='1051858' date='Dec 8 2010, 04:33 PM']Why is something being made in the far east so bad? The best TV's are made in the far east The top of the range Laptops' are made in the far east IPhones are made in the far east[/quote] Difference between those and amps is they are supposed to be used within spec. Use an amplifier within spec, and it will be clean, throw it in and out of a van and crank it into distortion and see how long your gadget lasts. Course, American wiring is dire in general and [url="http://www.chambonino.com/work/ampeg/amp7.html"]even US Ampegs have come under criticism.[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumnote Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1051714' date='Dec 8 2010, 02:22 PM']That is amazing, he was supposed to be fighting for them, unless he was some sort of communist who was fighting for North Vietnam against the south who make things for export.[/quote] I dont claim to be that up on modern states but are you sure you dont mean Korea? Isnt Vietnam now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with no North and South or am I completely round the bend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 [quote name='bumnote' post='1051915' date='Dec 8 2010, 05:22 PM']I dont claim to be that up on modern states but are you sure you dont mean Korea? Isnt Vietnam now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with no North and South or am I completely round the bend?[/quote] I was totally confusing with Korea. But the point where Vietnam was fighting, there was a north and south, and the Americans were supposed to be fighting for the not communist half. If they were doing it now, they would call it 'liberating' and 'defending freedom', as they were supposed to be saving the civilians (who work in factories making Nampegs) from the Viet Kong 'insurgents' who were seeking to make them into pinkos. Of course, the Americans lost, so they are pinko commie slaves now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumnote Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1051931' date='Dec 8 2010, 05:39 PM']I was totally confusing with Korea. But the point where Vietnam was fighting, there was a north and south, and the Americans were supposed to be fighting for the not communist half. If they were doing it now, they would call it 'liberating' and 'defending freedom', as they were supposed to be saving the civilians (who work in factories making Nampegs) from the Viet Kong 'insurgents' who were seeking to make them into pinkos. Of course, the Americans lost, so they are pinko commie slaves now.[/quote] I think my original point was from a marketing point of view it caused some upset from the vets and their families. My Father was a policeman in the second world war, and he refused to allow Japanese goods into the house although he didnt hold the same view about anything German. Go fi gure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 I guess you will not really know until you open it up and someone with an educated eye gives it the run over. I have an old U.S made amp to a pretty high spec and it wasn't cheap back then...£745 in 1992. I am sure I paid top dollar but it hasn't put a foot wrong in all those years and runs REALLY hot. I have had a VG tech look at it and he says it is very well made. I can accept the premium paid for that...but he says certain brands now are dogs to work on and dogs inside...and they are U.S names who may have shitfed their manufacturing.. He says the main difference is compoents used and maybe certain techniques are now considered overkill...?? Anyway..I don't mind paying top dollar to a western made company who pay western salaries and have western conditions, H&E, pensions etc etc .... but rather object paying that top price when a regime doesn't have that...so the diiference goes straight into the companies profits. If we are talking about a £5-600 amp, then I doubt you can complain much but if the price is £1400 and counting...?????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iommi1423 Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 [quote name='JTUK' post='1051974' date='Dec 8 2010, 06:15 PM']I guess you will not really know until you open it up and someone with an educated eye gives it the run over. I have an old U.S made amp to a pretty high spec and it wasn't cheap back then...£745 in 1992. I am sure I paid top dollar but it hasn't put a foot wrong in all those years and runs REALLY hot. I have had a VG tech look at it and he says it is very well made. I can accept the premium paid for that...but he says certain brands now are dogs to work on and dogs inside...and they are U.S names who may have shitfed their manufacturing.. He says the main difference is compoents used and maybe certain techniques are now considered overkill...?? Anyway..I don't mind paying top dollar to a western made company who pay western salaries and have western conditions, H&E, pensions etc etc .... but rather object paying that top price when a regime doesn't have that...so the diiference goes straight into the companies profits. If we are talking about a £5-600 amp, then I doubt you can complain much but if the price is £1400 and counting...??????????????[/quote] A point well made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iommi1423 Posted December 10, 2010 Author Share Posted December 10, 2010 Hmmm i think ill bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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