http://ampeg.com/roundsound/news-events/2018/05/loud-audio-llc-announces-the-sale-of-iconic-ampeg-brand/
https://yamahaguitargroup.com/news/ygg-ampeg-5-10-18.pdf
Wow! That's a surprise! I foresee a better future for Ampeg. Yamaha won't do anything foolish with the brand.
They should be more reliable in the future.
Yamaha definitely has a good track record. That's encouraging.
That's indeed good news, The Axis will sort it out.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7f/5c/51/7f5c514aa7d2e0417e33b6bcfe85d0a9.jpg)
That first new line of Yamaha-embellished Ampegs is very likely going to be kick-ass.
Yamaha knows how to build solid reliable products AND because they are an ACTUAL MI manufacturing group and not a bunch of outside investors expecting unreasonable returns, I expect that they will support the legacy products as best they can too. Honestly, I'm surprised Ampeg has limped along this long under the Loud banner. It seemed like it was one failed product after the next for almost two decades and because of production problems, even their best selling amps were often deleted. I was hoping Yamaha would buy Gibson, but this is a MUCH better consolation prize for bassists.
Quote from: Psycho Bass Guy on May 11, 2018, 08:41:35 AM
Yamaha knows how to build solid reliable products AND because they are an ACTUAL MI manufacturing group and not a bunch of outside investors expecting unreasonable returns, I expect that they will support the legacy products as best they can too. Honestly, I'm surprised Ampeg has limped along this long under the Loud banner. It seemed like it was one failed product after the next for almost two decades and because of production problems, even their best selling amps were often deleted. I was hoping Yamaha would buy Gibson, but this is a MUCH better consolation prize for bassists.
I suppose that could still happen. Not that unusual for a company to be bought and re-sold. Highly unlikely, though.
Good news for Ampeg fans and their dealers!
Quote from: Pilgrim on May 11, 2018, 08:51:01 AM
I suppose that could still happen. Not that unusual for a company to be bought and re-sold. Highly unlikely, though.
It could happen. you never know. I've seen the Gibson restructuring agreement, KKR and its associated funds will own almost all of Gibson. They have held onto some companies that they've turned around, but they've sold others.
Lucite comeback? ;D
BC Rich did a bunch of cheap lucite guitars around 2000. They didn't sell well, but they were also junk. I remember unboxing one and the bridge popped off with the box lid, pulled completely off by string tension and missing most of its mounting screws. How it held long enough for them to install strings and tune it up baffles me to this day.
I remember playing a lucite Ibanez sometime in the Noughties, it wasn't a horrible experience, lot's of sustain, but for some reason the B string didn't sound right.
The Ibanez basses were luthite, a soft composite material with the consistency of pencil graphite whose structural stability was a hard outer finish/shell. Lucite is the see-through colored plastic, similar to lexan. Different stuff.
Quote from: Psycho Bass Guy on July 19, 2018, 11:20:16 PM
The Ibanez basses were luthite, a soft composite material with the consistency of pencil graphite whose structural stability was a hard outer finish/shell. Lucite is the see-through colored plastic, similar to lexan. Different stuff.
I heard those Ibanez basses smelled weird. No joke! It was mentioned in a BP magazine review.
Quote from: Psycho Bass Guy on July 19, 2018, 11:20:16 PM
The Ibanez basses were luthite, a soft composite material with the consistency of pencil graphite whose structural stability was a hard outer finish/shell. Lucite is the see-through colored plastic, similar to lexan. Different stuff.
Quote from: gearHed289 on July 20, 2018, 08:30:57 AM
I heard those Ibanez basses smelled weird. No joke! It was mentioned in a BP magazine review.
I remember that stuff! It was on the Ibanez Ergodyne and those hideously ugly Cort Curbow basses. IIRC someone at FDP had a luthite Ibanez, removed the neck, and a chunk of the body came off, it was pretty soft under its outer shell. And it smelled.
Tried to exercise restraint, but this discussion of lucite/luthite just brings it out of me... :)
(http://i.imgur.com/SCyoSoc.jpg)
Quote from: chromium on July 25, 2018, 08:57:07 AM
Tried to exercise restraint, but this discussion of lucite/luthite just brings it out of me... :)
(http://i.imgur.com/SCyoSoc.jpg)
I think the anther ith yeth.
Quote from: chromium on July 25, 2018, 08:57:07 AM
Tried to exercise restraint, but this discussion of lucite/luthite just brings it out of me... :)
(http://i.imgur.com/SCyoSoc.jpg)
Have you noticed that the bellowing jackass from the Arby's commercial has a lisp that slips out here and there? "Two for thix buckth!" "Thmoky barbecue thauth!" Any day now I expect his spittle to come out of my TV screen.
Quote from: chromium on July 25, 2018, 08:57:07 AM
Tried to exercise restraint, but this discussion of lucite/luthite just brings it out of me... :)
(http://i.imgur.com/SCyoSoc.jpg)
Thanks for saving me the trouble! ;D
Quote from: gearHed289 on July 26, 2018, 07:57:17 AM
Thanks for saving me the trouble! ;D
Do you mean thankth?
;D Killin me...
Quote from: Granny Gremlin on May 12, 2018, 09:28:39 AM
Lucite comeback? ;D
They were reissued once already in 1998, not only in clear Lucite, but also the scarce black Lucite version
and regular old wood - both basses and guitars. I seem to recall that the wood versions were ultimately showing up in the catalogs, heavily discounted. Still listed on the ampeg website, though:
https://ampeg.com/products/daplexi/ada4/