danhkr

[quote name='Ashdown Engineering' timestamp='1317141831' post='1387304'] Happily build you a totally made in England MiBass but doubt on the whole people would want to pay the price difference, sadly that's what we are up against these days and to be honest after working with our china factory for 10 years now the quality of our Chinese made products is so good would you want to pay a large premium simply to have made in England on it? If you do want to buy British we still make plenty of high end totally made in Essex products and offer a total custom shop service too... [/quote] Sorry to go o/t but the last few brand new ABM Evo III's I've seen in stores have said 'manufactured in England'. I was quite surprised at this as I thought it was now common knowledge that ABM production had been shifted to the far east. Has there been a rethink regarding ABM?

[quote name='KiOgon' post='1369988' date='Sep 11 2011, 11:10 PM']What would I do? What I have just done - buy from a USA retailer who ships to UK, at a bargain price & save a tidy packet The Fender UK dealers 'fixed prices' are just crazy. Cheerz, John[/quote] Blame Fender UK/Europe for the prices. Dealers would be literally paying the customer to take fender product away if they were doing it any cheaper.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1368487' date='Sep 10 2011, 12:40 PM']If I was to buy an Ampeg now, Id ignore the lot apart from the SVT Pro 7. Nice price, fairly light, powerful, and powerful.[/quote] Tried one. It was good, but preferred the tone of my Ashdown ABM. Considering the valve route really, just don't want to spend loads on an amp that's going to be a liability. I take on board what you say about Orange and I'd certainly consider them, but having worked at a shop that does repairs I've been put off by the surprising amount of their valve gear that came through the door needing work.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1368414' date='Sep 10 2011, 11:34 AM']Not had a detailed look inside many Ampegs, but an amp tech I know hates working on the things. He says cheap components and awful lay-out...plus they are such a handful on the bench as well. Whether that would be any different if they were made in the U.S I am not sure, but then at least you could more justify the price premium on the basis of western build costs etc etc . I'd agree with Gareth... most companies would trumpet U.S made.. if that was the case.[/quote] Thanks for the input guys! Problem is, in my experience a lot of people in this industry have one bad experience of something and spend the rest of their lives telling everyone how poor that company/product is when it could quite easily be a one-off or not even the case any more. I'm not saying this is the case with the tech you know, but my point is; is he referring to all Ampegs, or just a couple he's happened to have worked on which to be fair could've been made in one of three different countries? I've heard a lot of criticisms of the pro (rackmount) series, and others have said the more traditional heads are a lot more sensible. It really is a minefield. As you say though, USA made might just mean the same components put together in a different country (maybe even not to as high standards if labour costs mean production needs to be quicker), but there is something quite off-putting to be spending a grand plus on an amp that's made in Korea or Vietnam. I guess you just have to look past that and try and establish which is the best to go for with regards to build quality. It appears that is not an easy task!

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1367775' date='Sep 9 2011, 03:51 PM']I dont think any of the Ampeg products are USA made apart from the Heritage. Granted, it seems Ampeg have sorted themselves out, but Im still wary of their customer service.[/quote] Cheers MM! When you say 'sorted themselves out', how do you mean? Were their QC issues, and if so, which period/models should be avoided?

I know they used to make the SVT classic head in the USA before shifting production to Korea (and/or maybe Vietnam?), but I was told they've gone back to making them in the states. Anyone know if this is true, doesn't seem to say where they're built on the ampeg site (which usually smacks of far-eastern build to be honest)?

[quote name='crez5150' post='1035902' date='Nov 25 2010, 10:05 AM']K&M or the Beyer badged version... GST 400 or GST 500 (extended boom) are what most Toursound companies use as they are fairly indestructible and you can buy all spare parts too.[/quote] +1 on that. K&M's are a million times better than bog standard mic stands even stuff like quik lok. Pricey but as long as you dont leave it at a gig, you'll never need to replace it.

Very similar to the highway 1 series but with a gloss finish and standard bridge. I think the HW1's are an acquired taste with the satin finish and usa standards have got really expensive, I guess the specials are fender's reaction to these two factors. Wouldn't surprise me if the HW1s are discontinued soon.

Worth at least a look if he's local I'd say.

You just enquiring or actually dealing with them direct? Only asking because normally they just deal with stores.

I use an Ashdown ABM500 Evo III and I think it's a great sounding amp. I used SWR Workingpro stuff before I got it and the Ashdown just opened up a whole new world of 'tone' in comparison. I've got the ABM610 cab and it's got tonnes of head room and sounds really punchy. My only criticism is they dont make a cover for it! I've also got MAG 410 and 210 cabs and to be honest the amp sounds pretty-much as good through those even though they're cheaper cabs. I've tried mag heads and combos, and whilst I think they're a brilliant option for the price, there's a big jump in tone when going to ABM, but I guess at around £300 difference, you'd probably expect that.

Pictures aren't great, but something tells me this isn't a squier. Could be great for the money or could be an absolute dog. I'd say play it safe and look for a second-hand squier affinity, I doubt you'd pay more than that but at least you know it'll be a decent bog-standard guitar.

His main live rig for the last 10 years...wonder when it was last re-valved

Tried some of the new Fenders recently. Very good - definitely better than they were, apparently now made by D'Addario and still only £12-£15! Still love Elixirs though.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1339999' date='Aug 14 2011, 08:26 PM']Blimey. At least it sold. [/quote] Actually, it didn't it was mine and the seller pulled out. To be fair to him he had a genuine reason to do so and was very honest. In a way it's not too bad for me as although I need the money, I was hoping it might have fetched a bit more. I guess stuff just isn't really moving at the minute and as amazing as the Big Al is, it probably doesn't have the commercial appeal that certain other models do.

Easiest way to tell is from the front of the headstock which he/she has ingeniously decided not to photograph. The little anniversary label on the back (60th I think) suggests it's from the late 90's so I doubt it'll be Japanese unless it's some sort of special edition.

[quote name='bassman7755' post='1324668' date='Aug 2 2011, 06:43 PM']The thing that doesnt add up in my mind is that, given that what you say is probably true ... how do all these specialist bass shops stocked to the gills with all this gear, and the various custom bass builders stay in business ?.[/quote] There aren't that many 'boutique' dealers though, so fewer stores take up that part of the business. Also selling one £2500 amp would probably make them as much money as a 'cheaper' shop selling maybe 8 ashdown electric blues. [quote name='Chris2112' post='1324681' date='Aug 2 2011, 06:49 PM']Of course you're not going to see great gear down the Dog and Bollock public house, where a P bass will do and your amp is resting on a beer crate. But then, the good gear has to turn up somewhere right? When I worked at a hotel we'd get lots of bands coming in for functions and weddings (my department). Some of these were content to just turn up and slog it out with a P bass or a Jazz bass but there were many bands who took a lot of pride in their performance and brought better gear with them. Of the few I can remember quickly; there was a bloke who played for a jazz ensemble who had two 5 string Overwaters. An Asian bloke who played for a covers band with a Yamaha TRB. The bassist for the Newcastle University Jazz band used to play a green Warwick Streamer Jazzman. Another bassist who played for a covers band used a Warwick Thumb and a Trace Elliot amp - his tone was great. Another covers band bassist played a Pentabuzz and a 5 string Spector (which ended up for sale at Guitar Guitar). He was a real gent and let me try his basses too, how cool! And then there was one very professional band (with their own stage, lighting rig and soundboard) whose bassist played a Fodera Emperor through a Glockenklang amp. It's out there! When I used to play live I would take my first Kubicki among other things![/quote] Hmmm, I actually prefer a good P or Jazz to any of those other basses you mention both in sound and playability. I'm not saying they're better basses, just different and it's each to their own. Having said that the vast majority of non-pro/semi-pro bassists I've seen who use 'boutique' guitars and amps haven't particularly impressed me with their sound or playing which is what 'taking pride in your performance' is all about. Nothing to do with having expensive 'labels' on stage.

[quote name='bassman7755' post='1322364' date='Jul 31 2011, 07:03 PM']It strikes me as odd that, given all the boutique gear begin discussed on here, and on parade in the specialist outlets, I never actually see any of it in use when I'm out watching a local (wiltshire/avon area) band. All I see is endless parades of precision/jazz copies going though commodity gear (peavey/behringer etc, maybe trace or ashdown on a good day). Makes you wonder how aware people are of all this high end gear.[/quote] It's not odd at all though is it. The 'endless parades of precision/jazz copies going though commodity gear' is simply down to the fact that the vast majority of people simply don't a spare couple of grand plus to buy top end stuff. Why do you think there's a thousand times more fords/vauxhalls on the road than mercs/jags?