Sparky Mark

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1498002630' post='3321961'] I believe Mesa controls the pricing pretty tightly, at least they did when I bought my Mesa 400+ about 20 years ago. [/quote] I understand that manufacturers need to control retail pricing but in this instance the UK customer is paying a massive premium because it seems of the extra hands the product is passing through without adding any value.

[quote name='deksawyer' timestamp='1497970347' post='3321713'] You'd be shocked to see the margin that a Mesa dealer gets, it's [i][b]very[/b][/i] poor, so I'd be surprised if a dealer wanted to do this... D. [/quote] But there is something weird going on when a £625 amp in the USA costs £425 more in the UK. I wonder how many units a USA retailer has to commit to to be able to sell at that price? Other USA products don't seem to carry this scale of surcharge in the UK. This would seem to be an occasion when if you travel to the USA it would be worth buying one and paying the VAT and any duty and saving yourself £200+.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1497876678' post='3321015'] I use one of these for all my D Class amps. . . . http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/flight-case-with-foam-n70ap .. . . make the hole the size of the amp and there's all the protection you need. [/quote] +1

Perhaps we should start a group on here of BCers who will commit to buying one, and once we have achieved whatever the price break point is, place all our orders with the UK retailer who can then also benefit? If a UK retailer could let us know how many and how much?

Agreed, but I assume Mesa are achieving some production economies of scale. If market size was the only factor then every USA product would show the same disparity, but I don't think they do. For instance the first product I have looked at is the Ampeg PF 800 Portaflex head is £505 here and $600 in the USA.

I too drive a pair of Bergantino 12's or 210's with 500 watt Markbass heads and have been GASing for something with more power. The two heads that I am most attracted to are the 1000W Markbass Ninja for £663 and the Mesa 800+ which sells in the USA for $799 (£625ish) and here for £1050. Even allowing for import duty 5% (not sure but shouldn't be more than that?) plus 20% VAT and £50 carriage the UK price seems too high. I realise this issue comes up regularly and we are used to paying the dollar amount in pounds but this is another £200.

Markbass used to use B&C speakers but since moving production to Indonesia they use their own design Yellow Line. I don't know who makes them though.

I think it's just a typo. No one would expect a single 10 combo to compete with a 500w 212 (would they?).

Assuming both combos are similar in quality you are likely to be louder with the 212 than the 210. 212 driven with 500w does most gigs I do without PA support. A 210 wouldn't be enough for me.

I used to play two Bergantino 112AE neo cabs which together are almost the same as a 212. Great punchy sound and easy to transport and carry in two small cabs. I eventually went back to using a HT112ER and EX112ER ceramic loaded cabs (HD112 are the latest version of these). Although heavier than the neo cabs the ceramics just sound more powerful than the AEs. I also have two Bergantino HD210 cabs that are immense. I would recommend using multiple small manageable cabs rather than a single bigger heavy cab.