tauzero Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='Adam.M' post='340240' date='Nov 29 2008, 01:49 AM']£1600 for that... what rubbish. I'm currently working with a friend on R&D on starting a small Guitar amplifier company (though we may just make them for friends and ourselves) and i could make something better for £300 parts costs (not counting valves, kt-88's are extremely expencive) with more versatility.[/quote] Well, I could make something better for £0 parts costs (not including the parts, as they would be too expensive). So if you were doing an 8 KT-88 head, the parts cost would be £450+. Would you want paying a bit to make them, by any chance? While I think it's an eye-watering amount and I wouldn't be in the slightest bit tempted, to compare the costs of 2/3 (by value) of the components with the complete product after it's had all its manufacturing costs added on plus the importer's markup, distributor's markup, retailer's markup, customs duty, VAT, transport costs etc is rather disingenuous. And it's £750 cheaper than the RRP on the Ampeg Classic Series SVT-VR which is a mere 300W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassicinstinct Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='tauzero' post='340692' date='Nov 29 2008, 06:45 PM']Well, I could make something better for £0 parts costs (not including the parts, as they would be too expensive). So if you were doing an 8 KT-88 head, the parts cost would be £450+. Would you want paying a bit to make them, by any chance? While I think it's an eye-watering amount and I wouldn't be in the slightest bit tempted, to compare the costs of 2/3 (by value) of the components with the complete product after it's had all its manufacturing costs added on plus the importer's markup, distributor's markup, retailer's markup, customs duty, VAT, transport costs etc is rather disingenuous. And it's £750 cheaper than the RRP on the Ampeg Classic Series SVT-VR which is a mere 300W.[/quote] Absolutely correct. IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam.M Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 [quote name='tauzero' post='340692' date='Nov 29 2008, 06:45 PM']So if you were doing an 8 KT-88 head, the parts cost would be £450+. Would you want paying a bit to make them, by any chance? While I think it's an eye-watering amount and I wouldn't be in the slightest bit tempted, to compare the costs of 2/3 (by value) of the components with the complete product after it's had all its manufacturing costs added on plus the importer's markup, distributor's markup, retailer's markup, customs duty, VAT, transport costs etc is rather disingenuous. And it's £750 cheaper than the RRP on the Ampeg Classic Series SVT-VR which is a mere 300W.[/quote] I'm talking top quality components that are not bulk bought and i do not have a deal with a supplier either which would bring the cost down even further, and I'm also thinking custom hand wound transformers too which is where i think would be the biggest cost if i made one. Unless Ashdown have gone completely barmy, they'll be buying the components in bulk, and they won't be using very high quality components either. It'll cost them a lot less than what i could put one together for. They'll stick in rubbish Sovtek or even Unbranded valves in there too. Though there is a reason they put cheap valves in there, it's because they get damaged easily during shipping. And i guess, everyone has a personal flavor. Changing valves right away after getting an amp is something we're quite used to in guitar-amp-land. It's really got my curiosity, why are these so expensive? and bass valve amps in general... I'm going to do some research when i get some time and really try to figure it out. If it's made completely by hand, point-to-point AND sounds absolutely amazing then it might be worth what they're asking. I really hope i have a moment where i go 'Ah, so thats why they're expensive' but i don't see it happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam.M Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 (edited) [quote name='escholl' post='340461' date='Nov 29 2008, 02:09 PM']It does seem a bit of a valid point though; why is it that decent valve heads for guitar can be had new for about 300-ish pounds, even nice ones for about 500, and yet bass ones -- of less complexity, having only one channel and no reverb tank -- are at least twice as much, often much more?[/quote] Exactly - For £1,400 i could have the ULTIMATE guitar amp for me, a Cornford MK50H which is made, completely by hand, right here in the UK with great components. Properly Boutique. Though I'd be equally happy with a Laney GH50L which is £350 I could even get the king of over-inflated-import-price amps, a Mesa Boogie! Does this thing even have a full-valve preamp? For this price I'd want a second channel even though I'd rarely use it, the option of valve or solid state rectification, an all-valve effects loop, something SPECIAL. I'm not saying either Ashdowns gear is bad, i like Ashdowns MAG and ABM series and will most likely have one myself but i don't see why bass valve amps like this need to be so expencive and it just irk's me. They cost enough to keep running... Edited November 29, 2008 by Adam.M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 [quote name='Adam.M' post='340819' date='Nov 29 2008, 09:55 PM']It's really got my curiosity, why are these so expensive? and bass valve amps in general... I'm going to do some research when i get some time and really try to figure it out. If it's made completely by hand, point-to-point AND sounds absolutely amazing then it might be worth what they're asking.[/quote] Bassists are idiots with more money than sense. Manufacturers set the price at what they think the market can stand. The price has nothing to do with components and everything to do with the market. When Hinckley Triumph started building bikes in the early 90s, they had three models, which each had different engine size options. The difference between different engine size options was the crankshaft and conrods, and the odd little tweak like adjustable levers. The price differential was considerably higher than any difference in manufacturing costs - bigger capacity bike, more money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escholl Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 [quote name='tauzero' post='341200' date='Nov 30 2008, 03:59 PM']Bassists are idiots with more money than sense. Manufacturers set the price at what they think the market can stand. The price has nothing to do with components and everything to do with the market.[/quote] Unfortunately I think you're right. But I don't see what our options are when buying new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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