Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
321Just what exactly is revolutionary about CMOS technology?
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
322I was really hoping it was devoid of Fender influence, but no go. There is a bigwig at Fender now who used to me a medium-wig at my day job, and he was not very pleasant. While this person in not in the bios, the rest of them read a bit gross.
My day job does do some work with Mission Engineering and everything I've heard about them has been pretty great.
Frankly, though, I don't know how they can win here. If they make them like they used to, they will be out of reach for almost everybody. If they modernize the designs and construction to save cost, they will lose authenticity and still cost close to used old gear. If they come out with new designs, they will be blasted for ignoring the classics. They're playing a dangerous game.
My day job does do some work with Mission Engineering and everything I've heard about them has been pretty great.
Frankly, though, I don't know how they can win here. If they make them like they used to, they will be out of reach for almost everybody. If they modernize the designs and construction to save cost, they will lose authenticity and still cost close to used old gear. If they come out with new designs, they will be blasted for ignoring the classics. They're playing a dangerous game.
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
323There's probably a fine line that fits into modern production but still quality. All of the old tube Sunn stuff was point to point and no one needs to manufacturing amps like that any more. There's just no point to it. On the flip side going to a full modern and cheap build means something like Fender's Hot Rod series means board-mounted everything and ribbon cables and shit that's just 1) not gonna last as long as a quality tube amp should, and 2) not gonna be as repairable when it does break. I think the sweet spot is something like late 70's/early 80's Marshalls. About every component on a single PCB but wires to pots, jacks, and sockets. Make em right and show off some guts to let everyone know you;re making em right and that'll go a long way in terms if selling reliability.benadrian wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 6:47 pm I was really hoping it was devoid of Fender influence, but no go. There is a bigwig at Fender now who used to me a medium-wig at my day job, and he was not very pleasant. While this person in not in the bios, the rest of them read a bit gross.
My day job does do some work with Mission Engineering and everything I've heard about them has been pretty great.
Frankly, though, I don't know how they can win here. If they make them like they used to, they will be out of reach for almost everybody. If they modernize the designs and construction to save cost, they will lose authenticity and still cost close to used old gear. If they come out with new designs, they will be blasted for ignoring the classics. They're playing a dangerous game.
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
324I think I said it before in this thread, but Orange seems to be the shining example of how to do it properly.
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
325After reading the posts about Sunn's relaunch, I was wondering if Orange is the model Sunn will follow?mdc wrote: I think I said it before in this thread, but Orange seems to be the shining example of how to do it properly.
The criticisms here about new vs. old products, vintage market, and similar are understandable for established musicians. For upcoming players, who maybe don't want to take vintage gear on tour, want to check out Sunn but can't find/don't want to deal with vintage gear/sellers, buying new gear makes sense.
But for the Orange model - would making their way into the world of backline offerings be a viable plan for making money? Orange was around, but got a lot more visibility on stages by doing that in the 00s.
The site has some bad investment banker vibes with that team list. But talking about finding original dies, fabrics, and finishes is encouraging. Sunn amps aren't my thing, but seeing this done well would be interesting.
"I got to tell you, if I went to a show and an opening band I never heard of lugged a Super Six on stage, I am paying attention." - Owen
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
326I would have been surprised if they didn't do it, but the Beta's use a Class D amplifier, probably an ICEPOWER module. Given that there are some pretty seriously powerful class D boards out there I am a little shocked that they kept the 100w spec and didn't go with a 300w or 600w module for the bass amp.
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
327Fender sold off the brand and an engineer who was there when he was young in the 70s is behind itjirbling rake wrote: Wed Aug 02, 2023 2:03 pmAfter reading the posts about Sunn's relaunch, I was wondering if Orange is the model Sunn will follow?mdc wrote: I think I said it before in this thread, but Orange seems to be the shining example of how to do it properly.
The criticisms here about new vs. old products, vintage market, and similar are understandable for established musicians. For upcoming players, who maybe don't want to take vintage gear on tour, want to check out Sunn but can't find/don't want to deal with vintage gear/sellers, buying new gear makes sense.
But for the Orange model - would making their way into the world of backline offerings be a viable plan for making money? Orange was around, but got a lot more visibility on stages by doing that in the 00s.
The site has some bad investment banker vibes with that team list. But talking about finding original dies, fabrics, and finishes is encouraging. Sunn amps aren't my thing, but seeing this done well would be interesting.
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
328When bios read like LinkedIn posts (https://sunnamps.com/team/) it can be a bad sign for any company is what was meant.TylerDeadPine wrote:Fender sold off the brand and an engineer who was there when he was young in the 70s is behind itjirbling rake wrote: Wed Aug 02, 2023 2:03 pmmdc wrote: I think I said it before in this thread, but Orange seems to be the shining example of how to do it properly.
The site has some bad investment banker vibes with that team list. But talking about finding original dies, fabrics, and finishes is encouraging. Sunn amps aren't my thing, but seeing this done well would be interesting.
"I got to tell you, if I went to a show and an opening band I never heard of lugged a Super Six on stage, I am paying attention." - Owen
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
329So this is the boutique option for Beta amps right now.
https://www.hilbishdesign.com/shop/beta-amplifier-200w
It is $1500 for the 200 watt amp. Class D power section. The production model will need to be attractively less expensive or more mojo or some shit.
The originals are pushing close to 1k these days? I don’t know. Hard to tell with all the Doom Lawyers trying pushing prices.
I was interested in buying the one I used to play sometimes in college around ten years ago but my friend had returned it to her dad. He wanted 600 for it back then. I thought that was nuts, but whatever. Still think it’s nuts how much these are. I have the parts to build the preamp if I ever have a good work bench again.
I’d rather have a bassman anyway.
https://www.hilbishdesign.com/shop/beta-amplifier-200w
It is $1500 for the 200 watt amp. Class D power section. The production model will need to be attractively less expensive or more mojo or some shit.
The originals are pushing close to 1k these days? I don’t know. Hard to tell with all the Doom Lawyers trying pushing prices.
I was interested in buying the one I used to play sometimes in college around ten years ago but my friend had returned it to her dad. He wanted 600 for it back then. I thought that was nuts, but whatever. Still think it’s nuts how much these are. I have the parts to build the preamp if I ever have a good work bench again.
I’d rather have a bassman anyway.
Re: Interesting Gear Developments Thread
330I had the Sol Invictus pedal and it sounded pretty spot-on to my Beta Lead. Hilbish makes good stuff and the build quality is really top notch.VaticanShotglass wrote: Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:10 pm So this is the boutique option for Beta amps right now.
https://www.hilbishdesign.com/shop/beta-amplifier-200w
It is $1500 for the 200 watt amp. Class D power section. The production model will need to be attractively less expensive or more mojo or some shit.
The originals are pushing close to 1k these days? I don’t know. Hard to tell with all the Doom Lawyers trying pushing prices.
I was interested in buying the one I used to play sometimes in college around ten years ago but my friend had returned it to her dad. He wanted 600 for it back then. I thought that was nuts, but whatever. Still think it’s nuts how much these are. I have the parts to build the preamp if I ever have a good work bench again.
I’d rather have a bassman anyway.