Big time AMPEG News!!!

[johnhall]

More on the story . . .

http://www.musicincmag.com/News/2009/09 ... _loud.html

[jps]

There is some very interesting things here including posts by former Ampeg/SLM/Loud employees about what's going down with Loud.

[johnallg]

What does this do to the value of my cabs? Tarnish or improve? Improve I hope...

Personally, I would think it would improve them. As John posted, it was all for naught. Yours are American made and desirable, Josh.

[jps]

As John posted, it was all for naught.

Not necessarily. Here is a quote from a former Ampeg/Loud employee, posted today on another forum:

If it is any consolation, when they bought SLM, Jamie Engen, the recently fired (as of last August) CEO, came and sat in our conference room, explaining how they bought a going concern and would be stupid to do anything to disturb it. That was the first and only corporate meeting I have ever been in where it was specifically required that no recording be made of the meeting.....

That really set the tone, by suggesting that he wanted "plausible deniability" for lies. And indeed, every single word he said that day was eventually directly contradicted by events.

I cannot offer any meaningful assessment as to whether he was deliberately telling lies, or was ignorant of the Sun Capital plan, or whether he actually believed what he said.

In any case, that policy lasted almost a year, before Sun Capital and/or Jamie decided that Service could go..... then production could go, then Engineering could go, and then that most of the rest of SLM could go.......

At some time in the middle, Gary Reilly came in and repeated basically what Jamie had said, but in what was universally assessed by those attending as a fishy-faced and waffling set of meaningless statements. We were not impressed by the man or the message, in case there actually was a message.

Loud has NOT had a good record for speaking truth, or at least for speaking intentions which are supported by later actions. Most of what has been said has later been UN-said, one way or another. It is almost 100% for reversed decisions in employee relations, as far as I know.

I can only assume their business dealings are similar to their dealings with employees. In that case, it is no wonder that their main chinese supplier cut them loose.

[johnallg]

As John posted, it was all for naught.

Not necessarily. Here is a quote from a former Ampeg/Loud employee, posted today on another forum:

If it is any consolation, when they bought SLM, Jamie Engen, the recently fired (as of last August) CEO, came and sat in our conference room, explaining how they bought a going concern and would be stupid to do anything to disturb it. That was the first and only corporate meeting I have ever been in where it was specifically required that no recording be made of the meeting.....

That really set the tone, by suggesting that he wanted "plausible deniability" for lies. And indeed, every single word he said that day was eventually directly contradicted by events.

I cannot offer any meaningful assessment as to whether he was deliberately telling lies, or was ignorant of the Sun Capital plan, or whether he actually believed what he said.

In any case, that policy lasted almost a year, before Sun Capital and/or Jamie decided that Service could go..... then production could go, then Engineering could go, and then that most of the rest of SLM could go.......

At some time in the middle, Gary Reilly came in and repeated basically what Jamie had said, but in what was universally assessed by those attending as a fishy-faced and waffling set of meaningless statements. We were not impressed by the man or the message, in case there actually was a message.

Loud has NOT had a good record for speaking truth, or at least for speaking intentions which are supported by later actions. Most of what has been said has later been UN-said, one way or another. It is almost 100% for reversed decisions in employee relations, as far as I know.

I can only assume their business dealings are similar to their dealings with employees. In that case, it is no wonder that their main chinese supplier cut them loose.

Yeah, I followed your link and read that after posting. Still say Loud isn't folding.

[jps]

I'm not sure what Loud is doing, but it doesn't look good from the outside.

[johnallg]

Way too much equity and good brand name in almost all their line to let it all fold up. Probably a PR ploy to align new manufacturing capacity for the 2 company lines that lost their manufacturer. Ampeg would never go away. It a freakin' ICON.

[rictified]

I have owned many Ampegs over the years and still own two Magnavox SVT heads and three Magnavox SVT cabs, a Magnavox Ampeg B-15S and a 1959 Ampeg Bassamp, I have never owned a Loud Ampeg or a Japanese Ampeg.
I do know that many people had problems with the LOUD SVT's-? because they would not switch out of automatic standby when the voltage was lower than about 115 VAC, great for big stages where there is a large power drain. The only Ampegs that will be worth money in the long run are the 1979 and older ampegs, they just have that sound that is not always there with newer ones. I have never heard an amp sound as good as an SVT for rock in my life and I'm talking the 1969-19 79 amps.

[ricaddic]

Lucky me, snagged a Ampeg B100R off ebay last night, an americam made one, been looking for an american made one, almost bought both american made B100R and B220R, back when they first reissued them a few years ago when ampeg was still american made, but wound up buying an Ashdown combo and extention cab instead, but loved the Ampeg Rocket series, great sounding portable combo amps.

[jps]

Nice amp, Angelo. For the record, however, those are not really reissues as Ampeg never made those in the old days, IIRC. Those amps are just made to look like vintage Ampegs.

[ricaddic]

Nice amp, Angelo. For the record, however, those are not really reissues as Ampeg never made those in the old days, IIRC. Those amps are just made to look like vintage Ampegs.

You know Jeff, you are right, why I called them reissue's, I'll never know, but right you are, the tolex is reto, like the original b15n's used to have. thanks Jeff, your the man, hope all is well with you and Shari? you guys have a great spring and summer, take good care of each other and most important, stay safe always.

[jps]

Come on out to Cleveland!

[ricaddic]

My younger daughter lives in Columbus, some day I will make my way out that way, I'll be sure to let you know when I am, give Shari and you enough time to leave town before I arrive, LOL

[jps]

Do you ever go to Winterfair in Columbus? It is a great art show first weekend of December every year. We have family and some friends in Columbus so we get down there occasionally. I also make sure to see Tony Dudzik as Pickguardian is in Columbus.