Ashdown guitar amplifiers starting shipping soon!

[theblueark]

I've been to music theme and ranking sports, the local dealers of Ashdown amplifiers. I've asked them if they have the amps, or when they would have them. They all told me they have no idea.

So, taking matters into my own hands, I emailed Ashdown to ask.

Today they replied!

Hi
These units start shipping at the end of this month.
Regards
Martin


Can't wait to try out one of these. The Ashdown engineers are mostly from the old Trace Elliot before they got bought over by Gibson (who totally destroyed it). Should be good stuff coming.

 

[thor666]

wow. that is good news. Former TE staff.

i wonder if their forte will still be on acoustic and bass amps though. their electric amps didn't receive as much rave as their acoustic and bass amps.

 

[theblueark]

Ranking and Music theme already have their bass amps. I heard that they are not as punchy as the trace elliots were, but they are warmer.

As for the guitar amps, some trace elliots were damn good. I think nobody in Singapore with the Super Tramp wants to sell it. I've been asking around.

 

[Mew]

cool, cant wait to test out their Peacemaker 20 Combo.

 

[Lifehouse]

Here's what I garnered about Ashdown. The Ashdown line with amps such as Fallen Angel is now made in China. Certain models such as the Essex Blonde would still be made in UK under the brand Hayden.

If you ask me, I have to say R**K**G is under representing many of the brands. Ashdown.. It's almost an unknown factor in the local music scene. Carvin.. They have no clue about the tube amps. An eg. My friend was interested (and would have paid instantly) in the Legacy Head and with a matching 4x12. There was only the head on sale and a 2x12 combo version on sale. My friend casually just asked the availability of a matching cab. And they pointed out that the head was to be connected to the combo. I don't think they would know 6L6 vs EL34.

Carvin has quite a large followings in US. The CT3 and CT6 have a huge following at States. I was gassing badly for a CT6M and enquired about the price and even stating that I can put down a deposit if necessary. I left my email, handphone, homephone. They never called back. I assumed they forgotten after 2 weeks and ask them the same question and left the contacts again with assurance from them they would call. They never called back which means they have either no interest in the money the business or the dealership in this case. Take the fact that it can only be ordered thru them solely more than saddens the fact even more.

 

[theblueark]

Yeah kinda sad that lots of good stuff is not brought into singapore.

But I can see it's been opening up. People like MrMisse and friends starting to bring in and promote more stuff. Heck, I was talking to my friend about promoting Fralins and Kinmans here. Or if we have enough capital, maybe even amps like Naylor or Germino.

Not viable now (people still want Duncans and Dimarzios; DEY R D BEST!!11), but maybe in few years the market and peoples minds will open up more.

For now we still have to grit our teeth and look at all the same brand names being passed around.

EDIT: Lifehouse, go down personally and I think you can order straight.
When I enquired about the Carvin amps the lady there showed me the catalog and calculated how much I would need to pay for the amps. She said I'd have to wait about 3 months before they arrive. If the thing you want is not in the catalog then you might have to prepare to spend a little more effort like when I was trying to ask for a 2x12 cab which wasn't in there. She was quite helpful though.

 

[thor666]

Y
But I can see it's been opening up. People like MrMisse and friends starting to bring in and promote more stuff. Heck, I was talking to my friend about promoting Fralins and Kinmans here. Or if we have enough capital, maybe even amps like Naylor or Germino.

Not viable now (people still want Duncans and Dimarzios; DEY R D BEST!!11), but maybe in few years the market and peoples minds will open up more.

For now we still have to grit our teeth and look at all the same brand names being passed around.

not that there wasn't man. i think Kinnmans or Fralins was brought in before, but 1) the price is rather steep 2) there's just not enough demand for them. Distro was dropped.

To be fair, SDs and Dimarzios are affordable, and they DO produce some very good pickups. The preference among the market seems to be towards more heavy, power oriented pickups though, so the Virtual Vintage/SD Strat vintage pups tend to be overlooked.

Anyway i suppose everyone knows how the market is like. You buy a Carvin, you would want to make sure you keep the amp. Selling it secondhand is like selling a cheap No-brand amp. People are still too brand-oriented in the SG guitar market, with Ibanez/Fender/Gibson/Marshall still leading the way. It takes a lot of time for the market to mature.

 

[wangdexian]

Duncan : Cheap, Good, Customer Service; don't see what's wrong here. :lol:

 

[Lifehouse]

thebluesark: I was working in one of the guitar around here. The reason why alot of brands is not catered is due to the very steep initial order. For eg. In order to bring in Mesa, the rumoured amount to bring it must be USD$100,000 or more. Around 25 Dual rectos or so.

From a business point of it makes no sense. You must bring in X amount worth of products and depending on brand, you earn around 20% to 25% profit net profit, not including rents, wages and other the yada yada etc. Not many people know of Fralins, Kinmans, WCRs, Bare Knuckles etc. How many sets can you sell. And as typical, people would want discounts. It's very hard to break even. So the cycle of no new products being brought in continues. Same goes for stuff such as Keeley. I was very tempted to bring in Keeley, even working out with him on the stuffs and such. But in the end, what I'll end up with is alot of capital stuck in one place. An example would be keeley compressor. It's good, Ive heard it. But how many people would buy it here? Same goes for the others.

IMO, only one type of person can probably thrive in this "business". One that treats it as a sideline, not as a major source of income. As an interest and hobby and as a rice earning bowl.

But if anyone is interested however, what we should organise is an MO. That would probably garner more interests.

All my 0.02 IMHO. :smt003

 

[theblueark]

Yep Lifehouse, I agree. That's why I say not viable now.

I like what MrMisse is doing though, bringing in small bulk quantities of the so called 'unknown' brands without taking dealership. The price is probably higher than a proper dealer but lower than if we order individually over the internet. So if someone really really wants lets say, a Banzai Fireball, it would be cheaper to get it from him than to order one through the internet ourselves. Whats more you get to try it and get some cool service at the same time

You're right, this can hardly be called a business, more like a hobby. Would not make enough money to eat haha. Think people like him and me, we just have the passion, and want to spread the knowledge that there are such things out there to the locals. Cos if nobody starts bringing in stuff, nobody will ever hear about them.

If I have the cash, maybe I'll order like 5 sets of Fralins and just sell them as a side hobby. Not viable now though like I said.

MOs would rock! I think the ishibashi guys are already planning something like that. Another good step in the right direction

 

[jony]

Ah yes. Finally. Hope they are good.

 

[Lifehouse]

Yea. Actually MrMisse has certain dealership.

I might do a Keeley MO in the very near future, anyone interested can PM me. Can get significantly cheaper.

 

[thor666]

i've heard the keeley comp and i must say it's really different from the other compressors... very good.

however... at the price i'm simply not willing to part that much.

seriously for these stuff u can only get the more experienced guitarists with more knowledge, expertise, and of course, moolah to buy them.

 

[Lifehouse]

Have to agree that they are ex. They just came out with a 4 knob compressor so that might be something to watch out for.

Right now I can't think of many compressor with true bypass. Pedalworx McSqueeze (Bob Mcbroom is a good guy to deal with. Prompt email reply), Analogman's comprossor (sp?) and of cause Barber Electronics Tone Press (Priced right for a boutique pedal). These 3 are probably the most popular ones right now.