Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

[Ascension]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

Component manufacturing will never come back to the US, and hasn't been here for decades. I was speaking to JMP/HBE who seemed to imply (I could be wrong) that his Mesa was built with US made components.

Said that about a lot of things that have radically changed over the last 3 years. Kinda depends on where we go leadership wise here. Made a choice to buy American when I can examples are 11 guitars all US built 6 amps 5 US built all my guns US built mostly Duncan pickups but ALL Us built ect.

 

[devastone]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

We haven't manufactured small components in ages, not sure it would ever be cost effective for resistors, capacitors, chips, etc... again, but I could be wrong.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

We haven't manufactured small components in ages, not sure it would ever be cost effective for resistors, capacitors, chips, etc... again, but I could be wrong.

Know you are right but this Corona Virus issue is showing why this is a real problem. We shall see what happens with it all. We flat got caught flat footed on a number of things by this fiasco because things could simply not be built here because we no longer produce specific things we needed desperately like those you mentioned. In particular some of the drugs and components needed for respirators. There may be some bright spots in this thing if this changes and hopefully it will.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

The only way that production of electrical components moves back to north america is if we start charging massively more of the components. Things like a minimum wage, environmental protection, and safe working conditions are expensive. Maybe you would be happy to pay three or four times the price for the same amp with made in the US components that have the same failure rate and longevity of their Chinese counterparts . . . But my experience is that the majority of people will not.

 

[chadd]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

We haven't manufactured small components in ages, not sure it would ever be cost effective for resistors, capacitors, chips, etc... again, but I could be wrong.

If it can be automated, it could be brought back. Anything labor intensive won't be

 

[devastone]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

If it can be automated, it could be brought back. Anything labor intensive won't be

It's more than just processes, there are also nasty chemicals that need to be disposed of in some of the processes, and most of the places where a lot of these things are made don't have an EPA. Why do you think tubes haven't been made in the US for almost 50 years, it's not because we can't do it.

 

[chadd]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

It's more than just processes, there are also nasty chemicals that need to be disposed of in some of the processes, and most of the places where a lot of these things are made don't have an EPA. Why do you think tubes haven't been made in the US for almost 50 years, it's not because we can't do it.

That's certainly another aspect, but there are some things coming back due to automation

 

[devastone]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

FWIW, pretty much all of component processes are automated, you can't built today's components by hand, there are millions of microscopic transistor circuits in a micro-processor.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

It's more than just processes, there are also nasty chemicals that need to be disposed of in some of the processes, and most of the places where a lot of these things are made don't have an EPA. Why do you think tubes haven't been made in the US for almost 50 years, it's not because we can't do it.

Tubes are not likely several have tried and it was not possible due to labor costs and environmental regs. Many of the other components may however be. We shall see and much will depend on the next election in this. The Covid 19 thing and the fact that we could no longer produce many components we needed for things like Respirators and drugs here in the US really sent shock waves through a LOT of folks. We shall see what the future holds.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Quick clip with the PRS Archon 50 Head

FWIW, pretty much all of component processes are automated, you can't built today's components by hand, there are millions of microscopic transistor circuits in a micro-processor.

True for digital circuits but most high end tube guitar amps have little if any digital technology in them. They are 80-90% analog so much of this will not apply.