Would you buy an Amp from me?

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

Scott, there's a couple of things that come to mind. First off, I find it very admirable that you're thinking of doing something like this. Only you can really judge yourself and you know your limits, so probably what any of us say isn't going to make a difference . I would hope that you have an electrical engineering degree or some similar experience before attempting building your own amplifier line. If building quality amps was easy, there'd be a lot more people in business. You're an intelligent person and a salesman, so talking economics and marketing would be useless.

If you can get the parts at a good price in numbers you can handle, find the time inbetween your work (much of which you travel) to make them, find a way to be able to provide support and troubleshooting for your buyers, and be able to balance the financial end... I say go for it!

The biggest problem as others have mentioned, is figuring where there is a market (people have a point when they say it's been done already, brands like TopHat or Victoria ARE vintage Fenders). Also, how will you be able to enjoy your life and have the time and commitment to make amplifiers? As you know, they are very time consuming and in a professional world: time is money. People won't spend a lot from a no name brand unless there is something that stands out that makes it worth the money. If you can find a way to sell things at a cheaper price than the competition while still making enough profit, then you have mostly everything figured out.

All in all, you have a lot of decisions to make. Perhaps a good business partner wouldn't be such a bad idea (make sure it's somebody you know, get along with, and can trust). Finding a good, reputable supplier is all part of it as well. Where there's a will there's a way.

By the way, I love vintage Deluxe Reverbs so if you can make me one at a good price that's lower watts so that I won't kill my neighbors, I think I'd purchase one

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

Chris, it's all about the tone, brother. If the amp has the tone, it will have the tone. I've got some ideas on some things.

Every amplifier out there today and yesterday got it's start from the little circuits that the tube manufacturers came up with many many many years ago. Lew hit it on the head when he spoke about transformers. That's such a huge part of the mix. Most folks ignore it.

If I can come up with something that knocks my own richard into the dirt, I'll let you guys check it out.

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

Scott,

I think your on the right track for getting your own line going, build tried and true designs like the fender tweeds and tweek them to your (or your customers') liking. You won't be reinventing the wheel so to speak. My only concern if it were me would be - at what point in time do I decide to not make it my hobby - when you first get started making any money on your amps will be just about impossible, I remember a guy (James Peters) who started making his own amps for people a couple of years back - once he started getting orders his hobby became work and the payoff was pretty much nill for quite awhile.

That said, sure I'd buy one of your amps - I would love to have a deluxe style amp (6V6's) - as simple a circuit as possible.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

Chris, it's all about the tone, brother. If the amp has the tone, it will have the tone. I've got some ideas on some things.

Every amplifier out there today and yesterday got it's start from the little circuits that the tube manufacturers came up with many many many years ago. Lew hit it on the head when he spoke about transformers. That's such a huge part of the mix. Most folks ignore it.

If I can come up with something that knocks my own richard into the dirt, I'll let you guys check it out.

Which brings us to another point Scott, as a friend on mine who does *way too many amp repairs, way to often* stated, and this may sound a bit overly optimistic but, ... *If a product is good, people will buy it no matter how much it costs....*
There is a certain logic there that I've have seen, just like the old joke about work, how there is always someone statding around with their thumb in their #%& , then you hear the line ....*those that can do the work, are the ones that do (and get asked to BTW)*. People that will buy and amp, are the ones that actually buy, worry about all the pipe dreaming people simply is a waste of one's time.
I think what it comes down to is a) quality of product ... that encompasses tone, performance, features, realiability, craftsmanship; b) marketing; c) pricing ... need not be the lowest in town, and let's face it you have to make a profit or it's all moot; d)support; e) and originality ... and that is a biggie, unless you got ***something*** whatever ***something*** may be, that no one else has your product just won't stand out against everyone else's.
Even if it's a replica of another amp, there should be things that make it not just a copy. Far to many people coping other people stuff today, makes it to easy to go to 10 places and get the same thing. If someone wants an exact spec BF deluxe reverb, then get fender to build one, and people do, and they pay the money (not cheap) ... you gotta have something that i uniquely Scott ... like you said your own slant, but people gotta see it up front.
It's that individualness of design that keeps people from going down the street and getting the same thing for less ... just kinda stating the plain and simple of it, but nonetheless worth mentioning. BTW Scott I have a couple suggestions on some things that all amps sholud have, if you're interested PM me, as no reason to put it on the board and give others a jump on the ideas.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

Which brings us to another point Scott, as a friend on mine who does *way too many amp repairs, way to often* stated, and this may sound a bit overly optimistic but, ... *If a product is good, people will buy it no matter how much it costs....*

Boy...if only that were always true. Unfortunately the guys who can afford those kinds of boutique amps are usually NOT working musicians. They're often retired musicians in thier 50's like me. Or lawyers or wannabe's who make good money at thier day gig and can't really play...

That's why your buddy is doing way to many amp repairs: gotta keep bringing in the bread and butter jobs cuz most working musicians can only afford to keep thier old amp repaired. Just barely! :smack:

Lew

 

[Lee]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

I'd stick to real estate if I were you. Far more money in it and that is guaranteed.

If you copy a Fender design and you do take off - you'll be in court.

If you start from scratch you'll need your circuits checked by an electrical engineer and the amps tested by one before shipping. Electrocute someone and you are in big trouble (even if it's not you that wired it).

If it takes off as a hobby and get's too big to handle part-time, then think about it. Otherwise, forget it.

There is one way to make it work - market it as the 'Seymour Duncan' amp. I'd do it whilst Evan is away if I were you.

Lee

 

[Curly]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

If you copy a Fender design and you do take off - you'll be in court.

Lee,
I thought Scott was talking about using mostly the old Western Electric circuits that Fender copied to begin with - the ones that all the tweed clone meisters use
they're pretty much public domain by now, or something close to that

you're right about the electrical issues nowadays... you definitely have to get the circuits bullet proofed

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

Truth is, clones of the old tweed Fenders are readily available and have been for about 10 years now and as far as I know, no one has been sued. Lew

 

[54stratlover]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

yesterday I was guitar shop hoppin, and checked a few amps out. What i would love to see on the market is more high power amps that are built with power cut switches, and built it attenuators. The THDs were great when it came to this. I tried a plexi clone, and it was a great amp. I just wish that when I got the tone I wanted, i could bring it down to an acceptible volume with an attenuator. there are a couple of ideas.

 

[54stratlover]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

By the way, i am glad that there are people like yourself that are willing to dream and try these things. If it doesn't work out, at least you tried. That is something that 99% of the population can't say. I'm sure I wouldn't be playing my strat, or les paul if it weren't for people that were willing to dream, and then try to make there dreams come true. Go for it. the worst that could happen is that you would have a lot of cool amps at home. Anyway I don't think your wife would let you go broke!

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

Boy...if only that were always true. Unfortunately the guys who can afford those kinds of boutique amps are usually NOT working musicians.

Well, I believe he was doing more to make a point than being literal, nothing that was crappy ever caught on and stayed for long with very few exceptions ... Plus most working musicians that I know that have boutique amps wouldn't dare take them out to play anyway, that's a recording thing ...
plus the phrases subtle nuance and live playing are rarely ever experienced together by player or audience ... :laugh2:

They're often retired musicians in thier 50's like me.

So is he, actually he has always liked guitar but I think he just started fiddlin' with them about 7 years ago as far as playing them himself ... like he told me he just likes playing old rock 'n' roll and R&B ... cool! Nothing wrong with that at all! ... He actually got into fixing amps on a lark, and he likes doing it, he just wishes he had more free time ... even so, it's his business, and he's the boss, so that's a cool thing.

Or lawyers or wannabe's who make good money at their day gig and can't really play...

I see your point, but many people CAN REALLY PLAY, but just want more stability ... a bud of mine a bit older than you probably (he's 54, I'm 37 BTW long story how we met, but as they say, that's another story) gigged on the road all through the 70's, and weekend warriored it in the 80's took the factory job and raised his family ... nothing wrong with that. He's certainly a pro, can play, but you are right, only in the last 6 years or so has he acquired some nice stuff. Although he keeps taking time off away from it, and sooner or later he gets that bug again and joins back up with another weekend band, GOD bless 'em!

That's why your buddy is doing way to many amp repairs: gotta keep bringing in the bread and butter jobs cuz most working musicians can only afford to keep thier old amp repaired. Just barely! :smack:

Lew

Actually he was a repair tech before he got into guitar at all, also he only started guitar from doing set-ups and electrical repair ... kinda the reverse of how most people would envision it, but that's the way it happened with him.
:cool3:

 

[Panzer]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

I just Joined a blues band with some older guys(trying to broaden my playing style) and I would like to get my hands on a vintage tube amp. If you Go through with this I would support you in any way I could. Only concern of mine would be price. If you could make these at a managable price I would buy from you rather than a mainstream producer. I find blues is all about the tone, and if the amplifiers are handbuilt with love from a veteran in the area of tone such as yourself, you couldnt possibly go wrong.

I hope this takes off for you, Goodluck

 

[marty_the_westie]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

sure...why not?

 

[crowscrown]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

If you hook me up with a free one, I'll advertise like crazy for you and get you a lot of business from AZ. If not an amp, I guess a bumper sticker will work to advertise :-(.

 

[jmv]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

Don't have time to read the whole thread, but yes scott, i'd love to buy an amp from you.... i know you're a cool guy, and you have a good ear for tone, and that you're interested in the same sort of gear as me. If you do this, your amp kit would prolly be my next big guitar purchase.

 

[jmv]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

I like the kit idea that some of the other guys had, that'd be cool.

You ought to figure out how to fit a BF twin, a tweed bassman and a marhsall plexi Superlead all in one box. I'd buy that.

but yeah, i know you love amps, that'd be a fun business, i'd love to do something like that.... hey, will you need any extra workers in a few years??

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Would you buy an Amp from me?

I like the kit idea that some of the other guys had, that'd be cool.

You ought to figure out how to fit a BF twin, a tweed bassman and a marhsall plexi Superlead all in one box. I'd buy that.

but yeah, i know you love amps, that'd be a fun business, i'd love to do something like that.... hey, will you need any extra workers in a few years??

Rivera already makes that... Knucklehead 55. And it kicks major butt.

I just bought a 67 Fender Pro Reverb to start my experiements on.

Bwahahahaha!