chinese made mod 100 / modular in the pipeline?

[MkIV]

Excuse me? I didn't hear myself confirm anything about modular being made in our Chinese factory? I said we were possibly going to integrate the modular line into the larger distribution network with the rest of the Egnater products. We are looking into a number of options to "step up" production of the Modular stuff to be able to do that. So you understand, Egnater is not a Guitar Center exclusive. We have an active rep network and are currently in about 120 independent dealers around the US and Canada as well as over 20 different countries right now. To be able to bring the modular line into this would be great for everyone. It would make all of our gear more accessable and allow many more players to be exposed to us than has ever been possible. Sounds like a win/win for us and the players. As you said, it would give me more time to design than spending so much time with production.

Bruce, if you step up the production of the modular line, will this mean that you might put more work into designing new modules? I would love to see a couple of more "metal" sounding higain modules! - perhaps an Armageddon module?

 

[Orren]

Im in for an E2 at $300, regardless of where its made.

Absolutely.

I've been around the MI Industry long enough to know that the key factor isn't the location of the factory, but how serious the company is about quality control. I've had two "USA manufactured" products crap out, because the companies simply didn't do any real quality control, and I have Chinese and Japanese made products that have lasted forever, because the companies were serious about quality control.

I trust Bruce and co. to do the right thing and hold their factories to a high standard and spend the resources on doing quality inspections. That doesn't mean dud amps can't get through, but that means that they will be the exception. As such, I trust that Egnater amps will be reliable regardless of where they are built, or they won't be allowed to market.

Orren

 

[Orren]

Bruce, if you step up the production of the modular line, will this mean that you might put more work into designing new modules? I would love to see a couple of more "metal" sounding higain modules! - perhaps an Armageddon module?

But an Armageddon module wouldn't have the variable mid-range cut/boost, the built-in ISP Decimator, or all the switches...just spring for the Armageddon along with your modular rig. That's my plan, anyway!

 

[MkIV]

But an Armageddon module wouldn't have the variable mid-range cut/boost, the built-in ISP Decimator, or all the switches...just spring for the Armageddon along with your modular rig. That's my plan, anyway!

Well I wasn't thinking about those cool features - just want a module that does more modern agressive metal...

 

[Orren]

But an Armageddon module wouldn't have the variable mid-range cut/boost, the built-in ISP Decimator, or all the switches...just spring for the Armageddon along with your modular rig. That's my plan, anyway!

Well I wasn't thinking about those cool features - just want a module that does more modern agressive metal...

Looking at your signature, you've got the EG5 and SL2X (I do too)...those are some pretty beefy high gain modules! Paired with a guitar with active/high-output passive pickups, I can get pretty monstrous tones out of them. I'm sure you can too!

To me, it is those cool features that make the Armaggedon what it is, not just the extra gain on tap.

Orren

 

[fuzzyguitars]

But an Armageddon module wouldn't have the variable mid-range cut/boost, the built-in ISP Decimator, or all the switches...just spring for the Armageddon along with your modular rig. That's my plan, anyway!

Well I wasn't thinking about those cool features - just want a module that does more modern agressive metal...

i think the sl2x can get pretty heavy.

i just laid down a quick backing track for myself with the sl2x and i think it sounds pretty heavy.

if you click on my link and check out the ideas for backing track clip.

i do have a voodoo amps "sear" mod coming to me in a week or two. I hope that it will be "metal" enough!

 

[richedie]

It can get heavy but I think the stock SL2 sounds much better to my ears. I do not play metal any longer and have no desire so maybe that is part of it.

Glad to see Bruce is not going the import modular route. I'd have to seriously consider giving up my Mod 50.

But an Armageddon module wouldn't have the variable mid-range cut/boost, the built-in ISP Decimator, or all the switches...just spring for the Armageddon along with your modular rig. That's my plan, anyway!

Well I wasn't thinking about those cool features - just want a module that does more modern agressive metal...

i think the sl2x can get pretty heavy.

i just laid down a quick backing track for myself with the sl2x and i think it sounds pretty heavy.

if you click on my link and check out the ideas for backing track clip.

i do have a voodoo amps "sear" mod coming to me in a week or two. I hope that it will be "metal" enough!

 

[aeroic]

Glad to see Bruce is not going the import modular route. I'd have to seriously consider giving up my Mod 50.

This just doesn't make sense. You have a USA ASSEMBLED Mod50. All the modules you have are USA assembled... Mind you, there are a lot of parts that are on there that are not made in the USA. So do you not buy ANYTHING that's not made in the USA? Have fun trying to find clothes...etc. If they go Chinese or Taiwanese made or Mexican made...if the quality is kept in check, then what's the big deal. Right now, they want to push modular bigger, and by doing that they need more manufacturing besides bruce, jeff, ian, bruce's wife, etc. If the quality is there, and the support from Egnater is there, then what's the big deal. You own a Egnater Tourmaster 2x12 don't you. Well you already have a foreign made cabinet. With this logic, then you better sell your 2x12! /end rant.

 

[EWSEthan]

Glad to see Bruce is not going the import modular route. I'd have to seriously consider giving up my Mod 50.

w
This just doesn't make sense. You have a USA ASSEMBLED Mod50. All the modules you have are USA assembled... Mind you, there are a lot of parts that are on there that are not made in the USA. So do you not buy ANYTHING that's not made in the USA? Have fun trying to find clothes...etc. If they go Chinese or Taiwanese made or Mexican made...if the quality is kept in check, then what's the big deal. Right now, they want to push modular bigger, and by doing that they need more manufacturing besides bruce, jeff, ian, bruce's wife, etc. If the quality is there, and the support from Egnater is there, then what's the big deal. You own a Egnater Tourmaster 2x12 don't you. Well you already have a foreign made cabinet. With this logic, then you better sell your 2x12! /end rant.

Sorry Rich. I have to agree with Eric on this one. It is nice to consider buying American where you can and I do the same, but buying American doesnt necessarily mean that every piece of what you are buying is made in a America.

 

[jlbaxe]

Boss pedals...Made in Japan, Rat2 made in China , many Ibanez and Maxon effects made in china. So look at your rig... im sure there are products from other countries and u like or at least use them.

I hade an Ibanez DM1100 rack delay that was one of the warmest delays, made in china and i miss that one.

All my TC electronics not made in america.

 

[gtr31]

I would much rather have it made in China ,Korea Greece as long as the QC is good ,than go back to the 8 to 12 month wait time for a head or m4.

That is just frustrating for Bruce and Jeff ,the clients and the dealers .

The whole thing is QC .If done right your fine .It is still Bruce;s designs.

 

[RockStarNick]

I can see this having a polarizing effect.

Those who presently CAN'T afford USA made Egnater custom Shop stuff will be very happy.

Those who presently CAN afford the USA made Egnater custom shop stiff will be disappointed.

I'll be the first to admit, that there's definitely a sense of prestige to owning boutique, usa made, custom shop gear. Does that sense of prestige make me a better player or make my music any better? Not at all. It's all corksniffer attitude, but I'm guilty as charged. I like hand made USA stuff.

That being said, I'm sure the Egnater camp is making a calculated decision. They can tread water with their current workstaff in the USA and modular line, or they can take a chance on outsourcing,in order to bring the modular technology to the masses.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[RockStarNick]

On another note:

As a graphic designer who has worked in advertising and marketing for 10 years, from a marketing standpoint, it doesn't matter WHERE the modular stuff is made, if Egnater doesn't start advertising it and promoting it.

And it's going to take some clever advertising too.

The Rebel 20. $600 dollar, small, portable great sounding amp head. EASY sell. That thing practically sold itself!

The modular line will take a LOT more advertising to convince people that it IS a real amp, and that it's super versatile, and that there is no tone compromise.

 

[aeroic]

On another note:

As a graphic designer who has worked in advertising and marketing for 10 years, from a marketing standpoint, it doesn't matter WHERE the modular stuff is made, if Egnater doesn't start advertising it and promoting it.

And it's going to take some clever advertising too.

The Rebel 20. $600 dollar, small, portable great sounding amp head. EASY sell. That thing practically sold itself!

The modular line will take a LOT more advertising to convince people that it IS a real amp, and that it's super versatile, and that there is no tone compromise.

I couldn't agree more here with Nick. Definitely there is NO marketing w/in Egnater to this point outside of word of mouth. If you want modular to go to the masses, you really need to be more upfront and out there w/ your marketing to gain marketshare.

 

[aeroic]

I can see this having a polarizing effect.

Those who presently CAN'T afford USA made Egnater custom Shop stuff will be very happy.

Those who presently CAN afford the USA made Egnater custom shop stiff will be disappointed.

I'll be the first to admit, that there's definitely a sense of prestige to owning boutique, usa made, custom shop gear. Does that sense of prestige make me a better player or make my music any better? Not at all. It's all corksniffer attitude, but I'm guilty as charged. I like hand made USA stuff.

That being said, I'm sure the Egnater camp is making a calculated decision. They can tread water with their current workstaff in the USA and modular line, or they can take a chance on outsourcing,in order to bring the modular technology to the masses.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

Well...having worked in the computer industry...and watching how nothing is made in the US much anymore...Have fun trying to find a computer made and assembled in the US. There are so few options. Same issue is happening with the amp biz. Outside of having a Point to Point wired amp, there's no reason why a foreign made amp will be worse or better than a US made amp. If the amp builder, or computer builder uses shit parts, then you have a shitty amp or computer no matter where it's made. Having worked for a company that builds computer servers, it's definitely MUCH MORE expensive to build things in the US. If a builder (regardless of what you are building) chooses high quality parts, and high quality builders...then the only difference is cost of labor typically. That's what Egnater has done well with the foreign GC amps. High quality builds, and minor issues, and awesome tone!

I'm all for building things in the US...I'm not anti-american..or anything. But most ppl are inherently cheap...and aren't willing to pay $3k-4k for a handbuilt amp from a german, american, british company. There are those cork-sniffers like you, me, and others. But if you gain consitency of the build, and offer even higher quality control, then I'm all for it. There's so much you can do w/ a boutique shop w/ 2-3 ppl. If it were me, I'd approach a robotic manufacturing line to build the modules, and main PCB boards, as the QC will be automated, and will be much more stringent vs human QC. Then a human would do final assembly and testing. I don't think anyone would want to pay what it would cost for a iPhone or a computer these days if it were made in the USA. You're talking probably about a $800 iPhone...or something like that.

It definitely is polarizing...and there is something to be said about having a USA made amp... I'm honestly MORE concerned about a company and it's ability to grow quickly and service their product as they grow. That's typically the biggest hurdle in anything, is dealing with a product after it has left the manufacturing floor. /end another rant!

 

[jlbaxe]

I understand... But if it goes that way I can still say I have the American Made Heads and Modules. I also enjoy having the Boutique amps, call me a Tolex sniffer....ah cork sniffer.

I'm not saying I'd buy the made in china amps at GC. Checking out the Bogner line, to me still doesn't compare in tone and feel to the Ecstasy amp or Shiva and Uber ....Soooooooo I will still buy those amps even though the cost is high it will just take me a while.

That makes it easier for young musicians to afford "good" tone and cool looking amps. I came from a time and group of friends that if you didn't have a Fender,Marshall,Boogie or Dean Markley amp it wasn't played in the house. Hell I had a rack back then and was always getting shit about it. oh back on track============

The Randall RM100 says "Made in the USA" so I think that factory would be the one for the module line.

 

[aeroic]

I understand... But if it goes that way I can still say I have the American Made Heads and Modules. I also enjoy having the Boutique amps, call me a Tolex sniffer....ah cork sniffer.

I'm not saying I'd buy the made in china amps at GC. Checking out the Bogner line, to me still doesn't compare in tone and feel to the Ecstasy amp or Shiva and Uber ....Soooooooo I will still buy those amps even though the cost is high it will just take me a while.

That makes it easier for young musicians to afford "good" tone and cool looking amps. I came from a time and group of friends that if you didn't have a Fender,Marshall,Boogie or Dean Markley amp it wasn't played in the house. Hell I had a rack back then and was always getting shit about it. oh back on track============

The Randall RM100 says "Made in the USA" so I think that factory would be the one for the module line.

But I'm making the point, if the ONLY difference between a Mod50 was where the labor was performed, I don't think there's much of an argument here. Yeah...the Alchemists aren't great amps IMHO. But the Rebel, Renegade, Tourmaster and Tweaker are awesome amps. I was floored by the Tweaker, and the Armageddon was a great sounding amp, and all were made overseas.

I think Egnater is one of the few amp companies that is doing a great job with production overseas. As far as Randall making Egnater amps, I doubt that will happen. If anything does happen, I would assume Egnater would move their production to the same facility as where they make their GC amps. That way they can interface with the same ppl making the existing Tourmaster / Rebel / Renegade amps.

I personally think people that blanketly say they only buy "USA made products" for guitars are being a bit unrealistic as so much stuff isn't made in America anymore. And we are the ones to blame for that. We want everything cheaper, cheaper, cheaper..but expect all of the higher wages and perks to along with it.

 

[jlbaxe]

I agree with you Eric.

 

[Resonant Alien]

I'm not sure about getting into this debate (again), but I think there is one point that ought to be made anytime this emotional topic comes up, and that is a point made by 3 Mile Stone in another thread: If these amps were produced in the US, the cost of producing them would probably drive the cost of the amps up into the same territory as the MOD50. And then, what would be the point of producing them in the first place? Who would buy a $2200 Renegade?? That's right - no one. I even doubt anyone would buy a $2200 Tourmaster, since you can get a MOD50 for $2200. So, the production of these amps is not taking away American jobs, because these amps would not exist if they had to be made here, and if the amps don't exist, neither do the jobs to produce them. I would actually go further and say that the existence of these made in Asia amps might have actually created some American jobs - those being the people that work in the Egnater facility in CA that handles the import of the Asian line. Just something to think about.

 

[Orren]

those being the people that work in the Egnater facility in CA that handles the import of the Asian line. Just something to think about.

There's an Egnater facility here in California? Is it in Southern California? I know John Ewing is here, but is there a whole facility?

Orren