E2 Preamp?

[oshuwah]

Hey guys,

Ive been off the boards for a while so forgive me if this is common knowledge now.

What is the deal with the E2 Preamp (Single rack space, two modules)? Did it get scrapped? I cant find any info on it now.

I bought the M4 last year b/c I did not want to wait but I really only need two modules.

4 Modules and 8 Channels is overkill for my application.

Hoping the E2 makes it to market...

 

[crankyrayhanky]

only spoken in whispers, like Big Foot

 

[rlord1974]

Preamp has been renamed. No longer 'E2'. Now it is the 'E-TERNITY'.

 

[jlbaxe]

Preamp has been renamed. No longer 'E2'. Now it is the 'E-TERNITY'.

 

[oshuwah]

Dang. I guess that settles it.

 

[Klark]

I guess the rumors are correct, and that is the modular line is pretty much done for. I'm actually thinking about dumping my entire M4 rig just because I'm actually offended that this company cannot come here and give us an honest update. It's complete disrespect for the few of us that still love & support the modular line, and I for one, don't particularly care any longer to support a company that has obviously proven that it doesn't give a shit. Just like many others I find it interesting that Bogner can still keep their USA stuff kicking ass while managing their chinese Alchemist line with no problems. And same with Soldano & Jet City, and probably many other companies that have developed secondary overseas product lines.

 

[Wagster]

I love my Mod50 and won't be selling it anytime soon. Bruce is a great guy and has always taken care of me. I hope he will give us an update sometime soon. The E2 could give a gigging and recording musician a lot of flexibility.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

The E2 is a super genuis idea....that's what is so frustrating

 

[oshuwah]

I guess the rumors are correct, and that is the modular line is pretty much done for. I'm actually thinking about dumping my entire M4 rig just because I'm actually offended that this company cannot come here and give us an honest update. It's complete disrespect for the few of us that still love & support the modular line, and I for one, don't particularly care any longer to support a company that has obviously proven that it doesn't give a shit. Just like many others I find it interesting that Bogner can still keep their USA stuff kicking ass while managing their chinese Alchemist line with no problems. And same with Soldano & Jet City, and probably many other companies that have developed secondary overseas product lines.

I myself love my M4 and think Modular concept is the only way to go. I use a a rack rig (M4 and a Mesa 20/20)and play through IEM's so I do not need a cab. but 8 Channels is too many for me, but whatever. If they do away with it officially then I definitely wont be getting rid of anything. A MOD50 would be my plan B if I did not go the route I did.

 

[Anonymous]

I call dibs on that M4 mang!!! Let me know when your ready to dump it!

I guess the rumors are correct, and that is the modular line is pretty much done for. I'm actually thinking about dumping my entire M4 rig just because I'm actually offended that this company cannot come here and give us an honest update. It's complete disrespect for the few of us that still love & support the modular line, and I for one, don't particularly care any longer to support a company that has obviously proven that it doesn't give a shit. Just like many others I find it interesting that Bogner can still keep their USA stuff kicking ass while managing their chinese Alchemist line with no problems. And same with Soldano & Jet City, and probably many other companies that have developed secondary overseas product lines.

 

[Klark]

I love my Mod50 and won't be selling it anytime soon. Bruce is a great guy and has always taken care of me. I hope he will give us an update sometime soon.

You're missing the point, because this has nothing to do with being a great guy. If I wanted to buy something from a great guy, I'd go buy a new garden shovel from Mr. Billings who owns my local hardware store. When I'm going to potentially drop $2K+ on a rig that's gonna stand behind me on a stage, what I want is customer support, customer appreciation, customer respect, and so on. There is very little, if any with this company any longer. This is the official Egnater forum, so how hard would a once a month update post be to type up?? Definitely a lot easier than placing an add in Rolling Stone magazine. John Suhr owns one of the most well respected guitar & amp companies on earth, yet he himself posts multiple times a day on his forum and probably a half a dozen other forums EVERY DAY! Why can he post every day? Because he respects all of his loyal US customers and has chosen not to abandon them all by moving all of his chickens to China.

Ask yourself this..

Would you devote your attention to a line of products that are:
A) Expensive to produce due to US labor/manufacturing cost
B) Never really caught on the first place due to an unfamiliar concept (modular)
C) Difficult to sell because you have to find dealers to push it (even more difficult due to B above)

Or would you devote your attention to a line of products that are:
A) Inexpensive to produce (China)
B) Already have a foothold as an entry level 'boutique' product (even if only one in six actually work)
C) Already being sold by the dozens everyday via the largest chain of guitar stores on earth

Hmm, yah, I know what I'd do!

It's also much easier to see where Egnater is going when you consider the fact that Bruce is not a 28 year old, hip, boutique amp builder, that lives a rocknroll lifestyle. He's an older guy that has his mind on retiring very comfortably due to the massive check from GC that's going to show up in his mailbox every week.

 

[Wagster]

I love my Mod50 and won't be selling it anytime soon. Bruce is a great guy and has always taken care of me. I hope he will give us an update sometime soon.

You're missing the point, because this has nothing to do with being a great guy. If I wanted to buy something from a great guy, I'd go buy a new garden shovel from Mr. Billings who owns my local hardware store. When I'm going to potentially drop $2K+ on a rig that's gonna stand behind me on a stage, what I want is customer support, customer appreciation, customer respect, and so on. There is very little, if any with this company any longer. This is the official Egnater forum, so how hard would a once a month update post be to type up?? Definitely a lot easier than placing an add in Rolling Stone magazine. John Suhr owns one of the most well respected guitar & amp companies on earth, yet he himself posts multiple times a day on his forum and probably a half a dozen other forums EVERY DAY! Why can he post every day? Because he respects all of his loyal US customers and has chosen not to abandon them all by moving all of his chickens to China.

Ask yourself this..

Would you devote your attention to a line of products that are:
A) Expensive to produce due to US labor/manufacturing cost
B) Never really caught on the first place due to an unfamiliar concept (modular)
C) Difficult to sell because you have to find dealers to push it (even more difficult due to B above)

Or would you devote your attention to a line of products that are:
A) Inexpensive to produce (China)
B) Already have a foothold as an entry level 'boutique' product (even if only one in six actually work)
C) Already being sold by the dozens everyday via the largest chain of guitar stores on earth

Hmm, yah, I know what I'd do!

It's also much easier to see where Egnater is going when you consider the fact that Bruce is not a 28 year old, hip, boutique amp builder, that lives a rocknroll lifestyle. He's an older guy that has his mind on retiring very comfortably due to the massive check from GC that's going to show up in his mailbox every week.

I understand where you're coming from but if you really like your tone why would you dump your rig?

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the modular line will continue and stay in the USA. In the meantime I'll keep gigging my Mod50.

 

[muudrock]

I play what sounds good to me, regardless. I agree it would be nice to have some feedback from the company, but really, that doesn't play into any decision regarding what I'll use. All of us have already "supported" the company by purchasing their amps. Selling everything Egnater doesn't make a bit of difference, except to satisfy your feelings. It's not going to change anything in the grand scheme of things regarding Bruce or the company that bears his name. Let's be honest here, by the changes we've seen over the last couple years: GC line launched and expanded more than once with more in the pipeline, Jeff leaving and Doug Reynolds coming to Egnater from Randall, No modular product development for some time---the direction the company is going is away from botique, handmade amps. For better or worse, there is no effort or $$ being spent on the modular concept. The E2 has been proto-typed for almost 3 years now and has had some functional issues. While a great concept, I don't think they can make work as conceived in a cost effecient production. Just my opinion, but if it could be done at a profitable margin, it would be considering how many potential customers it could bring in to the modular line of both Egnater and Randall as well as boosting it's existing customer base. While I think most of us would have run the business differently in this area, it's not ours so, C'est la vie. However, I can't feel disrespected or unappreciated because the owner of a company isn't catering to my personal wants/desires or doesn't post on multiple forums, that's not realistic. To each their own, I guess...

 

[Klark]

I can't feel disrespected or unappreciated because the owner of a company isn't catering to my personal wants/desires or doesn't post on multiple forums..

Now come on, that is not what I'm saying at all. He has been here before, answered questions, and fixed enough of the consistent chinese product problems to make him look like a good guy, but you cannot tell me that all the problems that pop-up almost daily on this forum are just slipping his mind. He knows this forum is here and he knows there is more negative posts on the main forum page than good posts, so it's time to be a big boy with your big company and step up to the plate. If he's so busy than maybe say so, and then ask or assign an employee 'Can you register for this forum and help me out a bit?" Would that really be so hard?? If he cannot find an employee to handle the virtual public relations, than come here once and say so. We don't care who it is, it just needs to be someone. Even someone pretending to give a shit would be better than that we've received. But what we have received is complete disregard, from not answering the phone, to no forum response.. It all adds up to a simple fact that they have ZERO customer appreciation.

As far as selling my M4 & modules, I don't really have to sell anything because the physical piece of gear supports me well by not breaking down. But personally I have no desire to stand in front of and support a company that does not support even the simplest of questions from the community.

 

[hunter]

Have you ever run a business, Klark?

I think you should calm down. If you don't like the way Bruce treats you, then sell his stuff and buy a Suhr amp. Otherwise if you're happy with your rig, just enjoy it and be patient, things will be announced as they become ready.

 

[rlord1974]

.....personally I have no desire to stand in front of and support a company that does not support even the simplest of questions from the community.

Klark:

I know in reality you are one of the good guys, and I do respect your opinion.

However, I'm not sure I agree with that comment. It seems Bruce does do a decent job answering tech and troubleshooting questions on the gear that he has already released and is currently being sold. Just because he doesn't want to comment on a product that he has not yet released - and may choose to never release - does not make him a terrible guy with a terrible approach to customer service.....

If the E2 never comes out, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Personally, I am certainly am not sitting at home sketching diagrams as to how it will be implemented into my rig when it does come out. I work around products that are available today - not products that *might* be coming down the pipeline.....

 

[rlord1974]

Ask yourself this..

Would you devote your attention to a line of products that are:
A) Expensive to produce due to US labor/manufacturing cost
B) Never really caught on the first place due to an unfamiliar concept (modular)
C) Difficult to sell because you have to find dealers to push it (even more difficult due to B above)

Or would you devote your attention to a line of products that are:
A) Inexpensive to produce (China)
B) Already have a foothold as an entry level 'boutique' product (even if only one in six actually work)
C) Already being sold by the dozens everyday via the largest chain of guitar stores on earth

Hmm, yah, I know what I'd do!

It's also much easier to see where Egnater is going when you consider the fact that Bruce is not a 28 year old, hip, boutique amp builder, that lives a rocknroll lifestyle. He's an older guy that has his mind on retiring very comfortably due to the massive check from GC that's going to show up in his mailbox every week.

A couple of final thoughts.....

As for the red: I wouldn't say that modular didn't catch on. It's huge. It's so big he doesn't need to work on it anymore. He made a product, licensed it to Randall and it was sold for a number of years by himself (boutique rig) and Randall (working man's rig). It's popularity is huge when you factor in Randall's sales as well. MTS is Bruce under a different name, and last I checked, Randall is still designing and pumping the MTS line out the door. Not to mention, there are other guys now designing and modding modules (e.g., Gigmods, Salvation, etc.), so why does Bruce need to do it as well (even though, I really would love to see something new from his shop)? I can't blame him for shifting focus - let Randall and the custom mod guys service the market while he collects his licensing fees and can spend his time on developing new products?.....

As for the blue: It is difficult to get product placement in stores for the Egnater branded modular line, as the average musician is not gonna shell out the bucks for it when they can get the Randall stuff for cheaper. This is basic economics - Randall offers a substitute product at a lower price point, so is definitely going to get more interest from the individual buyer and retailers.......

As for the green: Can we really fault him here? Who wouldn't want to make more money more easily? That's just smart business.

As long as he will continue to support the handmade modular stuff (e.g., if you have repair needs), I have no real issue with him moving on to new products and opportunities. Eventually companies have to stop making some of their products. Marshall isn't making the 9001 and JMP-1 preamps anymore, Mesa has moved on from the Quad and Studio, and Bogner has cast his line for the Fish for the final time. Look at all of the guys that swear by old Marshalls but wouldn't touch a Marshall product made in the last 20 years with a ten-foot pole. These guys still praise Marshall and proudly stand in front of their amps on stage - even though Marshall has seriously cheapened their image with the MG line and some new tube products which lack in quality of materials and reliability.

Times change: innovate or die.

 

[muudrock]

Even someone pretending to give a shit would be better than that we've received. But what we have received is complete disregard, from not answering the phone, to no forum response.. It all adds up to a simple fact that they have ZERO customer appreciation.

As far as selling my M4 & modules, I don't really have to sell anything because the physical piece of gear supports me well by not breaking down. But personally I have no desire to stand in front of and support a company that does not support even the simplest of questions from the community.

I guess I don't see it that way. I personally don't need to feel appreciated. I spent my money got the gear, feel I got what I paid for and appreciate that when I turn it on and play and it sounds good-every time. Maybe you've had bad relations with Bruce and Co., but I haven't. If I've had a question, it was answered. I've not had quality issues so I've never had to go there with them. I guess our expectations are different? I respect your thoughts on this, but just don't agree. Like I said, Bruce may not run HIS company in a way that we agree with, but so what, it's his.

 

[Klark]

Yes, I've owned and operated a successful regional live sound production company for 14 years now, and I know for sure that you don't gain any friends by what's been going on.

So far everyone that's disagreed with me seems to believe that since Bruce started in his basement, that he's just another one of the guys and deserves some slack. But when you move out your business out of the basement to world wide distribution, there's a level of customer appreciation & support that comes with the territory. As Soldano, Bogner, and Suhr have proved, it's still possible for Bruce to be 'one of the guys', but those guys have key personal in place to deal with problems & questions. This isn't doing tube biasing in your basement anymore, it's selling a product with your name on it to thousands of buyers via hundreds of stores, so the customer support side is really is a full time job. The good news is Nate seems to be answering the phone and dealing with stuff now, so that's awesome and I commend them on getting that together!

And I am totally calm, and I have had NO bad relations with Bruce, so please don't try to make this something that it's not. I'm just not one to sit quietly and not voice my opinion on an obvious problem, especially when it's a company that I honestly do care about.

 

[hunter]

Yes, I've owned and operated a successful regional live sound production company for 14 years now, and I know for sure that you don't gain any friends by what's been going on.

So far everyone that's disagreed with me seems to believe that since Bruce started in his basement, that he's just another one of the guys and deserves some slack. But when you move out your business out of the basement to world wide distribution, there's a level of customer appreciation & support that comes with the territory. As Soldano, Bogner, and Suhr have proved, it's still possible for Bruce to be 'one of the guys', but those guys have key personal in place to deal with problems & questions. This isn't doing tube biasing in your basement anymore, it's selling a product with your name on it to thousands of buyers via hundreds of stores, so the customer support side is really is a full time job. The good news is Nate seems to be answering the phone and dealing with stuff now, so that's awesome and I commend them on getting that together!

And I am totally calm, and I have had NO bad relations with Bruce, so please don't try to make this something that it's not. I'm just not one to sit quietly and not voice my opinion on an obvious problem, especially when it's a company that I honestly do care about.

Well you know, Reinhold Bogner, while you mention him, showed some rack gear on summer namm 2009, and so far no information anywhere as to wether this will come out at all. Goldfinger took over two years and no clear statements about when or how much.

You have to keep in mind that - although the production in Egnater or Bogner run on bigger scales - the DEVELOPMENT resources are very limited, i.e. you have Reinhold and you have Bruce. They just need time to get the stuff organised, and setting up a production, ordering parts, preparing the factory and tools etc, is a xx,000$ investment that will be well prepared, they have to make sure they produce in the right numbers and all, otherwise they could lose loads of cash.