RIPOFF! Did You Buy an Ampeg 4x12 Guitar Cab at GC?

[bongolation]

I posted this in another forum, but I think it's more relevant here. GCs sold jillions of these things. Did you get burned too?
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More Ampeg outrage!

The V-412TA 4x12" Ampeg slantfront cabinet mentioned in the previous messages has been sitting back in the studio unused and out of mind since purchase until this thread got me thinking about the problems I've had with SLM/Ampeg gear.

As I mentioned in a previous message, I had felt that this was a reasonably good box as it was made out of 3/4" plywood, though the "Ampeg" speakers were a subject of some misgivings. I had been told at the time of purchase that they were rebadged Eminences, and while not a great speaker, that was good enough at the price.

For over a year, GC has been advertising these boxes in their flyers as "best buys!" and the usual store price is $399.99 with a MSRP of $600. Below is a link to one of several flyer ads I just scanned.

As I was pushing it around out of the studio corner, I noticed that the back panel flexed a little under my hand, which seemed odd for 3/4" plywood.

Out of curiosity, I carefully removed the output jack plate to examine the wood and was shocked at what I saw. I took off one of the large recessed side handles for another look, this time at the side panels.

Despite being advertised for over a year as having "3/4" Plywood Construction," the box is actually made out of cheap 5/8" particle board!

The "four 100-watt 12" Ampeg speakers" simply defy description. If I get the opportunity, I will photograph them. Any reasonable person would think my description an exaggeration without visible proof. What they are are cheap imported flea market speakers with the tiniest magnet structures I have ever seen. $8.95 per unit on the outside. 100 Watts? Ha!

But there actually are four 12" speakers in there, such as they are. The "3/4" plywood construction" is a total lie repeated for over a year in the ads. Is there no bottom to SLM products?

Hey, so what about this?

Though this scan is a little blurry, you should be able to make out the following description:

* The Ampeg V412TA Cabinet has four 12" 100-Watt Ampeg speakers

* 3/4" plywood construction

* Your best 4x12 cab value
One Scan of Fraudulent Product Description

 

[M.Brane]

Man, that sucks!

Shame on GC and Ampeg for putting out this kind of garbage.

I'm more dissapointed that Ampeg would sell crap like this under that moniker. I thought that's why they had Crate!

I expect this kind of thing from GC......

 

[bongolation]

SLM Ampeg is increasingly getting to be trash.

The circuitry is apparently contracted out and SLM just sticks the subcontracted parts together and ships the completed units. The Ampegs usually work OK, but the final assembly is more often than not total crap by apes who can't use a power driver to install screws.

 

[shagfu]

I posted this in another forum, but I think it's more relevant here. GCs sold jillions of these things. Did you get burned too?


I got burned when GC was having a blow out on Steinberg soundcard/sequencer bundles. In hind sight, it seems that Steinberg was dropping support for the products and were basically dumping the remaining inventory at really low prices.
Not too long ago GC seemed to be doing the same thing with the Emagic Logic/Audiowerk2 bundles.

The stuff is perfectly usable for what you pay...but getting no future support for any of that stuff is really crappy.

 

[mixmkr]

back in the 70's, I played thru a pair of Ampeg V4 heads, each with two 4 x 12 bottoms. I still have one of the heads and a 4 x 12 cabinet. The cabs are sealed, and I took a single speaker out and put in a JBL D120, as that is what I usually mic'd..and I can't remember what was originally in there...nothing shabby or suprising though. But I'll tell ya, it was one of the baddest MF'ing amp setups you ever heard...and maybe just a "tad" bit on the loud side too. Easily held up to (if not overpowered) and complemented the other guitar players dbl Marshall stack.

It's a bummer to hear that the new Ampeg stuff is trash. However, mimicking the Marshall slant cabinets that many are doing now, makes one suspicious, you would think.

Just like the new Gretch duo-jets. I had one of the originals, and the re-issues look like jokes with bolt on necks at $499.

 

[bongolation]

I don't mind so much that it's trash so much as that it's fraudulently advertised trash.

 

[M.Brane]

I don't mind so much that it's trash so much as that it's fraudulently advertised trash.

I would be pissed. I paid $500 for my Marshall 1960 Vintage out the door.

 

[Bass Master "K"]

Thats BS man. My hats off to you for even checking. I'd write to Ampeg and ask them for an explanation, you may get some free stuff out of it.