It is not the economy that stuff is not moving IMO

[Bob Savage]

Oddly enough I was just typing the same reply ,but thanks to that killer feature that we have where you get to see posts that were posted ahead of your post I saw your post first . (I also wanted to see how many times I could get the word post in this post)

It may seem odd but it makes complete sense really. Your mind is just twisted the same way.

You could certainly have done better on the post thing though. Not sure how but reach for the stars next time.

 

[thenine]

I respectfully disagree with OP , for those of us lucky enough to have employment, many salaries raises have been minimal, limited or frozen in the last few years while we watch our gas, electric and food bills grow 50-100%

+ 2. My raises over the last 4 years have been pathetic but my bills everywhere up went up to where my yearly raise should have been!

It IS the economy or at least the economy is big big part of it. People dont know what their situation is gonna be so they have to hold back.

 

[blackba]

For the the economy is a big factor in my change. I an no longer count on selling my gear that I bought used and getting what I paid for it. Selling also takes more effort now. This has made me very cautious in what I buy, much more so than before. I know if I don't like something that I am going to have to work and probably take a good loss to unload it.

There are many other factors like kids, rising living expenses, satisfaction with my gear, not currently playing in a band, etc. Those have all played a role in my buying habits, but to say the economy isn't a factor is not accurate, in my experience.

 

[PaulyPanacea]

Economy sucks the big one. Everything goes up in $$ yet i havent gotten a raise (nor has anyone in my co) in 7 years...yet we stay due to stability here...and to get a new job and start over id lose half of my hourly pay!! tough times my friends!!

 

[Rogue]

I think it is a result of the economy, sure, but more so the change of mindset after the crash. Meaning a reassessment of priorities. If somebody was flipping 4k amps at a whim, I doubt the current economic conditions stops them from doing it....but the reassessment of priorities might.

I think people are a bit more reluctant to drop big money on gear they don't necessarily need when they are focusing more on their debt, or merely bolstering the financial situation. The crash did one thing for sure...it scared the piss out of regular folks and they realized the golden years are gone. So, this amp and guitar is good enough for now.

 

[ratter]

I hope you're wrong man...some of us are banking on the "cure for suck" phenomenon to continue please!

 

[VC4Ever]

boo-teek

 

[Digital Jams]

Sorry but after years and years of people cycling through gear like there was some sort of cure for suck the buyer well is just dry, plain and simple. The buyers have bought and bought and there is just nothing left to buy other than some new things down the pipe or cool guitars that show up now and then.

There are just so many diodes to try out from different men.

This can be said for ALL types of amps, not just one brand by the way. As much hype as my Cali mod has been given I bet I would lose money on it and it would sit there in the tumble weeds that was once flipper heaven.

Guys from the days will remember GMW stratheads, they lasted minutes before being sold. No longer. Why? Market has dried up, nothing to do with the economy.

New amps will continue to sell, I am sure Steve will have great sucess with his launch and many men will be romancing ralph and mike when it is time for the Randalls to launch.

The old stuff though? The well is dry so just play your amp and enjoy it.

IT IS NOT THE ECONOMY.

Couple of things:

1.) I think you are looking at a microcosm of forum behavior and generalizing it to a macro trend. I agree a lot of people here seem satisfied with what they have and that is great, and I am seeing things languish in the classifieds that would be snapped up in minutes before, but we are talking about a very small amount of the total market, and there are other factors like Brad getting Cameron going with new amps available on the market. Also, GMW strat heads aren't as exciting anymore when you can get a nice japanese Charvel strat head for $500-600 used, which, let's face it, is what GMW was all about. I also think the economy has more effect on things than you are giving it credit for - more people are being cautious with their money because there is so much uncertainty, especially the impact of Europe. I'll also say that, clipping circuits aside, I've heard/played a number of Friedman, Cameron, my own amps, etc., and the still all have their own thing going on that will appeal to a certain buyer. Everyone is making tweaks and providing features and cosmetics that are different, even if there are some diodes in the amps somewhere in the circuit. I think it is a great time for amp buyers and they have a lot of flavors and choices and they are just not all the same to my ears and eyes. Whether anyone wants to pony up the cash right now in the face of economic uncertainty is another issue...

2.) It is very nice of you to say you think my amp line's launch will be successful, but I have extremely realistic thoughts on what that means given the current economy. I face the very real possibility that I'll build a run of these amps on my own dime and there may not be buyers at my price point at the current time. Look, I'd love nothing more than to put out a tweet saying I've got a run of amps come and get 'em and have them sold out in a day or two, but I realize that would be impractical. I'm doing everything within my means and if it takes a long time to feel them, then that is what it takes. As I've said from the beginning of this journey, this has been a labor of love for me about bringing my ultimate, no compromises amp to market. If the market is not ready at this time, I'll have the coolest looking spare bedroom in existence until it is...

Steve

The microcosm that is this forum is exactly what I am speaking of, my statements are not carried over to the marcocosm that is the music industry. As many before have stated brands we talk about every day are not known to non forum readers which is why we see so many Line 6 and Marshall MGs on stage. Everyone here has tried every type of amp pretty much from multiple builders so when another Friedman, Cameron, Fortin, BFG, or whatever else comes on the market it will sit for sometime.

This is why I do not blame the economy, not looking at a national level in consumer spending. I just wimped out of an inground pool due to that Marcocosm

Regarding the different clipping circuit amps that have their own thing, totally agree and understand ownership of multiple models but I am not really focused on that consumer as it seems he has no issues with the state of the economy. My drive for the cure for suck has me owning 6 heads Only reason I am not buying anything is that I do not like to sell what I have and have too much.

I am sure you remember the correction when the housing market blew up and I am pretty sure that you are a prudent investor / saver so you probably remember the carnage to your 401 or portfolio. I know I was out 40% after that correction and this place was selling at a faster pace from what I can remember due to many who have not owned any type of Jose type amp or other high end amp such as Diezel, Bogner, whatever. Look what you can get Herberts for now, $2400 or so? $4000 LP customs for 40% off new prices used.

Bottom line is that my thoughts concerning the economic microcosm that is RT is that the economy is not to blame, supply and demand has shifted dramatically. New products will still sell well here as we have those who want to try the newest thing. The current amp lines that we talk about now have more supply than demand.

I bet if DAR all of a sudden were to post they had 10 of those Future Breed amps in boxes ready for shipping they would be gone.

Look at the Kemper stuff, brand new item and this forum bought a lot of them right out of the gates. Not a $2000+ amp but not cheap either.

When the Timeline hit the floor this forum was shelling out $500 for them. A delay pedal. The forum still has money, where it is spent has changed.

 

[chadprsman]

I didn't read every word, but, could be too that there are wonderful LOWer cost options that work and sound great?

 

[ejecta]

The forum still has money, where it is spent has changed.

Sure things still sell but on a much smaller level and not everyone is affected the same by the current economic situation. However the gear buying and flippage are nowhere near the level they were pre the market correction. If you think so then I don't know what forums you see that happening in. Please feel free to point the way to those forums because I'd like a place I could buy any amp, boutique or not, and then flip it in a day or so like I could pre 2008.

Yeah I'm sure that the gear flow slow down and the market correction all happening near the same time are just coincidence and have nothing to do with each other.

 

[Chris6870]

Not the economy in my case. It's summer. I'm doing other things besides obsessing over gear on forums. I am spending the same money, just on different stuff like family vacations, my boat and hot rods. Gear is the last thing on my mind lately.

 

[snowdog]

Thanks for sharing your prophetic musings.

People with money still have disposable income, whether or not they are buying the latest amp of the minute or any particular piece of gear someones selling is irrelevant.

 

[guitarmike]

Thanks for sharing your prophetic musings.

People with money still have disposable income, whether or not they are buying the latest amp of the minute or any particular piece of gear someones selling is irrelevant.

The problem is because not as many people have money right now. Pre 2009 Cameron amps were selling in 1 day for over $3K. Regardless of how many Cameron fans now have Cameron amps more than the hard core fans were in the market. Just read this thread and see how many folks are on the sidelines, regardless of why.

If you have gas, it never goes 100% away. That's ok, it is a fun hobby trying out gear and slowly evolving your rig. Right now the cost is too high for many and the high end booteek stuff sits, withers and dies.

 

[rlord1974]

I know what works for me, and have no interest in anything else.

Come on......maybe just ONE more CCV?

 

[rlord1974]

I will say it seemed like when I joined 6 months ago things were selling better than now, so has the economy gotten even worse in the last 6 months? not sure.

Let's not forget another important factor: seasonality.

* people are outside, enjoying the summer, and have been for at least a couple of months now. That will continue until end of September.
* people with kids are taking them on summer vacations.
* people without kids are going on summer vacations.
* the typical bonus season is far behind us now, so those that "treat themselves" using their annual bonuses have already done so.
* tax refunds have been received and spent.

Result?.....

- Less people are on line over the summer months, and for less time when they do log on.
- Summer also brings many other things to spend your money on, other than musical gear.
- Seasonal boosts in savings/discretionary cash flows, brought on by tax refunds and bonuses, have been spent or dedicated to other expenses.

Bottom line?

Things will pick up in the fall, when we all head indoors to hibernate.....
.
.
.
Log on
.
.
.
Itchy trigger finger
.
.
.
POW!
.
.
.
"Out for delivery"

 

[rlord1974]

That all having been said, the economy SUCKS at the moment and cannot be discounted in this whole trend we're currently experiencing.

 

[jcj]

I know what works for me, and have no interest in anything else.

Come on......maybe just ONE more CCV?

 

[glip22]

I will say it seemed like when I joined 6 months ago things were selling better than now, so has the economy gotten even worse in the last 6 months? not sure.

Let's not forget another important factor: seasonality.

* people are outside, enjoying the summer, and have been for at least a couple of months now. That will continue until end of September.
* people with kids are taking them on summer vacations.
* people without kids are going on summer vacations.
* the typical bonus season is far behind us now, so those that "treat themselves" using their annual bonuses have already done so.
* tax refunds have been received and spent.

Result?.....

- Less people are on line over the summer months, and for less time when they do log on.
- Summer also brings many other things to spend your money on, other than musical gear.
- Seasonal boosts in savings/discretionary cash flows, brought on by tax refunds and bonuses, have been spent or dedicated to other expenses.

Bottom line?

Things will pick up in the fall, when we all head indoors to hibernate.....
.
.
.
Log on
.
.
.
Itchy trigger finger
.
.
.
POW!
.
.
.
"Out for delivery"

 

[rlord1974]

....but, could be too that there are wonderful LOWer cost options that work and sound great?

BULLSHIT!!!

 

[steve_k]

I think it's mostly the weather. With the whole global warming thing you just can't expect people to keep buying heat generating tube amps.

Could by why the mean temperature in the middle east has gone up the last few years. It will probably drop again when I get out of here in a year or two. I will probably go back and warm up the west coast of Ireland then...