Metropoulos amps are done

[JR-OZ]

Sucks he's a great guy. The Metro-Plex MK II is a unreal killer amp and when used correctly and Miced up kicks most vintage marshalls ass. Plus it does a great eddie deal. I think in the future it's going to be one of those special things no on realized what they had when it was around. I think people need to stop letting the bs politics blind them from whats really goes on around them. Look at the gross profit margins of these companies, Watch the private equity markets and the company's they are buying and consolidating. Look at the returns. Watch the bs vertical integration move where the management company makes a fortune and they have a loss at the operating business (ala Airlines) this stuff has been out of control well before and after trump or anyone else. Most companies using tarrifs as an excuse to raise the profit margin, Lower employee counts Like they did during covid. Large manufacturing moved overseas to get around the unions hourly wages lol to make more profits. Sure there is spoilage and things hurt small business and this just sucks but don't fool yourself and think this shit hasn't been going on forever. Better we keep this about music and amps! That's why we come here! To get away from this. Wish him well and health in whatever he does! The business model is so rough. Most kids think they cant afford 4k amp yet have 51500$ modelers and garbage they never use because of the marketplace and buying habits.

 

[glpg80]

Sucks he's a great guy. The Metro-Plex MK II is a unreal killer amp and when used correctly and Miced up kicks most vintage marshalls ass. Plus it does a great eddie deal. I think in the future it's going to be one of those special things no on realized what they had when it was around.
The business model is so rough. Most kids think they cant afford 4k amp yet have 51500$ modelers and garbage they never use because of the marketplace and buying habits.

You hit the nail on the head.

What we are seeing between modeling companies is not which technology is best because they’re all claiming the same thing, it’s which of their marketing budgets are larger and more cunning on setting up hype and demand.

You can have a company sell real gold or fools gold with more market push and likely sell the cheaper quantity of junk gold than quality of the real deal due to pushing quantity of sales to corner a market. It’s 101 economics of supply and demand to push out competitors. Oversaturate the market with your product using sales tactics to squish demand for your competitors product that sells quality.

It sucks these are the things that business owners have to think of but that’s how businesses stay afloat and I feel bad George sacrificed his health and finances to be forced out of the market by these tatics.

 

[CarlF]

He’s been in business for 25 years.
Do you have any idea how difficult it must’ve been to survive 25 years selling boutique guitar amps?
He’s had 5 orders since Labor Day and anybody who’s head is not firmly planted up their own ass knows the gear market has been dead af for quite awhile now.
But sure, he suddenly forgot how to run his business…

It doesn’t seem like he ever knew how.

 

[Beyond Black]

It doesn’t seem like he ever knew how.

And what do you base that on?

 

[rsm]

 

[Geo]

.............and furthermore.

 

[MusicIsLife]

It's too bad a company like B.A.D. couldn't bring Metropoulos under their umbrella, even if just the brand and designs. It seems like the economics of consolidation might be the way to go for smaller builders. Metropoulos is a bit more niche though; they're no Soldano.

 

[notyet]

Finding folks that wanna work is hard.

Lay people who don't work in that part of a business mostly have no concept. I guess they may see coworkers at their place of work who are zombies, useless or even antagonistic. It is a big problem to not be able to hire people to work. Getting AI and automation to take those jobs doesn't seem like a great answer (acknowledging the absurdity of AI in a lot of contexts today)

 

[shar-vell Dan]

https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/12...rce=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp

Jim Beam can't even sell booze in the dRump economy.
Exports to Canada fell 85%.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

Lay people who don't work in that part of a business mostly have no concept. I guess they may see coworkers at their place of work who are zombies, useless or even antagonistic. It is a big problem to not be able to hire people to work. Getting AI and automation to take those jobs doesn't seem like a great answer (acknowledging the absurdity of AI in a lot of contexts today)

If you can't make it as a worker at our place you won't make it anywhere.

 

[skoora]

https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/12...rce=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp

Jim Beam can't even sell booze in the dRump economy.
Exports to Canada fell 85%.

That’s because Canada Liquor sellers told U.S. Liquor to fuck off after constant 51st State bullshit and the Tariff’s and pulled it from the shelves.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

That’s because Canada Liquor sellers told U.S. Liquor to fuck off after constant 51st State bullshit and the Tariff’s and pulled it from the shelves.

Well they're shutting down a JB Kentucky plant for a year Brah cuz they ain't selling one of the most highly addictive substances known to mankind thats
sold itself for centuries.
Did you read the article ? Do you read or just get emotionally charged & triggered while swinging from the dRump nuttsack ?
Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
Don't worry dRump has fixed it with his buddies you can buy plenty of weed & jabb yerself all you wanna with weight loss syringes.

 

[skoora]

Well they're shutting down a JB Kentucky plant for a year Brah cuz they ain't selling one of the most highly addictive substances known to mankind thats
sold itself for centuries.
Did you read the article ? Do you read or just get emotionally charged & triggered while swinging from the dRump nuttsack ?
Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
Don't worry dRump has fixed it with his buddies you can buy plenty of weed & jabb yerself all you wanna with weight loss syringes.

Your level of ignorance and stupidity defies limitation. The article only mentions the 85% drop with no serious detail but a while back we saw a lot of footage of Canadian retailers pulling ALL U.S. Imported Bourbons and Whiskey’s off the shelves and stopping any further orders as a reaction to Trump attacking Canada with Tariffs and riling them up even more with that 51st State nonsense.
You’re in fucking Denial of trying to put two brain cells together on a regular basis. Plus the fact you hear what I’m saying as support or affiliation for Trump is retarded at best.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

If dRump is your "mission critical winning stradegy" for 2026 and beyond you better have a plan "B"as you're filing for bankruptcy.

 

[Geo]

Your level of ignorance and stupidity defies limitation. The article only mentions the 85% drop with no serious detail but a while back we saw a lot of footage of Canadian retailers pulling ALL U.S. Imported Bourbons and Whiskey’s off the shelves and stopping any further orders as a reaction to Trump attacking Canada with Tariffs and riling them up even more with that 51st State nonsense.
You’re in fucking Denial of trying to put two brain cells together on a regular basis. Plus the fact you hear what I’m saying as support or affiliation for Trump is retarded at best.

Go easy on the beaver.

Be kinder to dumb animals.

 

[311boogieman]

Plus the fact you hear what I’m saying as support or affiliation for Trump is retarded at best.

That really is funny af

But sadly, some people on here have to make everything about themselves.

George, if you are reading this, and I hope you are not, I wish you the best in your health and what life brings next. I never met you but you always struck me as class act. Half of these idiots around here wouldn't even know how to run a business let alone build an amp.

 

[skoora]

That really is funny af

But sadly, some people on here have to make everything about themselves.

George, if you are reading this, and I hope you are not, I wish you the best in your health and what life brings next. I never met you but you always struck me as class act. Half of these idiots around here wouldn't even know how to run a business let alone build an amp.

Metro forum back in the 2000’s up to when George stopped offering Kits was probably the best forum for a Marshal fan I’d ever been on. Built a ‘69, sounded tits. I always held off on doing others for some reason, probably expense I guess with what I was making back then, but really wish I had done one each of a JTM45, a 68 and the 2203 JMP that was going towards the end there.
Amazing directions. Taking your time, you couldn’t go wrong, all the parts being in working order/ spec.

 

[Chris6870]

Walking is the remedy for your health. I walk to and from work everyday. Some days are harder than others but you get to the point when you look forward to it.

Agree. My wife and I started walking during covid. Its a great stress reliever. We do 2.5 miles daily. Also cut out fast food and started cooking our own healthy meals. I lost 40 lbs got off acid blocker meds and feel great.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Wowsa...That sucks..George always seems like a real nice guy, willing to share stuff. Wish him all the best. Hope he looks into some nattokinase and walking/resistance training. Ease the stress. Check magnesium levels and keep fighting the good fight. I agree with him...the metroplex II just sounds fabulous. If I could own one, I would try. It's just too loud for my situation....but sounds so sick...

 

[FourT6and2]

I wonder how splawn and bogner are doing it, they don't strike me as big volume operations like friedman and the other bad brands.

Haven't heard a peep about Splawn (or from them) in 10+ years. Bogner... they don't even have a website. And they probably have 3-5 employees. But they've been on the scene for a long time and they offer more than just clones of vintage Marshalls. They also have distribution and retail support. They're doing fine. BAD also builds some of their products.