So I have a question for you guys.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vrad
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Vrad

Vrad

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I'm sure some of you guys will get all uppity about all this. But meh... I couldn't care less.

Here goes...
I got this PRS Archon. I just opened it up and it's entirely PTP-wired. So if PRS can make a PTP amp, that's 100 Watts and sounds awesome for under $2k new, why can't other manufacturers do that? A 100 watt Friedman is $3500-4000. Do any of you feel like that's kinda dumb pricing?

Please enlighten me.
 
been in the business and have wondered that same question myself
 
lets see the inside please.

always wanted to try one of these
 
Because people will pay more?

Charge what the market will bear and all that..
 
fuzzyguitars":2qehp6h4 said:
lets see the inside please.

always wanted to try one of these
Click to expand...

I tried to take it out but it's REALLY tight and I don't want to force it just because I'm curious. But a peek inside looked exactly like this.

amp_internals.jpg


It's actually on the PRS site.
 
I spent a lot on my Freidman amp.
To me it was worth it.
Never been happier and I really don't think I'll be looking at amps anymore ............ ever!
 
Wow. Nice looking guts. Is the Archon completely made in the U.S? Is it possible the boards are assembled overseas? I am kinda surprised they are selling for used,but I imagine the used market has just become so soft and saturated with great gear. A lot of people rave about them at first,then they wind up for sale pretty quickly.

I do love the look of them guts,though. They are mass produced in some way. And PRS does have bigger pockets than others, so maybe they have some sort of ability to get a better deal for larger quantity from a manufacturing facility...or able to hire cheaper labor to do the less skilled work of point to point soldering? Just spitballing here,I have no idea what the truth is.

Would you say the Splawn stuff is priced like the Archon? Are they made like the Archon?
 
Well, it seems to be "Assembled in the USA" rather than Made in USA. Not sure what that means or how that relates to how those other amps are built, but it seems like it could potentially keep costs down a bit.
 
Nothing makes sense these days. When a Billy Blades Amp is selling for more then a used Wizard or Soldano SLO or Diezel... :lol: :LOL: just thought I would post this in here then in the Billy Blades amp ad.
 
rottingcorpse":2vh933q1 said:
Wow. Nice looking guts. Is the Archon completely made in the U.S? Is it possible the boards are assembled overseas? I am kinda surprised they are selling for used,but I imagine the used market has just become so soft and saturated with great gear. A lot of people rave about them at first,then they wind up for sale pretty quickly.

I do love the look of them guts,though. They are mass produced in some way. And PRS does have bigger pockets than others, so maybe they have some sort of ability to get a better deal for larger quantity from a manufacturing facility...or able to hire cheaper labor to do the less skilled work of point to point soldering? Just spitballing here,I have no idea what the truth is.

Would you say the Splawn stuff is priced like the Archon? Are they made like the Archon?
Click to expand...

Sticker says "Assembled in the USA"
I've tried to reconcile the thinking that "PRS Is just bigger than XXX... and thus can get a better price on components" but I'm falling short dude. It doesn't add up. It's top-notch quality. PRS is big, but none of these companies are so huge that they'd garner a $1500-1800 discount per unit. Think about that... $1500-1800 per unit price difference between a new Archon and a new Friedman. I know they sound different, but come on!

The Splawn I had was a very very early one. It was PCB. Looked exactly like a 2203 inside. Excellent build quality on the Splawn, but yeah.

And don't read this like I'm some kind of PTP snob, because I don't care. But I will acknowledge that making a PTP amp is much more labor intensive and thus translates to $$$. So if PRS can do this, why can't others?
 
Dave L":1itf88ia said:
Well, it seems to be "Assembled in the USA" rather than Made in USA. Not sure what that means or how that relates to how those other amps are built, but it seems like it could potentially keep costs down a bit.
Click to expand...

Some components are imports, but come on man... PRS even uses Sozo Caps in some of the more vintage amps. You're going to tell me that warrants the difference in price? It's a whole fucking amp of a price difference between the 2.
 
VC4Ever":6f2zd6em said:
Nothing makes sense these days. When a Billy Blades Amp is selling for more then a used Wizard or Soldano SLO or Diezel... :lol: :LOL: just thought I would post this in here then in the Billy Blades amp ad.
Click to expand...
That makes perfect sense... How much is a Blades amp?

I simply REFUSE to spend $4k for an amp. I'm not buying into the hype.
 
Vrad":3r4uswq0 said:
Dave L":3r4uswq0 said:
Well, it seems to be "Assembled in the USA" rather than Made in USA. Not sure what that means or how that relates to how those other amps are built, but it seems like it could potentially keep costs down a bit.
Click to expand...

Some components are imports, but come on man... PRS even uses Sozo Caps in some of the more vintage amps. You're going to tell me that warrants the difference in price? It's a whole fucking amp of a price difference between the 2.
Click to expand...

No, that´s not at all what I´m saying.

It sure looks like an odd distinction to make that it´s "assembled in USA" instead of the regular "made in USA" if only components are imported, though. No one does that as far as I know, so I´m guessing some work is done overseas. I could be totally 100% wrong, though.
 
Great question and one I wonder as well. I'm guilty of owning some of these super expensive other's but I always buy them used and save some there. But yeah it does not add up. I think Friedman has so much momentum, buzz and somewhat hype (although they do sound great and I do own an older BE from before the Buzz) in the gear scene that people with the means are more than willing to pay the price. I will continue to buy used :lol: :LOL: It is very curious though that friedman did not lower prices when sales took off and production was contracted out and they became more mass produced and not done on turret boards anymore.

Maybe PRS sells enough of their designer $5000 plus lawyer guitars that they can afford to sell for less :hys:
 
Stock. All an illusion. Sure the product is good, but popularity rises the stock in it.

Is it all that and the best thing since sliced bread? Of course not. Some good names playing it, good marketing and hype and all of a sudden its $3600k
 
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