Fender Amp kits idea...

BrianF · August 29th, 2003, 09:43 AM

Has Fender ever considered selling their classic Point to point tube amps in kit form?

Even if the kit just comprised the major components...chassis, cabinet, trannies..everything else could be listed in a preferred parts list and the builder could source and supply the rest of it. This would be good enough.

This might be a way to put these classic designs back into circulation in a relatively low-cost manner. Instead of having to pay expensive assembly costs here in the US at the factory....the amp builder (kit purchaser) would be using his own time at his own pace...

The other idea would be to set up a lower-cost assembly shop in Mexico....just some thoughts.

JDO · August 29th, 2003, 10:56 AM

i like that idea. and it makes since - which is probably why it won't happen. i think they would be too worried about being sued (for the life of me i can't figure out how to spell that word). i guess with someone like david allen, usually the only ones that know about his stuff are people who are actually interested in building for buildings sake. if fender did what you're talking about, some genious would buy it for thier 10 year old son for christmas. then someone would die in the process of putting it together and fender is out a ton of money in legal matters.

if their's a way they could work it and not be sued, i think it's a wonderful idea. i would buy a deluxe kit or maybe a brown kit. would be nice.

BrianF · August 29th, 2003, 11:28 AM

But really...when it gets down to it..everything to build a blackface amp is already available from various sources- except for the correct chassis....

So Fender actually might be able to get around the liablity problem by not offering a kit...but just make all the parts available..either from them or licensed to another supplier...including a chassis. So it would be a replacement parts business which they already have anyway.

However...only a small segment of the market for such an amp could be served with the DIY approach...since not that many players have the electronics skill, training or desire to build an amp. They could pay someone to do it but then that defeats the low-cost advantage.

So....that's why I also mentioned having Fender set up a point to point tube amp chassis assembly plant in a location such as Mexico....This makes sense but now Fender would have a problem in pricing of these amps relative to their modern PCB high-volume re-issue amps.

Big Cookie · August 29th, 2003, 12:13 PM

[quote="BrianF"]
However...only a small segment of the market for such an amp could be served with the DIY approach...since not that many players have the electronics skill, training or desire to build an amp. quote]

It is not the small segement that knows what they are doing that worries the lawyers, it is everyone else. My lawyer throws fits every time I mention an amp kit, and I know Fenders lawyers gotta be WAY more anal than mine. There really isn't any cost advantage to building an amp yourself unless you are buying large quanties of the more expensive components, such as chassis and trannies, you really pay a price.

BrianF · August 29th, 2003, 01:50 PM

You could build a Vibroverb clone for way less than $2000 if you did it yourself right?....I'd say close to $800 to $1000??? The point is, you're not paying for the expensive labor and profit that Fender has to build in to the price when you do it yourself - and it assumes your own time is free and you do it your own recreational time.

Mr. Droopy-Drawers · August 29th, 2003, 02:18 PM

Here's a sobering thought; maybe Fender doesn't want someone to see a 'kit' built like a turd. The average person sees it, hears it, and says "I thought a Fender was a good amp?" Just a thought. At least for $2K, they know it will get to be seen and heard the way Fender intended it to be seen and heard. But, then, having said that; they built the KXR amplifiers, and have no problems knowing people will see and hear those

.

buglecorps · August 29th, 2003, 02:35 PM

Sold kits for guitars..perhaps they still do..they are VERY pointed that you will receive nothing that says the guitar is a Martin "due to our inability to control the assembly process" Personaly I'm suprised ANYONE still makes any thing like a Tube amp, much less kits.. Something that plugs in to the wall and contains that kind of kick...a liability nightmare..

August 29th, 2003, 09:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
BrianF Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Carlsbad, Ca Posts: 2,116 7 Photos	Fender Amp kits idea... Has Fender ever considered selling their classic Point to point tube amps in kit form? Even if the kit just comprised the major components...chassis, cabinet, trannies..everything else could be listed in a preferred parts list and the builder could source and supply the rest of it. This would be good enough. This might be a way to put these classic designs back into circulation in a relatively low-cost manner. Instead of having to pay expensive assembly costs here in the US at the factory....the amp builder (kit purchaser) would be using his own time at his own pace... The other idea would be to set up a lower-cost assembly shop in Mexico....just some thoughts.

August 29th, 2003, 10:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
JDO Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Pittsboro, NC Posts: 597	i like that idea. and it makes since - which is probably why it won't happen. i think they would be too worried about being sued (for the life of me i can't figure out how to spell that word). i guess with someone like david allen, usually the only ones that know about his stuff are people who are actually interested in building for buildings sake. if fender did what you're talking about, some genious would buy it for thier 10 year old son for christmas. then someone would die in the process of putting it together and fender is out a ton of money in legal matters. if their's a way they could work it and not be sued, i think it's a wonderful idea. i would buy a deluxe kit or maybe a brown kit. would be nice. __________________ clean as a whistle

August 29th, 2003, 11:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
BrianF Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Carlsbad, Ca Posts: 2,116 7 Photos	yeah I thought about the liability issue... But really...when it gets down to it..everything to build a blackface amp is already available from various sources- except for the correct chassis.... So Fender actually might be able to get around the liablity problem by not offering a kit...but just make all the parts available..either from them or licensed to another supplier...including a chassis. So it would be a replacement parts business which they already have anyway. However...only a small segment of the market for such an amp could be served with the DIY approach...since not that many players have the electronics skill, training or desire to build an amp. They could pay someone to do it but then that defeats the low-cost advantage. So....that's why I also mentioned having Fender set up a point to point tube amp chassis assembly plant in a location such as Mexico....This makes sense but now Fender would have a problem in pricing of these amps relative to their modern PCB high-volume re-issue amps.

August 29th, 2003, 12:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Big Cookie Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ennis, Texas Posts: 693	Re: yeah I thought about the liability issue... [quote="BrianF"] However...only a small segment of the market for such an amp could be served with the DIY approach...since not that many players have the electronics skill, training or desire to build an amp. quote] It is not the small segement that knows what they are doing that worries the lawyers, it is everyone else. My lawyer throws fits every time I mention an amp kit, and I know Fenders lawyers gotta be WAY more anal than mine. There really isn't any cost advantage to building an amp yourself unless you are buying large quanties of the more expensive components, such as chassis and trannies, you really pay a price.

August 29th, 2003, 01:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
BrianF Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Carlsbad, Ca Posts: 2,116 7 Photos	true but... You could build a Vibroverb clone for way less than $2000 if you did it yourself right?....I'd say close to $800 to $1000??? The point is, you're not paying for the expensive labor and profit that Fender has to build in to the price when you do it yourself - and it assumes your own time is free and you do it your own recreational time.

August 29th, 2003, 02:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr. Droopy-Drawers Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 223	Here's a sobering thought; maybe Fender doesn't want someone to see a 'kit' built like a turd. The average person sees it, hears it, and says "I thought a Fender was a good* amp?"* Just a thought. At least for $2K, they know it will get to be seen and heard the way Fender intended it to be seen and heard. But, then, having said that; they built the KXR amplifiers, and have no problems knowing people will see and hear those . __________________ "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think!"

August 29th, 2003, 02:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
buglecorps Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Suburban Twang Town Posts: 753	Martin at one time.. Sold kits for guitars..perhaps they still do..they are VERY pointed that you will receive nothing that says the guitar is a Martin "due to our inability to control the assembly process" Personaly I'm suprised ANYONE still makes any thing like a Tube amp, much less kits.. Something that plugs in to the wall and contains that kind of kick...a liability nightmare.. __________________ Loud is Good...