New Friedman Brit 50

[GuitarBilly74]

When those same hobbyists and amateurs start controlling the market, is when you get serious exploitation, and fly by night rip off artists - and they deserve all they get.
Unrealistic price point manipulation. mk2 models that only fix the issues the mk1’s had. Forbidding dealers to sell used items - killing the used and trade-in value. And much much more, none good.
The honest small-time builder doesn’t get a look in, because the trade shows price the stands out of his reach.
Whereas Friedman will have a whole wall of amps.
Line 6 is a case in point. Owning a Line 6 used to be the running joke. Thanks to the amateur, semi-pro and church worship crowd - the Helix is a top seller - and what’s new? 128 presets - that’s what.
Fractal were forced into making a floorboard because of the amateur brigade. Positive grid were forced out of the market. Kemper too to some extent.
Class D amps.
Neodymium magnets.
Chinese valves.
Indonesian guitars.
And all the other stuff a pro wouldn’t piss on.

This all sounds very professional, well thought out, and not at all like the stuff my friends used to say back in the day after doing coke in the bathroom.
Agreed.

 

[Frodebro]

When those same hobbyists and amateurs start controlling the market, is when you get serious exploitation, and fly by night rip off artists - and they deserve all they get.
Unrealistic price point manipulation. mk2 models that only fix the issues the mk1’s had. Forbidding dealers to sell used items - killing the used and trade-in value. And much much more, none good.
The honest small-time builder doesn’t get a look in, because the trade shows price the stands out of his reach.
Whereas Friedman will have a whole wall of amps.
Line 6 is a case in point. Owning a Line 6 used to be the running joke. Thanks to the amateur, semi-pro and church worship crowd - the Helix is a top seller - and what’s new? 128 presets - that’s what.
Fractal were forced into making a floorboard because of the amateur brigade. Positive grid were forced out of the market. Kemper too to some extent.
Class D amps.
Neodymium magnets.
Chinese valves.
Indonesian guitars.
And all the other stuff a pro wouldn’t piss on.

The amateurs and hobbyists have controlled the market since Day One. All of these companies that cater to that market are more interested in sustaining successful businesses than they are with impressing the internet.

Here's something else that is going to take another piece out of your perception of things: The top selling amps and guitars (you know, the actual numbers on the spreadsheet that keep the ink black instead of red) are all the sub-$1,000 entry to intermediate level gear. That's what generates the primary revenue stream. Marshall sells a shit ton more Origin 20s than they do JCM and 1987 reissues combined. The pros with endorsements are there for marketing, not as a primary revenue source.

The automotive industry worked in much the same way for decades with their factory sponsored race cars. The old saying was "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday." But people weren't buying race prepped stock cars, they were buying the much less expensive street versions.