The Yamaha Corporation announced today the purchase of Ampeg, a classic bass amp brand with roots dating back to the mid 1940s.
Earlier this year, Yamaha Corporation—which ranks as the largest manufacturer of musical instrument products in the world—formed Yamaha Guitar Group, Inc as a new subsidiary which will manage Ampeg along with Line 6 and Yamaha-branded guitar and bass products.
According to a press release from Yamaha, "Following the acquisition of the Ampeg brand lineup, Yamaha has secured a position, in particular, in the market for specialized bassist products, an area where the Yamaha Group has not been fully able to respond to artists’ needs thus far. "
Previously, the brand was operated by LOUD Audio, LLC which produces Mackie products along with several other pro-audio brands.
In a press release, Alex Nelson, President and Managing Director of LOUD’s Retail Brands said: “While saying goodbye to the Ampeg brand is like saying goodbye to an old friend, we are really excited by the prospect of returning to our audio roots and feel proud to have been able to contribute to this amazing brand’s market strength and legacy over the past several years...Ampeg has been loved and respected by both customers and by our LOUD employees alike, so we are happy to see it move into the hands of a company like Yamaha. We are confident that we have found Ampeg the best possible home.”
In its history, Ampeg has been responsible for a number of key products in bass amp technology including the first production amps with onboard reverb, the landmark B-15 Portaflex flip top amps, as well as the SVT series made famous by the Rolling Stones in the early '70s.