Yamaha Acquires Ampeg

There’s been another big shift in the music industry. Iconic bass amplification company Ampeg has been acquired by the Yamaha Guitar Group. The news was shared in a press release from Loud Audio, LLC, which sold Ampeg from its portfolio.

“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,” stated Alex Nelson, President and Managing Director of LOUD’s Retail Brands. “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.” Ty Schultz, a managing parter at Loud’s parent company Transom Capital Group, added that “Simplifying the LOUD business so that the Mackie brand, in particular, could be free from the constraints of a complex organization was always a cornerstone of our thesis for the LOUD acquisition.”

Co-President of Yamaha Guitar Group Marcus Ryle says the company “couldn’t be more excited” to acquire the legendary brand. “Ampeg is arguably the most recognized bass amp brand in the world,” he said. “They can even be credited with having invented the first bass amp. We are honored to take the baton in continuance of that legacy.”

Yamaha and Loud will be working together over the next few months to ease the transition. There’s no official word on any changes to Ampeg’s products, though the company posted a reassuring statement on their website that they aren’t going anywhere. “Ampeg will continue striving, as always, to bring you the best gear for bass players; the Ampeg that you know is here to stay, and there are many exciting things coming up for us all in the future. We encourage you to check back often to see what we’re up to.”

We’ll keep you informed as more details emerge.