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https://soundcertified.com/speaker-ohms-calculator/
A part of the problem I am sure is that a lot of people don't know Martin exists....truth be told, I never until today. During my search for a small amp (head) I didn't come across his product. Advertising is so important, as are distributor. I did the normal thread on forums for advice, I did look at all amps within spec in sites such as PMT, Andertons, GuitarGuitar and see what comes up. If you are like me, you just buy it through these shops and not direct from a builder.
Having knowing something like this exists now, I would say to buy it, I'd like not only good videos and demo, recommendations from users as well. It doesn't need to be a big name guitarist, just people here would suffice really.
I paid £750 for a mass produced, Mexican made Fender Princeton earlier this year, a 12w, 1x10 combo.
Don't get me wrong, it's exactly what I wanted and I'm still in love with it, but I entered into the transaction with no illusions that I was being shafted in the wallet for what they know they can get away with.
If you are into your gear for a while and have been playing, no doubt Martin's work is attractive. More so if you are based in the USA I feel, just look how Carol Ann has taken off.
Made in the USA carries a lot of weight in the market, it is an unofficial stamp of quality really. Whether that is justified is another topic altogether.
Made in England is less so for desirability, unless you are either Marshall or Vox it seems. I doubt Bogner would have as much success if he had stayed in Germany, even though back then he was doing great work for one off clients.
Getting your name out really does play a big part of it. Speaking as a noob, based solely on online demo and people's chatter on forums. I had pretty much the same criteria as OP. I picked up my Bogner Atma. Part of the reason is because it is a Bogner, I make no applogies for that, i know their reputation is making good amps and reliable amps and the fact that I got it from a big shop gives confidence from a consumer's point of view. Fun fact, my brother in law, who has had a Peavey, Marshall, Blackstar etc, has never heard of Bogner. Even they need more advertisement.
Outside of guitars, there are very very few electronic you buy from a builder, you don't buy a TV or hifi amp or your toaster from a builder so if you are starting out and getting your first amp, getting something electronic made by a guy in his garage does seem like a strange prospect. A really really strange concept.
Also, buying from a shop gives you the usual protection from law, I could've returned the Atma within 2 weeks if I didn't like it, I paid for it with a credit card with added protection (do you take Amex Martin?), I haggled a bit with the cab that I got, also some free cables. It is hard for a one man band to give you all that, you can say you stand by your work etc til the cow come home, as a consumer, new in the amp market, the shop gives you reassurance, where a builder's word is just builder's word.
It comes down to more than sounding good or whether it is cheap or not.
Ray, I'm not so convinced re your thoughts re 'made in the USA' as I think made in the UK has enormous weight too - take the (relatively) new kid on the block here - Blackstar. However, you're reinforcing many of the themes I raised. I don't know the background, but I was just wondering if MJW was closed for a while (there's an open again sign on the website), and if this had any impact on customer support/service?
Re boutique builds generally, I'm delighted that the market is diverse enough for quality boutique gear still to be made. As evidenced by various posts here, there are clearly folk who not only appreciate it, but who are prepared to buy specialist amps of this type, and who regard them as great value. It adds diversity, personalisation and quality to a world that would otherwise be dominated totally by 'mass market' manufacturers.
No, it didn't. I was closed to NEW ORDERS only.