Referring to the way MKII's front panel (not the trasparent screen) looks and feel, I have a comment and a wish.
I don't agree with those saying that it looks cheap. I think it actually "feels" cheap. The design itself is very elegant and clean. What is quite cheap is the material used. I am thinking of the whole plastic coverage and the buttons as well. The wish is: why doesn't empeg produce some more expensive but also higher quality replacements for those components? I believe many among us would be happy to buy them. I would definitely do. I am thinking of some better plastic, different colors, metal ones, both chrome and "golden" colored, or even silver, wooden, ad so on. The buttons may be in some better plastic as well, rubber, or wood, etc. What do you (empeg) guys think about it?

Taym
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MK II BLUE/RED 12GB #923

Things might be slightly different with SB on board but the main reason for not going ahead with this was purely cost. I think Hugo said it cost tens of thousands of pounds for have their 'cheap' front panel die made. To have differnt die set would require an incredible amount of re-tooling etc. The cost per 'kit' for these front panel sets would be astronomical, something like the cost of the unit itself.

Murray
I made a conscious descision in a semi-conscious state

I understand. Any confirmation or hope for a "better future" from Empeg crew?

Taym
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MK II BLUE/RED 12GB #923

There is pretty much zero chance that this will happen. Sorry.

Rob

Somewhere in the world a pioneer marketing representative just smiled .

I like the way my empeg looks but these days how audio equipment looks can sells more units than extra features.

Alex Lear

Well, what can I say... I'm way too happy with what I already have to complain
Anyhow, I still hope fome of the ppl in here start making third party front panels. I'd buy them!

Taym
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MK II BLUE/RED 12GB #923

I'm sorry but that's something I don't understand at all, I guess, the tooling has been done you just use different methods and materials to get the different looks. Large manufacturers use this method for new dies can cost upwards of $100,000 or more so versatility is key. The button shapes would still be the same, they have to in order to fit the holes & locations, same w/the knob, the handle the same as well as the main facia. You wouldn't have to retool to do it, make a run of red buttons, a run of clear a run of glow in the dark whatever. I know what I'd want to do & make but I don't already have the equipment so it would be expensive for someonelse to come in & make new molds/tooling, when they already exist at Rio.
Yes if you were to change the whole layout & the look as to the shapes of the above that would be prohibitive.

#695-Mk2/8 colors-12Gig/TUNER- awaits v2.x & Voice Recog.