Does blue = Grande Holdings?

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Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By elektrik_muz Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:20 am
I'm curious about what products were released relative to the Akai bankruptcy timeline.

Specifically, were all of the factory blue MPC products (4k, 2k, 1k) released during the "in between" period when Grande Holdings (illegaly) took complete control of the brand name?

I have heard that the blue 4k has some cheaped-out weaknesses that may need attention if I were to pick up a used unit. This seems consistent with my experience with other Grande Holdings released MPC products.

Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By rogue scrunt Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:04 pm
elektrik_muz wrote:I'm curious about what products were released relative to the Akai bankruptcy timeline.

Specifically, were all of the factory blue MPC products (4k, 2k, 1k) released during the "in between" period when Grande Holdings (illegaly) took complete control of the brand name?

I have heard that the blue 4k has some cheaped-out weaknesses that may need attention if I were to pick up a used unit. This seems consistent with my experience with other Grande Holdings released MPC products.



HOGWASH
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Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By elektrik_muz Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:57 am
What, exactly is hogwash? Is the use of the caps-lock key some kind of secret reference there?

It's a question asking who was in control of the brand when a paticular product was released.

Are you guys not familiar with the Grande Holdings scandal and the upset it caused on the asian markets? Jusy do a websearch for Grande Holdings.

I had read on here in the past of some cheap part subsitutions that were made in those later models which users would often have to replace. Digging up those posts is a bit difficult at the moment (using "blue" as a search term doesn't exaclty narrow things down). I'll keep looking though. I thought this was common knowledge on here.

If Grande Holdings was in control of the brand at that time, I don't see why it would be the least bit suprising or controversial at this point. The slimyness of GH was/is common knowledge. One look at the original 1k is all the proof you need of that.
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Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By feline1 Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:20 am
I've not heard of Grande Holdings before...

As far as I'm aware, the only difference with the blue ones was that they were, um, blue :)

Also, it appears that at some point during the production run, they put in quieter case fans as standard (the original ones were loud enough to be irritating)

The only 'scandal' we generally followed here was that of Akai Unprofessional Inc and the dog's dinner of the operating system, with tons of advertised features missing or banjaxed.

Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By adrian Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:15 am
elektrik_muz wrote:I'm curious about what products were released relative to the Akai bankruptcy timeline.

Specifically, were all of the factory blue MPC products (4k, 2k, 1k) released during the "in between" period when Grande Holdings (illegaly) took complete control of the brand name?

I have heard that the blue 4k has some cheaped-out weaknesses that may need attention if I were to pick up a used unit. This seems consistent with my experience with other Grande Holdings released MPC products.



Everything you "heard" is wrong.
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Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By elektrik_muz Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:28 am
You guys are telling me you never heard of Grande Holdings?

Really?

No, really?

Well if that's the case then I don't know how much I should trust your opinions on the matter because that's major Akai nameplate history right there. Did any of you try doing that websearch to find out who they are? If you did I doubt I'd be getting these responses.

Ok but let's assume for the sake of argument that "everything I heard is wrong". So now two questions -- what company owned Akai before InMusic (do you even know who they are)? And again -- Who was in contol of the nameplate when the blue MPCs were released?

I'd like to hear from more of the seinor members on this one. I find it inconcieveable that nobody on this section of the forum even knows about Grande Holdings.
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Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By mr_debauch Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:32 am
I had heard that a company owned it between akai and in music... around the 4k era.... but people here said that never happened.

I always suspected the blue 4k, blue 2000xlmcd, blue mpd16 were stuff they didn't design but changed cosmetically since the takeover.. and I thought numark designed the 1000 and 2500.
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Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By elektrik_muz Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:47 am
The reason I am asking this question is because a concrete timeline of brand control has been difficult to put together.

The biggest pile of murk has to do with exaclty when the remains of the old Akai died and when thier parent company (Who according to every source I've encountered outside of this thread was Grande Holdings) illegally took control of the gutted company without properly informing the shareholders. The murkyness of when this happened and who made the decisions is somwwhat understandable considering it was a completely illegal move on thier part.

Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By adrian Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:01 am
You're confusing AKAI with AKAI professional, two different companies. :roll: Do some websearch of your own. All this info is already on the forum somewhere.

When the AMIC (AKAI professional Musical Instrument Corp.) closed, the Japanese co-owners stepped in and tried to keep the company running under the name AKAI Professional. Which went bankrupt and was then bought by Jack O'Donnell. Jack O'Donnell, being the owner of Numark, ALESIS, ION Audio and other companies.

Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By Clint Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:56 pm
elektrik_muz wrote:
I'd like to hear from more of the seinor members on this one. I find it inconcieveable that nobody on this section of the forum even knows about Grande Holdings.


I have heard of Grande Holdings and I am aware of the ownership of akai professional from beginning up to now. People who make beats don't really need to know the corporate history. But I will be pulling it all together in the book. All I can say now is that ownership and control of a business does not always belong in the same hands. I have read some of the same info on this as you guys, but have also researched this independently, not because it intrigues me, but because there are some who want stuff like this in the book. For info on the book, check the 60/3000 forum.

I don't believe the blue MPC's are any different except in colour, nor are blue MFC's or Z4/8's. Needless to say the old beige colour scheme was tired anyway and needed to go, no big conspiracy behind it at all.
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Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By Ian Canefire Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:47 pm
"I have heard that the blue 4k has some cheaped-out weaknesses that may need attention"

I am still waiting to hear the sources, and the actual differences. Please add more substance to your diatribe. lol

It's so easy to be careless nowadays and create scandal.

Cheers,
Ian

Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By m56p87 Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:00 pm
clint246clint wrote:Needless to say the old beige colour scheme was tired anyway and needed to go, no big conspiracy behind it at all.


your membership to the Akai Beige Appreciation Society has been officially cancelled.
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Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By AntonPD Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:56 pm
m56p87 wrote:
clint246clint wrote:Needless to say the old beige colour scheme was tired anyway and needed to go, no big conspiracy behind it at all.


your membership to the Akai Beige Appreciation Society has been officially cancelled.


yeah :evil:
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Re: Does blue = Grande Holdings?

By Lampdog Fri Dec 28, 2012 7:23 pm
m56p87 wrote:
clint246clint wrote:Needless to say the old beige colour scheme was tired anyway and needed to go, no big conspiracy behind it at all.


your membership to the Akai Beige Appreciation Society has been officially cancelled.

AAahahhhhahhha, wait I sold my beige orig 2kxl to get my hands on my now orange 2kxlse2.
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