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I'm just wondering if anyone has any information on Great Plains Acoustics ? I just checked the website and there is nothing available on that site. Compression drivers, woofers, diaphragms, nothing... So are they out of business or what ? I feel like they were bought to strictly put out of business.. I hope NOT ... I sure would like to have a chat with Bill Hanuschak ! It would be a shame for him to have carried on the Altec name for 25 years only to have the business squashed !:mad:
I wish I knew, last contact I had with GPA (Aug 24) they were moving the warehouse from OK to CA, and I probably got one of the last pairs of 288 diaphragms available. At that time, they talked optimistically - opening a new warehouse, operations in Spain, while expanding repair and new manufacturing in OK and Mexico. Since then, I saw notices on their website of the loss of suppliers so no new diaphragms (I thought they made their own - or is that material... everyone else seems to be getting materials to make diaphragms...). As you point out, nothing is available now. I signed up for their newsletter, and they have never issued a single one to my knowledge. They have a Facebook page and had two posts today - I signed up so we'll see if they register me.
They keep their website operating but why if they have no intention of selling products. With nothing being offered for sale (for about a year now), and no communications of their status, they are essentially squashing their own business. Their customers, in an already difficult non expanding market, will move on.
I was in communication with them early on, and offered to help them with the promotion of their new company, products, etc., and the fellow seemed really interested. Since then, he doesn't answer my calls or emails. Before Bill let go of GPA, they were instrumental in jacking up the prices on parts & finished goods to ridiculous levels - almost like they didn't WANT to sell anything...
Hey guys. I checked in at GPA a couple weeks ago as well. Everything sold out.
Troy Audio is the company that bought GPA. Maybe look them up?
who knows what happened. As Altec Best noted, other companies seem to be able to make diaphragms so WTF!
Its sad actually.
You know, the cheap frams look good. They just don’t work well.
Eventually there will be a bunch of lonely Altec Compression drivers with no diaphragms.
Pretty much ditto for cones. Although the Speaker Exchange sells a very nice replacement. I’ve installed a number of them.
Hope you are all well! I miss the old days when this was the Altec place te be.
I think Todd nailed it- they don't want to sell anything. Troy Audio's motivation was to acquire the GPA drivers for their speakers.
For what they did I hope they choke ! I wish Bill would have weeded out people that only wanted to put Altec parts out of business ! And sold to someone who would have continued the legacy ! I hate change ! Because 9 times out of 10 it's not for the better ! :mad: I guess all good things must come to an end so they say...
I wonder what has happened to all their equipment /jigs etc? Luckily I have two diaphragms unused here.
I chatted with Bill a few times over the years, and it doesn't seem like he would have knowingly sold out to someone who would gut the business. But times and situations change. I either heard from Troy Audio, or read somewhere, that Bill was staying on but only in an engineering/new product development role.
Even Troy Audio's website (last time I checked) had no products in stock...
Regarding cones : MWA -making waves-something- in the American southwest if I recall - made the cones last used by Altec and then for gpa, which I read either here or on audio karma when I searched replacement cone; One of the audio forums anyway. They Still do - or at least as of 3 yrs ago . I think ss or the like sell them but with no mention of the maker. Part number stamped on cone starts with “mw”. Had Fab Audio in Coburg - formerly in Toronto just down the 401 - Ontario recone my 416-8a’s and those are what he installed. Good job too.
jon Archibald
member since I don’t recall - aught-six?
I talked with Bill this week and asked him about GPA - he said "it's dead" and "it's not coming back". He also confirmed that the owner of it died and that the equipment and tooling is somewhere "in Mexico and you'll never be able to get it back". I have a friend who wants to buy the tooling, but who do you talk to?