Tube amp inventory software

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M Fowler
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Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:19 am
Location: Walcott ND

Re: Tube amp inventory software

Post by M Fowler »

When I own and operated my Bar & Grill called "Snooty's" I used a very simple software for my inventory and purchasing information it worked very well for my entrepreneur adventure. I had to report quarterly state sales tax so this really helped.

I would think that a similiar software is still out "quick books" or some other design. Once you enter in all the data it will spit out any report you want.

Mark
sabredude
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Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 3:35 pm

Re: Tube amp inventory software

Post by sabredude »

Bryan,
Send me whatever you come up with around the fields that you would like captured in this. I have a message out to my programmer buddy (he is a co-owner of a software company that makes some popular products on the market).
I was thinking about using a different database for each major type of component (resistors, capaictors, transformers, tubes, hardware, switches, etc) as well as a Projects database that would reference the components, a Source database, and a manufacturer dbase.
Much of this can be pre-populated and editable. ie have editable projects for a bassman, twin, plexi, etc.
I'd be interested in seeing what lists you would come up with for each of these.
I think the key here to making this usable would be to have all the common info pre-populated. I would hate to have to enter in every resistor value and every manufacturer link but if we can import from XLS or somehting, that could make it do-able.
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LeftyStrat
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Location: Marietta, SC, but my heart and two of my kids are in Seattle, WA

Re: Tube amp inventory software

Post by LeftyStrat »

Well, I've had a similar idea, but as a money-making venture. Imagine a web site that allowed you to register and provides such an app for managing inventories. It would also have an extensive database of amp designs, and would allow you to choose an amp design and determine what you needed to complete the amp, then a one click order to have those parts shipped.

It would need to be flexible enough to allow choosing whether or not you wanted a chassis or cab, and also add additional "Popular tweaks", i.e. extra parts that other builders suggest as possible mods.

Add to that the ability to create schematics, designs, layouts, and BOM, with all the community features like; ratings, comments, create your own variants, etc. Expand it to do both tube amps and pedals, and allow contributors of new designs to participate in profit sharing for sales of their designs.

Of course, I'm not sure the market would be large enough to support something like that, but I do know sites like Sparkfun are pulling in a mil or two a year in revenue. Don't know what their overhead is though.

The more difficult part would be order fulfillment. Hard to make a lot of money selling a few resistors and capacitors at a reasonable price if a lot of manual labor is involved. But perhaps that could be farmed out to an existing supplier.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
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M Fowler
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Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:19 am
Location: Walcott ND

Re: Tube amp inventory software

Post by M Fowler »

web site that allowed you to register and provides such an app for managing inventories. It would also have an extensive database of amp designs, and would allow you to choose an amp design and determine what you needed to complete the amp
I think that is called The Ampgarage :lol:


Mark
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LeftyStrat
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Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 6:58 pm
Location: Marietta, SC, but my heart and two of my kids are in Seattle, WA

Re: Tube amp inventory software

Post by LeftyStrat »

M Fowler wrote:
web site that allowed you to register and provides such an app for managing inventories. It would also have an extensive database of amp designs, and would allow you to choose an amp design and determine what you needed to complete the amp
I think that is called The Ampgarage :lol:


Mark
Well, without the inventory management tool, and schematics stored in a way that allows you to extract useful info, like BOM, etc.

I'm thinking of something where schematics could be stored with all the original info intact and associated with the layout, and allow members to add "annotations" to groups or individual components. You could hover over a component and a tool tip would popup saying "Dogear's suggests trying 150k here."
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
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