All Genz Benz products on "standby" by Fender ?? - Page 30

blowinblue · #**581** 01-26-2013, 10:14 PM

I've been following this thread but it's very possible I missed mention of when Fender acquired KMC. According to a site called www.hoovers.com it happened in 2007. I copied and pasted what's in quotations directly from the Hoovers site.

"KMC Music, Inc. Company Profile

KMC Music helps to keep amateur and professional musicians plugged in to the latest and greatest. Formerly Kaman Music Corporation, it's the largest independent distributor of musical instruments and accessories in the US. KMC's products portfolio includes Ovation and Hamer guitars, Gibraltar hardware, Latin Percussion, and Toca drums. It also sells Takamine guitars, Gretsch drums, Sabian cymbals, and Genz Benz amps. KMC peddles its products in the US, Asia/Pacific, Australia, Europe, and South America and through wholesale catalogs with more than 36,000 products. KMC was founded in 1966 as Ovation Instruments and in 2007 it was acquired by industry behemoth Fender Musical Instruments Corporation."

The part that surprises me is how long ago the acquisition took place (assuming that date is correct).

M. M.

60bass · #**582** 01-26-2013, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick D.

I heard from reliable sources that the product manager for SWR & Genz Benz was fired right before the show. Both lines are being moved to dormancy so that Fender can concentrate on the Fender line of bass amps.

Fender bass amps a true oxymoron! You have a couple of high price tube heads and cabinets that the average player can't afford and the rumble series that is clearly aimed at entry level players.

They should put GB's design team in place at Fender and put out some real bass amps!

Just my .02 YMMV

mattbass6945 · #**583** 01-27-2013, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman2

Do 3-12AX7A's count?? lol On the bright side....it's cheaper than 6-6550's

yes, it does. you're in!!!

kringle77 · #**584** 01-27-2013, 05:56 AM

Fender. FU. Putting out some amps with passive tone stacks just isn't going to cut it. So you own Genz now. Be smart about it and put out their products and stop wasting your time with crap.

Bassmanbob · #**585** 01-27-2013, 06:15 AM

In all my years playing, I've never owned anything Fender. It just worked out that way; it wasn't intentional. But if they destroy Genz Benz, I will purposefully never buy anything Fender for life.

MKA · #**586** 01-27-2013, 07:08 AM

Sad news for sure. This goes to show that talkbass hype is just that, talkbass hype. Not much to do about the "real world" out there. I think that there are many bass players out there that haven't even heard about a company called genz benz.

froghat · #**587** 01-27-2013, 07:23 AM

I daresay the OP deserves an apology from those who accused him of rumor-mongering. It would appear he was right.

wcriley · #**588** 01-27-2013, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKA

I think that there are many bass players out there that haven't even heard about a company called genz benz.

This is very true in my experience.
Since buying my Shuttlemax, not one local bass player I've talked to has ever heard of the brand. A few have asked "Is that some little boutique company?"

KJung · #**589** 01-27-2013, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

This is very true in my experience.
Since buying my Shuttlemax, not one local bass player I've talked to has ever heard of the brand. A few have asked "Is that some little boutique company?"

+1 in that Genz REALLY made use of Talkbass as a marketing tool (nothing wrong with that). They provided quite a few TBer's with free gear, and their reps were on this site literally daily to promote the brand. Again, smart move for a small division of a larger company with limited marketing funds.

As a result, the brand IMO seems MUCH bigger than it is to TBer's. Again, nothing wrong with that, and I thought is was a masterful use of 'social media'. I don't define this as 'hype' at all. Getting 'opinion leaders' and 'early adoptors' on board through social media is a GREAT way to grow a brand.

Also, there were many posts by the Genz guys in the past about how impressed they were that their parent company let them do business pretty much as if they were still a 'company' and not a brand'. This is unusual, and it obviously resulted in some very good products and service. That has been going on for quite a few years since they were acquired by the parent company that was then acquired by Fender (I believe).

Given the big story about Fender trying to go public (and failing horribly) in the NY Times a few months ago, it would not surprise me if they are trying to get their ducks in a row for another try, which typically means (based on my day gig of being involved in some of these issues), shedding non-core businesses and integrating as much of the core business under the primary brand (Fender) as they can.

Even if a small brand is highly profitable within the holding company, it still may be 'more trouble than it is worth' in the big picture, especially if a company is looking to do an initial public offering. Once you have stock holders looking at your business, EVERYTHING changes.

I don't care as much about the brand as the people, who are the best of the best in my experience. I hope they all land on their feet. Tough times out there in the music industry, whether you are a player, retailer, or manufacturer.

mattbass6945 · #**590** 01-27-2013, 07:45 AM

i played last night and (aside from my rig) there was another genz cab. maybe a 210 or 212. i was kind of surprised.

Musicman20 · #**591** 01-27-2013, 07:48 AM

Yes, agreed Ken, best wishes to the Genz staff...and all others suffering in this climate.

I would like to know if Genz/Fender are going to continue to look after their customers...I have two amps and I intend to keep them, (Max 9.2 and Streamliner 900, luckly the Max 9.2 was a very good second hand purchase and is as new, but still, I want to have support for a few years at least).

bassman2 · #**592** 01-27-2013, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

yes, it does. you're in!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

yes, it does. you're in!!!

why thank you pal

And on the serious side....As posted by AllForths..." I am sorry to say that there was no Genz presence at NAMM. They were nowhere to be found, including on the full list of participating vendors. I can take a shot of the list for you all if you'd like, but I'm sure plenty of other TBers can confirm." ......No NAMM=Not good

News I really don't like to hear about any company.....especially one with such great customer support....which everyone here on TB raved about.....How's the weather in Teaxs? We got 18 F going on here in Nova Scotia....and the river out front is frozen solid.....brrrr...I hear Florida calling my name!! Maybe I can get some gigs for the snowbirds in the trailer parks!!! You up for doing a tubed bass duo??

mattbass6945 · #**593** 01-27-2013, 07:53 AM

ok, iirc someone said mesa wasn't there either (at namm), so this isn't a nail in the coffin. all hearsay......and post 600 coming up shortly.

wvbass · #**594** 01-27-2013, 07:55 AM

Aside from not being at NAMM, I'm not sure there is any new news. But...Genz is loved here. Why? Great customer support. Well-tested, highly reliable products. A steady stream of new products. Continuous improvement of existing products. All of this drives expense. Maybe, if an organizational change is happening, it is because they aren't successful enough as a company. Maybe Genz needs a little of what we hate Fender for doing - resting on their laurels and raking in the dollars by continuing to sell the same designs for which they have long since paid for the R&D.

KJung · #**595** 01-27-2013, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

ok, iirc someone said mesa wasn't there either (at namm), so this isn't a nail in the coffin. all hearsay......and post 600 coming up shortly.

OK, a little info about how this works.

Mesa has chosen not to participate in NAMM for the last few years (cost/benefit analysis). Sadowsky, Bergantino, Glockenklang and a zillion other companies don't participate at the NAMM show. Alleva-Coppolo also no longer participates since the cost/benefit is not there.

Just FYI, this is a VERY different situation, when the COMPANY participates in name (KMC and Fender) and the BRANDS (SWR and Genz) are not included in the product portfolio. Very different thing.

Again, not the end of the world, this happes ALL the time, as large companies reorganize, and especially when the parent company is trying to do an initial public offering.

Not the end of the world, just a shift of brands (it seems). Again, Genz is not a 'company', it is a 'brand' at this point.

mattbass6945 · #**596** 01-27-2013, 08:02 AM

good point. still not a definite sign of imminent death, but it doesn't help ease our concerns!

mudpup · #**597** 01-27-2013, 08:07 AM

I think the telling part is that no one from Fender/Genz has been on here to clarify the situation.

KJung · #**598** 01-27-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbass6945

good point. still not a definite sign of imminent death, but it doesn't help ease our concerns!

+1 I have no inside info other than a few guys emailing me from NAMM.

I was just posting to clarify that Genz is no longer really a company, but rather a sub brand of a much larger company. That has been the case for quite some time. Again, NOTHING unusual about a 'company' not participating in NAMM. A 'brand' not being shown when the company participates, that is an indication that something is changing. Could be for the better, could be for the worse for that brand and the people on that brand team within the larger company.

bassman2 · #**599** 01-27-2013, 08:29 AM

Not the end of the world, just a shift of brands (it seems). Again, Genz is not a 'company', it is a 'brand' at this point.[/quote]

"Ahhh....a light just came on!! lol" Speaking for myself......
I really wasn't looking as Genz as a "brand"....thanks for the clarification Ken.

chuck3 · #**600** 01-27-2013, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froghat

I daresay the OP deserves an apology from those who accused him of rumor-mongering. It would appear he was right.

this has crossed my mind several times during this thread. The original post seems to have been accurate in substance. Weird to be getting our Genz Benz alerts from France, but there you have it.