All Genz Benz products on "standby" by Fender ??

[wvbass]

To be fair, I think the Guild factory does have to pull double duty as the Fender Acoustic Custom Shop. This is what I hope happens to Genz. You can buy a Fender amp, but their elite line will come from Genz. Or you can just buy a Genz.

[TigerInATrance]

Originally Posted by wvbass

Confused. ???

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/guild

Don't be... Guild (or more accurately, GAC, a division of FMIC) now produces overpriced acoustic guitars that, as someone who used to own a 1968 Guild acoustic, don't compare in any way to the originals. Fender uses the Guild name on it's high end acoustics because no one would ever pay that much for an acoustic guitar that said Fender on the headstock.

If I was going to guess based on the suppositions in this thread, I would say that Fender will indeed keep producing tube anachronisms with their name, and use the Genz Benz name to avoid some of the stigma of Fender's smaller, lighter, more modern amps, because, honestly, do YOU ever associate Fender with high quality, small footprint, lightweight bass amps???

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by TigerInATrance

Don't be... Guild (or more accurately, GAC, a division of FMIC) now produces overpriced acoustic guitars that, as someone who used to own a 1968 Guild acoustic, don't compare in any way to the originals. Fender uses the Guild name on it's high end acoustics because no one would ever pay that much for an acoustic guitar that said Fender on the headstock.

If I was going to guess based on the suppositions in this thread, I would say that Fender will indeed keep producing tube anachronisms with their name, and use the Genz Benz name to avoid some of the stigma of Fender's smaller, lighter, more modern amps, because, honestly, do YOU ever associate Fender with high quality, small footprint, lightweight bass amps???

Uh.....Guild is producing electrics again..........look at their website.

Lots of Guild guys around here....most are like you and think that the good Guilds stopped in the 60s. Most wouldn't buy a modern Guild regardless of who made it.

[Jim C]

I'm confused.
I agree that if something bad happens to GB it would be bad for the bass community whether you use that brand or not.

I would think that if Fender decided to kill GB today, it may be legal and within their rights.
Whether anyone here thinks this is immoral or not has no bearing on the outcome.
As posted earlier, you don't have to buy Fender products, and, the fact that they are a slow moving giant is what fuels innovative companies like:
"TecAmp, Aguilar, Markbass, Glockenklang, Bergantino, Baer, and probably 20 more companies that I haven't heard of are all out there and ready to fill any profitable niche that exists. Ken left out Duke!

[wvbass]

Hmm.... There is a difference between Guild and Genz. Genz created all those amps and cabs we love AFTER Fender bought them. As for SWR...SWR was a brand in decline when Fender bought them. Eden had overtaken them as the hot boutique brand. And Fender has kept them around for a long time.

As for the older stuff being better...with Guild, I can't say. I can say, though, that human nature makes us believe that older is better. It is difficult to find a brand that wasn't "better" before they were acquired. That Big Poppa broke the mold here is exceptional, in every sense of the word.

[wvbass]

Originally Posted by TigerInATrance

I was going to guess based on the suppositions in this thread, I would say that Fender will indeed keep producing tube anachronisms with their name, and use the Genz Benz name to avoid some of the stigma of Fender's smaller, lighter, more modern amps, because, honestly, do YOU ever associate Fender with high quality, small footprint, lightweight bass amps???

This is my point exactly. Micro amps are new. Anybody could step in with a superior product and potentially dominate the market. I have gigged a Rumble 350. It isn't bad, but it is not a game changer. And it is a marketing nightmare at 350 watts. I got a good laugh when I saw there website saying we should compare it to the competitions' 5-600 watt heads. If that is true, why is it not the Rumble 500?

Fender needs the Genz brand if they want the micro market. If they want it...

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by TigerInATrance

Don't be... Guild (or more accurately, GAC, a division of FMIC) now produces overpriced acoustic guitars that, as someone who used to own a 1968 Guild acoustic, don't compare in any way to the originals. Fender uses the Guild name on it's high end acoustics because no one would ever pay that much for an acoustic guitar that said Fender on the headstock.

If I was going to guess based on the suppositions in this thread, I would say that Fender will indeed keep producing tube anachronisms with their name, and use the Genz Benz name to avoid some of the stigma of Fender's smaller, lighter, more modern amps, because, honestly, do YOU ever associate Fender with high quality, small footprint, lightweight bass amps???

The " tube anachronisms " seem to be doing quite well with the new Super bassmans, and the vintage Fender bassman market is still alive and well. Again, I ask, if Genz Benz bass heads continue to be made, but will be labled, Fender, are all you GB lovers going to refuse to use them or continue to buy them , all things being equal, just because they are now Fenders ? Or is this just an excuse to bash a successful, 65 year old company , just because they don't make 5 lb, 500 watt micro heads ?

[willsellout]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Or is this just an excuse to bash a successful, 65 year old company , just because they don't make 5 lb, 500 watt micro heads ?

I don't think this is why people bash Fender.

[Musicman20]

I wouldn't even mind if they rebranded and increased the price, but kept the product line...just so long as Genz gear stays.

[BuffaloBob4343]

[quote=lomo;13786425]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

So what was Genzler supposed to do back then in 2003 ? QUOTE]

He sold for a profit and that's fine and happens all the time. Problems arise when some entities get so big that they can stifle competition by means other than building a better product or a similar quality product that sells for less, ie by buying and dismantling or otherwise sabotaging competitors. This happens frequently as well, to the detriment of us all. Cars that run on alternative fuel were not invented recently, but large auto makers and the oil industry were certainly not scurrying to promote them until they "had" to. I'm sure a lot of patents and small companies were bought and intentionally left to languish in that area. I don't know what's up with GB, but IF it is stifled simply in order not to compete with other lines sold by the parent co. that are more profitable but somehow inferior, that cannot be good for the community as a whole, even though at this time it's clear that a myriad of good choices remain. The fact that other choices remain and that the market is healthy now in no way makes the action good or indifferent IMHO; it simply reduces its' impact.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^this!^^^^^^^^^^^

Yeah, you can bet that IF this scenario comes to pass, some of the best, and patented, innovations made by the guys at Genz will languish.

While this is the story of capitalism, it is capitalism at its worst and most inefficient, not its finest hour.

But, the good thing is, non-competes are limited in time and scope, and so if the worst case scenario happens, hopefully Jeff and Andy will jump back in eventually and keep the innovation coming!

Now please excuse me while get back to work so I can buy a Shuttle or ShuttleMax 9.2 as a back-up/alternative to my Streamliner, because with all due respect to the other names in the biz, I am a loyal Genz man all the way!

[1n3]

Originally Posted by wvbass

I have gigged a Rumble 350. It isn't bad, but it is not a game changer. And it is a marketing nightmare at 350 watts. I got a good laugh when I saw there website saying we should compare it to the competitions' 5-600 watt heads.

I think that statement refers to the "optimistic" output power ratings of some competing products.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

The " tube anachronisms " seem to be doing quite well with the new Super bassmans, and the vintage Fender bassman market is still alive and well. Again, I ask, if Genz Benz bass heads continue to be made, but will be labled, Fender, are all you GB lovers going to refuse to use them or continue to buy them , all things being equal, just because they are now Fenders ? Or is this just an excuse to bash a successful, 65 year old company , just because they don't make 5 lb, 500 watt micro heads ?

Wait...what 65 year old company? Leo Fender sold off his company and production/name rights in 1965 to CBS! The "company" Fender has not been around for a long time. Only the name lives on, like the Ampeg name.

[60bass]

Originally Posted by TigerInATrance

honestly, do YOU ever associate Fender with high quality, small footprint, lightweight bass amps???

Rumble series ...... oh wait you said high quality .......

I guess the correct answer is NO!

[MichaelVee]

I love Genz Benz products. I currently have the Shuttle 6.2-12T combo amp. Although a couple of years ago, I posted that I hated how Genz kept churning their products (the Streamliner heads), I eventually bought a used 900, which I just recently sold. But I am very disconcerted that I tried to call Genz-Benz directly with the number on their website, and did not speak to someone at Genz, but someone at Fender customer service. Frankly, I think that Genz is going downhill unless they can get on here and reassure us otherwise. I hope this is not the case, though.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by B-string

Wait...what 65 year old company? Leo Fender sold off his company and production/name rights in 1965 to CBS! The "company" Fender has not been around for a long time. Only the name lives on, like the Ampeg name.

Oh come on , man, it's Fender, no matter who owns it. Genzler sold GB, in 2003, has it not been Genz Benz the last 10 years ?

[B-string]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Oh come on , man, it's Fender, no matter who owns it. Genzler sold GB, in 2003, has it not been Genz Benz the last 10 years ?

Seriously if you don't know or care to know the difference there is nothing more to be said.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by B-string

Seriously if you don't know or care to know the difference there is nothing more to be said.

Whatever.

[TC.65]

I just saw where agedhorse replied in another thread a little while ago on a question about a Streamliner. So he's still around.

[svtb15]

I first heard of it in summer 2007.. Think it came out in NAMM 2008 with the Shuttle 6

Originally Posted by Febs

When did GB introduce the Shuttle series?

[rapidfirerob]

Here is the response I got this morning from the same Fender rep I quoted earlier, regarding GB continuing and the fact that Jeff Genzler used to answer the phone himself:

Absolutely Rob. Jeff is actually in our R&D department working with all of our lines now; so although he does not answer the phones anymore he is still very much part of the company and now part of our other brands as well.

Best Regards,

Eric Molinari
Consumer Relations Representative