Why aren't G&L basses more popular?

[Dbassmon]

Originally Posted by scubaduba

I wonder how many people commenting here have owned a G&L or at least spent time with one.

Probably most - the question is; why is this brand unable to attract any serious attention from the bass community?

[M.R. Ogle]

I dunno about that. They got MY attention pretty early. And I'd bet that with the addition of the "Tribute" lower-priced line (great value in my estimation) that G&L's sales far exceed minimum requirements for "serious attention." They may not get the rabid fanbase of some of the boutique builders, but you KNOW there's more G&L's out there than all of the Sadowskys and AC's and Dingwalls combined.

[joevcool]

Originally Posted by scubaduba

This thread continues to baffle me. I wonder how many people commenting here have owned a G&L or at least spent time with one.

It is funny how Leo Fender himself has said countless times that G&L's are the best instruments he has ever made,and still some people don't understand that.They are like you said probably the ones whom have never played one before they commented on one.Is it ignorance or cluelessness? The world may never know.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Dbassmon

G&L - ummmmm. good basses zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz (sleeping) zero sex appeal and no identifiable sound ala pBass, Jbass or Stringray - just plain vanilla

The sound of an SPB-1/2 makes you go to sleep?!!?!?

Nothing vanilla about G&L's MFD pickups!

[M.R. Ogle]

If I could recommend anything to G&L, it would be to package and aggressively promote their pickups as aftermarket replacements. They might be able to offer them at a very competitive price, and once people got a taste of those MFD's...

[Dbassmon]

Originally Posted by joevcool

Leo Fender himself said that G&L's are the best instruments he has ever made

Bass players vote with their buying choices and what ever Leo loved about his G&L offering, has not resonated with the people that play and buy basses in a significant way.

Clueless or informed, I guess that is all in how you view it. Leo may have been in love with his own work? Few others share the passion for these instruments.(in comparison to Fender and Musicman)

[Dbassmon]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

The sound of an SPB-1/2 makes you go to sleep?!!?!?
Nothing vanilla about G&L's MFD pickups!

Not distinctly different to get noticed in the market place. If you are talking about replacement pickups, I didn't realize G&L was in the game and if they were, Nordstrand, Duncan, EMG, etc. they would be less of a player in that market than they are in the bass market.

Understand, not saying they aren't great quality, just no brand differentiation, they are not going to get any attention.

[armybass]

Because sometimes lots and lots of folks make really uniformed decisions. Sometimes they will pick a very inferior choice when their is a much better and quality choice available to them...but their friends all think the inferior choice is better because it is; cool, has name recognition or simply because all of their friends go with the inferior choice. Judging the quality of a choice by the number of people who chose it is not wise.... because many folks are "low information" consumers

[jgroh]

I know what would fix the G&L conundrum....a pickguard!

[joevcool]

Originally Posted by Dbassmon

Bass players vote with their buying choices and what ever Leo loved about his G&L offering, has not resonated with the people that play and buy basses in a significant way.

Clueless or informed, I guess that is all in how you view it. Leo may have been in love with his own work? Few others share the passion for these instruments.(in comparison to Fender and Musicman)

And where exactly have you gotten all your fascinating informative facts at? Are you a G&L, Fender and Musicman marketing specialist,or are these your own bright observations??????

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Dbassmon

Not distinctly different to get noticed in the market place. If you are talking about replacement pickups, I didn't realize G&L was in the game and if they were, Nordstrand, Duncan, EMG, etc. they would be less of a player in that market than they are in the bass market.

Understand, not saying they aren't great quality, just no brand differentiation, they are not going to get any attention.

G&L is NOT in the aftermarket pickup game, and the unique MFD pickups give their instruments a distinctive sound that still has Leo's signature all over it, as well as a very different feel for the player.

[M.R. Ogle]

G&L are (unfortunately) NOT in the aftermarket pickup game... at all. I had to order mine through a dealer, Buffalo Bros, and they weren't even packaged.

I must assume that you've not used a set of G&L MFD split-P pickups before, as these things are REALLY hot and aggressive. I'm not even going to start to address the MFD humbuckers... jeezus!!

The one salient point to the "lack of attention" that you perceive about the G&L brand is probably due to their lack of high-profile marketing efforts. They just don't seem to engage in that for some reason.

[Dbassmon]

Originally Posted by joevcool

And where exactly have you gotten all your fascinating informative facts at? Are you a G&L, Fender and Musicman marketing specialist,or are these your own bright observations??????

I own an advertising agency in the NYC metro area and I have an MBA in marketing. Not that makes my opinions any more valid than anyone else but your tone sucks and is uncalled for.

What I state is absolutely an opinion, and perhaps more informed than many, or not. I guess I would classify myself as a marketing expert. People pay me for my expertise. What I state is just an opinion and you are entitled to disagree.

[theduke1]

I did not want to go here but the comments by"Dbassmon" has forced me to do so.
The Fender P & J in whatever configuration you pick are like a body part I will not name here, but everybody has one and just cause everybody has one doen't make it the better or best of anything just more popular.
That is All!

[theduke1]

Originally Posted by armybass

Because sometimes lots and lots of folks make really uniformed decisions. Sometimes they will pick a very inferior choice when their is a much better and quality choice available to them...but their friends all think the inferior choice is better because it is; cool, has name recognition or simply because all of their friends go with the inferior choice. Judging the quality of a choice by the number of people who chose it is not wise.... because many folks are "low information" consumers

+1

[Dbassmon]

Originally Posted by theduke1

comments by"Dbassmon" has forced me to do so.
The Fender P & J are like a body part I will not name here, but everybody has one and just cause everybody has one doen't make it the better or best of anything just more popular.
That is All!

I forced Duke to make theses comments... heehee

My points address the question of the OP, "why aren't G&L basses more popular"
All agree, quality is good, not a matter of better, just no connection. Personally, I don;t see the connection to the body part Duke references but interesting choice of metaphor.

[theduke1]

Originally Posted by Dbassmon

I own an advertising agency in the NYC metro area and I have an MBA in marketing. Not that makes my opinions any more valid than anyone else but your tone sucks and is uncalled for.

What I state is absolutely an opinion, and perhaps more informed than many, or not. I guess I would classify myself as a marketing expert. People pay me for my expertise. What I state is just an opinion and you are entitled to disagree.

An MBA?
Well that explains a lot!

[M.R. Ogle]

To be fair to Dbassmon...

I didn't know you were a marketing guy, I should have guessed by how you referred to the "market" so many times in your posts.

Well, you're mostly correct... G&L's marketing, as compared to other brands that are in their similar mass-market strata.... SUCK.

But, there are many different ways to secure a slice of the pie besides big overt marketing campaigns, full-page ads, and endorsement deals. I'd bet right now that cutting distribution deals with the big-box dealers (bigger discounts, product exclusivity, etc.) produce more sales than taking out a full page color ad in whatever guitar magazines.

Not sure what G&L is doing "behind the scenes" but they are obviously doing well enough, and sheer volume of units sold may be comfortable for them. But nobody who has experience with these instruments could seriously question their overall quality and value.

Intrruments= very, very good!

Pickups= WOWZA!!!

Marketing= meh.

Maybe you oughta give them a call!!!

[Dbassmon]

Thanks M.R. Ogle, honestly, I would love the challenge.

I have helped out my friend JD at Warrior instruments with some marketing help. Many companies do not have a budget. They want to market there their instruments more effectively. Many do not have the available funds, they are doing their best to keep things alive, especially in this economy.

[Freddels]

I own several G&L's (and have sold a few too), Fenders, and Musicman's. G&L makes a quality instrument at a very affordable price. However, they definitely could use some marketing advice (and some name artists using their products).