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Acoustic USA News

#41
Stacknobuser said:
No one is trying to be confusing, just create product differentiation based on models and pricing under the same brand umbrella.
Click to expand...

I think you need to reread the posts. We are not talking about product differentiation within ONE brand. Every brand has that! We are talking about two separate companies with the exact same name and logo.

CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF TWO INDEPENDENT COMPANIES WITH THE SAME NAME AND LOGO (trademark) within or even out of the music industry.

Do not give me examples such as
Honda
Volkswagon
Fender
Ampeg

These are all examples of ONE company which happen to produce their products from different plants around the world.
 
#43
Valid point. I didn't see any reason on sharing the Acoustic name with another company, but that makes sense. However, earlier some one mentioned that GC owns the name and that the Acoustic USA is just using the name under license. If this is true, then this is actually backwards from what you suspected.
 
#45
Here it is

Stacknobuser said:
You are missing something.

GC owns the Acoustic trademark and has developed, and is manufacturing products under the Acoustic brand name.
The GPG company has a limited license to manufacture approved products bearing the Acoustic logo in the USA. The decision has been made that these products have a uniform look which is more in keeping with products manufactured from 1968 - 1972.

Marketing and branding of anything with the Acoustic logo will be driven by a group within GC, in concert with the GPG folks.
Click to expand...
 
#47
fenderhutz said:
Acoustic wouldn't had let this happen if they wanted to keep any continuity of the brand.

Unless they were broke and GC gave them some cash to get development off the ground again for the USA stuff.
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I don't think you have a solid grasp on the history going on here.

The company that is making "Acoustic USA" is not the classic Acoustic Control Corporation. The original Acoustic Control Corporation was bought out by the Wagner Music Group in the early 1980s. The Acoustic logo and powder blue eventually came to be owned by Samick. If my understanding is correct, Guitar Center is at least the fourth owner of the Acoustic brand name.
 
#49
nellie48 said:
You would think companies would like to protect their trademarks.
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It is nontraditional, but if all concerned parties are in agreement, then I'd imagine all are protected under that agreement.

The way it appears to me, this is a "win-win-win-win" situation:

* GC wins by developing and selling an affordable line of new-format "Acoustic" amps;
* Budget-mind bassists win through the availability of the above-mentioned line (as many of us already have);
* GPG Acoustic (USA) wins by the freedom to develop and market high-end recreations/updates of traditional Acoustic gear;
* Acoustic-philes seeking high-end gear win with availability of amps created by GPG.

Why not? :cool:
 
#51
fenderhutz said:
So who owns the copyright/designs for the Acoustic amps from yesteryear?
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That's an excellent question. My understanding is that GC owns the name and the logo. I'm not sure who owns the designs these days.

fenderhutz said:
Guitar Center has a proven history of ruining products through lackluster service that spreads through word of mouth.

One reason. Could have have a slight negative impact on the name.
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I totally understand that sentiment and was in that camp when Patrick first started talking about the relationship between Acoustic Amplification and Guitar Center. I've been a member for a few years over at the Unofficial Acoustic Control Corp. Forum and it's the opinions of dedicated Acousticians like ZiggyDude and bottomend that have used the new stuff and been impressed by it that made me even consider that Patrick and his crew might have a clue as to what they're doing.
 
#52
fenderhutz said:
Guitar Center has a proven history of ruining products through lackluster service that spreads through word of mouth.

One reason. Could have have a slight negative impact on the name.
Click to expand...

So far what has been proven in this case (and in my own well-informed experience) is that GC has succeeded in pleasing the vast majority of new Acoustic owners.

You do not like the new Acoustic line, Fenderhutz, and you have stated that many times here on TB. But a poster's opinion does not mean that they stink, nor is it a basis to predict that they are going to somehow start to stink.

There is no "proven history" to go on with new Acoustic other than one of success for those who appreciate the line.

Now, some folks have an axe to grind with GC, and they are certainly entitled to their opinion of the company. I for one am often amazed that they don't stock my preferred picks; perhaps they don't sell enough to justify carrying them. And, I have other means of getting them.

As far as Acoustic goes, I am judging and playing an amp, not approving or disapproving of Guitar Center. In this instance, the store has actually rendered me a valuable service.
 
#54
Stacknobuser said:
Seems to me like you are saying "regular joe"= DS bass player.
I just give us bass players more credit than that.
Even a guitar player can figure out the difference between two Vox AC30's.
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The thing is, you're just "giving credit" without any substantiation of fact. In the bass camp, the example I gave of mass confusion here on TB every day about the distinction between different Fender-type basses illustrates that large numbers of bassists don't get it, no how much "credit" you give them. In the guitar camp, you say "even a guitar player" can figure it out, but who are you talking about? Have you asked the majority of guitarists anywhere whether they clearly understand the difference between those two Voxes? I'm betting not. IOW you have absolutely no idea whether "even a guitar player" can be assumed to get it. You just "give them credit" because it seems obvious to you.

Stacknobuser said:
Wake up dude, it is done all the time.
Click to expand...
Almost every instance I know of involves one company owning both the budget line and the premium line, whereas in this instance it sounds like a different company altogether is going to be making the premium line, with a limited license from GC to use the name and dress of Acoustic. The only other instance I know of that's similar is Ken Smith vs. KSD, where the distinction between them has in fact caused a huge amount of confusion and upset on the part of many buyers who didn't understand the relationship between the two companies. We've had some very hot threads on that subject, and the advice from cooler heads there was that the upset could have been avoided if the relationship (or lack of one) was more clearly stated- avoiding confusion.


Edit: All of this is not meant to knock Acoustic though- I am looking forward to trying out one of the new US Acoustics someday. And speaking only for myself I wasn't knocking GC, only what seemed to me to be posting based more on loyalty than sense.
 
#55
bongomania said:
Almost every instance I know of involves one company owning both the budget line and the premium line, whereas in this instance it sounds like a different company altogether is going to be making the premium line, with a limited license from GC to use the name and dress of Acoustic. The only other instance I know of that's similar is Ken Smith vs. KSD, where the distinction between them has in fact caused a huge amount of confusion and upset on the part of many buyers who didn't understand the relationship between the two companies. We've had some very hot threads on that subject, and the advice from cooler heads there was that the upset could have been avoided if the relationship (or lack of one) was more clearly stated- avoiding confusion.
.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that piece of information. I was not aware of the Ken Smith vs. KSD debacle. Sounds like the two Acoustic companies will need to be careful not to succumb to the same demise.

BTW I just bought an Acoustic 200 Combo from a fellow TB'r for $275 shipped.
 
#57
HA! I just got this via PM from another TB'er. "Original" designs as the GC Corporate guy said right? :D

I think the GC stuff compared to the US made stuff is GC just having someone put a pretty name on something else.

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Invalid Link Removed
 
#58
thesteve said:
I don't think you have a solid grasp on the history going on here.

The company that is making "Acoustic USA" is not the classic Acoustic Control Corporation. The original Acoustic Control Corporation was bought out by the Wagner Music Group in the early 1980s. The Acoustic logo and powder blue eventually came to be owned by Samick. If my understanding is correct, Guitar Center is at least the fourth owner of the Acoustic brand name.
Click to expand...

Actually the Acoustic USA gear will have more of the DNA from the original units because the original designers/engineers are 100% involved, so that makes these new Acousitc USA even more "Acoustic" than any of the later companies ( wagner/samick/etc).
 
#59
bottomend! said:
Actually the Acoustic USA gear will have more of the DNA from the original units because the original designers/engineers are 100% involved, so that makes these new Acousitc USA even more "Acoustic" than any of the later companies ( wagner/samick/etc).
Click to expand...
This is very true. I just didn't bring it up since they are technically licensing Acoustic blue.
 
#60
fenderhutz said:
HA! I just got this via PM from another TB'er. "Original" designs as the GC Corporate guy said right? :D
Click to expand...

I'm surprised you all hadn't noticed that sooner. I'm not at all surprised at the poster's glee in stirring some s**t. I just wonder what his oft-repeated and tiresome anti-Acoustic motivation is.

Anyway, the Kustom KBA 115/Acoustic B200 combos where a tossup for me when looking to replace my Ampeg B200R some months ago.

Chicken? Egg? Who cares.

Not me.

The Acoustic was available at my local GC, and $299 vs. $429. The winner!
 

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