G&L Club Part 7

[Ricky Rioli]

Anyone worrying about the possible demise of the LB-100: Rocket Music have 4 in stock at the moment, 3 with 1½" necks

That neck is stained "light toffee satin" BTW

 

[BruceG68]

Let's hope for the best for G+L under these circumstances but I'm not holding my breath on this one.

 

[mindwell]

Today just played the fretless.

 

[mouthmw]

If Fender buys them out, I think they'll can most of the G&L models and possibly keep the L series, but I see them sticking MFD pickups on their own models. Fender G&L series perhaps. It could very well be the end of the G&L headstock/s.

 

[MrB64]

If indeed this is so, on the bright side I now have collector's items.

 

[TDR1138]

I'm guessing we'll be reduced to Tributes. Maybe a standard US line, if we're lucky. I doubt Fender would continue the BTO stuff. Maybe they'll send the US-level stuff to Japan with the Gretsch line.

Speculating is fun.

 

[Hawk620]

Looks like FMIC is acquiring G&L

Before you ask, I don't know anymore than that. That is not even a a %100 but I thought I would share.

If my emotions were any more mixed I'd look like a loaf of marble rye.

 

[Hawk620]

If I were Fender, where would I build my G&Ls? Surely space in my existing USA factory can be found for the one Custom Shop guy and a few BTO guys.

And I'd move the bulk of the production, those instruments sold in Sweetwater etc, to Mexico or Indonesia.

I would hope Fender would not be foolish enough to terminate an agreement with Cor-Tek as the producer of the Tribute Series. They are a top five import line now with reasonable sales volume still priced below most Fender MIM models and a much better product than any Squier CV model.

 

[MrB64]

I'm guessing we'll be reduced to Tributes. Maybe a standard US line, if we're lucky. I doubt Fender would continue the BTO stuff. Maybe they'll send the US-level stuff to Japan with the Gretsch line.

Speculating is fun.

Japan might be better than some alternatives. From everything I've read the Geddy Lee Signature Jazz basses from Japan were nice instruments.

 

[TonyP-]

I would hope Fender would not be foolish enough to terminate an agreement with Cor-Tek as the producer of the Tribute Series. They are a top five import line now with reasonable sales volume still priced below most Fender MIM models and a much better product than any Squier CV model.

Honestly, I have a friend connected to an invest firm that was ready to have a discussion with the folks behind them. (Not just Dave and John)…The tribute line would have been revamped and expanded actually.

 

[80jazz]

Honestly, I have a friend connected to an invest firm that was ready to have a discussion with the folks behind them. (Not just Dave and John)…The tribute line would have been revamped and expanded actually.

I don't expect you to spill everything you know; I find your statement above surprising in a good way. I also wonder if the BTO line or custom shop survive (probably not, but I am something of a cynic).

Time will tell.

 

[FretRiff]

Although the rumors suggest firings are coming tomorrow, furloughs have happened before without a company shutdown or sale. Best case is probably now we'll see a more lacerating downsizing reorg to reduce costs going forward.

Worst case... I'm reminded of the Hemingway quote from The Sun Also Rises, "How did you go bankrupt? Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly."

 

[jmlee]

Some else mentioned Yamaha in this thread a few days back. Yamaha is the world's largest instrument maker. I doubt they even know G&L exists. They did not become the biggest seller of instruments by buying up other brands.

I suppose that we might consider Ampeg to be a significant counter-example to that notion....

From the Ampeg website:

"Ampeg Today​

Yamaha Guitar Group, Inc. (YGG) acquired the Ampeg brand in 2018—bringing it under the same roof as Yamaha basses/guitars/amplifiers and digital innovators Line 6. Honoring 70+ years of celebrated Ampeg history and the 50th anniversary of the amplifier that put Ampeg on the rock 'n' roll map, the first thing developed by YGG was the Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT, a product that quickly became one of the most requested amplifiers amongst touring artists and backline companies.​

​

Moving forward while at the same time embracing its legacy, Ampeg introduced a completely redesigned series of Rocket Bass combo amplifiers in 2021. Besides sporting the company's new Super Grit Technology circuit (dubbed SGT), these combos are considerably lighter than previous Rocket Bass amps.​

​

Gazing into the future of bass amplification and anticipating the needs of bassists of all levels and styles, YGG and Ampeg continue to push analog and digital technologies to their limits—an effort that has already resulted in the SVT Suite bass amp and effects plugin."​

 

[FretRiff]

Yamaha bought Ampeg in 2018 and took a couple of years to revamp the line, but their pricing is appreciably more expensive than Fender's amps and are not price competitive. When I was looking recently for a practice amp the 50w RB-110 was $300 and the Fender Rumble 40 was $216 (just $16 more than the 30w 8" RB-108).

In 2023 Yamaha bought Guild and to date have done nothing appreciable with the company. I went with a friend to look at a Polara guitar and the examples we saw were rough - everything from the frets to the pickup cover screamed cheap or janky.

And as I pointed out in another thread, Yamaha may not be looking to spend money on a small faltering guitar company at the moment given its current finances - its 3/30 year end financials showed a 1% profit margin and only ~ $40m net income worldwide, which is essentially a rounding error for such a big company, and their stock price is worse than it was a decade ago.

Times are tough in music land, and US import taxes aren't making acquisition targets more attractive.

 

[TonyP-]

I don't expect you to spill everything you know; I find your statement above surprising in a good way. I also wonder if the BTO line or custom shop survive (probably not, but I am something of a cynic).

Time will tell.

It's really all I know…Nothing to exciting and I have the blessing to share.

 

[Hawk620]

Honestly, I have a friend connected to an invest firm that was ready to have a discussion with the folks behind them. (Not just Dave and John)…The tribute line would have been revamped and expanded actually.

IMHO therein lies the success of the core G&L brand. That's the "cash cow" any business needs to thrive. G&L appeared to have already raised prices on most Tributes prior to the levying of tariffs and they were still less costly than many MIM Fender models. The Tributes are models most dealers could stock and promote helping to pave the way for US BTO purchases.

Did G&L have it ass backwards and still want to lead with their US builds? All those I own and have owned are Tributes and I've never been displeased with any of them save the one all mahogany body ASAT that I wish were a pound lighter than it is.....LOL. But it's still in the same range as most Les Pauls. My basses have all been ash body models that weighed under 9lbs.

I've also had the opportunity to compare mine with the US builds of a fellow member. While there were noticeable differences in the finishing it's not as if the finishing of the Tributes was anything other than excellent it's more like the US builds were exceptional. IMHO that is another area where G&L was superior to Fender in every way including color selection.

It would be a shame to see the new ownership take an axe to the Tribute Series as opposed to expanding it as you mentioned.

 

[Jugghaid]

.
.They did not become the biggest seller of instruments by buying up other brands. They don't do that,

Except for Amoeg, Line 6 erc

 

[blowinblue]

If G&L is indeed going out of business I must accept some responsibility for this. I haven't purchased a new bass from them since 1980. Sad to hear this news.

M. M.

 

[Picton]

The other thread is wicked active. For those of you not over there today, the rumors of an FMIC acquisition are growing stronger.

 

[pjbassist]

The other thread

???? Link ????