G&L. Wouldn't you love...

[ADHD librarian]

Personally, I'd rather Maton bought them (or at least the IP for MFD pickups).
But that's only because then they'd be made in Australia, which would be convenient for me personally.

 

[Hawk620]

As long as someone can find a way to continue the product lines or most of it I really don't care who buys that part of the operation. I'm interested in saving the products not the brand name. For all I care it could say Guitars by Manny on the headstock.

 

[LSM07]

As long as someone can find a way to continue the product lines or most of it I really don't care who buys that part of the operation. I'm interested in saving the products not the brand name. For all I care it could say Guitars by Manny on the headstock.

"Inspired by Leo" Guitars

 

[Supadope]

No, I would not love that. It is not their strong suit and Sweetwater has been owned by an equity firm since 2021. I would not expect their owner to run it any different than any other private equity firm might (other than possibly funneling exclusive instruments through Sweetwater).

This. It is becoming more and more difficult to find independent music stores. Guitar Center, Musicians Friend, and Sweetwater are the biggest online music retailers and they all are the same company now.

 

[Gizmot]

I wrote this before, but if G&L goes up for sale, I think they’re perfect suitor is Gibson. They would give Gibson a good line of basses and a line of bolt-on single coil guitars.

G&L makes good products but need some help marketing and distributing. Gibson can help with those things.

 

[DrBnz]

Let it go. So long as there's a TRIBUTE series, this is not a money maker. Shark tank says "PASS".

 

[Bassiclees]

What if... Harley Benton bought them?

 

[Yahboy]

... to see Sweetwater buy G&L?

I prefer to see keenue leeves buy it .... but, Ernie Ball are more suitable .

 

[Yahboy]

I’d rather Sire buy at least their IPs

If yes, don't put that Moose nose on G&L head stock ..... thanks..

 

[Yahboy]

What if... Harley Benton bought them?

Harley Benton better take over Harley Davidson.... " Bike & Guitar ".

 

[antfarm]

So the rumors are true? I heard they already laid off all employees, has anyone here got a link to an official statement? All I could find where diuscussions in other internet forums.

 

[mouthmw]

So the rumors are true? I heard they already laid off all employees, has anyone here got a link to an official statement? All I could find where diuscussions in other internet forums.

There’s no official statement yet.

 

[ahbass2500]

There’s no official statement yet.

Adding to this, I kind of doubt we get a statement unless they find a buyer and the buyer makes one. I get the feeling leadership at G&L is not in the habit of admitting/owning failure.

The downside to their approach is that they are completely failing to manage the story on this. If there is any hope/plan for the brand to continue, it will be more difficult, because of their silence. While they are hiding in conference rooms (according to rumor), their brand reputation is paying for it*.

Of course that leaves the option where silence is fine because the brand has no future.

*before anyone says it, I am being slightly dramatic here to make a point. Of course the silence is not completely devaluing the brand and it is something the brand could bounce back from if a buyer continues G&L. My point is they did nothing to manage the story. Instead rumor, speculation, and the occasional bit of info from dealers and former employees drove the story. Not ideal for G&L IMO.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Tough crowd.

i know, totally. Sweetwater acquiring G&L would be better than it shuttering

 

[ClassicJazz]

Why would they spend money on a brand that will never be competitor?

Everyone is a competitor! Plus the purchase would be more for the intellectual properties. Now everything Fender including the name Leo Fender can now be under the FMIC control.

Look at other notable Fender purchases, SWR and Genz Benz.

 

[Picton]

G&L makes good products but need some help marketing and distributing. Gibson can help with those things.

My lifetime is one long, painful story of Gibson repeatedly trying and failing to market their "amazing new ideas."

I don't disagree that G&L might be a good acquisition for them, but don't undersell Gibbo's ability to screw things up pretty comprehensively.

 

[EricOnTheBass]

I wouldn’t want Sweetwater to have more incentive to sell one brand over another.

 

[bdplaid]

I wouldn’t want Sweetwater to have more incentive to sell one brand over another.

I doubt they could. Fender fans only buy Fender. There are so many other bass brands that guys want... And a USA G&L is still around 2K, putting it into the affordable and top tier category.

Making direct comparisons of my own, I've had jazz basses from a variety of manufacturers. Fender USA I find to be mid tier. Their build quality is just not great. G&L is better. I thankfully got a JB earlier this year and its my favorite jazz, out of all the jazzes I currently have and have had. Its just perfect. And because it's BTO, its got special things like lightweight empress body, 12 inch radius and a flake paint job included. You'll never see that from Fender under 4K or even 5K. And the bass won't be as good.

No, G&L closing is a bad thing indeed. To the uninitiated, you don't know what we've lost.

 

[roccobass]

I wrote this before, but if G&L goes up for sale, I think they’re perfect suitor is Gibson. They would give Gibson a good line of basses and a line of bolt-on single coil guitars.

G&L makes good products but need some help marketing and distributing. Gibson can help with those things.

I was thinking Gibson might be a good fit too. If they don’t deconstruct the creative process of them, just changes to the business end.

Here’s , a crazy thought. If Gibson did purchase them, perhaps ask some of the marketing folks at Mesa go over and assist them in that area. There’s a good role model. IMO.

Get a well informed G&L guru to be part of the TB community as well (like Mesa) and ask our input on possible future offerings (or even mods to current items) from G&L.

Just crazy thinking as I pour another cup of coffee this morning….

 

[FretRiff]

I wouldn’t want Sweetwater to have more incentive to sell one brand over another.

Right now Sweetwater sells its own branded drumsticks (they're meh) and some guitar accessories, and things like its own Velcro ties, and tags, but I'm surprised it hasn't bothered to delve into more expensive, higher margin, profitable house brands for instruments and (more) accessories as have Thomann, Guitar Center, and Long & McQuade.

Considering it is now owned by a private equity firm, I think going forward it's less likely they'll leave continue to leave money on the table, and might pursue private-label instruments and more accessories in the future. Manufacturers may not like it if they start doing this, but considering that their major retail competition has done this for years there's not a lot manufacturers could do.