Ya, fair. They're both massive corporations vs thousands of indies. I have booksellers in my family and, back in the 90s, I worked on a project for a local bookseller. So I'm just mouthing the special vitriol these folks have for Amazon. I.e. not a scientific sample! :--)
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Guitar Center Chapter 11 Imminent
- Thread starter Bassiclees
- Start date
I am not an Amazon user unless they are the sole source for a particular item (Amazon managed to have the LAST 5 HO Bachman New Orleans Street Railways Brill trolleys in the country five years ago, I bought 2, Even the Bachman warehouse was sold out and their hobby shop inventory tracker showed no hobby shop in the US had this model new in stock, so I bought 2) n I bought my Squier Mini Precision Bass and my small Fender amp from a Guitar Center Affiliate, by I bought both of my other two basses from our little local Fender dealer . And I try to buy books from my local book store The Book Table of Oak Park, IL. The same goes for my model train purchases, either DesPlaines (IL) Hobby or Chicagoland Hobby. Even if local is a bit more, we need to keep our local stores in business
I had a conversation with a Music store owner today, well almost a previous owner, because he's having a closing-up clearance sale.
He said he had to drive 100 miles to a meeting with the GC CEO who had flown in from the West coast to tell them they're all fired.
They screwed him out of his final two weeks of pay, as well.
Says he'll never ever support GC.
He said he had to drive 100 miles to a meeting with the GC CEO who had flown in from the West coast to tell them they're all fired.
They screwed him out of his final two weeks of pay, as well.
Says he'll never ever support GC.
Forgive me, but this story sounds like a half-baked tail of woe.
"Owner" - closing sale - GC CEO flight to advise - "screw" salaried FLSA EXEMPT
This is how crazy stories get started!
I'm confused. Is that a contemporary firing or was it in the past? He's currently a music store owner that's closing shop, so it sound like it was awhile ago.
ive always wondered, and maybe I’m ignorant to this as I’m not a guitar tech or legal expert that might know the answer to this, but why did Leo Fender only patent the Headstock? I mean maybe it was a smart move as it’s the standard neck and body style, but also taking away from something he created that could’ve been more protected I guess. Does anyone know his reasoning? Without me doing actual work like googling it lol
The process of US PTO Trademark protection actually came late in the game. Fender being a "Henry Ford" type of bolt it together thing was much easier for people to copy. A Gibson set neck/carved top style was harder. Gibson has protection on some, but not all their bodies and the headstock.
The issues relating to Fender Licensing a Trademark peghead were born out of Ken Warmoth/his father and Boogie Bodies Lynn Ellsworth (2Tek/Speedster Amps), as well as, SGR and MM. The bodies were out there and not distinctive enough in the market place to obtain protection by Fender, unlike Gibson who had been on it earlier. The headstock was unique and none of the interested parties around the legal issues were interested in bankruptcy in litigation expenses. So, it was felt that licensing rights would not be disputed for fees paid on neck sales and the bodies were not distinct enough to obtain protection due to late consideration by the US PTO.
That's basically how Ken Warmoth explained it to me when I worked for he and his brother Paul Warmoth. Their father was a machinist who was partnered with Lynn Ellsworth starting Boogie Bodies. When Lynn kinda got out, Mr. Warmoth the machinist had made the machines and could keep them running. He, nor Ken Warmoth were musicians. They just started Warmoth Guitar Products and just kept punching out great aftermarket hot rod Fender Guitar parts.
It was beneficial to all parties.
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The irony is that Fender adapted a design already used by Paul Bigsby, as seen here...
Bigsby was located not too far from Fender, and in the 40’s furnished a number of custom made instruments for Southern California country stars like Travis, who developed a thumb-and-claw picking technique that influenced scores of players, from Chet Atkins to rockabilly. Obviously, at first Leo used a slimmed down version of the headstock design, but it came back for the Strat.
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I wonder if GC is trying to unload inventory with some nice sales. By chance, I just saw they had a sale, I just purchased a Sterling by Music Man StingRay Ray24CA for $379.99 then a week later it was $349.99 so I got cash back under their own price guarantee. They also had the Ray34 for $599 right after that, but now back up to normal price.
I have to admit I got a really nice case -like gig bag that perfectly fits my Squier Mini Precision Bass from one of GC's mail order daily sales.
I need a case too. I'm sure more GC sales are coming. The online and mail order is better if you see what you want, then you don't have to deal with the store. Would be interesting if one of the other instrument chains would consider buying them out.
GC is a big gorilla, it owns BassWinds/WoodWinds and Musician's Friend, both mail order places that honestly pr.ovide better service than GC does.
