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KORG ACQUIRES AGUILAR

#142
57pbass said:
Just saw this on the web...hopefully they will continue to produce quality gear.

Aguilar Amplification has been acquired by Korg USA, according to an email sent to retailers. The company, which is celebrating its 26th anniversary, is renowned for its line of products for bassists, ranging from bass amps and cabinets all the way down to pickups.

Co-founder Dave Boonshoft confirmed the news on Facebook, explaining that the company will remain largely unchanged by the acquisition. He will, however, be stepping down into a consultant position.

“I’m happy to have more time to devote to my new hobby, garlic farming, and to hanging out with my lovely wife, Caren,” Boonshoft shared. “In addition, I’ll be working as a consultant on new product design for Aguilar. Rest assured, the same world-class company that you know and love will become an even better brand by being part of the Korg universe.”

Aguilar Amplification has been renamed to Aguilar Musical Instruments, LLC as of January 1st, 2021. Boonshoft says that they will continue to produce their products in New York City and retain their current employees, including CEO Dave Avenius (now Managing Director) and CTO Goran Stankovic.

“This is a new chapter of growth for Aguilar, and I’m excited to share the future with all of you, my bass playing family,” Boonshoft concludes. “Onward and Upward!”

This marks the second bass brand Korg has purchased in the last two years. In 2019, they acquired Spector Basses.
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Aaaaach!!:woot::woot:
well I hope its for the best! but to be honest, it never bodes well for the smaller company!like when fender "acquired Genz-benz or Gibson took over MTD, only to neglect & die on the vine! I was gonna buy a Tone hammer when things got back to normal! guess I'll have to wait longer!! I hope Korg is thinking more bass centrically! Be nice if it developed stufff made for us!!
 
#149
Maybe Gibson is trying to regain their heritage by updating their quality in a boutique way and doing so with the original boutique amp maker by their side.
Most of the Gibson guitar line is in that price range. The "other" stuff seems to be handled we'll by the Epiphone line.

Even though Mesa's first amp was a bass amp :) I think Gibson folks will be into the guitar amps. We'll just have to continue our support on the bass side :)
 
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#151
MoonDoggy said:
And chance this will be some sort of conflict of interest (or insert other legal jargon) for Korg USA since they are also the US Distributor for Darkglass?? I know the demographic for Aguilar may be different than Darkglass, but they do both make bass amps and cabs. Or is owning one company and simply being a distributor for another not make this a conflict of interest?
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I can't see why. It's just another product, another brand. Korg USA is a distributor and they have LOTS of products that kind-of cross over between brands.

I suspect a lot more people own Aguilar amps and cabs than Darkglass amps and cabs. The market is likely different for each, too.
 
#152
sears said:
Dave, I want garlic where there aren't a lot of tiny useless cloves in the center. I want BIG CLOVES, not necessarily big heads, but I want a good yield all the way through. Also it must be delicious, of course. Manufacture an accessory called the Clove Hammer. I could do this all day.
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Lol, isn't there something called something like "Elephant Garlic" where the bulbs are enormous?

Yup: Elephant garlic - Wikipedia
 
#154
Yellow Bang66 said:
Aaaaach!!:woot::woot:
well I hope its for the best! but to be honest, it never bodes well for the smaller company!like when fender "acquired Genz-benz or Gibson took over MTD, only to neglect & die on the vine! I was gonna buy a Tone hammer when things got back to normal! guess I'll have to wait longer!! I hope Korg is thinking more bass centrically! Be nice if it developed stufff made for us!!
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Or like when CBS acquired Fender!
Hope it stays great, glad I own several already. Used market aplenty.
 
#159
Hey Everyone,

First, the garlic farming thing was a little tongue in cheek. Me and the missus bought a house this summer that came with an amazing vegetable garden. We have green beans, eggplant, cabbage, lots of ghost peppers, and.... very tasty garlic! I put this in my personal facebook post to friends; but the music press picked it up as if it was a press release. Anyway, I am very much looking forward to having some free time and being able to have a hobby or two. I hope that you can appreciate a little joking at myself about becoming a "garlic farmer"; but who knows?

Aguilar is a very healthy company; but the brand can grow and be an even better company as part of the right company. Korg is the right company for us. They are very respectful of our history and who we are. Every current employee has been retained, and the new company is working out of our same space in NYC. The cabinets are still being made in Ohio. I am staying as a design consultant and I'll be able to work with Goran and other engineers many more hours each week than I am now. I'm optimistic that being part of the Korg family will yield great new products. Korg believes in high quality in design and manufacturing. Longtime CEO Dave Avenius is still in charge and is now managing director. The future is an untold story, so here we go, writing it with you. You play bass, and we'll do our very best to make great tools for you! :) oh, this is Dave Boonshoft, co-founder of Aguilar Amplification
 
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