#31
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Sounds like a smart businessman reaping the rewards of many years of hard work. Well done, Dana. I wish you the very best of luck, though I don’t think you’ll need it.
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Circa OM-30/34 (Adi/Mad) | 000-12 (Ger/Maple) | OM-28 (Adi/Brz) | OM-18/21 (Adi/Hog) | OM-42 (Adi/Braz) Fairbanks SJ (Adi/Hog) | Schoenberg/Klepper 000-12c (Adi/Hog) | LeGeyt CLM (Swiss/Amzn) | LeGeyt CLM (Carp/Koa) Brondel A-2 (Carp/Mad) |
#32
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It still amazes me...That a company can do some work here, send the rest of the work overseas, have it sent back for final inspection before selling and it still have an increased margin over keeping all the work local. I understand the cheap labor thing but I also believe there are other benefits working as well...possibly environmental benefits, fewer regulatory laws, ect.
I guess this is gona be an economy of scales situation and Bourgeouis is gona open up flood gates and bath us with his guitars. Kinda like Breedlove I guess. That said, I would love to own a Soloist. |
#33
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How does this differ from what Breedlove has done for a generation with their Passport series, or Martin a generation before with their Sigma series? On paper it makes a good bit of business sense - and I love that the operation in the US will be growing in conjunction, but I would wait for them to iron out the kinks in the process before lauding it.
FWIW I think that their guitars are a wonderful modern take on the Martin aesthetic and that the entire Eastman line will likely improve because of it. Unfortunately, due to my own personal economics unless they partner with Wal Mart I will not likely ever even get to try one. That’s not me hating though; I’m perfectly happy with what I’m already playing.
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(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#34
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But, what do I know? |
#35
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Personally, I don't understand how something with quality can be shipped halfway around the world twice then shipped back to nearer to the point of sale to be QC'd? If they were cigars it'd be a whole different story; we'd be bringing the labor here.
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(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#36
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Timing is the only issue and that can be anticipated pretty closely these days.
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Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster |
#37
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Probably this information from Wikipedia is well known to this forum, but I'll post it anyway for background -- just to highlight that this isn't the first time that Dana Bourgeois has formed alliances to grow his business.
"In 1999, Bourgeois signed a distribution deal with Akai, a Japanese music and electronics company. With 16 employees and the prospect of growing his business internationally, Bourgeois expected to grow his business further. For a time, Akai marketed the Bourgeois Artisan Series guitars: the DR-A dreadnought and JR-A jumbo orchestra model. Along with the two guitars for international distribution, Bourgeois also made Martin Simpson and Ricky Skaggs signature guitars, though in limited editions. However, the distributor stopped ordering new guitars, leaving Bourgeois without the backing necessary to meet operating expenses. Despite attempts to find new investors and to sell directly to his customers online, Bourgeois was forced to liquidate the business, filing bankruptcy and auctioning off the guitar-making equipment. Pantheon Guitars After Bourgeois Guitars closed its doors, guitar hobbyist, collector and investment banker Patrick Theimer approached Bourgeois with another business venture. With Theimer, three other investors, and Bourgeois, who would oversee guitar production, Pantheon Guitars was formed in 2000. The business model employed at Pantheon allowed Bourgeois to focus on making the guitars he was known for while sharing marketing and manufacturing resources with other independent luthiers." |
#38
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Let's keep this thread up on track please
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PS. I love guitars! |
#39
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They say the new Buick Envision is a top rated and reliable car,,,,,,no one wants one though as soon as they see Made In China, 100% they don't advertise it and if you don't know enough to ask you assume Buick is USA!! Soon as I saw the sticker I walked, just sayin.
I have Bourgeois and the fact they were special is why, wasn't looking for a cheap alternative with a Bourgeois name. |
#40
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#41
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The letter also suggests that they are expecting to hire new people to build all these new tops and finalize the returning guitars. May be big enough growth to move from boutique brand to full mass production competing in size with the likes of Guild or Larrivee. Last edited by merlin666; 01-10-2020 at 11:10 AM. |
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Cool. I hope to get my hands on some of these new creations
I imagine there will be some mighty fine guitars in the lineup. madhat. |
#43
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It's worth keeping an eye on history here. This has been done many times before, with mixed results. The reasoning, is mass production, higher profit, & less labor costs. This helps the bottom line immediately, but usually deteriorates quality in the end game. Martin did this in the 70s, & it nearly brought them to their knees. Guild & Gibson tried similar acquisitions that did not end well. Breedlove did it in the late 90s & early 2000s, which helped their bottom line, but is strangling them now. Their line-up is so confusing & hybridized, that no one wants to deal with it. The bottom line is this; yes it will increase distribution & volume, but is that what the Bourgeois customer wants?
Steve
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"Naturally torrified, & unnaturally horrified, since 1954" |
#44
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#45
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Martin and Taylor expanded into the low(ish) end market with production in Mexico. It has unquestionably worked out well for them and us... by most accounts, their standard/high end guitars are better than ever.
While I personally am not interested in a Taylor 100/200 or Martin X, these guitars allow people that otherwise wouldn't be able to afford "the name" to jump on board, and then possibly become higher end owners later. Right now, Bourgeois is competing with the Martin Custom Shop (among others). Where it will be interesting is that customer looking in the $2000 range: do you go with a standard Martin D-18 made in the USA, or a Bourgeois (Out of the) Country Boy made in USA & China? Depending on how these turn out, it could be a tough call. |