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  #31  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:37 PM
stoney stoney is offline
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This is indeed very sad news. Another American manufacturer gone, jobs lost, and a reduction in the options afforded to the guitar playing community.

While not for everyone, CA Guitars and other composite guitars are truly a forward step in the evolution of the instrument, not unlike the advent of steel strings. We have lots of guitars to choose from; parlors, jumbos, and everything in between, and the use of cf gives us yet another tone in the palette from which to choose. I, for one, find that tone to be my favorite, and am very glad that I have my "older" CA Legacy Vintage AE. Some have speculated that the price of these instruments may go quite high, but I will be happy to keep mine; it is now going to be very hard to replace.
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  #32  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:37 PM
jwsamuel jwsamuel is offline
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Originally Posted by gitardude View Post
You have to ask, why couldn't they make it? Lots and lots of people love their instruments. I don't get it. Lousy management? Wouldn't surprise me.
Just take a look at some of the attitudes on this forum about guitars not made from wood. That, coupled with a lousy economy, should say a lot.

Jim
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  #33  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:38 PM
kyee kyee is offline
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Originally Posted by FingerPlucked View Post
Maybe, but I think it would be foolish on the dealer's part. CA's just went up in value, I think, and there's no reason to sell at MAP anymore.

Now, more than ever, it'll pay to shop around. If a dealer can afford to wait, he ought to be selling his inventory at a premium, while the next guy may be selling at a discount because of cash flow problems.
I would expect prices to tumble, not go up.
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  #34  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:39 PM
TedShred TedShred is offline
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wow... massive bummer
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  #35  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:41 PM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
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Wow Ted,

What a shame! What a disaster for their employees!

I hope you will keep us informed about what happens from here on out.

What a shocker....

- Glenn
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  #36  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:41 PM
D. Churchland D. Churchland is offline
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No!!! That's horrible
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  #37  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:41 PM
SRVis#1 SRVis#1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kyee View Post
I would expect prices to tumble, not go up.
??? Supply and demand. The demand is going to skyrocket with new of this closure, bringing prices up. It is the basis of our economy. They obviously made a good product, so i'm sure they will be going for a premium now.
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  #38  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:43 PM
gitnoob gitnoob is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kyee View Post
I would expect prices to tumble, not go up.
Supply goes down, demand stays constant or grows, and you expect prices to go down?

Seems to me that acceptance of CF and demand for these guitars was on the upswing. If they could have held on through this rough patch in the economy, I think CA would have emerged as a market leader.

I'll miss that company. Seemed to be one of the few engineering-driven instrument makers.
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  #39  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:44 PM
Bryan T Bryan T is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SRVis#1 View Post
??? Supply and demand. The demand is going to skyrocket with new of this closure, bringing prices up. It is the basis of our economy. They obviously made a good product, so i'm sure they will be going for a premium now.
The warranty was worth something. I'd expect to see the instruments end up priced near dealer cost.
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  #40  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:49 PM
gitnoob gitnoob is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan T View Post
The warranty was worth something.
How much is the warranty worth on a bullet-proof guitar?

I think the real question is which models will be most collectible. I think the Cargo will be a cult classic. There is no replacement on the market.
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  #41  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:53 PM
Bryan T Bryan T is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gitnoob View Post
How much is the warranty worth on a bullet-proof guitar?
Probably not much. Do you know of any bullet-proof guitars?
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  #42  
Old 03-02-2010, 05:54 PM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gitnoob View Post
... I think the Cargo will be a cult classic. There is no replacement on the market.
Well, I'm hoping someone in the guitar business will buy their assets and resurrect the company. As Tarpman suggested a few days ago, this would be a natural for Voyage-Air (a folding neck CA guitar), but who knows what kind of shape VA is in with this horrible economy.

Regards, Glenn
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  #43  
Old 03-02-2010, 06:00 PM
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Larry Pattis Larry Pattis is offline
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What a shame.

I felt that they didn't have quite enough guitar-knowledge, but they made a good stab at things, including the Cargo.

I think that there will be a "run" on dealer inventory with this news (despite a no-warranty issue, which is not insignificant), although I suspect that dealers will simply stick to their "regular" prices...not go up or down, just sell existing inventory at the regular prices, and make their standard profit.

...after dealer-inventory is gone, used values might go up in the short run...but if anyone comes along and builds something similar (especially referring to the Cargo) then prices would likely come back down.

Look at the Raven Labs gear, for example. When Steve Rabe closed his doors the PMB-1 and PMB-II were going for a premium in the used area, but there are now even more manufacturers doing things somewhat similarly to the PMB products, and their values have come back down.
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  #44  
Old 03-02-2010, 06:00 PM
ewalling ewalling is offline
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I wonder if one of the reasons for possible poor sales (if they were poor) was appearance. Ovation still seems to be afloat despite the derision that they're not 'proper' guitars; they have always made very distinctive-looking instruments, which may have served them well.
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  #45  
Old 03-02-2010, 06:13 PM
ironman187 ironman187 is offline
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Hmmmm, it seems Carbon Fiber guitars may not be as popular as some would like to think. Bummer, they weren't my cup of tea, but I know quite a few people here liked them.
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