Eastman and Bourgeois Teaming up!

[JerryM]

Once they put a Bourgeois logo on a Chinese guitar there will begin the ever lasting question by consumers,,,is this a China or American real one??
If they used a different logo or name ok but this will hurt Bourgeois IMO. I was just looking at one myself but now thinking it may not be wise as prices will fall I think. Why spend 6k for one when you can get the China model for half or less on the market deeply discounted like Eastmans are for half or less?

[rwmct]

It is none of my business if he cashes in. And I am not saying a word about how good the guitars will be. I like Eastmans quite a bit. I fully expect them to be good.

But it is definitely going to cheapen the brand. The reputation it has now is as a high end US made brand. It will now also be a foreign, mid price brand. That is just a fact. And anyone who thinks that many people who own the U.S. models won't wince when someone associates their expensive, US made guitars with the import guitars, is kidding themselves, at best. And everyone looking to buy one will ask: "is it US made or import?"

And the fact that most people who are not guitar geeks don't recognize the brand at all, and may now be exposed to it, just exacerbates the situation. Those people won't even know about the high end stuff. They will only know the brand as a mid-price brand.

I hope they are wonderful guitars. And they will be guitars I could actually afford. But it does not change the fact that they are cheapening their brand.

[justonwo]

I don’t see where in the press release it says they will put Bourgeois on the headstock. My guess is they will release another brand.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by rwmct

But it is definitely going to cheapen the brand. The reputation it has now is as a high end US made brand. It will now also be a foreign, mid price brand. That is just a fact. And anyone who thinks that many people who own the U.S. models won't wince when someone associates their expensive, US made guitars with the import guitars, is kidding themselves, at best. And everyone looking to buy one will ask: "is it US made or import?"

You're certainly entitled to your opinion.

I own a Bourgeois dread that sounds great, and it lives up to the quality I initially ascribed to it. What ever happens after I bought it has no bearing on its value. Except perhaps to the consumer/flipper.

That aside, I didn't read anything in Dana's comments on this merger that would support your opinion.

[Beakybird]

No one is shying away from Fenders and Strats because some are made in Mexico. People just look for the Made In USA label if they want the best materials and craftsmanship.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by JerryM

Once they put a Bourgeois logo on a Chinese guitar there will begin the ever lasting question by consumers,,,is this a China or American real one??
If they used a different logo or name ok but this will hurt Bourgeois IMO. I was just looking at one myself but now thinking it may not be wise as prices will fall I think. Why spend 6k for one when you can get the China model for half or less on the market deeply discounted like Eastmans are for half or less?

What leads you to believe that would happen?
Anyway as previously stated, people still purchase American-made Strats at more than twice the price of the ones made in Mexico and have been for years.
It’s also a well-known fact that many of the workers who build some of the American Strats in California are the same ones who work in the Mexican plant and go back and forth between the plants.Look it up.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by rwmct

But it does not change the fact that they are cheapening their brand.

Except of course it depends entirely on exactly which of the two part definition of "cheapen" someone actually means.

If by "cheapen" you mean bring the price down. Then it appears from the various press releases, that is the specific intention. Thus could be considered a to be a "fact".

If buy "cheapening" you mean the other part of the common definition, to "degrade", either the product itself, or the brand name . Then that is totally personal opinion and perspective, and is not even remotely a "fact".

[Tnfiddler]

I'm not going to worry about it. I'm not getting rid of my Bourgeois due to this because I play it every day and it's right there at the top of the list of best guitars I've ever played!! I'm blown away by it every time I get it out of the case and Dana's business decisions won't change that! If he builds a really awesome OM model that's more affordable, I'll own one!!

[hairpuller]

Well, dang diddly you guys! I've got a Bourgeois (American made, case you wondered!) coming in a few days. Now what?

scott

[erhino41]

I'm sure they'll be great guitars. Dana has some winning designs that more guitar players should be aware of and have the opportunity to own.

What business worries about the resale value of their products?

When have you every witnessed someone playing a d-28 be questioned about whether it's a"real" martin or not?

Worrying that someone who may have otherwise never heard of your guitar may now confuse it for a *gasp* mid priced guitar, is the penultimate first world problem and amounts to snobbery of the highest degree.

[brandall10]

Originally Posted by Beakybird

No one is shying away from Fenders and Strats because some are made in Mexico. People just look for the Made In USA label if they want the best materials and craftsmanship.

Right, pretty much all major electric brands have been doing this for decades. If anything it brings more people into the fold and elevates their MIUSA lines - reason being foreign made lines are indeed great guitars, just a little bit less.

[Tnfiddler]

This video impressed me. I know it's a staged video, but I'm sure it's a pretty accurate depiction of the daily functions there at their shop.

[leew3]

Northfield has been building killer professional quality mandolins through a similar partnership for some years. This collaboration puts high quality instruments in the hands of folks who couldn't/wouldn't spend the money for a high end mandolin that's fully hand made in the U.S. Bear in mind that with the intense hand work involved in mandolin building these 'less expensive' mandolins are $4-$5K but a comparable Gibson or Ellis can be twice that. I suspect the collaboration that is the focus of this thread will result in similar great results.

[PTony]

Originally Posted by Beakybird

No one is shying away from Fenders and Strats because some are made in Mexico. People just look for the Made In USA label if they want the best materials and craftsmanship.

I understand your point. And agree...mostly. Although, imho the recent “Players Series” guitars (esp the Teles) make it very hard to say that the US offerings are superior/better. Specifically, the new Tele series offers 22 frets, Alnico 5 pickups, 2 point Trem for the Strat models, and outstanding quality. In my playing and comparing I found them to be on par with the American series for far less money.

I do agree that offering different lines/values/price points is a good thing as it can create a wider group of customers who may find their way to an upper end series as they’re experience progresses.

Having played for many years, and having owned many guitars of varying quality/price points I’ve come to judge the guitar by its craftsmanship, tone, neck profile, wood combinations, etc. rather than by name or price point. I’m convinced that if folks would do their guitar shopping blindfolded and go by ear and feel alone...many would be shocked by their preference, and possibly astounded that a less expensive offering won out.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by PTony

Having played for many years, and having owned many guitars of varying quality/price points I’ve come to judge the guitar by its craftsmanship, tone, neck profile, wood combinations, etc. rather than by name or price point.

Best post so far. Let us wait and see if the guitars sound great or not. That's what I care about, not whether it's a "real" Bourgeois or not.