Poor Economy Has Guitar Makers Singing the Blues

[standin]

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[letsrock]

Thanks for the video that was an interesting find.

[Nitro Express]

Since the financial markets have more claims than there are actual real assets worldwide we haven't even gotten into the thick of the mess. Even with a HUGE stimulus and the central banks printing money like crazy, all this has done is rallied the financial markets more due to all that excess money has to go somewhere. The real productive economy is imploding and real jobs are being lost. The speculators have done well but you don't get out of an economic mess with more manipulation and speculation, you have to PRODUCE your way out. Any maker of goods people don't need in hard times are going to have it very rough.

[standin]

Martins are a luxury, aren't they, though a damn irreplaceable creature comfort.

[jhale667]

OK, let's hope Martin doesn't go under. That would really suck.

[GAR]

ah that will never happen - Martin is the Steinway of guitars.

Steinway has had rough patches before, too.

worst that could happen is some Asian factory buys the badge and carries the tooling to Guangdong. not like they aren't doing that already.

ALSO: Taylor, in case noone's noticed, is the new Martin and has been for over a decade. Martin's been losing market share for a long time.

That's not to say - there's no room for marketing Martin. If you play and you say "I never wanted a Martin" for whatever reason, you lie.

Martin is the best guitar money can buy. Maybe they cut staff, but they won't cut roots and bail. Bankruptcy will occur before that happens.

[standin]

It would tragic, there are just some companies(families) that have the privilege of being considered established(old). That when they start to struggle, it effects a lot of people.

Actually, Gar Martian has been using Mexican craftsmen for some of their guitars. And a good move for them, not only is Mexico our neighbor, but when I think of Mexico, I think Spanish guitar.

[letsrock]

Better buy one now. If they do go belly up then each and everyone of of them with be sought after. I will agree with Gar that someone will buy the name and the rights to produce what ever and call it a Martin.

Would look and feel odd to buy a Martin for $150.

[ELVIS]

I never wanted a Martin...

[ELVIS]

Martins are nice, but WAY overpriced....

[Nitro Express]

My uncle was a concert pianist. I remember going with him to the biggest Steinway dealer in the western United States to try some pianos. Like guitars, pianos vary in tone and you have to play a few to find the one you like. Anyways we were told that Steinway would fold up if so many people didn't buy the pianos for decoration in their homes. He said a lot of people bought them and wanted the Steinway name for prestiege but didn't play them.

My wife plays piano. We have a Bossendorfer grand in our living room. I thought it was made in Germany but they are made in South Africa so Bossendorfer has outsourced. I hope Stienway never does.

[GAR]

I love Bosendorfer, Grotrian, Steinway, Yamaha grands (the 7ft grand is fantastic - and holds its tuning forever).

Meager-level pianos I like are pre-50s Baldwin, Sohmer (love 5-6' and up Sohmers, xlnt action..) but especially Knabes from the 20s to the 40s.

If you can't afford a Steinway to record but there's a Yamaha grand or a rebuilt Knabe, go for it.

There will always be a premium guitar around, just as there were many many premium piano makers thriving up to the midpart depression years. And just as they folded into a handful of holding companies (the Cables and Aeolians..) so will the American guitar companies.

Believe it.

[FORD]

Martins are nice, but WAY overpriced....

But it's the right guitar if you're "Pickin' to Beat the Devil" :biggrin:

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[Nitro Express]

The problem with Yamahas is they have plastic parts that get brittle and break. Baldwin is a mass produced piano but is wood all the way through the mechanism. Old school. I still like Baldwins.

[GAR]

Baldwin stopped making decent grands in the late 60s about the same time Yamaha grands came online.

Yamahas are quiet good, and the ones built with German Renner action parts are not plastic but cost slightly more - making it more stable than a Steinway. They are not a cheap piano, and if you are looking for a home piano in an upright for the kids use to learn on, the Model U1, U2 and tallest of the three - Model U3 - are great great buys used around $2000.00 USD privat party.