View Full Version : Interesting news someone told me a/b Gibson....
levin4now
Jul-14-2004, 11:38am
I was in S. Ontario the other day and stopped in a music store to see what type of mandolins they had. The only thing they had in stock were some Samicks. He used to have Kentuckys he said. We discussed mandos for awhile and then he said he wanted to show me some info on a company that HE SAYS Gibson will be 'outsourcing' ALL their mandolin production to. He didn't have the media info in the shop so he told me to keep my eyes open for it.
I didn't laugh at him but was chuckling inside. I think he thought he was going to be getting some of this brand of mandolin in, and figured I might jump at getting one before "Gibson" started having theirs made there.
He seemed to honestly believe it though - he didn't seem like a scammer. He (or his dad, rather, an 80 yr old gentleman), had been in business for some time.
BigJoe
Jul-14-2004, 4:13pm
Gibson is not now nor has it any plans or discussions to outsource its mandolin production to anyone else. We have the best facility and greatest employees on the planet and have no interest in having someone else build our instruments. Thank you. American Made...World Played. Our companies logo for a reason.
Mastersound
Jul-14-2004, 8:58pm
Hi Alan
There's so much said and written about the Samick / Gibson relationship I'm sure no one outside of the boards of those companies will ever know the truth, and at the end of the day does it really matter? If the materials are right and the process is right and the sound is right, and then at the end of it all the price and name on the headstock float your boat you should be happy.
Just a couple of months ago a friend who runs a small guitar shop was told by a rep that Gibson were going to buy (or buy into) Samick, but that Samick told Gibson they'd have to square up the accounts for all those Epiphones first. But... The Epiphone website has nice pics of the "new" Chinese factory, and says that all the Epiphone production has been based at the "new" factory since 2002. People on here have bought Mandobirds with labels saying China, others with labels saying Indonesia, and I somehow doubt they were buying NOS given the wait to get them! :-)
When you think about it, the inner workings of any business are none of our business, but it is fun to speculate!
Big Joe
Jul-15-2004, 6:53am
Samick does not now nor has it ever built guitars, mandolins, or banjos for Gibson. They may have been contracted to build some product for Epiphone as a jobber, but that would have been the only relationship. Gibson did buy the Valley Arts Guitar rights from Samick and those guitars are now built in Nashville, TN. All American made. Every product that is a Gibson is American made. End of story.
levin4now
Jul-15-2004, 12:08pm
I really shouldn't have called it "news", but "rumour" didn't sound right either. "Story" might have made the most sense. I just couldn't understand where he'd hear such a thing, and, being in the business as long as they had, believe it. I mean, he said ALL Gibson mandolins. It was obvious he didn't know what he was talking about.
John Flynn
Jul-15-2004, 1:01pm
You mean my order for a "Gibsonek Tortured Master Model" on Ebay is a ripoff?
John Jesseph
Jul-15-2004, 3:34pm
Hi Joe;
How about Czech-made Flatirons?
Steve L
Jul-15-2004, 10:03pm
I heard Charlie D was sending Big Joe over there to oversee the X-braced division http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
John Jesseph
Jul-17-2004, 8:13am
Actually my question was serious, and I didn't see an answer yet...Any plans for reviving Flatiron as a Czech import?
Charlie Derrington
Jul-17-2004, 9:09am
Actually our silence was a reply.
I don't know the answer....and since I don't know, neither does Joe. Sorry John, when I learn more, I'll be sure to let everyone in on it.
Charlie
Ken Berner
Jul-17-2004, 11:15am
John, Why would you propose such a thing? Flatiron was conceived in the U.S. and had a marvelous run in Montana, buiding a terrific line of mandolins; now and then you can still obtain a used one at a reasonable price. I would imagine that Gibson will be happy to build a custom Flatiron for you, with a warranty; just ask Charlie or Joe now that you have their attrention. I doubt that Gibson would have anything to gain by importing a mandolin under any name.
just my 2cents, the Flatiron name is now relegated to the dustbin of history, no offense, but they make them no more. #Epiphone was in the same position, they made them here for a while longer, then moved operations overseas, where the money was better. #Why not expand on the market base and bring back the brand name, make it overseas cheaper, but with good quality. #Viola! you have a recognizable brand, made cheaper, and, hope upon hope, still of good quality. #Money, no matter what any might think, rules decisions like this. #It's a rather large business(Gibson) and they are still ruled by the bottom line. #Nothing wrong with that. #
Something like this would make sense, #I'd like to say that I know nothing of this, though, like I say, just my 2 cents. Other than the probability that I'm way, way off......
John Jesseph
Jul-17-2004, 7:59pm
Thanks, Charlie, I understand.
Hi Ken. I am not proposing anything, just guessing that Gibson won't waste the Flatiron name. I already (gasp) have too many mandos anyway. Czech or other Eastern European manufacturing may give a slight marketing edge over Pac Rim imports, with a little higher price point. It is an opportunity I bet they will use.
I think Neal is right on track. I was going to mention in my earlier post Washburn and Epiphone as examples American companies that were disbanded essentially and resurrected as imports. Flatiron, with instant name recognition, is ripe for that treatment.
mandough
Jul-17-2004, 8:56pm
Neal,
Voila! not "Viola!" #That's like yelling out "Tenor Sax!"http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Sorry that made me laugh. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Rick Schmidlin
Jul-17-2004, 9:30pm
I have heard hat many American made bango's get the hardware from Prucha in the Czech Republic and Gibson purchuses hardware there as well. Any truth Joe?
Rick
Ken Berner
Jul-18-2004, 7:32pm
I gotcha John! Hey, I can't have any more mandolins, either; I'm down to three and would be heartbroken to be forced to give up another one (two are Flatirons).
Big Joe
Jul-19-2004, 7:56am
We buy materials for our instruments from a number of sources. They must meet our engineering criteria and can only be made for us. However, which suppliers we use are not for publication. They change from time to time depending upon who can best meet our needs. Thank you for the question and I'm sure you'll understand my non answer answer. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif .
pickinNgrinnin
Jul-19-2004, 8:03am
[QUOTE]Washburn and Epiphone as examples American companies that were disbanded essentially and resurrected as imports. Flatiron, with instant name recognition, is ripe for that treatment.
That would be a sad day if Flatiron suffers the same fate. I feel my stomach getting sick just thinking about it!
John Jesseph
Jul-19-2004, 6:52pm
Hey Ken, I guess I almost forgot I own a Flatiron too, a 1N from the year Gibson bought them. Don't know if it was pre or post Gibson.
Well, Gibson can do what they want with the Flatiron name, and I am sure they will sqeeze some money out of it somehow. No reflection on Charlie and Joe et. al.
Mandough,
Man, I wish I could say I meant that.......it would have really been a great pun. er..I meant that...