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Location: NJ | FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES INTENT TO SELL GUILD® BRAND TO CORDOBA MUSIC GROUP
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 6, 2014) – Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced today that it has finalized a letter of intent to sell the Guild guitar brand and related assets to Cordoba Music Group, the manufacturer of Cordoba acoustic guitars, ukuleles and accessories.
“It was important for us to find a great steward to continue the important legacy of Guild guitars,” said FMIC’s interim CEO and board member Scott Gilbertson. “We have found a great fit in Cordoba Music Group, a company committed to quality and with impressive U.S.-based production capabilities.”
“Guild is an iconic American brand with a rich heritage and we’re truly excited and honored to be the ones to move it forward. It’s a great complement to our current position in the acoustic guitar market and provides opportunities for growth in new categories,” said Cordoba Music Group President Jonathan Thomas. “We will continue to make instruments of exceptional quality in the USA, and look forward to giving one of the industry’s great American brands a new home.”
Sales of Guild guitars will continue as usual during the transition process. Upon finalization of the sale, Cordoba Music Group is expected to begin production in Oxnard, Calif. FMIC recently announced the closing of Guild’s U.S. manufacturing facility in New Hartford, Conn.
Guild was founded in New York in 1953 by Alfred Dronge and the company’s excellence in acoustic guitar design made the name synonymous with acoustic quality and craftsmanship throughout the ensuing decades. Guild joined the FMIC family in 1995, combining it with modern design to produce new generations of guitars that remain highly sought-after instruments.
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About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, Takamine®, Guild®, EVH®, Ovation®, Charvel® and Groove Tubes®, among others. For more information, visit www.fender.com.
About Cordoba Music Group: Cordoba Music Group (CMG) is a musical instrument manufacturer and distributor specializing in acoustic guitars and related accessories. CMG owns and operates the Cordoba brand, the industry’s leading nylon string acoustic guitar brand, and handles U.S. distribution for Savarez®, Aquila®, and HumiCase®. For more information, visit www.cordobaguitars.com. |
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Location: Nashville TN. | Not surprized either.... |
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Location: SoCal | Fuck....
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | It would be nice if Cordoba decided to rent the old factory and keep the employees there building Guilds like they have been for the past few years. It doesn't sound like that's part of their plan, but at least maybe they'll offer jobs to those willing to move to Oxnard.
Edited by CanterburyStrings 2014-05-06 5:56 PM
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Location: SoCal | POS Fender, as far as I am concerned, New Hartford was the last chance for Guild to regain its old quality. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Well the good news is that Fender is willing to sell these companies, rather than just close them down. Maybe Ovation is next |
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Posts: 849
Location: Canada | darkbarguitar - 2014-05-06 8:29 PM
Well the good news is that Fender is willing to sell these companies, rather than just close them down. Maybe Ovation is next
If there is an interested and willing buyer ... and should they not have tried to sell it BEFORE they shut down and dismantle the plant? |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | What Moody said..... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Obviously the deal with Cordoba was in the works for quite some time. These things don't just happen in a matter of weeks. I suspect the lease was up June 1 and Fuckner had to move to notify employees prior to the Corboda deal being fully inked. Just my guess. |
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guild is gone
