Fender to buy Gibson?

chris78 · March 2018

Ive got no source, but I’ve heard a rumour from my local guitar tech that Fender are in negotiations to buy the Gibson guitar brand. Might be rubbish, but would make lots of sense

Whitecat · March 2018

No one is going to buy Gibson in their current state.

They need to wait until they are officially bankrupt so they can hive off the good bits (Gibson Guitars) and shed the dead weight/debt (everything else).

Add 'Fender' to the rumour mill list, which currently includes Yamaha and Bandlab (backed by a far-east oil billionaire whose son recently bought Heritage).

Also, while Fender is definitely in better shape than Gibson, they are still fairly debt-laden... I guess it depends on how much capital it will take to free Gibson from the hands of the (US-equivalent of the) administrators.

rossyamaha · March 2018

There was a rumour not that long ago that Peavey were going to buy them. It wasn't strictly untrue but Henry would never sell. The choice would have to be taken away from him.

impmann · March 2018

rossyamaha said:

There was a rumour not that long ago that Peavey were going to buy them. It wasn't strictly untrue but Henry would never sell. The choice would have to be taken away from him.

Wow, that would be a great combo... not. HP makes Henry look positively charming.

Funkfingers · March 2018

chris78 said:

I’ve heard a rumour

All rumours are true - especially the ones that contradict each other.

Fake secondhand news.

Gassage · March 2018

Whitecat said:

No one is going to buy Gibson in their current state.

They need to wait until they are officially bankrupt so they can hive off the good bits (Gibson Guitars) and shed the dead weight/debt (everything else).

Add 'Fender' to the rumour mill list, which currently includes Yamaha and Bandlab (backed by a far-east oil billionaire whose son recently bought Heritage).

Also, while Fender is definitely in better shape than Gibson, they are still fairly debt-laden... I guess it depends on how much capital it will take to free Gibson from the hands of the (US-equivalent of the) administrators.

They'll do a 'prepack' deal.

This is how you do it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-packaged_insolvency

Jack_ · March 2018

Aren't Fender in a pretty poor financial situation themselves also?

impmann · March 2018

Jack_ said:

Aren't Fender in a pretty poor financial situation themselves also?

Yup...

Sparky · March 2018

Seems unlikely a local guitar tech will have the inside track on a multi-million dollar buy out.

fandango · March 2018

chris78 said:

Ive got no source, but I’ve heard a rumour from my local guitar tech that Fender are in negotiations to buy the Gibson guitar brand. Might be rubbish, but would make lots of sense

C’mon, this is a bit too early for the 1st April japery.

Parker · March 2018

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Everyone knows it’s going to be Marshall....!

Philtre · March 2018

Trump has announced that he will save Gibson by imposing a 2000% import tax on all non-US made guitars.

OilCityPickups · March 2018

Apple will buy out Gibson and introduce non standard jack connectors that will be changed for something totally different and incompatible every couple of years. Fretboards that play slower over the amount same time to encourage you to upgrade, and of course they will only take iStrings that will be priced to reflect the exclusivity of the instrument ...
:-)

cbakay · March 2018

And the first order of business is...

Image: http://admiralquality.com/spimages/TeleSGDoubleNeck966x431.png

ICBM · March 2018

Given their own debt, Fender buying Gibson would be a double-or-bust gamble of the highest order, but stranger things have probably happened in the world of corporate finance...

guitars4you · March 2018

rossyamaha said:

There was a rumour not that long ago that Peavey were going to buy them. It wasn't strictly untrue but Henry would never sell. The choice would have to be taken away from him.

State PV are in then they could not afford it - Maybe in his hay day but not now

stonevibe · March 2018

Chappers should buy Gibson.

Discuss...

Philly_Q · March 2018

TheGuitarWeasel said:

Apple will buy out Gibson and introduce non standard jack connectors that will be changed for something totally different and incompatible every couple of years. Fretboards that play slower over the amount same time to encourage you to upgrade, and of course they will only take iStrings that will be priced to reflect the exclusivity of the instrument ...
:-)

I would welcome that as an excuse for my shitty playing.

rossyamaha · March 2018

guitars4you said:

rossyamaha said:

There was a rumour not that long ago that Peavey were going to buy them. It wasn't strictly untrue but Henry would never sell. The choice would have to be taken away from him.

State PV are in then they could not afford it - Maybe in his hay day but not now

It was a while ago before it all went tits up for them.

Whitecat · March 2018

TheGuitarWeasel said:

Fretboards that play slower over the amount same time to encourage you to upgrade

Ah, the ol’ “Layla.”

Fretwired · March 2018

Whitecat said:

No one is going to buy Gibson in their current state.

Not so. The guitar making bit has strong revenues and profits. The banks may force the sale of whatever can raise money to pay down the debt so the guitar making arm could be spun out of the group and sold.

Fender is broke - it couldn't afford Gibson and it would make no sense commercially.

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Fender to buy Gibson?

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