Fender buys Kaman - Page 2

JackButlerGOT · #16 11-26-2007, 03:41 PM

As a former Kaman/Hamer endorsee, I can tell you why Fender bought Kaman..
Fender wanted Kaman's distribution network.. Fender's, by their own admission..well.. sucks.. Kaman has a series of warehouses and a distribution system that covers literally coast to coast and all points in between... also Kaman has an extremely well established presence in the percussion markets.. Toca, LP, Gibraltar, Gretsch Drums and owns the distibution to Sabian..Fender has no presence at all in percussion.

Hikey Mikey · #17 11-27-2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackButlerGOT

... also Kaman has an extremely well established presence in the percussion markets.. Toca, LP, Gibraltar, Gretsch Drums and owns the distibution to Sabian..Fender has no presence at all in percussion.

And Fender NEEDS a presence in percussion WHY? I mean, I know why, it's a rhetorical question: to make money in the percussion business. But how does it help them make good guitars?

Monopolies are good for the monopolists, and not so good for the consumers.

Rich · #18 11-27-2007, 01:39 AM

Ever hear of a little concept called, "diversity"?

MelodyMan · #19 11-27-2007, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Ever hear of a little concept called, "diversity"?

I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

Hikey Mikey · #20 11-27-2007, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Ever hear of a little concept called, "diversity"?

Sure, but I've also heard of specialization-- and focusing on doing one thing very, very, well.

I'm not saying that now they make cymbals the American Stratocaster line is going to dive in quality. I just think that competition benefits the consumer.

Rich · #21 11-27-2007, 02:26 AM

One has nothing to do with the other unless the board of FMC changes the overall philosopy of how the cymbols are built and to what standard. The individual companies still make what they make how they makeit, just the profite are directed somewhere else.

King Knall · #22 11-27-2007, 05:30 AM

I love Hamers, especially this

**elcid** · #23 11-27-2007, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hikey Mikey

And Fender NEEDS a presence in percussion WHY? I mean, I know why, it's a rhetorical question: to make money in the percussion business. But how does it help them make good guitars?

Monopolies are good for the monopolists, and not so good for the consumers.

Im not sure Fender has a monopoly on anything or will ever have one. Unless they buy Gibson, Ibanez, Schecter, Martin, Suhr, Anderson, Colligs, Marshall, Peavey, etc etc

JackButlerGOT · #24 11-27-2007, 08:14 AM

Things will pretty much run in term sof these companies the way the always have..FMIC has said they don't look to "Fender-ize" any of these companies.. they want them to continue as before. It won't be like when they moved everyone at Jackson into the Corona factory (which now I think even the most stubborn over at Fender willadmit was most likely a mistake in terms of allowing those folks to do what they do)..even most or all of the corporate folks at the very highest levels will still be in place.
In terms of distribution and getting product out to the store and to the consumer, Kaman is way mored advance and WAY more organized than FMIC.. add to this that Kaman Music is really second fiddle over at Kaman.. Kaman Aerospace is top dog.. and it doesn't look like any militaries are going to stop needing helicopters and parts anytime soon.

Tank · #25 11-27-2007, 01:32 PM

marketing 101:

- Buy a competitor that is successful.
- Let them do exactly what they did and keep em going, even if it hurts your own sales.
- You know it did not hurt your sales, because you get their winnings too

- Start to balance your companies so that you do not make exactly the same things.
- Your revenue skyrockets.
- You win.
(Never tell the average customer that you own all that companies, sssh).

Works very well for detergent why not for guitars

(Sorry if I busted anyones bubbles about independent detergent companies, when in fact there are only 2 big ones left...)

(Theoretical short version.)

Starbreaker · #26 12-01-2007, 04:01 PM

I'm sorry, but anyone who thinks that a juggernaut like Fender is going to just "let things be" is in for an eventual rude awakening! Kaman may be huge, but Hamer USA is not an overwhelmingly profitable part of the puzzle and you don't maintain being the #1 guitar manufacturer in the U.S. by not influencing day to day operations of the companies you assimilate into the fold. If modern history tells anything, then the abolishment of any Gibson shapes (V, explorer, firebird, etc.) via Jackson's custom shop should indicate the fate of Hamer who weighs heavy on "unoriginal" design.

**elcid** · #27 12-01-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tank

(Sorry if I busted anyones bubbles about independent detergent companies, when in fact there are only 2 big ones left...)

Everything I thought I knew about the world has been shattered.

540s · #28 12-03-2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcid

Everything I thought I knew about the world has been shattered.

somebody needs to let zachary know about this !!!!

quik · #29 12-03-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackButlerGOT

As a former Kaman/Hamer endorsee, I can tell you why Fender bought Kaman..
Fender wanted Kaman's distribution network.. Fender's, by their own admission..well.. sucks.. Kaman has a series of warehouses and a distribution system that covers literally coast to coast and all points in between... also Kaman has an extremely well established presence in the percussion markets.. Toca, LP, Gibraltar, Gretsch Drums and owns the distibution to Sabian..Fender has no presence at all in percussion.

Very interesting post. Thank you for the insight. I was wondering why Fender would do this, since it already has a broad range of products and brands, and since Ovation and Hamer aren't exactly at the height of their popularity these days.

David McCarroll · #30 12-03-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hikey Mikey

And Fender NEEDS a presence in percussion WHY? I mean, I know why, it's a rhetorical question: to make money in the percussion business. But how does it help them make good guitars?

Monopolies are good for the monopolists, and not so good for the consumers.

Ummm - ever heard of Rogers Percussion? Part of the CBS/Fender group for about twenty years?

And besides:

1) PRS are now the USA's fourth (by now maybe third) largest guitar maker, so where's the monopoly? What about Rickenbacker..... what about Taylor (who have just released a very nice line of solid body electric guitars...)

2) Fender having an interest in a line of instruments is no bad thing - Gretsch had pretty much faded into obscurity before they struck a deal with FMIC - now not only are the new Gretsches about the highest quality instruments the company has ever produced, but they are available freely AND get buckets of promotion via advertising and endorsements.

Having an interest in percussion is a little more logical to me than flogging Les Paul shaped USB memory sticks or Wurlitzer Digital Jukeboxes in any case..........