Kiwi
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Everything posted by Kiwi
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The filings (from 2012 at least) are here: [url="http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/fender-musical-instruments-corp-97528-69355?tab=financials"]http://www.nasdaq.co...?tab=financials[/url] The amount of debt is eye watering. The IPO was originally pulled because a number of investors thought the shares were over valued. [url="http://fortune.com/2012/07/20/why-fender-pulled-its-ipo/"]http://fortune.com/2...pulled-its-ipo/[/url] [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1413752617' post='2581612'] For example, did we know that VC Western Presidio at one time owned a majority of Fender and a large chunk of Guitar Center, the idea being to own both ends of the manufacturer / retailer chain? That Guitar Center has been in trouble for a while and owing money to Fender. That following the postponement of the Fender IPO a chastened WP sold out last year to TPG Growth and Servco, the two companies who now own the majority of Fender? [/quote] One source suggests the CEO of Fender previously sold Guitar Centre to a VC for 2.1 billion. That's just nuts. [url="http://voxcaliber.com/fender-in-financial-trouble/"]http://voxcaliber.co...ancial-trouble/[/url] It looks like a total mess.
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NBD - Fernandes/Alembic - the ultimate Japcrap?
Kiwi replied to Cosmo Valdemar's topic in Bass Guitars
Nice score, for many years I was in the market for one but ended up with the real thing. I'd love to try one at some point just to see how close they get. -
[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1413746850' post='2581534'] Fender - if they go tits up it won't be because of anything we complain about - breadth of range, etc. It will be because the market's contracting (surprise) and their corporate acquisition strategy has left them overstretched. [size=4][/quote][/size] Good points well presented. Goes back to my point about leadership, They've taken their eye off the ball and misjudged the market.
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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1413739543' post='2581417'] Some good ideas and some bits they clearly haven't considered at all. I notice in the video there are no guitars with even a vaguely off-set shape on those stands, also I think the footprint is too big. Tripod stands like the Hercules can be fit fitted into all sorts of tricky places whereas these require a lot more room. More R&D required I think. [/quote] Cut them some slack though, they were clear about their objectives.
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I struggle to understand how people who buy Fender stuff claim its outstanding quality. It seems like they're claiming it's a new thing. Smith, Alembic, Ritter, Shuker, Goodfellow and Wal all offer outstanding quality. Fender has tended to pale in comparison in the past - but that doesn't mean to say it is bad now...just that its difficult to tell how it compares. Suggested test for quality: Unbolt the neck and see if you can still pick the body up just using the tightness of the neck pocket.
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Primarily rule of thumb in business - innovate or die. When investors control the company, the numbers become more important and there is a risk of losing touch with their market. I think Fender have played safe and leveraged far too heavily on their vintage roots and shied away from brand stretching. The result being that 'vintage' associations have become the coffin the company is going to get buried in. If they had played their cards right, they would have used one of their strategic purchases (Takamine, Guild, SWR etc.) to innovate. The Fender group owners could have then shifted their core interest away from a brand with such heavy vintage associations. They had no choice but to offer budget models because there was a clear market which was being catered for by their japanese competition in the 90's and it was a way of staying competitive in service delivery terms at the least. I see it as a salutory lesson about the importance of good leadership.
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I hope they break through. If the price point is right, I can see it being a very successful product.
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Nie Rodgers uses something similar when figuring out chord progressions. Only he called it a tonal centre.
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I have two 6.0's. I think they remain an elegant and practical design despite later revisions and I like the clean power and prominent mids available.
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[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1413476228' post='2578663'] bit of delay and a boss bass chorus set with with the chorus sweep affecting frequencies from th e open G upwards sort of range [/quote] This works for me also and don't forget a bit of compression too.
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Rare thing these, he's sort of the Howard Dumble of bass amps. -
Looks like that one has a brazilian rosewood fingerboard too. Be careful taking it through customs... -
SOLD: Celinder P Classic : Weighs 4kg, slab fingerboard, jazz neck.
Kiwi replied to Kiwi's topic in Basses For Sale
And...SOLD, pending payment in full tomorrow. I wish all the other sales I have planned will be as easy...! -
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[color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]My 2002 Celinder P Classic is up for sale. Chris Celinder originally made this for himself...possibly as a Donald 'Duck' Dunn tribute.[/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]Figured maple neck with jazz bass dimensions and slab fingerboard construction (similar construction to the slab P that Mr. Entwhistle played for a bit.)[/font][/color] Candy apple red, alder body with carved heel, through body stringing and anodised scratch plate. Very little player wear - some light buckle rash on the back and small imperfections in the very thin finish. There's a yellowing of the wood [u]under[/u] the finish on the back of the neck where you might expect thumb contact, it's been there since new. The bass w[color=#141823][size=4]eighs exactly 4kg.[/size][/color] [color=#141823][size=4]Sounds like John Deacon's bass on Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Sort of bell like and a bit bouncy when string with flats. Can be growly with roundwounds on too.[/size][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]Buyer collection preferred. Located just off the south circular, south east London. Or can meet on central line zone 1 or circle line. Asking for £2200 including gigbag, [/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]No trades as the money is already earmarked for other purchases. [/font][/color][color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]First with the money gets the instrument, deposits welcome to secure it in advance of full payment.[/font][/color]
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I've owned three....it started with a Modulus Sonic Hammer which was an outstanding bass apart from just not suitable for the music I was playing. I then moved onto a pair of Q5 Sweetspots and both had issues - the neck on the fretless was bent and the fretted one was very brittle sounding. I've not really gone back since but have a soft spot for their pink over blue finish. An FB5 in pink over blue would be hard to resist.
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Nile signed my strat last month.
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I have a 1975 Fender Jazz for trade. Interested?
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I have two wardrobes that are surplus to requirements. The first is a double wardrobe, approximately 2m high. It seems to be made from solid pine and is of very sturdy construction. [attachment=173271:DSC_0024.JPG] [attachment=173272:DSC_0025.JPG] The second is a double plus one wardrobe, also 2m high and made from solid pine - but is lighter in construction. The extra side unit can be detached from the double unit if the top of the wardrobe is removed. [attachment=173273:DSC_0019.JPG] [attachment=173274:DSC_0023.JPG] Collection from Hither Green in South East London (just south of Lewisham).
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Trace built a model call the Quatravalve back in the early 90's and V6 in the late 90's. Phil Jones currently make a guitar amp call the Cub. WEM built an amp called the Dominator back in the 60's. The amps need some marketing thought behind them - some key associations between the amp line and something his target market already thinks is cool. Mark Gooday did it something similar with Ashdown and associations with classic English motoring.
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[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1409340014' post='2538880'] Management and label interest brings the cynic out in me! [/quote] Oh yes. And the manager then ask us to play for free in exchange for royalties...only for the singer to be signed and dump their manager along with the royalties agreement.
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[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1412104402' post='2565742'] From what i've seen looking into it a couple of years ago, i'd probably look at SIMS Custom Shop. [/quote] They're definitely good but charge eye watering prices compared to automotive refinishers.
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Do the big name acts make cock-ups like us mortals?
Kiwi replied to leschirons's topic in General Discussion
I remember Eric Clapton fluffing the crescendo bit in the guitar solo to Layla on (I think) the Princes Trust Rock Gala dvd from 1988. [I don't have headphones in the office atm so will have to post the time when it happens after I get home.] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUHY3Jk_aFc[/media] I like the mistakes in most live performances, it reminds me that we're all human. I saw Little Britain many years ago and they were actively trying to put each other off by improvising unexpectedly. When it worked, it was hilarious. The Pythons made boo boos at the O2...John Cleese couldn't stop himself corpsing during the Penguin TV sketch and Michael Palin would try to adlib during the cheese shop sketch in order to put him off. In both cases, the mistakes were the best bit. -
Yeah thanks Mark, I've spoken to him in the past on another topic and he seems OK. His place was walking distance up until last month. But since the shift, it's an hour away on public transport. If there are no alternatives, I'll give him a call.
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I'm looking for an amp tech in SE London. I have options for Central and West London but just interested to see if there is someone closer.
