Gibson: The hits just keep on comin'

[eb2]

https://www.thestreet.com/story/14280618/1/gibson-guitar-may-default-if-company-can-t-refinance-its-debt.html

[Granny Gremlin]

The comments people are making on this in other places are insane (e.g. some people actually think used Gibsons would be cheaper if the company folded,; it's not even a given this would be the end of Gibson, but IMHO merely another changing of hands in the worst case). Also, the article refers to Gibson Brands  not Gibson USA - not sure what the dif is.

[Highlander]

Someone in China would snap up the brand in a heartbeat...

[eb2]

It would mean the Chibsons would be more legit. I doubt there would be a major uptick in QC as the better ones are frighteningly good now.  Realistically it's the way of the world unless they want to be a cottage industry/Rickenbacker. They'll all be there soon, as there's a shrinking market and shrinking retail outlets that can stay viable.

[Dave W]

The article is misleading. What Moody's actually said is that Gibson needs to refinance on acceptable terms in advance of debt maturity or be further downrated.

Meanwhile, the most recent rating from S&P, the other major rating agency, reaffirmed Gibson's CCC rating and revised Gibson's outlook from negative to positive. That was in late February. Gibson's financials for the year ending 3/31 should be released within a week, so that could change, but for now, it's positive.

Whatever happens, Gibson isn't going away. Worst case scenario would be some kind of debt restructuring which could result in creditors taking a percentage of ownership in lieu of debt. That could also result in a forced change in management. Could happen. Or they may be able to turn around without any of this.

.... Also, the article refers to Gibson Brands  not Gibson USA - not sure what the dif is.

No difference. They changed the company name from Gibson Guitar Corp. to Gibson Brands in early 2013.

[uwe]

The brand is too valuable to go away. Ownerships are fleeting, established brands are forever. Has anyone of us ever worried who actually owns Coca-Cola or Levi's? Or that Rolls Royce and Bentley have been part of BMW (that is not British Motor Works as an American friend of mine once believed!  ) and Volkswagen respectively for two decades now? Ritchie Blackmore didn't even care when Fender was owned by CBS amd played the "new" Strats unperturbed  - oh horror of horrors! They broke just as well as the old ones, no quality loss there.



Just like Henry J gave Gibson a new lease of life when it was down and out in the 80ies (not his whole tenure as CEO was awful), there will be people who will follow him. We can start crowd funding here and have Dave W personally oversee the long awaited reissue of the SB 300-450 series as well as that missing string holder to the wonderful two point bridge ... 

Jaguar and Volvo have certainly benefitted from their new Indian and Chinese respective owners. And yes, they are both still being produced in England and Sweden. Dead brands like Belstaff (the Brit motorcycle clothes provider) have been resurrected by new owners to astounding success.

[Dave W]

I knew there had to be a Blackmore connection to this thread!

[uwe]

Admittedly, I'm kinda creative that way.