A Sad Day -- Fender closes New Hartford

[gearHed289]

I look at Fender basses the way a Hell's Angel looks at Harley Davidson motorcycles. Why buy a new one? Let the yuppies do that, there's plenty of old ones to go around.

That's my general rule for all my bass gear. Especially Ampeg stuff.  I rarely buy anything new.

[chromium]

I'm the same way.  I made an exception for the BaCH NR.
The last new bass I bought prior to that was my '86 Dynabass 

[Denis]

My trend is that my newest bass is older than the previous one. 1990s Danelectro Longhorn, then a '70s Don R. Miller, and then most recently the '60s NR.

[gearHed289]

I guess I did buy a new Bach, didn't I?  And a new Explorer. And I've sold both. Nothing against the Bach - it actually smoked the Gibson, I just wasn't into the length and neck dive. That Explorer didn't have the "teeth" I was expecting.

My trend is that my newest bass is older than the previous one. 1990s Danelectro Longhorn, then a '70s Don R. Miller, and then most recently the '60s NR.

I like that trend!

[Highlander]

My jazz was 12 years old at purchase... bought the fretless neck new, mind you...

Last new instruments I bought was the Jack in '87, the Ibanez acoustic 12 in '80, and the RD in '79... nothing else has ever been new...

[Denis]

I like that trend!

Me too! It's mostly the same with motorcycles I still own. In order of purchase and build date it goes like this: 1987, 1974, 1985, 1941, 1971, 1940.
I skewed the average quite a bit when I bought the 1925 Henderson four pile and sold it. Wish I hadn't, but then I would have had no choice but get a project from the teens.

[4stringer77]

I have only bought used or vintage for the last 20 years but did make an exception for a custom build which is nearing completion.

[rahock]

Hell, I bought a lot of stuff new that has become vintage.  Just like me , I guess
Rick

[Pilgrim]

Hell, I bought a lot of stuff new that has become vintage.  Just like me , I guess
Rick

As Rick and I have discovered, if you buy new stuff and hold onto it long enough, it transforms into vintage stuff.  (And so do you.)

[4stringer77]

Ugh, you and the grey hairs showing up don't have to remind me 

[mc2NY]

Here is a pretty cool magazine column article by Jol Dantzig, regarding the closing of Hamer in a cryptic sort of way. He makes a good point.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/20797-esoterica-electrica-an-axe-to-grind

[Dave W]

That was very thought-provoking. Then again, Jol is one who sold to Kaman which eventually led to the closing of his Chicago-area shop.

[gearHed289]

And now we have this:

http://www.shishkovguitars.com/

Best of luck to Mike and crew.

[dadagoboi]

He'll have more work than he can handle (looks like he already has).

Screw the corporations.  The new economy works fine for someone with talent, a good work ethic and a quality product.

[Dave W]

I hope he makes it. More power to him. Not an easy road but he won't have the overhead and payroll that the New Hartford plant had.

Uwe should contact him about having his dream doubleneck made.