|
Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link.
Page: 1 2
McIntosh - Posted - 11/03/2009: 20:31:36
So I heard from a scorce that recording king is falling behind on keeping up with a comittment it madewith an overseas factory. Apparently the factory is loosing its butt because Recording King isn't buying as many as it had originally agreed. Thats all of the info I have. Personally I believe that the RKs are great little banjos. I even endorse the RK banjo line. I can't see why they wouldn't be able to meet their obligations. Any thoughts? Economy??
Adam
Adam Mcintosh
www.Jetts-creek.com
www.themandolinstore.com
www.recordingking.com
www.Drybranchfiresquad.com
myclassiccountry.com
grich - Posted - 11/03/2009: 21:02:53
Oh please say it isn't so not another source ! Did that same source tell you anything about gremlins as well ?
pipefitter61 - Posted - 11/03/2009: 21:23:39
Adam, You seem like a pretty nice guy, but I HAVE to say: As an endorser of a product I kinda am torn as to why you would want to call yet more attention to this situation? I've sent you an e-mail concerning this...
mastertone250 - Posted - 11/03/2009: 21:25:52
ok time to get the POPCORN!! This might be good, Ed and Greg are a Deadly combo
"Surround Yourself With Good Muscians". -J.D Crowe
“Nobody is a legend, we all put our pants on one leg at a time.” - Sonny Osborne
Retropicker - Posted - 11/03/2009: 21:37:30
What Ed said.
What company in any industry is keeping up with orders they made 1-2 years ago? Hell, our office has laid off 50% of our staff because construction projects we were in contract with just stopped including a $300m project 1/3 built!
But we're still a very viable firm doing much better than most of our competitors.
Unlike food and shelter, new instruments are a luxury. I bet that all the big names (and small) with overseas plants are in the same boat. Lets hope this isnt the new business model.
And Arthur Hatfield is busy as can be.
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
pipefitter61 - Posted - 11/03/2009: 21:38:36
Now, Now, David... Not tryin to pick a fight here. Just had a question to ask.. And I DID ask it nicely.. (at least I thought i did) Greg, check your e-mail..Frank, I feel yer pain! I've had one of the best years I ever had in the plumbing industry.....Until FEBRUARY came around! LOL...Hardly any new construction happening anymore, and folks are clinching the butt cheeks together instead of calling to have their toilets fixed. $$$$$$ is becoming extinct in my lifetime. Whoda thunk?
Edited by - pipefitter61 on 11/03/2009 21:43:12
Retropicker - Posted - 11/03/2009: 21:43:50
quote:
Originally posted by grich
I'll bet Saga got a hold of some of my spray cans !
LOL. More like the nitrous off a whipped cream can. ____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
Bill Rogers - Posted - 11/03/2009: 22:14:36
Goes to show just how interdependent the Chinese and American economies have become.
Bill
lazyarcher - Posted - 11/03/2009: 22:40:04
Come and work mental health...its crazy..
....errrr...its nuts
.....its busy....yeah, its busy....lots of work. As I type this and eat a half of an old hospital turkey sandwich, I just finished with the 3rd admit of the night...and theres more to go and see in Emerg.
I heard from a guy whose sister dated this guy whose roommate works washing dishes at a chinese food place in Toledo whos cousin cleans washrooms at the RK plant. They say it was closed because Grich installed hidden video-cams in the washroom stalls. They wern't losing their butts, he was FILMING their butts.....truth...really...thats just so bad...
Dave Jack
McIntosh - Posted - 11/04/2009: 00:01:00
Pardon me fellas, I didn't mean to point any fingers. Just trying to bring another perspective. It could be that Saga knows that Grich is the man, and want to be just like him ...God help us all. lol. Really though folks. When my endorsement runs out be very assured that I'll still be telling folks to buy those RKs. I have nothing but good things to say about the company itself. I just meant to say that perhaps with the economy RK is having a hard time selling banjos ... just like the rest of the world is having trouble selling anything. I'd like to take this space to apologize to anyone offended by my post. Especially Recording king.
Adam
Adam Mcintosh
www.Jetts-creek.com
www.themandolinstore.com
www.recordingking.com
www.Drybranchfiresquad.com
myclassiccountry.com
kevin0461 - Posted - 11/04/2009: 02:20:51
And we thought it was over when Greg ceased all those "source" rumors about Gibson's demise...
Things just haven't been the same around here since.
Cabin_Hill - Posted - 11/04/2009: 03:45:40
There's could be a million scenarios.
One other twist could be RK subcontracted the building of the RK to this facility who also makes the Flinthill line. RK fell behind on payments and left the factory with a load of banjos. The factory auctioned off the finished banjo to the highest bidder who was Flinthill.
Can't blame the factory.
Retropicker - Posted - 11/04/2009: 03:47:01
And they were gone in a Flash.
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
Edited by - Retropicker on 11/04/2009 03:47:18
ketteringroad - Posted - 11/04/2009: 04:42:52
How much would a Recording King cost if it were still made in the US?
Who cares about the loss of 'Chinese' jobs. Deals involving foreigners trained to manufacture any traditional US products is ill-fated and smacks of the the 'G' word.
Anyone worried about about such open conversations regarding outsourcing are 'riding the fence'.
I thought this was a new century.
Buy American banjos.
Buy American made products.
ketteringroad - Posted - 11/04/2009: 05:29:19
Maybe americans investing in foreign banjo factories can strike a deal with
China Mart ... I'm sorry..... Wal Mart. And then they can flood the market with more
confusing products... products with US names made in China.
I'm always hearing guys talk about the Chinese instruments.. bringing them into jam sessions.
They don't have as much punch as the players think that they do. Everyone is trying to rationalize
how good they sound. It's a mental thing. They are cheaper.
So, the Chinese have finally learned to make instruments which sound
a little bit better than just 'string noise'.
I can buy used Gibson RB250 on ebay for as much as a new RC.
Why would I buy a foreign , production line instrument?
jamie_t123 - Posted - 11/04/2009: 05:44:08
I do have to say that RK's customer service leaves a bit to be desired.....been waiting 3 months for a couple of replacement tuner buttons that were broken in shipping....
Never get between a Woman and her Banjo!
maxmax - Posted - 11/04/2009: 06:24:35
quote:
Originally posted by ketteringroad
Who cares about the loss of 'Chinese' jobs.
Chinese people are just like you and I, people doing the best they can to survive and provide for their families. Sure, buy local by all means, but please have some respect when writing about your fellow humans.  Max
Bradskey - Posted - 11/04/2009: 06:43:28
quote:
Originally posted by jamie_t123
I do have to say that RK's customer service leaves a bit to be desired.....been waiting 3 months for a couple of replacement tuner buttons that were broken in shipping....
Well that is disappointing if that's the case -- I know from several personal experiences that Gold Tone would have them to you within a few days. Of course Gold Tone also sold me tuners with buttons that eventually crack and split with normal use, and RK didn't. I don't know anything about RK banjo sales, but I've heard numbers floated like 4 or 5 thousand banjos sold to date -- a couple million $$ worth maybe. And this is strictly anecdotal, but earlier this year when things were really sour and the first lay-offs were ongoing, around March maybe, a dealer told me that even though business was slow that RK's were still selling. Yeah anything and everything is bound to have slowed down in the recent past, but doesn't necessarily have to do with the latest mystery, which seems to go back quite some time.
flatfoot - Posted - 11/04/2009: 07:39:13
.
>>>...I can buy used Gibson RB250 on ebay for as much as a new RC. Why would I buy a foreign , production line instrument?
Buy American banjos.
Buy American made products....>>>>
.
.
FF: Thanks for pointing that out...and would you please explain how buying a USED banjo has anything to do with preserving American jobs, or contributing to the American economy in any way?
I got some tunes up on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/flatfoot50
gottasmilealot - Posted - 11/04/2009: 08:07:04
Is there any real benefit to rumors and speculation? I can only see a downside. The fact is, we don't really know what the situation is, and it really doesn't matter what we think. The silence from those who do know is deafening. I'm sure we'll hear in time.
Keith
Glenn Tate - Posted - 11/04/2009: 08:21:17
Most of what we worry about, gripe about, and fuss about, never comes to pass. Why then, do we continue to do it? Time will tell, and there is nothing we can do about it anyway. I had rather be pickin' or helping someone who has a real problem.
Sometimes when reading here on BHO, I'm reminded of when I was a small boy, and my mother had her lady friends over for coffee. They sat around the table, and someone would say, "Did you hear about ??????" and it was off to the races. It might have helped them spend their time, but they never resolved anything or never did anything to help anyone.
"The more you know, the more you know you don't know."
Glenn
Edited by - Glenn Tate on 11/04/2009 08:27:00
grich - Posted - 11/04/2009: 08:21:42
Of course threads like this have a benefit ! they keep us from practicing our banjos , they give us more stuff to talk about and on a more personal note they give me more inspiration for cartoons
slammer - Posted - 11/04/2009: 08:49:47
Cartoon This!!!
I have done my homework , read all the reviews , shopped till I dropped (on-line) and have been enjoying the hell out of my new -almost a year now hobby and passion , and have decided to upgrade my jo to a more intermediate / pro level and just this week finally decided on an RK. My choices were the RK or the Gold Star.
Well, guess what?? Guess I'm gonna have to shop on this side of the fence and save a little more for a sullivan or bishline or hatfield. Don't really want to spend that much right now , but at this point and from what I've read here the last day or two I don't really know what I'd be getting anymore . Like a lot of others here , this is a hobby and a luxury item, not my livelyhood, and also like many here I work too damn hard for it and don't want to be disappointed and be 2nd guessing myself .
Unless someone can convinse me otherwise, I'll be shopping elsewhere. Sorry!
Slammer from the U.P.
Tip Up !!!!!!!
mybote - Posted - 11/04/2009: 08:50:36
Nothing lends more truth to a rumor than a good cartoon. Let 'em rip Grich.
[rumors are fun.........and cartoons are more funner]
larry p - Posted - 11/04/2009: 09:08:20
I just got in a brand new RK-50, a RK-80, four of the new 'Guardian' fiberglass cases, and a new Palatino upright bass from Music Link, and as usual, it's all top notch all the way. Based on this last shipment it seems to me that they're still building great instruments and accessories, and their customer service is still great..
Larry Perkins
www.larryperkins.net
grich - Posted - 11/04/2009: 09:33:42
Slammer
It doesn't bother me in the least if you don't buy our product , you have to do what is right for you and you can't do any better than a Sullivan, they make great banjos and I'd be the first to recomend them to you or anyone .
Bradskey - Posted - 11/04/2009: 09:43:42
quote:
Originally posted by slammer
Well, guess what?? Guess I'm gonna have to shop on this side of the fence and save a little more for a sullivan or bishline or hatfield. Don't really want to spend that much right now , but at this point and from what I've read here the last day or two I don't really know what I'd be getting anymore .
I have no idea why you think that now, we've been discussing some mysterious knock-offs, not the real standard production RK banjos. I certainly don't want to talk you out of a Sullivan, but there's no reason to think that if you buy a new RK-80 or above right now from a reputable dealer you won't be getting the same high quality instrument a lot of us have been enjoying for 3 years now. Plus there seem to be some real deals on them right now. With the response from TML I feel confident the instruments are still being made the same way to the same level of quality. But go ahead and get your Sullivan, you won't regret it either.
Retropicker - Posted - 11/04/2009: 09:54:51
quote:
Originally posted by grich
Slammer
It doesn't bother me in the least if you don't buy our product , you have to do what is right for you and you can't do any better than a Sullivan, they make great banjos and I'd be the first to recomend them to you or anyone .
Slammer. Get the best of both worlds and get the Bill Sullivan Tribute RK. First Quality is selling them for a GREAT price. http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/co...in/banjo.pdf" target="_blank"> br / http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/co...in/banjo.pdf____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
Edited by - Retropicker on 11/04/2009 10:04:38
jamie_t123 - Posted - 11/04/2009: 10:25:38
"Well that is disappointing if that's the case -- I know from several personal experiences that Gold Tone would have them to you within a few days"
Ditto on Gold tone customer service.....outsanding!
Never get between a Woman and her Banjo!
stringman711 - Posted - 11/04/2009: 11:31:28
As I have mentioned here before, my experience with Greg Rich, and the rk folks have been excellent. Period.
dana
Bradskey - Posted - 11/04/2009: 12:24:23
quote:
Originally posted by McIntosh
Bradskey,
I think you'd be doing yourself a big disservice if you ruled out a recording king because of this mess. There is nothing that indicates that recording king's quality is sub-par. I'm not trying to tell you what to do but please don't let a bunch of people with a piece of the story make your mind up on what to buy.
Are you confusing me with someone else? If my endorsement was worth a plug nickel I'd be endorsing RK banjos too ;)
dgill - Posted - 11/08/2009: 18:12:35
I am a plain old Joe that started to pick in Dec 2008. I bought an RK Sonny Osborne Scout and just love it. I wanted to upgrade recently and after looking around for a while, I decided to keep my Scout as my first jo and bought a RK Bill Sullivan for my practice jo at work.
I have real appreciation for the tone and sound that come from both of these banjos. I think they suit me well and that is what should really count in the long run. Since we live in America and all.
BvilleDon - Posted - 11/09/2009: 02:10:44
Everyone just needs to do their homework. No matter the brand or where it is made, there can be good ones and duds churned out. It gets sort of like watching a tired parade. A little research can save a buyer a lot of needless regret. I am no expert and do not want to sound like something I know I am not. But I do know how to read, do research and perform due diligence on a banjo before buying it. Research can tell me many things.
Take Gold Tone, for instance. To just list one thing to watch out for, if one of their instruments has a blemish around the fifth string peg, if I believe the experience others have written about, the company will say it is a difficult spot and is not covered under their warranty. So I don't know if a blemish is not a blemish or a warranty is not a warranty, but I do know to be careful about that (and a few other things) if I am interested in a Gold Tone.
Gold Stars are fine banjos and I have heard some really good sounding ones. For some reason, though, several owners have had trouble with the plating on the hardware. Doesn't make them sound worse or that all buyers encountered this problem, just something to be on the lookout for so you won't have regrets down the road.
RKs, I have heard some great sounding ones. However, they seem to have been slow to address individual owners (at times) and also slow to just flat out put a permanent fix on diffeerent situations, from problems with the nut string spacing to fifth string peg placement to gummy finishes. I am not saying that all buyers had these problems, but that enough did to tell me to be on the lookout for such things if I run across an RK that I really fell in love with the sound.
Gibsons, I was lucky I thought I was going to buy something else and ran across a Gibson that I just fell in love with the tone. I not only checked that baby out, I had a person whom I trust, who had no stake in the sale, check it out. But I know others who have purchased Gibsons that arrived at their house with serious problems.
A small boutique builder. Many have said that is the way to go. But one such highly touted builder has used the same "best I ever put together" until it became sort of a joke. I particularly feel bad for this guy because he spent time building banjos that were parted out for more money than he could get for his finished product at times. Reading reviews of some of his custom set ups was also intersting.
So, what is a person intent on buying a new banjo to do? We can't all live down the road from Arthur Hatfield (though it sure would be nice). Since this is in the buying advice section, I am going to say if you are spending serious money (any you have worked hard to earn or sacrificed to accumulate) do some serious due diligence. Just cause someone says they have three in stock and all are good, but one is a killer and if you buy it right now, they will send you the killer does not mean that is really the case. It could be the killer, alright, the dud they would like to unload and then when you find a problem with it, they tell you to take it up with the manufacturer.
Just the same with the builder who keeps having this remarkable streak of running across the best combination he's ever heard time and time again. These folks are in the business of selling. Bottom line has to rule. One would think that would mean providing spectacular service all of the time. It would seem to be a great business model.
I am totally, 100% for anyone truly trying to bring a high quality banjo at an affordable price to us banjo pickers. There will be untold great music that might otherwise never be heard. But since the bottom line seems to get in everyone's way, instead of worrying about the country of origin or what company is doing to another company, worry about the origin of your dollars, the sweat and time you spent to get togther enough for a banjo and then think enough of yourself and your time and how serious you are about wanting your money's worth and go to the extras trouble of researching them out and driving as few hundred miles to try them out and look them over as if you were paying for them in gold.
So this is not advice from someone who is an expert in banjos. I think I am a fair picker on a good day and hope to post some files if I can ever get my recording sstuff figured out to meet my minimum standards. However, I accept that I will never go down in banjo history for anything of note. This is, however, advice from someone who knows how to shop for a new banjo (if you choose to go the new route) and knows how to get to that moment where you can walk out of a place with a banjo that you will never have second thoughts about and never wonder if you got the right one.
I am really rooting for the RKs and Gold Stars because I think a quality banjo should not cost as much as it takes to get one from Gibson or Deering. I am really for the folks putting out great sounding banjos at reasonable prices. I just think they could do themselves and their customers a great service by providing great service. It's not like I'm even asking them to get it right the first time; it would just be refreshing after promises have been made to see them followed up on in a timely manner. And if you can't, maybe folks are right to wonder if everyone is going broke.
Don
EDITED, at the suggestions of others. I paragraphed so it could be read easier. I did not correct any typos, as i did not want to change the content in any respect. Hope it is more readable now. Thanks!
Edited by - BvilleDon on 11/12/2009 16:37:49
Retropicker - Posted - 11/09/2009: 03:59:47
That is impossible to read.
Much Better. Thanks
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
Edited by - Retropicker on 11/13/2009 04:04:38
Cabin_Hill - Posted - 11/09/2009: 04:58:40
When Saga made the first mastertone style banjo copied from Gibson did banjo players rally behind Gibson?
After all those years Gibson never stopped Saga from making Mastertone copies. What is to say RK can stop Saga now? Saga has deeper pockets than RK.
Gibson used the copy industry as a marketing tool. Could history be repeating itself?
mastertone250 - Posted - 11/09/2009: 05:14:32
awww....ran out of Popcorn. BRB
"Surround Yourself With Good Muscians". -J.D Crowe
“Nobody is a legend, we all put our pants on one leg at a time.” - Sonny Osborne
Big Joe - Posted - 11/09/2009: 10:17:12
I've done a lot of business with Music Link and have never had a problem with customer service. Whether from Greg or any of the guys there, they always respond immediately to any request we have. In addition, I have yet to see a product we've gotten from them that was anything but first quality. Whether the banjos, guitars, or mandolins, they are the best dollar for dollar value in my opinion. I have an RK80 in my store right now that is as good a banjo as any RB3 I've seen in a long time. Not trying to put anyone down, just saying the value is incredible. If anyone has any questions about them I am happy to help in any way I can. I truly appreciate the guys at Recording King and the work they do for their customers.
"Big Joe" Vest
saphine - Posted - 11/09/2009: 10:29:21
Here in the UK we have Saga...information for the over fifties. Think I've lost the plot now!!
PS I bought a foreign banjo... a Gold Tone from America.
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
Cabin_Hill - Posted - 11/09/2009: 11:39:07
Joe you have always shown to be dedicated to who ever you're working for. I respect that.
scaggs7 - Posted - 11/09/2009: 14:56:16
BvilleDon
It you want anyone to read your post, you are going to have to fix it
It’s not readable for me.
I won’t spend the time trying to figure out where I’m at on your page.
axsis - Posted - 11/10/2009: 04:28:19
I agree with scaggs7 Don, "I can't read your post" furthermore I do enjoy reading what you post because you know your stuff...............it's just these old eyes can't keep track of the lines.
Cheers!
Don
TopCat - Posted - 11/10/2009: 04:51:26
quote:
Originally posted by saphine
PS I bought a foreign banjo... a Gold Tone from America.
Gold Tone is an Asian-made brand isn't it??
Banjo Island - Posted - 11/10/2009: 06:13:17
quote:
Originally posted by saphine
...information for the over fifties.
I thought that was the Banjo Hangout?  Banjo Island http://www.ukbluegrass.com
Edited by - Banjo Island on 11/10/2009 06:17:53
BvilleDon - Posted - 11/12/2009: 16:48:22
I have tried to make my previous post more readable. Thanks for letting me know. I had a problem trying to read it myself. Part of the problem is that my eyes are not seeing too well, either. Also, I was in a rush to get some sleep, as the next day we travelled to have John Hickman do some work on a couple of my banjos.
I have some fantastic stories to share about what happened on that trip. John is an incredible guy to get to be around and talk to. I did not know my post waas so unreadable at the time, as I am so cheap I am on a fifty buck used computer that we bought from my wife's employer. The screen had brown bars running across it (guess it is getting ready to go) and I just could not see what I was typing. The brown bars come and go. I am too cheap to spend much money on anything that is not a musical instrument! Thank you, especially to axsis Don for thinking I know my stuff. I fool lots of folks into believing that, but was happy to try and make it more readable.
Don
scaggs7 - Posted - 11/12/2009: 18:59:03
That's better
Thanks Don
Eastbaygeorge - Posted - 11/12/2009: 22:48:54
If you really like playing the banjo, buy the very best one you can afford, or even one a little more expensive than that. They essentially don't wear out if you take care of them, and in years to come a good banjo probably will appreciate in value.
I have two really nice banjos, I've had them for 30 years. They both are a joy to play and give me much pleasure. They cost "a lot" in 1970s money, but seem like rare bargains now.
Eastbay George
slammer - Posted - 12/02/2009: 07:55:29
quote:
Originally posted by Retropicker
quote:
Originally posted by grich
Slammer
It doesn't bother me in the least if you don't buy our product , you have to do what is right for you and you can't do any better than a Sullivan, they make great banjos and I'd be the first to recomend them to you or anyone .
Slammer. Get the best of both worlds and get the Bill Sullivan Tribute RK. First Quality is selling them for a GREAT price.
http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/co...in/banjo.pdf" target="_blank"> br / http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/co...in/banjo.pdf
____Keep the hay in Bluegrass__________________________
Well, the dust is settling and got some good opinions here and some good advise along with a few laughs and took retropickers advise and checked at FQM. Saved a bundle and got either the last one or 2nd last one of the Bill Sullivan Tributes for a ridiculously low price. Actually for less than most of the Flinthills that were for sale. Ha Ha. Really though, looking forward to getting it and playing the hell out of it, and GRICH , It bothers me you don't care in the least, You know how sensitive I am!!! Page: 1 2
|
Feeds
