Razorback - Posted - 02/20/2015:  18:46:58

  I noticed FQMS seems alot different these days.  I couldnt even find a strap on their site,  made my own.  I dont see different bridge makers products on there anymore,   I guess Im saying    I see alot LESS on their store front now than I remember 5 years ago.

are they doing ok?

Blackjaxe47 - Posted - 02/20/2015:  19:17:53

They have restructured their company, Eric is a great guy to deal with....very personable and seems willing to listen to his customers.

RioStat - Posted - 02/20/2015:  19:33:52

FQMS is doing what they need to do to survive in this economy......

Banjorb3 - Posted - 02/20/2015:  20:12:59

I spoke with Eric a few weeks ago after an order of supplies was greatly delayed.  He said the main business of FQMS is no longer music.  He was building wall board (or something similar) for the construction industry.  That's where the money was.

I have dealt with FQMS since its inception and have always been very satisfied - until this year.  It was a great one-stop shop for builders or musicians, but sadly, I guess that is no longer the case. 

RioStat - Posted - 02/20/2015:  20:39:09

quote:

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Originally posted by Banjorb3

I spoke with Eric a few weeks ago after an order of supplies was greatly delayed.  He said the main business of FQMS is no longer music.  He was building wall board (or something similar) for the construction industry.  That's where the money was.

I have dealt with FQMS since its inception and have always been very satisfied - until this year.  It was a great one-stop shop for builders or musicians, but sadly, I guess that is no longer the case. 

 

---

Huuuhhhh?  

I just had a buddy send an old rim down there to get turned and fitted with a Sullivan Vintage flathead tone-ring.

Eric called my buddy and talked for 1/2 hour, and the rim and tone ring will be back on Wednesday.

They are still in the banjo business.

capmike - Posted - 02/20/2015:  22:14:16

I ordered a Walnut neck from them weeks before christmas. called them several times to check on its progress. The last time I talked to him he told me he would call me the next day with a tracking number. no call, no neck,nothing. I will not be doing business with them again!

jonc - Posted - 02/21/2015:  01:20:12

they are so specialized I would be surprised if they made a good living. They only do banjo stuff, and within that, only Gibson style bluegrass banjos - no open backs, etc. And supplies like heads and strings. Stewart MacDonald used to do only banjos, but that included open backs, but they branched out to mandolins, guitars, and electric guitars, basses, ukuleles, fiddles, and dulcimers, and they don't do the custom fitting they used to.

I sent in my flange for a shell and tone ring back around Thanksgiving, and we're still waiting for the tone ring to come back from casting and plating. I did order some heads and bridges to go with the order. Once I realized the order was going to take a while, I asked that the heads and bridges be sent right away. And this did happen, within a day or two. So I think it depends on what it is you order, if it takes time to get, if it's in stock, etc. My tone ring is a slow mover (archtop) so it's not something they're going to stock up on. But if it's something they have in stock, I think Marsha will get it right out. It may be better to place phone orders rather than web orders and talk to them first, at least that's what I will do.

esullivan - Posted - 02/21/2015:  08:30:36

 First Quality Music.

First Quality Music - FQMS -Sullivan Banjo Co. has gone through many changes over the years and will continue to change and will do whatever it takes to continue to serve the banjo community.  We have been a major supplier for 47 years and we see great opportunities for another 47.  The banjo and banjo parts business have always been a tough, lean lifestyle.   Revenue is small and risk is large. The only reason to get in is for the love of the banjo, the music, and the people.  To compensate for the niche and I mean niche business that banjos and banjo components are, FQM has always supplemented revenue with other endeavors.  In the past we were a large storefront with just under 2000 instruments in stock, we sold banjos, mandolins, acoustic guitars, dulcimers, upright basses, dobros, ukes, violins,  electric guitars, and even electric instrument accessories, we gave lessons, did large contract work for other manufacturers, and custom work.  We did everything we could so we could continue to service the banjo community.  Name one other banjo company that put up with electric guitars to fund banjos.  Doing so many things, while making each and every day interesting and exciting, comes with an extreme amount of carrying cost.  A cost that, for us, the music industry and the Sullivan family could not cover any more. 

First Quality Music decided to go back to its roots and to just serve the banjo community.  Easy to say but very hard to do.  Many parts of the business took quite a while to unwind and other revenue streams had to be developed. Many hours have been and are still being used to explain what we have done and why.  First Quality no longer prints and mails catalogs.  Banjo parts vendors were dropping fast, gold plating prices have shot through the roof, and price changes on many items were out of date once the catalog was produced.  We are now putting our offerings on the web and all of our efforts are centered on getting the banjo player or builder the best parts at the best prices.  A great product that no one can afford doesn't do much good.

 One example in this thread was the problem with not finding a wide assortment of bridges from other manufacturers.  The bridges we use to sell included Snuffy Smith, Z bridges, Huber, Stelling, and many others. Back in 2009 several of those bridges were selling in the 20 dollar range and they now sell for 29.95 to 50 dollars each and that no longer fits the model we are trying to follow.  We have lowered overhead and streamlined our offerings to only carry what we feel is the best product at the best price.  We have come out with new products at much lower prices and have actually lowered the price on many of our banjo components without sacrificing quality.  First Quality Music now offers the least expensive high quality American Made bridge and gloss lacquer banjo on the market today.  With this new model we have seen a very nice uptick in banjo parts orders but lower prices do mean lower profits so we do supplement revenue with manufacturing work.  If you come by the shop now you will see several CNC machine running all day and they are not running banjo parts, but what  they do is allow us to continue to make banjos and banjo parts for the banjo community.  Banjos and banjo parts are the only reason we are here.  We never have and never will turn our backs on the community that has given us so much support over the last 47 years.

Eric Sullivan

MrManners - Posted - 02/21/2015:  09:29:43

don't sweat it on minute Eric,good to know you still can keep doing banjo stuff some,just try to put what you have on the web ,so we know what you have ,and keep making those parts and banjos when you can.Nowdays with the web ,it ain't hard to find any bridge.So why beat your head against that wall.Good that you did not have to ''close down'' all together.
Tom Elder

Goldstarman - Posted - 02/21/2015:  10:38:06

I think they are working on a new website.

banjoman56 - Posted - 02/21/2015:  10:56:04

Eric I'm glad you guys are committed to building great banjos and parts at at affordable price. I'm hoping the economy will improve and your business will flourish and you guys can get back to doing what you love full time. First Quality Music has been a great resource for the banjo community for many years and I for one appreciate all you guys do and the great instruments you build. I'm hoping to someday, be able to afford one of your Roasted Maple Festivals. Until then, I'm just going to keep enjoying my V-35 . It's an awesome banjo and it  just keeps getting better! Thanks a bunch buddy!



Carl Kishpaugh

Edited by - banjoman56 on 02/21/2015 10:56:55

jstltreat - Posted - 02/21/2015:  12:54:52

I love my Sullivan Greenbrier. Glad to hear I can get parts if I ever need them.