FENDER - Let the trading begin...

Ummmm..   errrrrrrr....    No.

And all the free guitars I want?

bapu


If I buy one share of stock does that mean I have access to the design team.

Wouldn't that reduce the value of your own investment though?

Hi,

I don't think this is a good idea ... and I can see Fender now being about the money and not the music or anything else ... ohh well ... nice knowing you ... ciao baby!

But, honestly, the electric guitar needs some serious innovation to help push music and its playing ... unless it thinks that the electric guitar can do what the harpsichord did 400 years ago ... !!! ... nothing!

This is a desperate struggle to pay off debt which has mounted over the last few years by some very bad decisions regarding things like their Pawn shop series, Road Worn series etc. The new CIO, ex Guitar Center CIO needs to go. He essentially tried to push up the price point value of their historical brand (which was successfully done) by replacing them with a lot of cheaper models at the traditional price points. The strategy did not pay off because in these economic times people stopped buying the expensive versions. Stores were left with huge inventories of cheap guitars which are not moving quickly off the shelf, thus the guitar glut at Guitar Center. Notice that GC is now focusing on used equipment? That tells you the traditional lines are not moving and that they are trying to make a buck where they can.

When I think of Fender now I think of all those subpar guitars with funny shapes built in offshore places. Not so much the American quality guitars of the past.

This IPO, if you want to participate, is a mercy mission to pay off their debt. I don't think the public should reward the lack of business sense of the existing management team. Just my 2 cents.

bapu

either this --------> 


or 






or this ----------->  


Actually the bottom one is my son's custom Jonez guitar he used to use in his band Impaled. He said it's just to dang heavy though.

Could he try playing something a little lighter?  Like maybe...  The Carpenters?

bapu


If I buy one share of stock does that mean I have access to the design team.

You're going to make a Strat look like an Alembic, aren't you. 

An Alembic body with a telecaster neck..Hmmm....

...oh...boy.

yes indeed

kson

Middleman


This is a desperate struggle to pay off debt which has mounted over the last few years by some very bad decisions regarding things like their Pawn shop series, Road Worn series etc. The new CIO, ex Guitar Center CIO needs to go. He essentially tried to push up the price point value of their historical brand (which was successfully done) by replacing them with a lot of cheaper models at the traditional price points. The strategy did not pay off because in these economic times people stopped buying the expensive versions. Stores were left with huge inventories of cheap guitars which are not moving quickly off the shelf, thus the guitar glut at Guitar Center. Notice that GC is now focusing on used equipment? That tells you the traditional lines are not moving and that they are trying to make a buck where they can.

When I think of Fender now I think of all those subpar guitars with funny shapes built in offshore places. Not so much the American quality guitars of the past.

This IPO, if you want to participate, is a mercy mission to pay off their debt. I don't think the public should reward the lack of business sense of the existing management team. Just my 2 cents.

Actually, I did read somewhere else that a very large portion of it is to pay off debt.  So you are correct.

IOW, if no one buys into it Fender will cease to exist and in 20 years time my 1986 Japanese Strat will be worth more than my (alleged) Alembic?

bapu

kson

Middleman


This is a desperate struggle to pay off debt which has mounted over the last few years by some very bad decisions regarding things like their Pawn shop series, Road Worn series etc. The new CIO, ex Guitar Center CIO needs to go. He essentially tried to push up the price point value of their historical brand (which was successfully done) by replacing them with a lot of cheaper models at the traditional price points. The strategy did not pay off because in these economic times people stopped buying the expensive versions. Stores were left with huge inventories of cheap guitars which are not moving quickly off the shelf, thus the guitar glut at Guitar Center. Notice that GC is now focusing on used equipment? That tells you the traditional lines are not moving and that they are trying to make a buck where they can.

When I think of Fender now I think of all those subpar guitars with funny shapes built in offshore places. Not so much the American quality guitars of the past.

This IPO, if you want to participate, is a mercy mission to pay off their debt. I don't think the public should reward the lack of business sense of the existing management team. Just my 2 cents.

Actually, I did read somewhere else that a very large portion of it is to pay off debt.  So you are correct.

IOW, if no one buys into it Fender will cease to exist and in 20 years time my 1986 Japanese Strat will be worth more than my (alleged) Alembic?

Don't fret.  

bapu

Old55

bapu

kson

Middleman


This is a desperate struggle to pay off debt which has mounted over the last few years by some very bad decisions regarding things like their Pawn shop series, Road Worn series etc. The new CIO, ex Guitar Center CIO needs to go. He essentially tried to push up the price point value of their historical brand (which was successfully done) by replacing them with a lot of cheaper models at the traditional price points. The strategy did not pay off because in these economic times people stopped buying the expensive versions. Stores were left with huge inventories of cheap guitars which are not moving quickly off the shelf, thus the guitar glut at Guitar Center. Notice that GC is now focusing on used equipment? That tells you the traditional lines are not moving and that they are trying to make a buck where they can.

When I think of Fender now I think of all those subpar guitars with funny shapes built in offshore places. Not so much the American quality guitars of the past.

This IPO, if you want to participate, is a mercy mission to pay off their debt. I don't think the public should reward the lack of business sense of the existing management team. Just my 2 cents.

Actually, I did read somewhere else that a very large portion of it is to pay off debt.  So you are correct.

IOW, if no one buys into it Fender will cease to exist and in 20 years time my 1986 Japanese Strat will be worth more than my (alleged) Alembic?

Don't fret.  

I have to. I do not own any fretless bassus.

Of course.  

timidi


I see any IPO as the peak of the company.

Gotta disagree with this. There are numerous IPO's that have proven good long term investments. I don't think Fender is one, but it all depends on the future and that's the game. I bought UPS stock back in 1999 during it's IPO at 47.00. It was 78.00 today. It's been a slow steady climb, but turned out good.


Fender made money last year, but I don't see it's stock going well above 15.00 unless kids in China, India, and some other large economies start falling in love with guitars. Those cultures tend to be more education oriented with their kids than the West. But hey, ya never know. All it takes is a couple of young Chinese kids to get a band together and come up with a few hit songs the young girls just can't stop listening to and then you might get a new rock and roll scene like the world has never seen.

Randy

You know in retrospect, I might buy one share and ask for the certificate. That would be cool in a picture frame or......here is an idea. At $15 a share, they could sell them at GC already in a frame. I would buy one. Maybe have guitar themes for different share types.