GMP.. What happened??

[deviltronix]

Spent some time searching archives here but came up with nothing. How did GMP go belly up? It seemed like they had more custom orders than they could handle, their stock was flying off the shelves of their distributors and for the most part had very little competition in terms of custom shop quality. I know it always comes down to money, but what are the details? It is really discouraging to see such an awesome shop go down so hard. I dealt with them through Wild West Guitars for one guitar (and then they were gone) and it was a great experience. Guitar was done close to on time, they kept great communication (I received updates and photos of when the wood was cut, body was assembled, right after paint, etc.), they nailed what I asked for and quality was top notch. It really breaks my heart that an operation like this could fail but something like HHI's bastardized version of BC Rich is going strong. If flooding the market with crappy agathis imports is the only way to survive it is a really sad reflection on the future of guitar making.

Rich

[neilli]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

From what I can tell, they just couldn't produce enough guitars to keep the bills paid....

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

No idea but they did manage to stick around for 14 years. Based on the S/Ns of some of their NAMM stuff that I have they did ~50/year for the first 10 years and ~150/year for the last 4 so one would think that things were just starting to pick up for them. I *think* (but don't know for certain) that the guitar business was a small part of a larger business that failed.

[shreddermon]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

I love my Pawn Shop. Wish they were still being made, as I'd love to order another.

[hippietim]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

I think the problem is that they never learned how to do any snazzy finishes or fancy tops.

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Superfly]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

[ QUOTE ]
No idea but they did manage to stick around for 14 years. Based on the S/Ns of some of their NAMM stuff that I have they did ~50/year for the first 10 years and ~150/year for the last 4 so one would think that things were just starting to pick up for them. I *think* (but don't know for certain) that the guitar business was a small part of a larger business that failed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have the exact serials for each year? I am trying to find out what year mine is.

[StukaJU87]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

I remember when GMP sold off their remaining stock of guitars on ebay. They were also selling expensive classic hot rods and engines and stuff too, right? That stuff will eat up money like nothing I have seen.

[mogar]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

Great.....as if they weren't expensive enough. Now they're gonna sky rocket.

[SeventhSon]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

Being a Ramones fan, this would be a really cool GMP to own even though the finish leaves a lot to be desired! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-RAMONES-GMP-GUIT...1QQcmdZViewItem

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

[ QUOTE ]
Do you have the exact serials for each year? I am trying to find out what year mine is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Much like C/J back in the day they weren't sequential so the best you can do is guess. E.g., when they went under there were still guitars being worked on that had numbers from the 900s to the 1100s.

[Riscchip]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

A shame they're gone. Very nice guitars.

[Motorhead]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

I own a couple of GMP's, great guitars, from what I heard they also made juicers, sold overseas, that division is what I heard brought the accountants in.

[skorb]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

so essentially what it seems from the offered descriptions, is GMP was owned by an entrepreneur who spread himself too thin over more than one ambitious business project.

I hope he makes a comeback of some kind. we need that independent spirit.

I've learned that the saying is true, you have to learn how to fail (sometimes more than once) before you can succeed.

[tmmsjm]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

Never played one, but they were beautiful guitars. It's sad to see any small business, especially one so cool, go under.

[Posepatrol]

Re: GMP.. What happened??

50 a Year? With up to 150 a Year? And you wonder why they went Under, Maybe a Net Profit of a Grand a Guitar.......Uh...That dosen't cover My Mortage.

I know they Used their CNC Machines for other things. Those Guys were the main Dudes at B.C. Rich in the Late 80's. Harvey Beck worked at Jackson too, he kinda took over for Dan when Him and Lee started GMW back in 89'