Who is making Emmons steels?

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 14 Feb 2016 12:21 pm

It's simple, just look at the sign: they've focused on building Gui ars.

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » 14 Feb 2016 1:02 pm

Actually, that building sold early last year to Fluette Heating & Air. They probably have scant knowledge of the real history in that old building.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 14 Feb 2016 2:19 pm

It's just a building, I know, but when I first emigrated to the US it was on my list of place I wanted to visit. I'd been looking at the photos on the sleeve of Buddy's Black Album for ever, it seemed.

Eventually I found myself there to check on the progress of my new steel - a Sapphire Blue SD-10 - and was made to feel so welcome by Jim and Joanne Aycoth. I've had occasion to go to Burlington, NC several times over the years but will always remember their kindness and their determination to see that I was happy with both of the guitars I eventually ordered.

I'm sad to see that distinctive signage gone for ever.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 14 Feb 2016 2:47 pm

Those old signage letters belong in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Wonder what happened to them.
Jerry

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 14 Feb 2016 2:58 pm

Sad to say, Jerry, I bet they went into a contractor's dumpster.

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 14 Feb 2016 7:01 pm

It Is very unconventional that you buy an Emmons guitar, and it gets built by a third party. A middleman.

If Mike , or Billy, or Lynn Stafford are doing this , this would be a great opportunity for them to confirm or deny .

It sounds like a lot of work for two parties ( the actual builder,,and the manufacturer, who now doesn't build ), compared to the more typical model of steel maker as assembler, and finisher of the final product.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 14 Feb 2016 8:32 pm

It does sound very unconventional that you buy an Emmons guitar, and it gets built by a third party , a middleman

True. But keep in mind, the 3 mentioned are top notch builders. All work is performed by the builder. They don't sub things out. They don't hire wanna be techs to help em get out of a pinch. So the guitars should be top notch.

For a long time Emmon's cabinets where built by someone near the old shop. This is likely still the case if Emmons is indeed still in business. Since none of the authorized dealers have posted here. I can only speculate. Which is totally worthless.

Got to learn to leave these type of threads alone.

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 22 Feb 2016 4:56 pm

I wonder what the heating company did with the bellcranks. Are they operating flues in A/C ducts??

Jack Strayhorn · Post by **Jack Strayhorn** » 24 Feb 2016 11:43 am

Bobby, not sure about cabinet builder in the years to follow my departure but during my years, and before, the bodies were built on premises by one person and an employee. That same employee did build for Ron Jr. for a while and worked some from his home shop. After that I believe Ron was building the bodies himself.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 24 Feb 2016 1:37 pm

So when was the last time anyone actually purchased a brand new Emmons Steel and it was actually delivered ?

I have never heard that anyone was building them off site in recent months , unless it was a secret.

I can't imagine 2 or 3 unique builders manufacturing legitimate Emmons brand Steels off-site , perhaps 3 different locations, without huge issues, both financial and legal. Who fronts inventory costs and who has legal responsibility of the brand name...who is responsible to assure each instrument uses the exact same parts and re-orders and pays for the inventory when parts are depleted ? How do you order and who do you order from ?

This is not a question involving build quality and expertise of those performing the manufacturing...it's above that...it's all the business stuff that has nothing to do with the workbench .

Dave Stroud · Post by **Dave Stroud** » 24 Feb 2016 1:50 pm

I did sent an email to emmonsguitars@triad.twcbc.com (on the Emmons website) asking if they were still taking orders. I sent that on valentines day and still haven't gotten any reply.

DG Whitley · Post by **DG Whitley** » 24 Feb 2016 2:27 pm

David, I also emailed a question, but on the 15th. I also have yet to receive an answer.

This is sad I think, but it is what it is.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 24 Feb 2016 5:23 pm

Have you tried emailing a dealer, such as Lynn Stafford or Mike Cass?

DG Whitley · Post by **DG Whitley** » 25 Feb 2016 8:27 am

I know Lynn or Mike would answer if I emailed them, but I feel like I would be putting them on the spot for a question for which the answer really needs to come from Ron @ Emmons. I just really want to know the status of the company. The Emmons corporation has been dissolved (at least the last time I looked). They can still be operating as a non-corporate entity and that's fine.

Before I start scraping up money and/or selling stuff, my question is can I get a new Emmons? If not, I'll move on, otherwise the saving begins.

It is a simple question, why is it so hard to answer?

I'm not trying to disrespect anyone here, bad times happen. I know, I'm going through some rough times now.

So is Emmons a going concern, or not?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Feb 2016 8:56 am

Seems to be a reasonable question.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 25 Feb 2016 12:39 pm

it doesn't seem like the wisest thing to do to take a chance on such an unknown.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 27 Feb 2016 1:40 am

A Dealer is a representative of a Company, asking them a question is the same as asking the owner of the company. If the Company itself will not respond to or answer a direct communication well, what exactly are we expecting ?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 27 Feb 2016 8:31 am

Also, if a company doesn't exist, what does it mean to be a dealer for them? Not much, I'm afraid.

For years, I carried the "Emmons Guitar Inc." CD in the SGF Store. It was a good selling product. Then they started ignoring my purchase orders without explanation. That felt like the beginning of the end to me. I was able to buy a box of CDs from them at ISGC, but when those were gone I had to drop the product from my catalog.

It's very easy these days to get any quantity of CDs made, and it's immediately profitable if the CD is popular. I figure if they can't even get it together to do that, how can they hope to build steel guitars?

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 27 Feb 2016 8:47 am

A Dealer is a representative of a Company, asking them a question is the same as asking the owner of the company.

I respectfully disagree. Not my experience anyway. If for whatever reason you need to contact Emmons. You'll need to phone if time is of any importance. I don't see them ever responding here. Just an opinion.

As for working the net as the bigger-more ambitious builders do. Emmons never did that. Not even when times where good. Didn't have to. They're problem was they always had more orders than they could deliver on time. If Ron Jr. is indeed still building?? He likely has all the orders one man can handle. Again just my opinion. And it's worth just what it cost you.

b.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 27 Feb 2016 3:33 pm

Bobby Boggs wrote:
A Dealer is a representative of a Company, asking them a question is the same as asking the owner of the company.
I respectfully disagree. Not my experience anyway. If for whatever reason you need to contact Emmons. You'll need to phone if time is of any importance. I don't see them ever responding here. Just an opinion.

b.

A dealer representing a business is a legally contracted agent, as money is being accepted in the name of the parent company, the business. Does the dealer contract also include building products or just selling products , they are not one and the same.

As a retired sales employee (1 year now) from a major USA company, I worked alongside contracted dealers for years. We were one and the same, we represented the company 100%, well not on legal issues, as we are not lawyers.

Perhaps there are some that are not legally contracted to the Emmons company but I can assure you, Ron jr owns the name, the trademark, the patents, the designs etc.

but we digress, we hear nothing from Emmons in NC or any affiliates . One would have to assume that if there was even the slightest amount of business being conducted someone would tell the world. no ?

I'm thinking it would not be a bad thing to learn that Emmons Steels can still be purchased new. I hope that is the case.

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 27 Feb 2016 7:22 pm

Quote:
A Dealer is a representative of a Company, Agreed. asking them a question is the same as asking the owner of the company.Disagree

To try to keep this short. In agribusiness, many dealerships are dealers for multiple Co's. Often they know very little to nothing about some of the Brands of equipment - implements they are dealers for.However, most do at least try to fake it. This is not a Farm Forum so I'll stop here.

Years ago when Ron SR. was setting up a dealer network. He tried to get accomplished Steel Guitar players when possible. Weldon Myrick is just one example. However, most often his dealers were just music store owners. The vast majority didn't know pedal steel guitars from a hole in the ground. Try asking one of them what Buddy's knee lever set-up was at the time. Or how to adjust the pull train on a push pull. That's the guitar Emmons was selling at the time. Doesn't matter. They would have been just as confused with and all pull. I could go on. But I'll save the bandwidth. Hopefully my point has been made.

Quote:
A Dealer is a representative of a Company, asking them a question is the same as asking the owner of the company.

No. Not in my book.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 27 Feb 2016 11:54 pm

When I worked in music stores, the sales reps that called on us would represent different lines, not just one brand.

The standard joke was: how many sales reps does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer: I don't know, I'll have to call the factory.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 28 Feb 2016 2:20 am

Bobby Boggs wrote:
In agribusiness, many dealerships are dealers for multiple Co's.

I think what we are talking about here is a handful of talented guys capable of building Emmons Steels, who know exactly what they are doing, thus ask them a question and it's the same as asking the owner, heck they may know more !

We are not talking about a dealer rep who carries 25 catalogs in his bag, and to that point , yes, I would agree. The dealers I worked alongside they ONLY represented the company I worked for and had to meet all technical standards and attend every training session known to mankind. They didn't carry catalogs, they carried full knowledge. We were not selling Ag products but rather highly technical Scientific Instrumentation in an extremely competitive market and if you couldn't answer a question across the table, that was a LOST ORDER. We are not talking apples to apples in comparison. When a sales person/dealer is sitting across the table discussing a $300,000.00 order in these markets you answer the questions or you go home with an empty pocket.

The conversation here is specifically referring to a very small amount of highly skilled builders/dealers, as in 3. Not a room full of catalog carrying reps.

please understand, I'm not arguing.

But still we digress, We have not heard word one from Ron Jr in a very long time and we still have not heard that anyone has purchased a new Emmons Steel and had it delivered in recent times, wish we did. So it doesn't much matter how many so called dealers may be out there, they got nothing to sell!

The question to this entire crazy thread is still the same,

Who is building Emmons Steels today, and the answer is still the same,

nobody that anyone knows of... So we have mentioned 3 highly skilled folks who can build them, great, but if they are not legally contracted to build those Steels and put that Emmons badge on them, well, I hope they have good lawyers !

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 28 Feb 2016 6:38 am

My confidence in Billy , Mike , and Lynn, is limitless. I'd expect any steel these guys assembled or adjusted to be flawless, outstanding , and exceptional. I'm playing one now.

I think at some point in the transaction of having them assemble an Emmons steel, to be sold to me as new, would require a solid evaluation of the current and possible future status of the Emmons Guitar Company . It's only my opinion, but I don't think the manufacturer can or should be a disconnected third party.

Is this unreasonable ? Should it be a mystery ?

I had the Honda dealership ( a dealer ) , work on my Honda. I had an issue which required resolution. I was able to call American Honda, ( the Manufacturer ) and ask for help. if If I had an issue with my Emmons, beyond the scope of what the dealer could provide, would I have the opportunity to reach out to Emmons Guitar Company ?

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 28 Feb 2016 9:03 am

i'd just assume the company is defunct. if they want you to know any differently i expect they'll maybe advertise.

same with zum, infinity and franklin unfortunately.
might as well support the companies who want to build steels like justice, mullen...maybe rittenberry, show pro..
.....and a few others.....i guss the main factor is: who shows up at a steel guitar convention with a booth? (and now the main convention is even cancelled this year....times are changing)
i guess the oldest companies now still going would be msa and maybe bmi.

otherwise, there are lots of great used steels out there.
of course, it's strange to see a whole world of music supported only by a cache of used instruments.

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Who is making Emmons steels?

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