Gene Baker & b3 leaving PBG

[bikeracr]

It looks like Gene Baker & his b3 line are separating from PBG. A post on b3's facebook stated that the b3 brand & a couple of the other personnel will be leaving. Wish Gene & crew all the best.

 

[atquinn]

Strange. I thought that PBG essentially was Gene Baker?
-
Austin

 

[Ron Thorn]

And former Master Builder Chris Fleming has joined them.
Good luck to both of them.

 

[John Hurtt]

It looks like Gene Baker & his b3 line are separating from PBG. A post on b3's facebook stated that the b3 brand & a couple of the other personnel will be leaving. Wish Gene & crew all the best.

This is interesting, as Gene oversees and builds most (maybe all?) of the PBG guitars in his shop. Does that mean that he is setting up somewhere else? Or...? Best of luck to both Gene and to PBG.

 

[Bogner]

Gene is an incredible builder. I am happy to see him going solo again. I never liked the PBG idea.

 

[Holliman]

Seems like Fleming is plenty capable of handling the PBG builds. Good luck to both guys! I've never played a PBG guitar, but they all look very quality.

 

[Arc Angel]

That's a very interesting development. All the best to GB and B3.

Big surprise when Chris Fleming left FCS May. Loved his work.

 

[sfarnell]

Bill Krinard is leaving Two Rock/PBG too. Good luck to him in whatever endeavor he chooses to pursue. He's designed my favorite amps and I'm sure that he'll land on his feet doing something creative.

 

[trap]

So the non competition period is over for Gene and Bill huh?

 

[sfarnell]

So the non competition period is over for Gene and Bill huh?

Yep, seems that way. Bill has a lot of ideas and designs in mind. I'd certainly buy a Krinard amp.

 

[mslugano]

And Saul just changed his Facebook name from "Koll for PBG" to "Koll Guitar Company".

Wouldn't be surprised if PBG is going through a shake-up or being dismantled but I could be reading too much into it.

 

[sfarnell]

^^^ definitely a shake up. I doubt business if very good in Europe, Japan, and Russia. When those economies were good I think that PBG was prospering. That's why we have new Two Rock 50 watt amps costing $1995 and not $5500. Kind of counter to the Two Rock brand IMO.

 

[GasMask]

Bill Krinard is leaving Two Rock/PBG too.

Wow. That's big news!

 

[killerburst]

PBG's former sales rep just sent out an email introducing himself as the new Bad Cat sales manager. Brian Swerdferger is now the president of PBG. The dealer login site now only has pricing for Fano, Two Rock and Tone King. Big changes, indeed. Maybe Avalanche has sent them a letter of intent.

 

[Arc Angel]

PBG's former sales rep just sent out an email introducing himself as the new Bad Cat sales manager. Brian Swerdferger is now the president of PBG. The dealer login site now only has pricing for Fano, Two Rock and Tone King. Big changes, indeed. Maybe Avalanche has sent them a letter of intent.

What's Dennis Fano's status with PBG? Still involved or has he left as well. He's starting NOVO Guitars now I believe.

 

[killerburst]

I'm hearing all the guitars are now going to be built by another builder in another factory. A name everybody here knows.

 

[John C]

And Saul just changed his Facebook name from "Koll for PBG" to "Koll Guitar Company".

Wouldn't be surprised if PBG is going through a shake-up or being dismantled but I could be reading too much into it.

Saul posted this down in the builders/manufactures section earlier today:

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/koll-guitar-company-news.1591373/#post-20195073

It was always my understanding that PBG had ownership deals with Gene and Dennis Fano on the guitar side, plus Two Rock and Tone King on the amp side. It sounds like the guitar side is unwinding, and Saul took the opportunity to leave his association with PBG as well. The amp side might just be a leadership changeover and they continue with the items that have been built since becoming part of PBG - are others from Two Rock staying on, or are they also leaving (like Gene taking some of the B3 folks with him)?

So the non competition period is over for Gene and Bill huh?

Usually non-competes start when you leave a company. Unless both Gene and Bill were already in the "stay on as consultants during the non-compete period" mode for the last few years - much like Leo Fender's deal with CBS (although he only stayed on as a "consultant" for 5 of the 10-year non-compete).

I'm hearing all the guitars are now going to be built by another builder in another factory. A name everybody here knows.

It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds, particularly with Chris Fleming landing there after leaving Fender.

 

[trap]

Movement at Suhr, movement at PBG, I can't handle all this change!!! Don't tell me Tyler sold out to Halliburton!!!!

 

[John Hurtt]

I'm hearing all the guitars are now going to be built by another builder in another factory. A name everybody here knows.

What do you hear?

 

[killerburst]