RIP Robin Guitars

[cynical1]

I was digging around looking for something else and ran across the news that Robin Guitars had stopped making guitars. So, I ran over to the website and found this:

After 28 years Robin Guitars has ceased taking orders and producing instruments. A number of events have led to this decision. Not one we wanted to make, but one that needed to be made. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time doing the things we love and creating instruments for people who share the same passion....and what a passion it is!

For those out there that may have never heard of Robin Guitars, they were a small shop out of Texas that made very good instruments that were for working musicians. No megabuck marketing budget, just very well made guitars and basses hand made to order in the US.

You might recognize a few of the folks who played them. JJ Cale, George Clinton, Dave Grohl, Billy Gibbons, J Yuenger, Dweezil Zappa, Jimmy Vaughan, Cesar Rojas, Tommy Shannon and Joel Gregoire to name a few.

Sad, but they actually moved manufacturing from overseas to the US. A shame the experiment went the way it did. From what I read their facility will stay where it is and they're going to make pickups now.

You might recognize these two guys playing Jimmy's Robin double neck.



HTC1

[ijustwannastrat]

It's a shame whenever any American company, especially those manufacturing inside the good ol' US of A, go under. This is just further proof of how cynical our market is. Buyers constantly ask for higher quality, cheaper prices, and a "MADE IN USA" sticker on it. It seems like getting 2/3 isn't that hard, but going for a perfect score will kill a great company. Furthermore, what's the motivation for a company to actually produce a highquality instrument in the USA when they can ship out to Asia, and produce a mid-quality instrument for penny's on the dime?


In a slightly related note, I wasn't watching the beginning of the video, so I thought Stevie simply grew two more arms. Of course, the only other rational possibility was that it was another Vaughn boy behind him.

[wolf]

The surprising thing about that double neck is that both "guitars" are very similar to each other, making me think that the only reason for such a double neck would be for two people playing at the same time.

[cynical1]

Look a little closer. The top neck is an octave guitar,



which Robin made more then a few, and the bottom is a standard neck.



It's a little clearer to see in this picture.



HTC1

[lpf3]

Being a fan of the Squier 51 I always wondered why Fender didn't make an American Std. model- you know, the same guitar only better.

I thought the Robin Ranger fit that bill rather nicely.......



There's a guy on another forum whose signature says - "If you want to make a small fortune building guitars, start with a large fortune".......

That said, I think it's too bad when a good company- especially an American one at a time when we need 'em here- has to close the doors.

-lpf3

[Yew]

Are they closing down? Or are the doing a maverick (Uk company) and just stopped making guitars, and one day are gonna start up?