The Perfect Bass/The Perfect Guitar
Baton Rouge
James Bethea, Owner
Business this year: We are a little behind last year, but we’ll see how the Christmas season goes!
Evolution in the industry you’re excited about? 2013 has been a rebuilding year for us. We actually scaled back our brand offerings this year to focus on core brands that do very well for us. In this economy, our strategy is to be great at a few things, not just okay at everything!
We have several big projects that we are working on, the biggest being a technology upgrade for our online business. There are more boutique accessory, part and pedal types of products available this year. With the economy the way it is, some smaller manufacturers are building products other than just guitars and amps, which opens up new buyers to less expensive products and exposes them to a brand they may not have otherwise considered. The decision of FMIC to discontinue the Genz-Benz amp line was a disappointment. It was a very good seller and had a great position in the bass amp market. The products were excellent and a great value as well. I expect more of this type of consolidation in the market for the next few years. But I believe it will be good for the more boutique manufacturers.
Product of the Year? The Music Man Premier Dealer offerings have been really good this year! The Green Sparkle models would be our “Product of the Year.”
Looking Back on 2025: A Year of Controlled Chaos (Emphasis on “Controlled”)