YAMAHA GUITAR GROUP ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF CÓRDOBA MUSIC GROUP

Yamaha Guitar Group, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Japan-based Yamaha Corporation, today announced the acquisition of Córdoba Music Group. The addition of the Córdoba line-up to Yamaha Guitar Group’s portfolio—
alongside the Yamaha, Line 6, and Ampeg brands—adds an iconic selection of acoustic and electric instruments, as well as accessories to the widespread offerings already available from Yamaha.

Córdoba Music Group (CMG) was originally founded as Córdoba Guitars by Tim Miklaucic, with a mission to bring the nylon string guitar to a wider guitar community. “The nylon string guitar is the mother of all guitars,” stated Miklaucic. Beginning in 1997, Miklaucic assembled a team of master luthiers to create guitars built with a nod to
classic techniques of Spanish guitar makers from the late 19th and early 20th century. From there the Córdoba brand blossomed.

As it grew, Guild Guitars, with its own impressive history dating back to 1953, was added to the CMG portfolio in 2014. Following the addition of Guild, HumiCase, and DeArmond pickups joined the group. CMG also took over distribution of Savarez and Aquila strings in the U.S.

“We’re thrilled to be making this announcement,” said Joe Bentivegna, President of Yamaha Guitar Group. “Córdoba Music Group’s brands, in particular their flagship Córdoba and Guild lines, are revered throughout the world. We are honored to take on the next phase in maintaining and evolving these beloved brands.”

“Córdoba and Guild guitars, as well as our other products from HumiCase, DeArmond, Savarez, and Aquila have created a strong and lasting bond with both our customers and our employees,” added Miklaucic. “We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work on this transition with Yamaha, and I’m confident that both the customers and employees are
going to find that our brands are now in great hands.”

The addition of brands from Córdoba Music Group expands on the already wide variety of offerings for acoustic, electric, and bass guitar products from Yamaha, Line 6, and Ampeg. This new venture is an instant complement to Yamaha’s own array of nylon fretted instruments and adds ukuleles and acoustic bass guitars to the mix, as well as a selection of pickups, cases, and strings. The addition also brings with it skilled US-based premium guitar manufacturing and processes. All of this is in service to an initiative by Yamaha to continuously broaden the scope, quality, and innovation it can offer guitar players.

Over the next several months, the teams at Córdoba Music Group and Yamaha Guitar Group will be looking for opportunities and interesting ways to provide new value to their customers, dealers, and distributors.