CBS owned TV and radio networks, record labels and film companies. In the early '60s they developed a strategy to become a complete, diversified entertainment company. CBS bought Fender back in the '60s to be the anchor of its new CBS Musical Instruments division. At one time it owned Fender, Rhodes electric pianos, Steinway pianos, several other keyboard companies including the remains of the bankrupt ARP, Rogers drums (my son had a set), even the company that manufactured the Leslie. Years later I discovered CBS produced band instruments for high schools!

Obviously, the strategy didn't work well. CBS sold Fender for less than what it paid for it 20 yrs earlier. Another CBS acquisition in a different form of entertainment, the New York Yankees, failed miserably as CBS road the team into the ground in the '60s and '70s until Steinbrenner saved the once proud franchise. They got into publishing, toy manufacturing and other businesses they knew nothing about until everything got sold off in the mid-'80s.

You gotta go with what you know!

Well, when I worked for CBS musical instruments back in the early 80's, It was Fender, Rogers and Rhoads. In the woodshop, depending on what was needed at the time we could be doing guitar body's one day, amp & cabs and next, piano box's or drum components.

That was why the thee of them combined forces when the built the plant, they all needed a larger work force but with the ups and owns of demand, they would have to hire and lay off there work force, by combining there three companies there were able to keep there work force stable and share resources.

Yes, I think that is what Martin is saying.

I was a Fender dealer and we carried the Rogers drums. They were good drums. Well made and with good hardware. When Tama drums by Ibanez came along, the Rogers sales declined. Tama had lots of pro indorsements (Pert, Cobham, etc.) along with excellent hardware.

That is pronounced I-Ben-had.

Not that I am bitter....

You had a problem with their drums?

Right. That's what I said but they didn't read or advertise, "Rogers by Fender" or some such thing if that's what you mean.

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You dig?

Got to say, Rogers Drums were great before Fender got them.

Yup, baldwin was bought out by Gibson in 2001. This is the Jimi piano:

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

. . . before CBS got them.