The company was founded as a machine shop by John Kluson in Chicago in 1925.[1] Kluson had previously run a machine shop for Harmony Company. Kluson Manufacturing soon found a niche making tuners for string instruments, most prominently for the Gibson Guitar Corporation, to whom they were a major supplier. They also supplied other major guitar makers such as Fender, Martin, and Rickenbacker, among others.
Kluson lost one of their most important customers in 1976 when Gibson switched to Schaller tuning machines.[2] The company continued until 1981, when it folded.[3]
Revival of the Kluson brandedit
The Kluson brand was acquired by Larry Davis of WD Music Products in 1994. Under his leadership the product was reconstructed with improvements and the brand was reestablished with some of its former customers, including Gibson Guitar Corporation and Fender. Kluson-branded tuning machines are now produced in Korea by WD Music Products based in North Fort Myers, Florida. The Kluson brand was briefly licensed to TonePro Sound Labs Int'l, who produced a diecast version of the traditional Kluson-brand tuning machines.[4]
The Kluson brand todayedit
Original Reissuesedit
Kluson has re-engineered many of the original products lines. Kluson now produces technologically improved versions of their original stamped steel tuning machines, #9 tailpiece, Waffleback tuning machines, and Gibson Firebird banjo tuning machines.
Expanding the brandedit
In addition to re-engineering original catalog offerings, Kluson has also expanded to include Fender Telecaster, Fender Stratocaster, and Tune-o-matic bridges, tuning machine bushings, pickguard brackets, and other hardware made in the United States. The Kluson "Supreme" series was introduced[when?] as an 18:1 gear ratio upgrade to the original stamped steel tuning machines. A locking version of the vintage stamped steel tuning machines is also available.
Revolution Tuning Machinesedit
In 2015, the Kluson-brand expanded to produce a series of diecast tuning machines, the Revolution Tuning Machines, recognized as "Best In Show" by Guitar World after their debut at the NAMM Show.[5]
^Bacon, Tony; Day, Paul (1992). The Fender Book, A complete history of Fender electric guitars. London: Balafon Books. p. 92. ISBN1-87-154754-7.
^"WD Music’s" by Dan Ferrisi. The Music and Sound Retailer. May 30, 2014[1]
^"WD Music’s" by Dan Ferrisi. The Music and Sound Retailer. May 30, 2014[2]
^"NAMM 2015: NewBay Media Congratulates Best of Show Award Winners" by LWHITMORE "Guitar World" January 29, 2015[3]
External linksedit
Official website
April 12, 2024
kluson, manufacturing, company, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, js. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Kluson Manufacturing Company news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Kluson Manufacturing Company founded in 1925 was a prominent manufacturer of musical instrument tuning machines Contents 1 Origin 2 Revival of the Kluson brand 3 The Kluson brand today 3 1 Original Reissues 3 2 Expanding the brand 3 3 Revolution Tuning Machines 4 References 4 1 External linksOrigin editThe company was founded as a machine shop by John Kluson in Chicago in 1925 1 Kluson had previously run a machine shop for Harmony Company Kluson Manufacturing soon found a niche making tuners for string instruments most prominently for the Gibson Guitar Corporation to whom they were a major supplier They also supplied other major guitar makers such as Fender Martin and Rickenbacker among others Kluson lost one of their most important customers in 1976 when Gibson switched to Schaller tuning machines 2 The company continued until 1981 when it folded 3 Revival of the Kluson brand editThe Kluson brand was acquired by Larry Davis of WD Music Products in 1994 Under his leadership the product was reconstructed with improvements and the brand was reestablished with some of its former customers including Gibson Guitar Corporation and Fender Kluson branded tuning machines are now produced in Korea by WD Music Products based in North Fort Myers Florida The Kluson brand was briefly licensed to TonePro Sound Labs Int l who produced a diecast version of the traditional Kluson brand tuning machines 4 The Kluson brand today editOriginal Reissues edit Kluson has re engineered many of the original products lines Kluson now produces technologically improved versions of their original stamped steel tuning machines 9 tailpiece Waffleback tuning machines and Gibson Firebird banjo tuning machines Expanding the brand edit In addition to re engineering original catalog offerings Kluson has also expanded to include Fender Telecaster Fender Stratocaster and Tune o matic bridges tuning machine bushings pickguard brackets and other hardware made in the United States The Kluson Supreme series was introduced when as an 18 1 gear ratio upgrade to the original stamped steel tuning machines A locking version of the vintage stamped steel tuning machines is also available Revolution Tuning Machines edit In 2015 the Kluson brand expanded to produce a series of diecast tuning machines the Revolution Tuning Machines recognized as Best In Show by Guitar World after their debut at the NAMM Show 5 References edit Kluson at 90 by Christian Wissmuller Musical Merchandise Review January 29 2015http mmrmagazine com 80 all current issue 1978 kluson at 90 iconic tuner and replacement parts supplier has remained a go to brand for nearly a century html Bacon Tony Day Paul 1992 The Fender Book A complete history of Fender electric guitars London Balafon Books p 92 ISBN 1 87 154754 7 WD Music s by Dan Ferrisi The Music and Sound Retailer May 30 2014 1 WD Music s by Dan Ferrisi The Music and Sound Retailer May 30 2014 2 NAMM 2015 NewBay Media Congratulates Best of Show Award Winners by LWHITMORE Guitar World January 29 2015 3 External links edit Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kluson Manufacturing Company amp oldid 1182420919, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
