SAMICK Music Corp.
Company History:
In 1960, Samick quickly turned to manufacturing and the company
began building its own pianos, using imported parts, under its own
name.
The company’s initial production remained limited, preferring
easy-to-build upright piano models which were initially targeted at
the South Korean domestic market. By 1964, Samick’s manufacturing
confidence and capability had grown sufficiently, allowing the
company to make its first moves into the more lucrative export
market. At the same time, the company began to extend its production
into other musical instrument categories, most notably, guitars.
The rock and roll boom following the success of Elvis Presley, as
well as the Beatles, had created a worldwide demand for acoustic and
electric guitars. Samick’s own guitar production began in 1965 and
focused on producing high-quality, entry-level product lines for the
U.S. market. In the 1970s, Samick slowly moved toward a higher
quality market. The company continued to improve its piano
manufacturing techniques, and in 1970 its production abilities had
developed sufficiently for it to launch its first grand pianos.
At the same time, the company began to step up quality of its guitar
production as well. Technological improvements continued into the
1980s. Samick began working with Klaus Fenner from Germany, with the
result of Samick pianos being awarded the “Gold Prize” in both 1985
and 1988 in the “The World Piano Quality Contest” held by Diapason,
an international musical magazine based out of France. Samick has
also obtained ISO 9002, and TUV certification. Both certifications
help to ensure stringent standards in the manufacture of our musical
instruments.
Today, Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. is one of the world’s
largest producers of musical instruments in the world. Samick’s
pianos are sold under the Samick name as well as under a variety of
brand names, including Kohler & Campbell, Pramberger, Sohmer,
Remington, and Knabe. With a manufacturing capability of more than
one million guitars per year in factories in Korea, Indonesia,
China, and the United States, Samick also ranks as the world’s
leading stringed instrument producer. The company sells its guitars
under its own brand names including Samick, Abilene, Silvertone, and
the Greg Bennett Signature series.
The company made another bold move in 2006 by moving its American
corporate headquarters to Gallatin, Tennessee (near Nashville) and
builT a new two-story, 14,000 square foot Adams Federal Colonial
style building. The new complex also includes a 200,000 square foot
warehouse to be used for piano manufacturing, as well as piano and
guitar warehousing and service.
With deep respect for our past, we now pledge ourselves to the
future, concentrating on the production of the world’s finest
quality instruments. And we intend to make the musical needs of our
valued consumers our top priority.