Official Reception for Two Old Hippies Owner after Breedlove Merger
Local officials were recently formally introduced to the new owner of Breedlove Guitars after – in the fine musical tradition of jamming together – the renowned Bend-based instrument-maker became part of the Two Old Hippies family.
Tom Bedell, one of the eponymous Two Old Hippies along with wife, Molly, told the assembled dignitaries that when the opportunity to acquire Breedlove came along, he jumped at the chance to bring it into the fold, and on subsequent visits had continued to be impressed by both the enthusiasm and craftsmanship of the workforce and the embrace of the Bend community.
“We’ve always admired Breedlove’s spark, quality and innovations,” said Bedell.
“The Breedlove Company team is also very versatile and full of potential and it is refreshing to see how everyone seems to look forward to coming to work.”
While the initial plan is to continue to operate with little change in the Breedlove distribution network, programs or product lines in the near future; with an enthusiastic team, new product plans in place, and improved operations, Bedell sees a clear path forward, adding, “We have the people in place, we have the tools, and we know what to do. Now we just have to go and do it.”
Bedell said that the addition of Breedlove to the Two Old Hippies’ Great Divide and Bedell guitar brands gives the company the capacity to provide musicians at any level of ability or financial wherewithal the best possible instrument for the money.
“We’re musicians first,” he said, “and we want to provide the best possible instrument available for all of the players out there who continue to embody the things that we love – ‘Peace, Love, and Rock n’ Roll’.”
The synergy in the merger is palpable as both Bedell and Breedlove co-founder and designer Kim Breedlove are products of the ’60s and the philosophy of that era never left either one of them.
While Bedell grew up in Iowa and Breedlove in San Diego, the ethos of the time and the influence of the budding folk and rock n’ roll cultures left indelible marks on both men, driving them to play, buy, sell, design and build guitars.
Bedell said that his journey began in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and when Beatlemania hit “music became my world.”
At the age of 14, he began importing guitars from Japan, placed the family surname on the label and Bedell Guitar Company was born.
He sold guitars to neighborhood kids who were “crazy for music” and taught them how to play. He also produced single 45s and booked gigs for local bands and soon opened a second store during what he described as “a glorious time.”
A budding music career was sidetracked after a foray into political consulting and a plea from his father to help in what was at the time a relatively struggling family fishing equipment business.
After an initial couple of years battling financial headwinds, Bedell soon displayed his keen business acumen and built the company into a $500 million supplier of fishing tackle.
In 2007, he sold what had become a market leader known as Pure Fishing, and retired to his yacht, sailing in the South Pacific.
But time spent cruising to prime fishing destinations around the world, left him restless, and in 2008, he quit retirement and ended his 40-year sabbatical from the music business when he and Molly purchased The Great Divide – “a funky little Bluegrass and music shop” in Aspen, Colorado.
They promptly took off on a road trip to visit music stores around the country. Upon returning to Aspen, they renamed their store Two Old Hippies, and pledged to make it “the coolest guitar shop in the West” developing a selection of fine fretted instruments, along with an imaginative selection of “hippie chic” clothing and memorabilia inspired by Molly’s penchant for comfort and color.
Fast forward to the present day and Kim Breedlove says of the synergy between the Two Old Hippies and Breedlove operations, “It’s just an amazing fit. Tom and I only met a few months ago, but the level of convergence, passion, experiences, and commitment to the values we learned growing up in the sixties is amazing.
“Breedlove is just a natural fit for the culture at Two Old Hippies – it’s all about doing the right thing, feeling good, and remembering what got us excited about the music business in the first place.”
Breedlove, which was founded in 1990 and also makes mandolins and ukuleles as well as guitars, will continue operations in its current 20,000 square foot facility close to Summit High School and will expand to create the Bedell USA Custom Shop.
Kim Breedlove will continue to drive Breedlove product development, and Bedell has the ideal platform to further advance his Bedell and Great Divide creations.
The new leadership team is also continuing the “Extraordinary Experience” program – in which customers get to see their instrument made while enjoying Central Oregon’s finest attractions – and the burgeoning annual Breedlove festival staged at the Bend site.
This year’s festival, on July 16, includes a stellar line-up of pickers – including The California Guitar Trio, Friday’s Child, Off in the Woods, Bill Keale, Franchot Tone, Hilst & Coffey, Betty and the Boy, Quincy Street Band and Joshua Craig Podolsky – plus a clinic organized in conjunction with legendary producer Bob Johnston, who made a significant impact in the early careers of the likes of Simon and Garfunkel and Bob Dylan. A talent competition is also planned with contestants vying to win an extraordinary Breedlove guitar.
www.breedlovemusic.com, www.twooldhippies.com.
