Thierry Rayna / Ludmila Striukova
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers
This paper examines the development paths taken by the two main electric guitar manufacturers, Gibson and Fender, and explores the reasons that led to this way of development, in particular changing users’ tastes and Gibson’s and Fender’s attempts to increase their respective market share. In addition, the rate of innovation, and the evolution of this rate, is analysed for both companies. This research is based on two detailed case studies, that provide an overview of industry development, as well as an empirical analysis of the patent statistics related to these two companies.
Rayna, Thierry and Striukova, Ludmila, Engineering vs. Craftsmanship: Innovation in the Electric Guitar Industry (1945-1984) (May 1, 2008). DIME Working Paper on Intellectual Property Rights No. 68. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1353905 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1353905
Engineering vs. Craftsmanship: Innovation in the Electric Guitar Industry (1945-1984)
