Funny. My free association between "Yamaha" and "music" is pianos.
Well that was in fact their original business, from the "usual source":
"Yamaha was established in 1887 as a piano and reed organ manufacturer by Torakusu Yamaha as in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka prefecture and was incorporated on October 12, 1897. The company's origins as a musical instrument manufacturer are still reflected today in the group's logo—a trio of interlocking tuning forks.[4]"
and:
"Yamaha has grown to become the world's largest manufacturer of musical instruments (including pianos, "silent" pianos, drums, guitars, brass instruments, woodwinds, violins, violas, celli, and vibraphones), as well as a leading manufacturer of semiconductors, audio/visual, computer related products, sporting goods, home appliances, specialty metals and industrial robots.[6]"
Seem to recall reading some reviews a few years back indicating many symphony orchestras and concert halls consider them to be the finest pianos money can buy.
Just for giggles:
Obviously they know a thing or 2 about wood and construction and much as I'm a "US-built guitar" loyalist I agree with TwoCorgis: a Yamaha acquisition of Gibson can only be a good thing for Gibson.
It's an obvious interlocking fit of existing specialties for each.
And it is about the approaching servicing due on loans, and investors wanting their money, not anything inherently broken about the business.
Just like it was for Fender a few years back.
That bit about investors potentially wanting Juskiewicz to cash out some of his equity was the telling point:
"Kevin Cassidy, a senior credit officer at Moody’s Investors Service, says Juszkiewicz essentially has just three options: He and his team could negotiate an exchange of their debt coming due for new notes, which may not be feasible at a reasonable price.
He also could be persuaded — or forced — to give up some of his equity in exchange for the debt payments. Or he may end up taking one of the most globally recognized brands that calls Nashville home to bankruptcy court.."