Saga Music and manufacturing in China

Richard Keldsen of Saga MusicIf you’ve taken a look at student model and mid-range musical instruments of late, chances are you have seen some of the many instruments distributed by Saga Music.

Their brands include the Kentucky, Rover and Trinity College mandolins, Blue Ridge and Regal guitars, Gold Star, Rover and Saga banjos and the Cremona violins and basses. They also distribute popular instrument accessories by Shubb, Golden gate, National and Anton Breton, all familiar to bluegrass pickers.

Saga founder Richard Keldsen has been doing business with Chinese companies for more than 25 years, and is among the most successful importers of Chinese-made musical instruments in the US.

Keldsen is interviewed in a recent video segment for BNET.com where he discusses the challenges of outsourcing to China. The piece doesn’t have any specifically bluegrass content, but should be of interest to anyone who owns one of their instruments.

Watch the full 8 minute interview on BNET.com.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.