After more than a year of uncertainty, Vintage Guitars has a future. UK distributor John Hornby Skewes & Co. (JHS), which created the brand 30 years ago, has transferred Vintage and its classical guitar line Santos Martinez to Musik Wein GmbH, an independent music products distributor in Isernhagen, Germany.
The short version
Musik Wein now owns Vintage and Santos Martinez outright.
It takes over design, development, manufacturing and worldwide sales.
JHS stopped offering both brands to UK and international customers from Sept. 25, 2026.
Vintage plans to exhibit at Winter NAMM 2027.
Vintage, the UK budget brand, is now owned by Germany's Musik Wein. Photo: vintageguitarsus.com
Why Vintage was in limbo
JHS announced in 2025 that it was winding down its operations, despite remaining profitable. That left Vintage, a long-running source of affordable takes on classic designs, without a clear home.
Musik Wein is not a stranger. It has distributed Vintage in Germany and Austria since 2016, so it already knows the catalog: the ReIssued, ICON, REVO, ProShop and Coaster series, artist signatures, LAKA ukuleles and Vintage Bluegrass instruments. Its CEO, Ralf Rohrbach, said the company was honoured to take over.
The deal covers the full operation: guitars and basses, amplification, effects pedals, accessories and merchandise. The handover was timed to Guitar Summit in Mannheim, Sept. 25 to 27, where Vintage exhibited under its new owner. In the official statement, JHS executive chairman Dennis Drumm thanked the distributors, dealers and players who supported the brand over its 30 years.
What happens next
Drumm is staying on for the short term to help with the handover. In an interview filmed at Guitar Summit, he hinted that Musik Wein could bring some unexpected ideas by Winter NAMM 2027. Musik Wein says it will contact international distributors and stores to rebuild the brand's retail network. For UK shops, that is the practical change: Vintage and Santos Martinez orders now go to Musik Wein in Germany rather than JHS, so dealers should expect new terms and contacts in the coming months.
Why it matters
For the trade, this is consolidation in the budget segment, where Thomann's Harley Benton has set a tough pace. A distributor taking full control of a brand it once only carried gives it control over margin and product direction. For players, Vintage has a cult following beyond its price. Joe Bonamassa bought a modded Vintage Les Paul copy in the UK years ago, and it helped inspire his affordable Epiphone signature line.