If you read my post last year about The Music Link going under, you know the music world took a gut punch when it dragged Recording King, The Loar, and Guardian cases down with it. For a minute there, it looked like one of the last bastions of affordable, pre-war-style acoustic gear was gone for good.
Turns out, the story isn’t over.
Back in August 2025, St. Louis Music (SLM)—the U.S.-based outfit out of Missouri behind Alvarez guitars—stepped up to the plate and acquired exclusive global distribution, sales, and product development rights for both Recording King and The Loar.
What’s Actually Happening?
When SLM took over, the rumor mill started churning. Like Alvarez, these instruments are designed and managed out of the U.S. while being manufactured overseas to keep prices accessible—and when SLM leadership (led by Chris Meikle, who famously helped breathe new life into Alvarez) got a look at the existing warehouse inventory from the shutdown, they didn’t just rubber-stamp it. They flagged quality control issues, rejected subpar stock, and pushed for a heavier focus on refinement, lighter tops, and better setup consistency.
Rather than rushing out a quick cash grab, they spent a year retooling. Now, the wait is officially over:
Recording King: The 2026 Standard Series and Dirty 30’s models are rolling out, featuring classic favorites like the Bluesmasters, 12-fret 000s, slope-shoulders, and dreadnoughts sporting torrefied (thermo-cured) Sitka spruce tops and vintage bursts.
The Loar: The sister brand’s archtops and mandolins are officially back on the roster too, retooled with upgraded specs like UV-cured nitrocellulose finishes.
Where to Find Them
You won’t just be scouring sketchy garage listings on Reverb anymore. Dedicated acoustic and independent shops like The Acoustic Shoppe, which is my favorite place to buy an acoustic guitar online and Alamo Music are helping lead the charge on the revival, alongside major national retailers like Sweetwater, which already has the new 2026 lineup—like the all-mahogany 00066—landing in stock.
Gramps’ Final Verdict
Look, anytime a brand gets bought out, you hold your breath. But putting Recording King and The Loar in the hands of St. Louis Music feels like the right match. They know how to oversee overseas production and manage acoustic lines without pricing out the working musician.
The pre-war vibe is alive again. If the new batch lives up to the promise, that middle ground in the guitar market just got a whole lot healthier.
Watch The Acoustic Shoppe’s Discussion About Recording King Returning – Click Here
The Acoustic Shoppe’s Recording King Review – Click Here
Alamo Music and Cooper Greenberg’s Review the New Recording King – Click Here