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October 2002
Posts: 181
Location: Queens, NY | Tacoma guitar forum -> Summer NAMM 2008 Report:
"I visited the FMC exhibit area which consumed hallway space and 2 rooms. There were no Tacomas there. I asked a FMC spokesperson, and she said that there are no current plans to resume production of Tacomas in Connecticut."
Anyone here know what's up about this? And I was just beginning to like Tacomas too! |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | First I've heard!! They would know better then us. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Let's not speculate here. If you know hard info, fine, but let's not take a whole thread to make guesstimates..... |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| There's nothing to suggest it on their website - although it seems to be up to date on the news front.
Anyone here ever play one of their archtops that were in their catalogue years ago? They had a passive EMG floating pup and I always thought they looked really cool. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | not speculating, just a fact ... tacoma made two guitars that were really special, the papoose, in all it's iterations, 6 string, 12 string and electric, plus a bass with a side sound hole.
As to the others, especially the side holers, they were as good as any. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Maybe I missed something...
I thought the Tacoma brand was dead and buried earlier this year when FMC announced the closing of the plant. Maybe I was just making assumptions, but I didn't see any evidence that FMC was talking about resuming Tacoma production in CT. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Let's not speculate here. If you know hard info, fine, but let's not take a whole thread to make guesstimates..... Why not? :p |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I was under the impression that it was going to go away completely eventually. At least that's what the local buzz was. Haven't heard anything in a while though.
Just a silly wood box anyway. Wood boxes are a dime a dozen.
Maybe Fender should buy Taylor and cease production. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I figure that they bought Kaman to get Hamer and Ovation, and maybe that drum company (who knows).
Tacoma is just a small kinda specialty company... I bet they would sell it to the workers if they got the money together.
more random speculation and guesstimating. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I NEVER EVER heard mention of tacoma and CT |
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November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | No great loss anyway. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I don't know if I would despair...at Winter NAMM, Fender was a closed exhibit unless you were a dealer with an appointment. Staff at entrance appeared to be security without product knowledge. Maybe a couple of their popular lines will be "off shore" or have a Guild headstock. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Here's what I know:
FMIC bought Tacoma Guitars.
FMIC slowed production of the center hole units and capitolized on the "Wing" series.
FMIC leaned heavy on the overseas made "Olympia" series.
FMIC moves the Guild manufacture/assembly portions into the Tacoma Plant. This boosted both products and Employees because they got to make nice guitars.
FMIC buys Kaman Music.
FMIC directs the low end of Ovation to go offshore and seems to be on the side of keeping the "Pull-Order" system for Hamer, Adamas and special Ovations.
FMIC moves parts of Guild into the CT Plant. These people also have experience working the Tacoma instruments.
FMIC to close the Tacoma Plant.
Future of Tacoma name guitars - uncertain.
Future of Ovation/Adamas/Hamer - most likely maintain high end, pull order supply with a sustainable back order and market based pricing.
? - Cross train work force to process multiple Name instruments to spec. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by gulfcoast:
No great loss anyway. I have a DR-20 that booms. Although it's on my sell 'short list', I'm not sure if I'll get rid of it.
Other than the notorious finish 'bubble' issue, it's one fine git! At least mine hasn't 'checked'...
Another US git blown away with the wind is a sad day for traditionalists. If Tacomas disappear, I'll hold on to mine for the G-babies! |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 118
Location: Winter Haven, FL | Originally posted by an4340:
not speculating, just a fact ... tacoma made two guitars that were really special...plus a bass with a side sound hole.
Are you talking about the Thunderchief bass ? I wanted one of those pretty bad a while back. Still wouldn't mind having one. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | (missed my posting slot. Responding here to the lament of a possible passing of a product into the mists of history, where only the Smithsonian and the local museum have an example...)
Yeah, yeah. I hope you enjoy that while you're sipping yer Lime Ricky, the cuffs rolled up on yer Chinos, and yer hair slicked back with pomade.
Things come and go. Even the Roman Empire only lasted 500 (or 800, depending on how you count it) years.
Most here are of an age when things were better back when we were kids IONSHO. That's called Growing Old. Not to be confused with Growing Up, which is completely separate and just as optional. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | "I may grow old... But I will Never grow up!" |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Not to be confused with Growing Up, which is completely separate and just as optional. Braaaaatzzzz! Sorry, growing older is not an option. Just like gravity, aging 'sucks' but with some grand rewards... 
Growing up is a choice... not necessarily a requirement for joy in life! But it does help in puttin' grits on the table and Ovations on the wall. ;) |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | MWoody,
Reading between the lines I can see where it's going, but I won't speculate
KPaul,
I believe that's it, they were real nice. |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | My brother has a fretless Thunderchief that is incredible. I have both a 6-string papoose and a solid Koa small jumbo 6-string, and I can tell you from playing many Tacomas that they were (at least pre-FMC) very nice mid-grade instruments. Good sound, playability, and cosmetically appealing...and as long as they were a local shop, it was a very cool thing to support and show off.
My concern as well was that the brand would eventually dissappear when they moved out to CT. I have similar concerns for historic parts of Ovation and Adamas, seeing as how many changes have occurred thus far. Either way, I'm holding on to my soon-to-be-collectible instruments, and would encourage anyone to at least find a Tacoma to try before they become impossible to find. |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I always wanted a 12 string Papoose. I knew I wouldn't have the money for it, but at least it was a dream.
John <>{ |
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OT: Tacoma fans, this is not encouraging.