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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | As some of you know, John Budny showed me around the factory last summer so I could take some background shots for the calendar. I remember him saying he would not have much time, so I shouldn't count on more than an hour.
About 20 minutes in, he led me into the, for lack of a better word, "museum" room. Then, simply because there is a God, John got paged and had to leave me there.....for well over an hour! By the time he got back and finished showing me around, I had been on site for nearly four hours. 
I suppose I could have taken more pictures in that room, but honestly, it wasn't long until the musician in me said "ENOUGH with the photography already! Time to play!"
It was like playing through a bit of history.....
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Let's start in mid '65.
Charley Kaman wasn't thinking "round" right out to the gate. Guess what number this body is?
This was followed soon after though with a level of radical that did the 60's proud! I give you.....#3!
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Not long after, the first complete Ovation guitar was built, round back and all. Now Bill Kaman had something to learn to play on..... 
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Other ideas came and went, and every single one sounded pretty darn impressive....
Edited by Patch 2014-02-27 4:12 PM
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Then Charley got crazy-creative and dreamed up the Adamas. And by many accounts, he kept the very best one for himself. This particular instrument sounds AWESOME!
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Some of the neatest things about the room are the developmental guitars kept there. It gives some ideas into the creative process involved in getting a new model to the market.
For example, Ovation was fooling around with carbon fiber guitars much earlier that anyone else. They proved to be too costly, but did lead to a short run of guitars known as "Q". Very.......Good.......Guitars.
And here is some insight into the development of the VXT hybrid Electric....
Edited by Patch 2014-02-27 4:23 PM
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I have to say that it is almost surreal to play one guitar after another that spans a range of nearly fifty years of very good design. In that same room were some of the best Adamii available today, including an Adamas mando. (I want one badly.......)
I'm telling you right now; if I ever get to spend quality time like that in there again, I might never make it back out......
Edited by Patch 2014-02-27 4:26 PM
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | And now things have come full-circle, and some of the most cutting edge guitars on the planet now keep good company with some of the best traditional builds of the modern era.
That place in New Hartford? It's worth a visit......
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Drool. Did you die, go to heaven (with your camera) then get resuscitated? |
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Location: Suisun City, Ca | The rosette on the early Balladeer and Charlie's Red slot-head... Wow! |
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Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Thank you very much Patch for sharing this with us. I'm envious.
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Location: Cicero, NY | As any of those who were fortunate enough to go through one (or more) Tours will tell you, it's a phenomenal hands on room full of history, innovation and excitement matched only by the talents and expertise of the people like Mr's Keller and Budney (and not just a few more) that allow you to see first-hand the magic that players like all of us have enjoyed immensely over the years.
As a side note, I enjoyed my first trip through a Smithsonian Museum this past Fall and it really made me smile to see an Adamas (1581 I believe) behind the glass.
...but THIS room was much more fun. Nice work, Patch. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Patch, thanks so much for sharing these amazing photos! It must a been in incredible experience! |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Will they be hiring a Night Watchman anytime soon? |
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Location: SoCal | amazing, even a banjo. thanks for sharing the pics. seeing #47 at NAMM and your pics show how great the work done on the 47RI that some of us have. |
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Location: NJ | I'd give some Major BodyParts for Q#10 (My All-Time Favourite Ovation) . . . . |
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Location: sitting at my computer | Cool. Thanx for that Patch. Tony Calman - amazing, even a banjo. omg... how'd that get in there?!  |
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Location: Flahdaw | Hard to believe that let you play them when you visit. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | the early small body was made for Buffy St Marie but she never got it.
The early Balladeer with the diamond and snowflake inlays was one I bought out in LA. you can see where the bowl was cut open and then patched.
Everyone thinks that #49 was his fav. Then why was #49 at the factory and #35 was at his house?
Nice that they are keeping that room in tact. |
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | Patch - this is MAGNIFICENT! Thanks for the inside peek. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | cwk2 - 2014-02-28 12:21 PM
The early Balladeer with the diamond and snowflake inlays was one I bought out in LA. you can see where the bowl was cut open and then patched.
TA-DAAAHHHH!!
Boy, did I take a lot of pictures that day...
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Location: Colorado | Isn't there a Q at the fillin' station in Florida? |
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Location: Indianapolis , Indiana | That's really cool, nice pics. |
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Location: Tuscany, Italy | Thank you Pacth !! |
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | Goodness gracious Patch! I thought I died and went to heaven...when I came too, I was scrolling through your post on Ovation Fan Club! Just fabulous. What a magnificent history Ovation has. Thanks for sharing part of it with us! |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | several Qs at the fillin station, 8&10 in running order, 7 and several as parts cars or restoration projects |
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Location: Colorado | IMHO, Most fun and Best Fillin Station in the World |
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Location: Atlanta, GA. | Thank you Patch for the pictorial tour of that amazing room and some of its treasures. I only wish I had taken advantage of at least one of the tours offered several years ago. |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | #67 looks like it has a lacquer finish... bet that's a tone machine.
Wayne |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | cholloway - 2014-03-01 12:23 PM
I only wish I had taken advantage of at least one of the tours offered several years ago.
 Yup!
Wonderful pics Patch.
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Thanks for the picture tour Patch....I actually played old #6 at the 2004 OFC factory tour! 
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Hi Patch. Awesome stuff and thanks for sharing the pictures. Can anyone just show up at the factory and get a tour? Do you have to call ahead for something like this? |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Sorry Jim, the factory rarely does any kind of tour anymore. John and Kim were kind enough to show me through because I was getting material for this year's calendar. It was sheer luck that John got called away because he apparently got held up somewhere, and that's what allowed me so much quality time in that room. I don't know if the Guild forum is still doing the annual tour thing or not? |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | So how did they get you out?
"Hey Patch, behind this door is our newest prototype". Patch walks through the door which slams shut and finds himself in the parking lot. |
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Location: Indiana | Wonder what's going to happen to all these historic instruments now that the factory is closing... |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Jonmark Stone - 2014-04-25 1:25 PM
Wonder what's going to happen to all these historic instruments now that the factory is closing...
BEAL! Go there and claim them.
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | At least claim #6 and #47. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | At the Tour in '07, we were able to play many of these awesome pieces of History...one of the thrills of my life was playing #47 and then playing #35 at the filling station the following year down south...and yes, you shoulda been there! |
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Location: Flahdaw | Jonmark Stone - 2014-04-25 4:25 PM
Wonder what's going to happen to all these historic instruments now that the factory is closing...
THAT may be the "Question Of The Year"!!! |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | I had the privilege to play that red slot head, which was Mr. Kaman's personal guitar. Truly one fantastic instrument!  |
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Location: Rego Park, NY, | Trboy - 2014-03-03 1:15 PM
Thanks for the picture tour Patch....I actually played old #6 at the 2004 OFC factory tour!
Hey, Did I take this picture of you? Mike I don't know who the next Ovation member of the year is and if I did you know you can get the name out of me.
Edited by Phil Wong 2014-04-29 7:12 AM
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Location: NJ | I think I (or Jeanette) might've taken ThatOne (if not I've got one VERY similar) . . . |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Actually my wife took THAT one.....I do have autographed 8 x 10 glossys available (operators are standing by ) |
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Location: Taxed To Death State | I have been told that the most dangerous room has been all packed up and is being shipped off to KMC HQ. Anyones guess where they go after that. Just hope they are cared for properly. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | If they're short of space, I'm re-renovating the mancave and will happily install some more guitar hangers. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I still think that, at a minimum, they should give Beal the opportunity to retrieve Old #6 and #47. One was his first guitar. The other was his father's. It just seems the decent thing to do. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Get the Janitor's keys
Park the van
Pull the fire Alarm (or arrange for the Ice Cream/Beer Truck to show up)
Nobody saw nuthin... |
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Location: Taxed To Death State | Patch, that's some perty historical stuff, I think one should be in the Smithsonian if there isn't one yet. |
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Location: Tuscany, Italy | patchmcg - 2014-04-29 12:16 AM
I still think that, at a minimum, they should give Beal the opportunity to retrieve Old #6 and #47. One was his first guitar. The other was his father's. It just seems the decent thing to do.
+1 |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | It was a real joy for those of us fortunate to attend a factory gathering to spend time in that room with all those historical models. I savored every minute of it. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It just seems the decent thing to do........
Ya think?
Well see........... |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | We're all rooting* for you.
(*Wait for Muzz to comment on that. It means something different in Australia) |
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There is a VERY DANGEROUS room at the factory in New Hartford, CT....
