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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Well I spent the past couple of days in New Hartford, I think I literally shut down production by bringing my D'Angelico up there and had a great time talking to many of the people that I have grown to know and even call friends at the factory.
While up there I got "Paged" that there was a call for me. It was Rick Hall, we have been trying to touch base with each other concerning the OFC day plans and I guess it took me to travel to CT for us to hook up by phone. LOL
Well here are the plans as they stand now.
We will use the Ramada by the Bradley airport in Windsor Locks as our hotel. Rick is going to talk to them, reserve a block of rooms and get OFC members the corporate rate. If you call for reservations ask for the Kaman/Ovation Fan Club rate.
You will need to find transportation to the hotel from the airport. Ovation will provide us with a bus from the Hotel to the factory. This will be how we are transported throughout the day.
(please note this is a tenative schedule and could change)
Once at the factory we will get a tour of the Ovation facilities. This will also include a look at the Adamas "Q" operation which has NEVER been made public before. (I am not sure if we will need to swear an oath of secrecy or not!!!)
We will also be given a tour of the Hamer guitar operation, which are also made in the same building.
The bus will take us to a local rented hall for a catered buffet lunch.
Back to the factory after lunch. Completion of our tours of the facilities. There will be a round table discussion with the members of the fan club and the Ovation company staff. Have your questions prepared this is where to ask them. Rick told me that anything asked is fair game and will be answered as long as it does not involve proprietary secrets that cannot be revealed.
After this session there will be an opportunity to look at some current guitar models and if you are interested in a custom order or purchasing you would be able to place those orders or get some questions answered.
There will be a drawing for a giveaway guitar, so every member that attends gets a chance to win an Ovation guitar. Rick also told me that we was going to prepare a special "goodies bag" filled with cool Ovation stuff for our group so that everyone will go home with some momento of our day at the factory. (Rick and I discussed the idea of a guitar model developed for Fan club members only and although it will not be a reality this year, don't rule something like this out for our NEXT event!)
Back on the bus back to the hall, for a catered dinner. After Dinner, Matt Smith will do a "chop shop". For those of you not familiar with Matt he is a stellar player and teacher. He does seminars for both Ovation and Hamer and although I have never been to one, I am told that the information you gain from one of his "chop shops" is equal to taking lessons for a year. Matt has ideas for players of all skill levels. If you never heard Matt play, be prepared I can sit and watch him for hours he is a fine musician and performer.
After Matt's presentation, He will organize a "round circle" jam where anyone who wishes to perform can bring up their favorite guitar and play. In my estimation this time is where we can share the instruments we love and play some music, socialize and get to know each other and should be the highlight of the day.
After this back to the hotel on the Ovation magic Bus.
I would like to thank Rick Hall in all his efforts to prepare this day and to insure that it will be a success. I am confident that everyone will be satisfied on their visit to "Mecca".
Just some housekeeping stuff. If you have not registered you must register and fill out the on line form to attend the tour.
There has been a question concerning wives and children and Miles has made an addendum to the form. I am not sure if Children will be allowed on the tour. Remember this is a working factory and they are not shutting down production but demonstrating each step of the process in making a guitar. There are some potential dangers that exist and that has to be kept in mind while visiting the production end.
So Friday March 28th is the day. I will be up there probably on the evening of Thursday the 27th, after I go over some last minute stuff during the day.
I anticipate this event to be a great time and very informative to those who have never been to the factory. I have to admit that the operation has changed so much that everytime that I go there something has changed and it has been 7 or 8 years now. In fact, yesterday while picking out a top for a customer's Hamer guitar, I noticed that the brace department was moved from where the Kiln area and wood storage is. I walked into the room and immediately said "hey where do you do the braces now?" Maybe I know that factory too well....
Please submit your recordings for the CD project!!!!! |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 56
| Wow. That sounds like a great tour. Thanks for all your hard work Al.
For those of us who cannot make it, can someone please bring a digital camera and take a load of photos?
Thanks!
Alina |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 61
| how will the factory tour go if members are also employees ? Do we need to keep working or will we be able to take part in the fun as well?Maybe we should put in for a vacation day......But who will run all the cool machines for those who don't work there....hum more thought needed on this one...... :rolleyes: |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | ovation06057
I think you will have to work that out with Frank Untermeyer, I had several employees wonder about how they can both work and participate that day, but I think it would be real cool to have any of those that work in the factory join us for the events of the day, but like you said if all the mice are away playing who is going to demonstrate the machinery????
Alina
I have no clue where you are from but airfare are reasonable if booked in advance and the more that show up the better it will be. Don't worry we will take tons of photos and I am sure there will be many stories told on the board. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Hey, can we talk our friends who are going into picking up an extra "goodie" bag and sending it to those of us less fortunate? |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | sorry the amount of goodie bags are in direct proportion to the amount of those attending. (to the best of my knowlege)
hop on a plane paul!!!!!!! |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | alpep, what time is everything starting on Friday? I just got tentative approval from my wonderful wife to attend :D
I guess we need to arrive on Thursday?
Will we paying for the meals?
The itineray looks good. If I do get the go ahead I was wondering about anyone's advice on taking guitars on flights. I have a Hamer guitar I don't play much, but it is a great guitar that my again wonderful wife rescued from a pawn shop (yeah, I am the original owner it's a graphic, and she bought it back from the shop it got lost to, I'll never do that again :rolleyes: !) but I'd like to have the factory look at it to do some finish work - it's all cracking off at the tuning keys and has a couple of other major dinks in it.
I searched the Hamer Fan Club about finish work but came up with no information.
Thanks for all the organizational work for the tour.
Paul(hoping to register soon for the tour)Wag |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Paul
the factory starts at 6am expect that we will be at the factory at 8 or 9 I would suppose. I have NOT worked that detail out with Rick yet.
The hotel provides a free breakfast and Ovation is providing a buffet lunch and dinner.
As for your Hamer Call Kim Keller the factory service rep and ask him about bringing in the guitar. He will best advise you on that,
AS for bringing the guitar on the plane a good padded gig bag and take it as a carry on should work. Call the airline first and make sure. NEVER check the guitar with luggage unless it is in a flight case. I have heard of some people being told to take the strings off the guitar in some airlines so you may want to look into that. Unfortunately in these times even a guitar string can be considered a weapon. |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Thanks for the info. Looks like Thursday arrival is in order. I'll start making plans. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7248
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Bradley International is a rather small airport, although serviced by several airlines. Pretty easy to get around and such. Just be sure that if you need to meet someone, or are looking for something that relates to the airport, ask WHICH TERMINAL. "Outside baggage claim" or even a seeminly more specific "Outside baggage claim of SW airlines" means you can be at one of two places that are at opposite ends of the airport. You need to know terminal "a" or "b". Will save you some time. |
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October 2002
Posts: 30
| I've been putting some serious consideration into driving down. I live around toronto, ontario. If there are any other canadian ovation fans that want to go we could possibly car pool. I don't know for sure if I'm going but there's a good chance I will attend. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 35
Location: Reading, PA | Has the sign-up form been changed yet to allow for additional guests?
Thanks,
Jim |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Yes Jim did you read the previous posts or check it out?
sign up and come and join the fun!!!!! |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7248
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Actually Jim it has NOT been modified yet. I will work on it later this evening. |
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January 2003
Posts: 146
Location: Ct./ USA | Ho ho he he he;
I am one of the mice. You can not get me off my machines. Have fun, but DO NOT FEED THE Meece, we have lots of wittlin to do. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7248
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I added a box at the bottom of the Signup form so that folks can note how many people in their party will be attending the Tour. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Okay let me be first to ask the obligatory "stupid question".
I'm already signed up for the tour.
I need to add my girlfriend who will be accompanying me.
Do I need to re-sign up as "2", or do I just repeat the process for one more person.
I just don't want to screw up your "count". |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7248
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I'll just change and add a "2" to yours. Consider it done. The count that shows on the scroll is strictly a signup count. Not attendence count.
Miles |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Thank you, sir. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7248
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Ok... I lied :) The count that scrolls across the bottom is the attendance count. Sometimes things are easier to do than I initially think they will be. If anyone that was signed up is planning on having a spouse or sig.-other with them, let me know and I will update your "total in party" number. This only applies IF THEY ARE ATTENDING THE TOUR. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Has anyone thought of possibly contacting a major guitar magazine (like Acoustic Guitar) about this?
It might be worthy of a story (or at least a mention).
I mean how often does a major guitar company open it's doors to an international contingency of users/fans converging on the place at the same time? Betcha' Taylor doesn't do it (and if they do, they probably promote/organize it themselves, as opposed to the fans seeking them out and requesting it.
Might be good publicity for the Board (and might possibly earn Ovation some of the respect that it deserves). |
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March 28 OFC tour
