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Location: Nashville TN. | Tacoma Guitars to close Pierce County plant
C.R. ROBERTS; The News Tribune
Last updated: February 1st, 2008 01:46 PM (PST)
Tacoma Guitars is leaving Tacoma. The 44,000-square-foot plant in Frederickson will be closed by the end of the year, and 70 employees are being given assistance, said Jason Padgitt, spokesman for Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, this afternoon.
Fender is the latest owner of the brand. The move, Padgitt said, is being made because of economies of scale with other Fender brands. Manufacturing will move to Connecticut. The complete line of Guild Guitars, manufactured in Tacoma, will also move east.
"It certainly wasn’t anything anyone looked at as an easy decision," Padgitt said. "It had to do with the long-term success of the brands overall."
Ferdinand Boyce, now retired, managed the Tacoma facility during its most productive years – when the employee count hit 96. Boyce said late Thursday that he was surprised at the news the plant was closing.
"I think the view of management of how to attack the marketplace moved away from the heart and soul of music," he said. "Fender’s commitment obviously is to make money." |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I feel bad for them. These things always suck. But, (see my comments on the other thread). |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Wow! We were concerned for the employees in New Hartford. There may be some job openning there
Good for New Hartford. Bad for the one losing there Jobs out west. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | America was built on rising and falling Industries. In each it was the sweat, craft and effort of the workers that made the success or took the cost.
I pray for opportunity for all of those involved.
This represents my four favorite Brandnames here. Yikes! |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I agree with you on the brand thing. All my favorite brands are under one roof. I mean literally under one roof. I really look forward to the tour in the fall.
And also, the Tacoma folks have all my sympathy. I hope Fender takes care of them. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | It's interesting that each have their own niche.
We all know about O+A's. Tacoma has their wing models with the bolt on neck (excellent guitars, papooses and mandos) and Guild solid wood boxes with traditional round holes. |
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Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | "A window opens, when a door closes." Maybe some enterprising entrepeneurial luthier will use the Tacoma facility. |
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Posts: 29
Location: Reading, Pa. | How kong has Fender owned Kaman Industries. I just found out about it on the AG forum. Everybody over ther seems worried that Ovation knows nothing about solid wood guitars. People are so annoying with their preconcieved notions about Ovation. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | deal happened last quater last year...
One reason Guild is being moved IS because they were very impressed with the Ovation/Hamer facility... |
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Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Its a new thing (Fender buying Kaman)...just in the last few months.
As for the worriers...people hate change. But they also love change. I guess we have a love/hate relationship with change. |
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Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Or a hate/love thing about stasis.
Either way you'll be happy and sad.
Damned schizo's!
(who you talkin' too?) |
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Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Gives you an appreciation for discerning differences. Knowledge is helpful; Wiser is practical. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Blurb from yesterday's courant.
It was unclear Monday how many jobs the move would bring to Connecticut. The Tacoma, Wash., facility employs approximately 70 people. Workers in New Hartford will make higher-end Guild models and all existing Tacoma products, Padgitt said.
Looks like the lower end guild's will be made where the lower end tacomas (aka Olympias) are made. Actually, the Olympias aint too bad.
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-guild0205.artfeb05,0,651892.stor... |
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Tacoma Guitars to close Pierce County plant
