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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 389
Location: RI. That small State out East | I arrived about 2:30 pm Th. I met Mike and his wife before I could open the door to my room. (Yes, I did have 3 guitar cases) It was great fun meeting and sharing (OK showing off the guitars)Mike and his wife just drove up from SC.
About 4:30pm we went to the lobby and met up with Al and Miles. (Yes, Miles rode his "Bike" from MD) We now have a "party" of 5. Let's see NJ,MD,SC,RI...
Cliff was next or maybe Bill (aka Willard)... Cliff brought Paul T. and 3 friends from the UK. (OK add one more NJ, a WI and 4 Brits) We've gone international! Paul's friend Dan (I think that was his name) added a great sound palying and singing. He fit in like... One of us.
This is where I will leave someone out... Sorry...
Jonny from PA, and his wife along with Karen A, and significant other... Tommy from PA, Hisonner from TX... Michael from CA, and Moody P.I. came in around 8:00pm.
The pre meeting, meeting was up and running full speed. Having the guitars as the center of attraction... "Oh, Hi my name is... Wow, that's one of the... May I..."
We had Adamas I 12's, to a new LX. A new Slothead 6 acoustic, a few real nice CL's, an Adamas cut away textured top that went to Japan and back...
Everyone who wanted to play, played. Have you "tasted" this one? LOT'S OF SMILES! Three or four players stretching th "O's" out at a time.
THIS ALONE IS/WAS WORTH THE TRIP. This split up around midnight.
FRIDAY:
The vans picked us up around 8:00 and the 20 min drive to the factory was a neat "New England" drive through the country. The weather was perfect for March. I think it hit 65*.
Rick H. (Product Mgr. for Ovation) was our host and introduced all the "players" within the company. Department heads and length of employment... A lot of guitar making tallent in the room. (THE LX. WAS/IS THE STORY) Neck, bowel, pre amp... All new and... Let's just say we have a winner.
We split into two groups and walked Ovation and Hamer guitar factory. You get within feet/inches of different sections. You see from the "raw wood" to the finished guitar. Very cool! Yes, this is a special tour.
After the tour we had the Q&A session, drawing for gifts... And Yes. A new Legend LX went to "playadamas"... Nice guitar.
The jam session was set up in an "Old church" (my guess) now an Elks club... Very New England "old quaint"...
The Kim Keller sound equipment was all set up. A nice PA, several amps, 4 or 5 mic's... Let's just say it is more of a system than most play through.
This is where everyone who wanted to play jumped up on stage and let it fly.
Good food, good music, great guitars, (Yes Cliff brought his Slothead) A very good time.
Several chipped in for the set break down...
And I had to take off for home.
The party was still going on. It just moved to the hotel.
Thanks again to Al and Miles for the OFC. Thanks to Rick, Kim, John, and all the Ovation staff for a great tour.
Woz |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Hey Woz,
You forgot to mention how nice the weather was. Yeah, jamming in the lobby thurs night was great. I enjoyed the entire 2 days.
Tommy M. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Hey Woz,.. You forgot Me! I had a great time meeting everyone. I arrived at 9:30am to the hotel and was the first one their...Fianlly after checking in and catching a short nap.. i made my way back to the lobby. Met Mike(Trboy) and his wife mary beth, Met Craig(Hizzoner) Al and Miles,
Paul Templeman, Cliff, Johhny(Strummin'12)Paul Wagoner and his wife Shannon, Paul Moody(Moody PI)and a whole load of people. The thursday night jam was a sight and sound to behole. The friday night jam was a balst! teh factory tour was breathtaking to me! and we did another jam in the lobby friday night!broke up about 1am. I did not break my Elite 12 string til Friday! but it was continuous play time!had lunch with Karen and her Husband as well as john Today.
My flight leave for nc This Afternoon!
This is an event that noone should miss Ever!
keep it in mind for next year! |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 1
Location: 3 Karen Place, Budd Lake NJ 07828 | Hi Woz....Karen A here.....my significant other is my husband David....and Johnny is not married, that was his girlfriend, Michelle....
This is my first official post, and I must say I had a blast this weekend, and am glad I met each and every one of you....I look forward to speaking to all of you online, and seeing again next year. Thank you for the warm ovation welcome!
Peace - Karen |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 389
Location: RI. That small State out East | I knew I would leave out or mess up names...
I did have a lot of fun.
I guess "IT's AN OVATION THING"!
Woz |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | It truly was an excellent time! Woz, Steve, trboy and Tommy -- you all left too soon! Last night was a blast too! Although Woz captutured the moments very well, mere words cannot describe just how much fun this "convention" really is! We are all united by one common thing: Our love for Ovations! It truly was (and still is this morning) an excellent time! |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 19
Location: new jersey | Just want to add our thanks to everyone that worked so hard, that we could have so much fun. The tours were great. I learned so much talking to John and Mike in customer service.
The Jam was Incredible.
We forgot all about the route 95 traffic we had to sit through to get there.
Thanks again to everyone
Erik and Don |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 3
Location: Wallingford, CT | This was my first Ovation Tour (and surely not my last) and I was blown away. The people, the knowledge, the food, the jam and of course......the guitars! Met real cool people and had a great time. It's all about the music and it was wonderful to meet other people that agree! Ovation.......you guys kick ass! Thanks for letting me be a part of it!!! |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | It was just a blast meeting all the new faces. Ovation outdid themselves again too. This was my second trip to the Mothership and I still felt like a kid in a candy store. Can't wait till next year. Thanks again to every one of you who attended, because you are the ones that really make this event rock. Special tip-of-the-hat to the folks at Ovation for being the ultimate of hosts. |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | We made it back home, just like everyone else has posted, great time was had by all! Good people, good music, great guitars. Nice to meet everyone!! See you again next year.
Paul and Shannon |
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Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Maribeth and I just got in from two long days of driving....I'm exhausted but I wanted to log on and quickly "catch-up" with the posts and to say that we had a Fantastic time at the tour!!(We miss everyone already!) I want to echo everything Woz said above and add that it was Great to actually meet face to face with the Fine guys & gals that I've been posting with for the past year!!(Super Cool!!!)....Also I would like to WELCOME Karen & Jenn to the board with your 1st official post.....You're not LURKING anymore!!!! :D and to urge the other lurkers to join in and post!(It doesn't hurt.....it actually feels GOOOOD!!!)
Well I'll cut this post short (my eyes are getting blurry...) We had a wonderful time....but its gonna be good to sleep in my own bed tonight!!
****
Mike & Maribeth :cool: :cool: |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Speaking of lurkers, I never introduced myself to the "Offical_OFC_Camera_Guy". Did anyone happen to catch his name or handle and if your out there, please let us know how the pictures turn out. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 648
Location: Florida | Dunno if thats me, but since I couldn't attend, and I wanted to contribute...
I sent Al four recyclable cameras and offered to get the images scanned and burned to CD.
The idea was to have web ready pics for all the rest of the souls who could not attend. Hopefully I can post privately from my server to Al, who can concoct an "in progress" tour, as he did with the others. |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | There were a lot of photos being taken - I'll post mine as soon as there back (still using film, and I ran out :p ). Miles, what about a "post your tour/jam photos" in the member section? |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Keep up the stories, I didn't get to go and am enjoying the reports immensely. Sounds like a great gathering.
As I said, keep up the stories we'll all be tuned in for vicarious enjoyment, and looking forward to any pictures that emerge.
Bailey("vicarious enjoyment"?? Is that voyeurism??) |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I'm talkin' about the guy with the professional set-up and all the kids. He took tons of pictures includeing "table shots" at the jam. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 648
Location: Florida | ah... damn I wanna see! |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 5
| OK, ya'll (that's Texas talk). I've got my pictures online for your viewing pleasure at 2004 Ovation Factory Tour Pictures
These are low-res versions to facilitate loading. They are not in order and were taken with a compact digital by an amateur photographer, so no flames about the quality please. My buddy, Steve, has digital video of the first part of the tour and most of the jam session. He's pulling it to DVD this week. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | nice pics
thanks for posting them |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Thanks for the Pics They Looked Great!Brought back wonderful memories of the fun weekend! before this is all over I'm sure we'll see more!
Gosh, I miss you guys already! keep the pics coming! Hey... maybe we could do this twice a year :eek: Well then again...maybe not!(As Al and Miles breathes a sigh of relief! :D ) |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Karen: Welcome to the club. You need to change your name to Adamasbaum! :D |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Originally posted by Praise Guitar:
OK, ya'll (that's Texas talk). I've got my pictures online for your viewing pleasure at 2004 Ovation Factory Tour Pictures
These are low-res versions to facilitate loading. They are not in order and were taken with a compact digital by an amateur photographer, so no flames about the quality please. My buddy, Steve, has digital video of the first part of the tour and most of the jam session. He's pulling it to DVD this week.
Terrific! Can I buy a DVD??
/\/\/ |
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Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 4
| Hey All,
I just want to say even though I don't own an Ovation (yet) I had a great time. You guys made me feel at home even though I brought another kind of guitar with me to jam with. Was a great couple of days and can't wait to do it again. Hell I would like to jam with you all every weekend hehe.
And just in case you are wondering what Ovation I'm thinking about getting... I'm leaning more towards the Al DiMeola Sig model. Of course I have to play that and an LX again to make up my mind. But I promise next year to have an Ovation to play.
Again I want to thank everybody at the warehouse for the tour and showing us a great great time. You have won yourself a fan for both Hamer and Ovation guitars.
...How about that I'm not a lurker anymore hehe... |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Praise Guitar
Great pictures, the quality and resolution is perfect in that I was able to see and scan through them with a telephone hookup without any excessive waiting. You have provided good resolution without interminable waiting for the photo to appear. GOOD WORK.
Bailey |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 11
Location: Lombard, IL | Nice pics, Praise- but not one southpaw git in the lot. :confused:
I'm thinking I might make it next year, souds like a blast! |
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A "Trip to the MOTHER SHIP" ! aka Tour
