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September 2011
Posts: 402
Location: New Hartford CT | My family has been associated with the plant for 47 years and to hear this news is a real blow.
I just received a call from a a friend of an employee that Fender will cease all operations in New Hartford including Guild, Ovation and Hamer. This is the only info I have at the moment. |
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October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Very unfortunate. Can't help but feel for all the great people that work there. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6201
Location: Phoenix AZ | Just heard this elsewhere ... how sad. Lots of great people, great innovation, and a track record of success on many many levels. Very very sad. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I was hoping it wasn't true.
Edited by Slipkid 2014-04-22 9:59 AM
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | Speechless |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | It doesn't surprise me. Any bets on how long before they stop production overseas? Fender seems to want a monopoly on guitars. I don't think they'll quit buying up companies and shutting them down until all that's left are a few guys who build them in their garage. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6201
Location: Phoenix AZ | Confirmed by an employee. Ovation, Adamas and Guild all gone by May 30th. F*** |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | wow
guess my prices are going up on usa build guitars |
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December 2001
Posts: 57
Location: Jersey near NYC | Get your LT-60 NOW!
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March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Hi,
I trust in you guys but I can believe it...
The bricks walls of the Factory are a great part of my life and I'm shocked tonight to read your words.
I'm thinking of all the great guys from New Hartford that I was so lucky to meet during the 2007 OFC tour.
O's were made by people with lot of passion and talent, that's why they will stay for a long time among the best instruments ever built.
Today is a very sad day and surely the end of a fantastic story.
Jérôme |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 57
Location: Jersey near NYC | FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION TO CLOSE NEW HARTFORD, CONN. FACILITY;
OVATION® TO CEASE U.S. PRODUCTION
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is proud of the products that are built in our New Hartford, Conn. manufacturing facility and appreciates the talented group of people that hand craft them. However, due to current market conditions and insufficient volume levels, the company has made the decision to cease production there within June 2014.
This decision represents a consolidation of production capabilities for FMIC U.S.-made acoustic instruments. “We are committed to providing the same high quality musical instruments our artists, consumers and customers expect and demand, and will continue to support the brands that are currently being produced in New Hartford,” said Richard McDonald, senior vice president of Fender®.
U.S. production of Fender acoustic and Guild® instruments will transition to other facilities at a later date, while domestic production of U.S.-made Ovation musical instruments will cease.
Forty-six New Hartford-based FMIC employees will be affected by this decision over the next several months. These impacted employees served the company well and will be treated fairly and with respect; they will be provided comprehensive assistance, including severance packages, outplacement services and other related assistance.
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | What would it cost t'rent SkiSundown for a final, "Act of Defiance"??? . . . Whitehead, . . . "Pack th'Trebuchet" . . . . |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Sorry Kim. |
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November 2013
Posts: 163
Location: Phoenix, AZ | Very sad news indeed.... I wonder if they will still do repairs on older USA Ovations, or shut the factory down completely? |
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August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Nooooo !! I cannot believe this gonna happen. I'm sad and sorry for the N.H. employees........ |
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March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Sorry, I'm too angry tonight to try to give you my opinion with my poor English so I will use my own language, you can use a translator but I'm not sure that my words could count.
On vit vraiment dans un monde de merde ou le fric et la performance sont la seule loi. Ils sont en train de tuer une partie de votre patrimoine chers amis Américains et une fois de plus, des gens avec un savoir faire unique vont rester sur le carreau. Je suis désolé, je suis en colère car il faut savoir préserver sa culture et Ovation fait partie de votre culture et de la notre pour nous qui sommes du "reste du monde". Ce soir, cela semble être un échec. Tout ça me donne la nausée. Merci à tous ces gens qui nous ont apportés tant de bonheur et de plaisir depuis presque 50 ans en fabriquant des instruments avec amour et surtout avec une vraie vision. Bonne chance à tous les gars de New Hartford et même si cela ne peut nullement compenser, soyez assurés et surtout fiers d'avoir participé à une grande aventure et d'avoir accompli quelque chose de grand qui restera. Un dernier mot pour terminer car c'est le seul qui me vient, MERCI!!
Jérôme |
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August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | paulmac - 2014-04-21 7:01 PM
Sorry, I'm too angry tonight to try to give you my opinion with my poor English so I will use my own language, you can use a translator but I'm not sure that my words could count.
On vit vraiment dans un monde de merde ou le fric et la performance sont la seule loi. Ils sont en train de tuer une partie de votre patrimoine chers amis Américains et une fois de plus, des gens avec un savoir faire unique vont rester sur le carreau. Je suis désolé, je suis en colère car il faut savoir préserver sa culture et Ovation fait partie de votre culture et de la notre pour nous qui sommes du "reste du monde". Ce soir, cela semble être un échec. Tout ça me donne la nausée. Merci à tous ces gens qui nous ont apportés tant de bonheur et de plaisir depuis presque 50 ans en fabriquant des instruments avec amour et surtout avec une vraie vision. Bonne chance à tous les gars de New Hartford et même si cela ne peut nullement compenser, soyez assurés et surtout fiers d'avoir participé à une grande aventure et d'avoir accompli quelque chose de grand qui restera. Un dernier mot pour terminer car c'est le seul qui me vient, MERCI!!
Jérôme
+1 well said Jerome !! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | "Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is proud of the products that are built in our New Hartford, Conn. manufacturing facility and appreciates the talented group of people that hand craft them. However, due to current market conditions and insufficient volume levels, the company has made the decision to cease production there within June 2014."
Talk about spew. Did FMIC develop their sense of pride in the past 7 years? Was this pride brimming as they systematically shut everything down, little by little? It's hard to expect any favorable market conditions without any marketing. Lack of product in stores is one thing, but when's the last time we've seen a concentrated marketing effort on USA builds?
FUKKING SPEW |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | oops, had a typo |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I know so many people who have worked there since they were in their 20's, but who are just UNDER retirement age now. With jobs so hard to find now, especially for older workers, what are they going to do? Mortgages still need to be paid. People still need to eat. And even discounting the financial consequences, the emotional toll has got to be devastating.
I'm also so glad I had my baritone custom made while it was still possible. (Thanks Al!) I also would like to retract my offer in the for sale section from months ago, for my OFCI. I could still use the money, but I'll never part with it now, nor any of my other O's.
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | We really live in a world of **** or the money and performance are the only law. They are killing a part of your heritage dear American friends and once again, people with unique expertise will remain on the floor. I'm sorry, I'm angry because you have to know how to preserve its culture and Ovation is part of your culture and for us as our "rest of the world." Tonight seems to be a failure. All this makes me sick. Thank you to all those people who have brought us so much happiness and pleasure for nearly 50 years in manufacturing instruments with love and especially with true vision. Good luck to all the guys from New Hartford and even if it can in no way compensate, rest assured and especially proud to have participated in a great adventure and have accomplished something great that will remain. One last word to complete because it is the only one who comes to me, THANK YOU!
what jerome siad
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Well, I can not I say I did not see this coming.
All the best to all the guys that lived their work in NH. And their families. Thank you for all those great instruments.
Fender, geh scheißen! (I've noticed, this is a native speaker's thread, so... No need to translate.)
Kurt |
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Joined:
January 2014
Posts: 402
Location: Taxed To Death State | I literally grew up a few hundred yards from the factory in New Hartford and live 5 miles away. Have many friends who still work there not to mention the sentimental aspect of it. I use to ride my mini-bike in that parking lot for gods sake. What a bummer. Snag up all the US Ovation guitars boys, the values gonna go up. It's the end of an era in music history not to mention my home town & friends. Wow. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4230
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | My thoughts and prayers to all in New Hartford who just had the carpet pulled from under them. My thoughts and prayers to all of those who have so much memory and emotion invested in these beautiful instuments. I had hoped to visit there several more times over the next couple of years and realize just a few more design ideas I had, but I am truly grateful to John and Kim for guiding me through my projects so that I can enjoy some truly remarkable musical instruments. |
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December 2003
Posts: 852
Location: Canada | Wow, I guess there's no point in saving for a new Adamas anymore. One thing's for sure though, I will never buy a Fender-related product from now on. |
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Fender to close New Hartford operations
