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 Lookin' Good at the Factory!!
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Nancy |
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Joined: December 2014 Posts: 1713 Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | New Article from The Boston Globe - I am just going to copy and paste this, so that everyone can see it right away, and not get hung up in subscription notices: Check out how it already looks like a fully functional Production Factory!!! WTG BOYS!!!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Production of renowned Ovation guitars to resume in US HARTFORD — The Connecticut factory that produced Ovation guitars for nearly a half-century before closing last year will resume making the renowned instruments, thanks to the efforts of factory employees. Four workers remained on the payroll after the New Hartford plant closed, and one of them, Darren Wallace, spent hundreds of hours of his own time setting up what equipment was left so it would be ready if production ever began again. After Ovation Guitar Co. was sold in December, the new owner planned to move the remaining operations to California, but decided to keep them in New Hartford after seeing what Wallace had done. The factory had a reputation for turning out acoustic guitars praised for their tone and craftsmanship. Music legends who have played Ovations include Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Glen Campbell, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and Eddie Van Halen. ‘‘I knew that ultimately it [Ovation] would be sold, and I wanted to make sure we made a good impression on the new buyer,’’ Wallace said. Fender Musical Instruments Corp. closed the plant in June 2014, saying it was ending domestic production because of market conditions and insufficient sales, while still making less expensive versions in Asia. More than 40 workers lost their jobs, and most of the factory equipment was sold at auction. But Wallace and others did not give up hope that the factory would reopen, and they managed to keep repair and servicing operations in New Hartford. Wallace became brand manager for Ovation in Bloomfield at Fender subsidiary KMC Music, while the three others who were retained after the closing repaired and restored guitars. The repair workers moved into a separate building on the property, while most of the main factory building was leased to others. Wallace arranged the equipment that was left in the building, so that it would be ready to go if needed. When Drum Workshop of Oxnard, Calif., bought Ovation from KMC Music, the new owner planned to move the remaining equipment to Oxnard and resume US production of the guitars there. But chief executive Chris Lombardi changed his mind after meeting the workers and seeing the production space, Wallace said. ‘‘I’m really happy Chris Lombardi was willing to take a chance on the place,’’ Wallace said. Wallace will run the plant. Two workers who had been laid off were rehired to build new guitars, and they may get help from time to time from the three repair workers. Employees have started building prototypes and intend to ramp up production this month. While Asian-made Ovation models can cost as little as $300, Ovations made in New Hartford will run between $3,000 and $5,000, Wallace said. Edited by Nancy 2015-09-06 10:55 AM (Production.jpg) Attachments ----------------  Production.jpg (85KB - 3 downloads) | ||
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777 Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | |||
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| Nancy |
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Joined: December 2014 Posts: 1713 Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | DanSavage - 2015-09-06 4:09 PM The white bowl looks like an engineering model. It's looks like it's got a clear plastic neck block, but that could just be the lighting. The frame on the bench looks like a frame for clamping the plastic kerfing to the inside of the bowl. To the right side of the pic on the bench is a clamp used to clamp the kerfing into the waist of the guitar. Interestingly, the red thing with the circular marks in the lower right of the pic looks like the platter used to sand the taper into top wood. If you look closely you can see the edge closest to us is thicker than the opposite one next to the screw eye. The rack in the background with lots of little shelves to the left of the guy wearing the sleeveless t-shirt (Joe Martocchio) is the rack used to store tops in progress. The rack in the background behind the guy in the blue t-shirt (Darren Wallace) holds bowls in progress. THAT is what I was looking at too!! The ventilation hoses and vents are in place, along with the airhoses, the machinery is set up in neat rows to move from machine to machine. There is bright lighting all set up, bowls in the rack, and lots of stuff* all over the place, that not too long ago was empty space! This looks like a Shop Kids! A workable, Make-Something-Special Shop!!!  *(stuff is a high tech term for all those gadgets and gizmos all over the place that I am not even going to attempt to label or name... I say the wrong thing too often...) Edited by Nancy 2015-09-06 5:56 PM | ||
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| Nancy |
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Joined: December 2014 Posts: 1713 Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | Brad Durasa - 2015-09-06 7:10 PM Darren sez... " The neck goes here.... I think." LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
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 Joined: March 2004 Posts: 1388 Location: Paris/France | from the 2007 Factory tour:
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| 360Ovation |
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darkbarguitar - 2015-09-10 5:12 AM damon67 - 2015-09-10 5:30 AM Keep the standard models in Korea, but built to a higher spec Ahhh..."therein lies the rub". Okay, I'm gonna jump on this bandwagon ... I've been thinking this for a few weeks, now I'm gonna say it... ...but before I say it, my Ovation "history": I've purchased one new O, an '02 or '03 lefty Legend w. OP30 or OP40 preamp (whichever one they were putting in lefties). Had that O for around 3-4 years. Also owned a righty classical model that I converted to lefty. Had it for around a year and converted it back and sold it (as I had other nylon stringed guitars...). Currently own the two I've bought in the last 2-3 months... Okay, here it is. With the O's bowl back body (not having to build sides and back with bracing, lining, etc.), it should be realistic to build a USA Ovation that sells for under $1,200-1,500 street. And that guitar should still have a fantastic neck and top. Make all the USA models with 5 piece necks...this is a "green" use of natural resources and it also creates a very stable neck. Put on fantastic tops with well executed bracing, bridges, etc. ... why should this cost $3K? For example, I'm also a Larrivee guy: Larrivee is building ALL their acoustics in the US now and the 03 series (satin models) with all solid woods, dovetail necks, etc. have a street price of around $1,100-1,300 depending on model. They have a "40 series" (also satin) at similar prices. Ovation could offer a couple USA satin top models (less finish work required) - and maybe even offer one or two WITHOUT ELECTRONICS - these would be light, have great tone, and be pretty indestructible... they could prove the point that Ovations also sound great unplugged (the two I have do) and they're LOUD acoustically! Thoughts...?  Edited by 360Ovation 2015-09-10 9:41 AM | |||
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777 Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | |||
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Joined: December 2014 Posts: 1713 Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | 360Ovation - 2015-09-10 4:28 PM Then there are those who are looking for something unique, special and "high end," either because of perceived value or personal vanity. These are the folks who will shop the $3-5K O's and A's... You are making some good points - just one point I need to gently clarify, I had never played a Textured Top Adamas - the $5K plus guitars. I was able to get one from one of the Family Members here, and there is no vanity, or perceived value, involved with these Guitars. They are an "Experience" unlike anything you have ever had in your life (Adamas Induced Euphoria). Sounds weird, but very true! These High End Adamas are worth every penny, and then some, for the engineering, technology and hand craftsmanship that goes into each one! I hope someday you get to play one of these, just to really see that they are not a status symbol, their solid value is in the sound they produce. They are a very Unique Experience! Edited by Nancy 2015-09-10 5:04 PM | ||
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