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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | here's a link to some of the film at 11
http://www.guitargearheads.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=294 |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | It looks like some of Tacoma may be moving to Conn. too. Tacomas made in Conn. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I hope those employees who can move, do move. the north east ain't so bad. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I thought it was interesting how, according to one of my fender books, Kaman was a serious suiter for fender back in 1984? and now Fender bought Kaman but now the Kaman people will be building guilds ... and tacomas. Funny world ... |
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Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Seems to be good news for the factory.
J :) |
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November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | I'm having trouble keeping up, obviously.
Taylor & Fender "in bed", too?!
http://www.guitargearheads.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=295 |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | That was announced just before NAMM. Fender will distribute Taylor in Europe. Fender distributing Taylor, Takamine and Ovation in Europe is a pretty powerful combination. Dave |
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Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Means that hopefully those on the other side of the pond will have a decent supply of good O's and A's soon, rather than having to pay import fees and shipping to get them from here.
It'll be interesting to see what comes of a Fender/Taylor alliance. I don't see Taylor buying out FMC any time soon, and yet somehow I don't figure that Bob Taylor is the kind of guy to let anyone else tell him how to run his business...this should be fun.
The article didn't mention Tacoma closing completely, did it? I'd hate to lose them from here in the NW. |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | Maybe this means the whole building will be used for guitar making (hate to see that little wire company in the basement suffer, but...). That'll make for a fun tour!
John <>{ |
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Location: NJ | sorry guys I was sick yesterday. food poisoning. 102 fever aches chills etc. ate some bad shrimp on wed
anyway here is the press release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GUILD GUITARS TO MOVE PRODUCTION FROM TACOMA, WASH.
TO NEW HARTFORD, CONN.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – (Jan 31, 2008) Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced today it will move production of Guild Guitars from Tacoma, Wash. to its newly acquired Ovation and Hamer Guitar manufacturing facility in New Hartford, Conn. The move will take place as a phased operational transfer, expected to be completed before the end of the year.
FMIC’s recent (Dec. 31, 2007) acquisition of Bloomfield, Conn. based Kaman Music Corp. also included the purchase of KMC’s Ovation and Hamer guitar brands, and their manufacturing facility in New Hartford, Conn. After closing the KMC acquisition, an extensive review of the Tacoma and New Hartford manufacturing facilities was conducted to determine the best long-term home for Guild production. The final decision to relocate Guild to New Hartford was driven by FMIC’s desire to improve overall production processes as well as meet the growing demand for Guild throughout the world.
“We are committed to moving forward in a strong and focused way to ensure that Guild instruments continue to meet the highest standards of quality, affordability and accessibility for our consumers,” said Bill Mendello, Chairman and CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. “This decision will allow us to accomplish goals that we would otherwise not be able to meet in our Tacoma facility, while continuing our long-term commitment to manufacturing, world-class guitars in the United States.” Select Tacoma® brand guitar models will soon follow in the transition.
Approximately 70 Tacoma, Wash. based FMIC employees will be affected by the move throughout the year and will be provided with comprehensive assistance, including retention and severance packages, benefit continuation and outplacement services.
Guild is one of the six original American guitar brands, offering high quality instruments to value conscious players of all levels and styles. Founded in 1952, Guild began its rise from a small Manhattan guitar workshop to one of the world’s premier makers of high-quality acoustic (and several popular electric) guitars. The fledgling company originally set up a 1,500-square-foot manufacturing facility on the second floor of a factory near the base of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Today, Guild continues to champion its timeless history and heritage of old-world craftsmanship, modern design innovation and solid value. Guild guitars remain among the most sought after instruments for discerning musicians. Guild Guitars became a brand of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 1995.
======++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
so it looks like 70 people will lose thier jobs. Guild and eventually Tacoma moves to new Hartford.
For my friends at the factory this is good news but it sure insn't business as usual as we were all told over and over.
guess this is why they need more time to plan an open house. Too much stuff moving in at the Factory. |
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| Fender is becoming all my favorite guitars! |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I just hope they can keep the Ovation/Adamas repair and construction operation separate from the others. I've had some bad experiences with mergers, where they decide to restructure everything to operate the same way. It's all going to come down to who they put in charge. I don't know anything about FMIC, but I sure hope they have quality leadership. |
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| Sounds to me like FMIC realizes that the artisans' skills and production facilities in New Hartford are second to none. |
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Posts: 3969
| [edit - dang it! what's going on with these double posts?!?!] |
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Location: Parrish, FL | There is a thread on the AFG on this topic. Lots of angst about the demise of Guild. A couple of moronic comments about how can you expect Guild quality out of a group that builds 'plastic guitars' :rolleyes: |
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| Ovations and the Adamas's in particular are unique enough that I am confident Fender will not do anything as foolish as changing the line up of craftsmen & women who work in the repair and custom shops etc. Fender really does have a hell of a line up of guitars. Like General Motors. |
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Location: GA USA | Just so I can sound intelligent, what are the "six original American guitar brands"? |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Lemme guess..
Martin
Gibson
Guild
Taylor
Ovation
Epiphone? |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | If the six brands are historic, you have to include Fender and Gretsch on the list. Also, I have to believe Harmony might be in there someplace, although maybe they're only referring to companies still in business. Harmony built guitars and sold them to stores who rebadged them under different tradenames. I have a mid-60's Harmony Bobcat Silhouette made in the USA. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | :D ;) :rolleyes:
Very glad to hear it... |
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Posts: 2487
| Rickenbacker, I think, is now and "still" the only US manufacturer that does not have an overseas production line.
If I am correct you have to applaude that! All these companies have to tip their hat toward Ric for this. Like them or not.
Priced a Ric Bass lately? They ain't goin down in price and by keeping the factory at a constant size they can hardly keep up with the orders from the guitar shops. This is "Old School" business practice. And it still works. Great Respected Company........Great Instruments.......Good Job Security for the employees..............Great value for the buyers. The Last All American Guitar Icon. |
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Location: Nashville TN. | Sounds like 70 people are getting AX.
Maybe a good thing for the people who lost out in Westerly RI.
Seems New Hartford will be there a while
*********************************************************
Guild Moves Production to Ovation and Hamer HQ
Friday, 01 February 2008
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - (Jan 31, 2008) Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced today it will move production of Guild Guitars from Tacoma, Wash. to its newly acquired Ovation and Hamer Guitar manufacturing facility in New Hartford, Conn. The move will take place as a phased operational transfer, expected to be completed before the end of the year.
FMIC's recent (Dec. 31, 2007) acquisition of Bloomfield, Conn. based Kaman Music Corp. also included the purchase of KMC's Ovation and Hamer guitar brands, and their manufacturing facility in New Hartford, Conn. After closing the KMC acquisition, an extensive review of the Tacoma and New Hartford manufacturing facilities was conducted to determine the best long-term home for Guild production. The final decision to relocate Guild to New Hartford was driven by FMIC's desire to improve overall production processes as well as meet the growing demand for Guild throughout the world.
"We are committed to moving forward in a strong and focused way to ensure that Guild instruments continue to meet the highest standards of quality, affordability and accessibility for our consumers," said Bill Mendello, Chairman and CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. "This decision will allow us to accomplish goals that we would otherwise not be able to meet in our Tacoma facility, while continuing our long-term commitment to manufacturing, world-class guitars in the United States." Select Tacoma brand guitar models will soon follow in the transition.
Approximately 70 Tacoma, Wash. based FMIC employees will be affected by the move throughout the year and will be provided with comprehensive assistance, including retention and severance packages, benefit continuation and outplacement services.
Guild is one of the six original American guitar brands, offering high quality instruments to value conscious players of all levels and styles. Founded in 1952, Guild began its rise from a small Manhattan guitar workshop to one of the world's premier makers of high-quality acoustic (and several popular electric) guitars. The fledgling company originally set up a 1,500-square-foot manufacturing facility on the second floor of a factory near the base of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Today, Guild continues to champion its timeless history and heritage of old-world craftsmanship, modern design innovation and solid value. Guild guitars remain among the most sought after instruments for discerning musicians. Guild Guitars became a brand of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 1995.
Press Release
Source: FMIC |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I think when they say retention, they'll be given a chance to move to conn. At least some of them. |
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Location: SoCal | "retention and severance packages"
Retention can amount to a bonus or better severance package if an employee stays on through the end of the plant's closing.
Relocation assistance comes in many forms. Moving an employee and their family cross-country is very expensive. Turn-key relocation packages are not handed out freely.
Businesses do what they think is right for the business.
Beal summed it up in his previous post. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | You know when the Fender buyout of KMC was announced it was all doom and gloom here. Now this, and to some it's more doom and gloom. There are a handful of industry professionals who post here occasionally and/or regularly and none post speculative bullshit on these threads because not posting is the "professional" thing to do. None of you have any control over this, nor do you have any real insight. I'm sick and tired of reading the "insider word" or "I hope this" or "I hope that" from people who know nothing about what's going on. I count myself as someone who knows nothing, but at least I have the decorum to keep my ignorance to myself.
It's gonna happen. Just let it, please. |
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guild moves to new hartford
