Recent threads finally pushed me to screw up some courage, in a tactful kind of way, and try to contact someone....anyone....at DW about our favorite instruments.

A fellow by the name of Bill Xavier responded within about 24 hours. Although I wish there was more detail, I certainly cannot fault their overall response. Here is the entire digital conversation. My flagging hopes are just that much higher this morning.....I think....might just be internal percolation from a poor diet yesterday too. Either way, it is a cautiously optimistic feeling that something is on the move.

My thoughts are in blue and Bill's Answers are in red:

Good afternoon,

My name is Patrick McGuire, and I was hoping that you might be able to fill in a blank or two for me and many friends who happen to be passionate fans of the Ovation/Adamas instrument brands.

I realize that your company only recently acquired the brand from FMIC, so I am certain your responses must be couched with a certain level of caution, but rumors have begun to fly about the internet, so I was hoping you might be able to provide some honest direction, or at least shoot some of the more blatant fantasies out of the water completely. In an effort not to waste too much of your time, I will try to make my questions succinct:

Are there any plans to start building Ovation/Adamas guitars in the USA again? (Is there any flesh to these plans if they exist? Are you in a position to elaborate at all?)

There has been absolutely no reference at all regarding the Adamas line. Any specific news there? Do you own that brand as well?

Rumor has it that much of the tooling specifically geared to Ovations in New Hartford, CT was dumped when the factory was closed. Would a re-tool of the brand have to re-build from the ground up?

Do you also control the overseas construction of Ovations still in production?

And finally, despite trying not to get my hopes up, or those of people I know for that matter, is there by chance some sort of time frame at least laid out in theory?

Please understand that I stand to gain nothing from the re-invigoration of the brand other than the chance to add to a collection of Ovations that already makes my wife's eyes roll with patience. I did know many of the former employees in New Hartford, as I live within driving distance and picked up many repaired and new instruments there in person. (Why trust a shipper when you don't have to right?) I have also written and laid out Ovation-themed calendars for the Ovation Fan Club for the last three years. In short, I love these instruments.

I am truly just trying to sort through the rumors as best as possible.

So thank you kindly for your time. I sincerely look forward to your response.

Hopefully yours,

Patrick McGuire

And here is Bill's response:

Dear Patrick,

I cannot go into details but I will respond to your questions below with very little detail if that is ok. You are welcome to email me anytime.

And I wouldn’t mind from time to time asking you questions as a loyal Ovation fan.

Bill Xavier

Are there any plans to start building Ovation/Adamas guitars in the USA again? (Is there any flesh to these plans if they exist? Are you in a position to elaborate at all?)

• Yes 100%!

There has been absolutely no reference at all regarding the Adamas line. Any specific news there? Do you own that brand as well?

• Yes we do own all things Ovation (Adamas, Applause and Ovation)

Rumor has it that much of the tooling specifically geared to Ovations in New Hartford, CT was dumped when the factory was closed. Would a re-tool of the brand have to re-build from the ground up?

• That’s a bad and 100% untrue rumor.

Do you also control the overseas construction of Ovations still in production?

• Yes!

And finally, despite trying not to get my hopes up, or those of people I know for that matter, is there by chance some sort of time frame at least laid out in theory?

• Don’t want to jinx our plans so my lips are sealed…

Please understand that I stand to gain nothing from the re-invigoration of the brand other than the chance to add to a collection of Ovations that already makes my wife's eyes roll with patience. I did know many of the former employees in New Hartford, as I live within driving distance and picked up many! repaired and new instruments there in person. (Why trust a shipper when you don't have to right?) I have also written and laid out Ovation-themed calendars for the Ovation Fan Club for the last three years. In short, I love these instruments.

• You will be proud soon……

Ok...So the words were his and that last bit of emphasis was mine, but what can I say? I'm a little more hopeful now...or maybe it's all the coffee this morning. Now it's all y'all's turn to hash it out a bit.

FIrst... does this sound familiar in any way ??
"DW pioneered the timbre-matching technique of grouping a set of drumshells together by listening to the note each shell holds before it is sanded. Each shell that comes out of the DW factory is stamped with the note of that shell on the inside. DW offers pre-made standard sized sets as well as custom drums made to customer specification."

And look at their endorcers..   Remember, unlike guitar endorsers who may play a particular brand guitar on one tune, drummers generallyl pick a brand and stick to it, are known for it, and play it every time, all the time.  It's their reputation.  I imagine a pretty likely conversation would be "hey... DW is building Ovation guitars, lets check'em out." 

Now look at who's playing DW drums...  I've actually heard of most of these people or at least the bands they play in.  I wish I could say the same about the resent Ovation endorsements.   Me thinks that's gonna change.  Also note, while some great drummers "use" DW drums, they make the distinction of those who are endoresed by DW Drums.  That also seems significant to me.

"Many highly regarded drummers endorse[5] DW, including Virgil Donati, Joe Morello, Derek Roddy (Serpents Rise), Dave Grohl, Stephen Perkins, Dominic Howard (Muse), Luke Holland (The Word Alive), Alejandro González (Maná (De la Tierra) Steve Jocz (Sum 41), Brooks Wackerman (Bad Religion), Scott Travis (Judas Priest), Scott Phillips (Creed and Alter Bridge), Abe Laboriel Jr. (Paul McCartney), Neil Peart[6] of Rush, Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, Will Berman of MGMT, Dave Matthews Band's Carter Beauford, Zak Starkey, and Nickelback and Martone drummer Daniel Adair. Thomas Lang has also recently switched to DW drums. Terry Bozzio and the late Troy Penland use them as well. Tony Royster Jr. is on their endorsment list along with Max Weinberg and José Pasillas from Incubus (band) And Atom Willard(Angels & Airwaves).

Others include Jason Bonham (Black Country Communion, Led Zeppelin) Tommy Clufetos (Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Bruce Becker (David Becker Tribune), Victor Loyo (Luis Miguel and studio session drummer), Thomas Pridgen (The Memorials, The Mars Volta, Christian Scott, Wicked Wisdom, Keyshia Cole), Eric Moore (Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves), Rex Hardy Jr. Mary J. Blige, Cobus Potgieter and Matt Greiner (August Burns Red) Venzella Joy Williams (Beyonce).

Eagles drummers Don Henley (main drummer) and Scott Crago (backup drummer) are well known users of DW and are endorsed by the company. Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is also a DW artist."

I like this company the more I read about them.

Miles

Those are pretty much the best drummers in the freekin' world... Bozzio, Peart, and Beauford are my personal top 3 favs.

It's been said in other discussions that endorsers mean very little. I disagree 100%. If that were the case, why is there so much emphasis placed on it with advertisements in the mags? You nearly ALWAYS see a familiar face backing it up, from $.25 plectrums, to $5k guitars, to $20k drum kits.

I still want an Alex Lifeson signature ES-355... Wouldn't mind his new Lerxst Omega amp either. If Alex plays 'em, I want 'em too. Guess what nylon stringed instrument he played last time I saw him here...

I want one of those too.