Ovation USA closes down

[Ted Eschliman]

Sad to see a pioneer in guitars go under. Article: Ovation Guitar Factory in Connecticut to Close.

[tkdboyd]

Wonder if that means we will see only the Celebrity and Applause lines of instruments now or if they'll move the higher end overseas as well? (not meaning to be xenophobic, just curious)

[Dan Krhla]

Very sad news. I live in CT and never took advantage of heading over for a tour or a browse through the 2nds racks You snooze, you lose!

[pheffernan]

I'd imagine Guild is holding its collective breath.

[DataNick]

Wasn't it Glen Campbell who made Ovation famous by playing/endorsing an Ovation guitar on his show The Glen Campbell Good Tme Hour in 1968?

[Mandosummers]

I think Cat Stevens used one too back in the day.

[tiltman]

And Tony Rice...

Kirk

[Eddie Sheehy]

"Thus we celebrate the pioneers - those who dare to lead, who dare to commit themselves and be part of the dawning of a new world, new industry, or new technology." Charles Kaman - speaking about his Helicopter company... little did he know...

[lonestar_shawn]

[Eddie Sheehy]

I'll be hanging on to this one... and a Balladeer I bought when I came to the U.S. back in '84. They nearly made it to 50 years...

[Eddie Sheehy]

"Ovations will continue to be manufactured outside the U.S., Fender spokesman Jason Farrell said Wednesday. He said Fender also builds Ovations in China, South Korea and Indonesia."

"The company's website shows pictures of many music legends playing Ovations, including Simon, Campbell, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Eddie Van Halen, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond and Melissa Etheridge."

[Eddie Sheehy]

I'd imagine Guild is holding its collective breath.

"The company also said it is consolidating production of U.S.-made acoustic instruments."

[Charlieshafer]

The mid-to high end wants wood. I always wondered what would happen if they made one with a carbon-fiber top to make it a great travel/outdoor instrument. They really did pioneer the plastic molded guitar, outside of Maccaferri, I guess.

[mandroid]

Labor is a Cost to be Cut . thats the way it goes .. *sigh*

[Steve Davis]

I'm sorry that the remaining luthiers will be out of work. My '72 Balladeer was recently very well-repaired in CT. It's a fine guitar and I'm glad it is once again playable.

[doc holiday]

Clarence White played one too in the Byrds era

[SincereCorgi]

My buddy Drew collects early Ovations. He'll probably have a black armband on the next time I seem him. Honestly, I didn't know they still had a USA factory, so this is surprising and sad.

[f5joe]

This is circulating around a number of music related sites. Guild and Hamer are also affected according to this:

"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."

[tburcham]

My first quality guitar was an Ovation that I received as my graduation present in 1978. Unfortunately, I sold it to purchase a Martin D-28. Of course the Martin was a superior guitar for Bluegrass (I traded it away for a Huss and Dalton), but I wish I still had the Ovation...for sentimental reasons.

I'm sorry to see this progressive design fade into history.

[pheffernan]

U.S. production of Fender acoustic and Guild® instruments will transition to other facilities at a later date

What facilities are left? Westerly to Corona to Tacoma to New Hartford to . . . ?

[DHopkins]

Breedlove guitars and mandolins are still made in Bend, Oregon.

[f5joe]

Breedlove guitars and mandolins are still made in Bend, Oregon.

........ and China, right?

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...ese-Breedloves

[Petrus]

The mid-to high end wants wood. I always wondered what would happen if they made one with a carbon-fiber top to make it a great travel/outdoor instrument. They really did pioneer the plastic molded guitar, outside of Maccaferri, I guess.

I've never been a big fan of the Ovation design. I played their electro-acoustic mandolin in a store recently; it was good for the price but not my cup o' tea (though I'd never say "never.") Still, it's always sad to hear of any good domestic business closing down.

As time goes on, quality tonewoods are only going to go up in price. We are going to have to get more used to synthetic instruments -- carbon fiber and plastics -- and laminates, there's no way around it. (Until they figure out a way to grow tonewoods quickly in a lab.) Taylor wisely started calling their laminate guitars "layered wood," which is accurate and sounds better, and distinguishes them from synthetic laminates. I believe that a quality laminated or non-wood instrument can be just as good as solid wood, in its own way. (BTW, Taylor opened up a factory in Mexico, practically within easy driving distance of its SoCal factory, to manufacture its lower-end instruments some years ago.)

[Ted Eschliman]

As a former Ovation and Hamer dealer, I think I can say with some authority, the essence of this move was ultimately a lack of sales volume. Even they admit it in their press release. Manufacturing is a numbers game, and if you aren't selling product, there's simply no need to make it.

FMIC still makes American-made products in Corona, California. Believe me, they are still selling well.

[Ken Olmstead]

It would be cool to see a new quality brand arise from the ashes in Connecticut. I would love to see a Heritage or a Weber type company develop and reenergize those talented folks. Tough timing, but it was also tough times when the afore mentioned companies began.