2013 Factory Tour in New Hartford, CT

[Elderguilder]

Since this is old many have probably seen this video but I just came across it so others may have an interest too. Nice tour of making acoustics.

2013 Factory Tour in New Hartford, CT

John

 

[twocorgis]

Great to see so many old friends in that video, including pal Jason McIntyre at the 20:25 mark. His signature is under almost all the Orpheum and Custom Shop guitars that originated there.

 

[GAD]

One of my biggest regrets is not going to the last great LMG factory tour there.

 

[Stuball48]

Thank you John - no shortcuts by Guild.
Really enjoyed the video.

 

[walrus]

Great video!

walrus

 

[Elderguilder]

Is the plant still producing?

 

[GAD]

Is the plant still producing?

Certainly not Guilds.

 

[SFIV1967]

Is the plant still producing?

Certainly not Guilds.

The whole New Hartford factory was closed end of May 2014.
By Mid 2015 a Tavern opened inside:

New Hartford’s Parrott Delaney Tavern to open June 27

NEW HARTFORD >> With its natural light, storied brickwork, musical keepsakes, numerous...

www.registercitizen.com

And Ovation re-opened a smaller part of the factory again in October 2015:

Historic USA Ovation Factory Celebrates Official Reopening

Historic USA Ovation factory celebrates official reopening and resumes production of high-end acoustic guitars.

www.guitarinteractivemagazine.com

They also opened an Ovation Customshop in 2020:

Custom Shop

www.ovationguitars.com

Mind that in the 2013 factory tour video you see a few guitars made that are not Guild guitars but Fender acoustic custom shop guitars.

Ralf

 

[merlin6666]

The Re-opened factory was closed some time ago and most employees let go permanently. The custom shop is in a different location. Ovation brand was recently acquired by a German company GEWA and so far it seems that they will keep the custom shop going. They only build Adamas guitars there and their list price is quite high now, much higher than any current Guild model.

 

[SFIV1967]

The Re-opened factory was closed some time ago and most employees let go permanently. The custom shop is in a different location. Ovation brand was recently acquired by a German company GEWA and so far it seems that they will keep the custom shop going. They only build Adamas guitars there and their list price is quite high now, much higher than any current Guild model.

Interesting, didn't know about the closing of the old factory...So it was closed already mid 2019 and GEWA only took over end of 2020 from Drum Workshop.
Just checked:

Viewing a thread - USA Ovations on Ovation guitars website

A post on 19/09/07:
"I received a response from Ovation:

The original factory in New Hartford, CT has closed. We have moved to a different location in the nearby area. We are currently doing limited US production. The models that are listed on the website are models that are still currently available either through us directly or one of our dealers. If you are interested in one in particular, please let me know and I can check the availability for you.

Thank You,
Heather Dorris
Ovation Customer Service"

And:
"The new facility is down the road about a mile and half in a small little town called "Pine Meadow"."

Ralf

 

[Brad Little]

Interesting, didn't know about the closing of the old factory...So it was closed already mid 2019 and GEWA only took over end of 2020 from Drum Workshop.
Just checked:

Viewing a thread - USA Ovations on Ovation guitars website

A post on 19/09/07:
"I received a response from Ovation:

The original factory in New Hartford, CT has closed. We have moved to a different location in the nearby area. We are currently doing limited US production. The models that are listed on the website are models that are still currently available either through us directly or one of our dealers. If you are interested in one in particular, please let me know and I can check the availability for you.

Thank You,
Heather Dorris
Ovation Customer Service"

And:
"The new facility is down the road about a mile and half in a small little town called "Pine Meadow"."

Ralf

IIRC, the second LMG Tour had their open mic and food service at the Pine Meadow Fire Station, so near there.

 

[SFIV1967]

IIRC, the second LMG Tour had their open mic and food service at the Pine Meadow Fire Station, so near there.

Old Factory left upper side (Parrot Delaney Tavern), New Ovation location 8 Wickett St., Ski Sundown right upper side.



And yes, directly next to the Pine Meadow Fire station, and again directly at the Farmington River:





Ralf

 

[Aristera]

Great to see so many old friends in that video, including pal Jason McIntyre at the 20:25 mark. His signature is under almost all the Orpheum and Custom Shop guitars that originated there.

His signature is also under the top of my Fender Master Designed 12 String Dread from the New Hartford shop.

 

[twocorgis]

His signature is also under the top of my Fender Master Designed 12 String Dread from the New Hartford shop.

Under a few of mine as well. The Orpheums, and even the R30S resonator. Jason told me he liked building the resonators best of all.

 

[chazmo]

Miss you guys!!!!

 

[Aristera]

Under a few of mine as well. The Orpheums, and even the R30S resonator. Jason told me he liked building the resonators best of all.

If there was one more Guild I'd really like to own it would be a R30S.

 

[plaidseason]

I totally regret missing the factory tour, especially since I live only an hour away! I have been inside the Westerly plant . . . but they didn't allow me out on the factory floor, just in the office area with a (if I'm remembering correctly) Guild headstock shaped coffee table.

 

[Boneman]

This is a great video, for anyone that hasn’t watched it in its entirety, or even if you have. It came up on my you tube feed and I was engrossed, so fascinating to see the process. Thought for sure it had to have been posted, you all saw it or talked about it, and a quick search found this old thread. So rather than waste server space with a new thread, just figured I’d comment on this one, and possibly turn someone else on who hasn’t seen it yet.

 

[chazmo]

Thanks, Boneman. Yeah, we had a lot of fun back then. We had four LMG events, and they were all super. Our hosts in New Hartford were very gracious and the events were first class.

 

[twocorgis]

Thanks, Boneman. Yeah, we had a lot of fun back then. We had four LMG events, and they were all super. Our hosts in New Hartford were very gracious and the events were first class.

They sure were, as was the camaraderie of LTG back then. It's a shame that CMG shows no such inclination.