New Hartford Shop?

Doc Hanson · Apr 11, 2023

I have a question I'm thinking someone here will know the answer to. For a period of time in the early 2010s, after Fender purchased Ovation and moved Guild production to the Ovation factory in New Hartford, CT, they were making Ovations, Guilds, and Fender "custom" acoustics there at the same time. Were the same people making all 3 brands? Part of the reason I ask is I have an Ovation 6773LX, a Fender USA Select 1, and an Orpheum 12fret Slope (just sold to another forum member) that were all made at this factory and are all beautiful instruments. Whoever was working there did great work.

Thanks - Doc

fronobulax · Apr 11, 2023

Yes. People were hired to build guitars and run the factory and they worked on the brand that was being produced. Hamer electrics were also in production at the same time. That said, I think most of the production was Guild although there were some Fender Kingmans (acoustic) that were also made.

My recollection is that they made very few Hamers after Guild arrived and only a "handful" of Ovations and closing the factory was an option if Guild production had not moved there.

SFIV1967 · Apr 11, 2023

chazmo · Apr 11, 2023

Doc Hanson said:
I have a question I'm thinking someone here will know the answer to. For a period of time in the early 2010s, after Fender purchased Ovation and moved Guild production to the Ovation factory in New Hartford, CT, they were making Ovations, Guilds, and Fender "custom" acoustics there at the same time. Were the same people making all 3 brands? Part of the reason I ask is I have an Ovation 6773LX, a Fender USA Select 1, and an Orpheum 12fret Slope (just sold to another forum member) that were all made at this factory and are all beautiful instruments. Whoever was working there did great work.

Thanks - Doc

Yes, they did do great work, Doc! On a personal level, many of us had a very nice time meeting many of them and enjoying their hospitality when we visited.

As fro already said, it was the same folks working on everything. However, there were periods, I think, when certain folks were dedicated to the "custom shop" production models, such as the Orpheum. I also remember that a small portion of the shop which was dedicated to Hamer repairs and builds was also just a small number of the folks. I think the same was true for Adamas models, but I don't remember that specifically.

Doc Hanson · Apr 11, 2023

Thanks for the great replies. I thought that was the case. I sure love the results of labor. It is amazing that Guilds have been consistently good across so many owners and moves. I hope that will continue under Yamaha.