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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I have found out the sad news that Rick Hall will be moving on from Ovation. He has been with them a long time and now that Fender wants all product managers to be based in Scottsdale AZ he is leaving his position.
From my perspective Rick has been not only a representative of Ovation but a good friend and has helped both the OFC and my business in more ways than any of you will ever know.
It appears rather unlikely that Fender will find someone else with the experience in the product that Rick has. I know that Rick started on the floor building the bowls and doing other parts of production. I first met Rick when he was running the factory back in the mid 90's
Well, yet another of my friends is now gone from the Ovation company and I feel like I am losing all my connections with the brand. I wish Rick well in whatever his future plans are, he has been a great friend to the fan club and instrumental in getting the OFC guitars into your hands along with using info from us for research. Mostly he has been a good friend to me.
from Rick
please pass on my sincere thanks to everyone
at the OFC for the many years of help, support, and most of all
friendship. The OFC IS the heart and soul of the brand. Now more than
ever, Ovation needs your collective passion. I hope you and all the OFC
members will continue to "carry the Ovation torch" for many years to
come. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Sad to see Rick go.
He was VERY INSTRUMENTAL in helping me obtain my twin longnecks after an unscrupulous ex-dealer took a lot of money and then disappeared without ever paying Ovation. Thanks to Rick I was able to get them without suffering a HUGE financial loss (although I did take a big hit!) and it could have been much worse.
Rick will be impossible to replace but I am sure he is happy with his decision and will land on his feet somewhere!
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Very sad news!!
The Ovation wheel seems to keep turning in the wrong way... 
Thank you Mister Hall for all these years of passion for O's and for your kindness.
I'm sure that the OFC members will continue to carry the Ovation torch even if its light will be less brighter without you in New Hartford.
Today is really a bad day. 
"Bonne continuation et bonne chance pour la suite"
Jérôme |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Wishing you nothing but the best, Rick. Thanks you for everything you've done for us here. It is always an uplifting experience whenever I see you, including those stress filled days at NAMM!
Rick has been a great friend of the OFC. I first met him when he was doing everything, including driving the van, for the very first OFC factory tour. He then managed to get tours organized for several more years. Rick personally made the original OFC guitar happen despite long odds and many hurdles. He will be missed ... but I have a feeling greater things await him. |
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Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | How sad. I never had the pleasure of meeting Rick, but I've seen him many times in YouTube videos. Jerome hit the nail on the head, "The Ovation wheel seems to keep turning in the wrong way...."
All the best Rick. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Met him on the tours. I'm sure he was instrumental in approving all my one-off customs. I hope he stays in touch. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| One of the real important figures in Ovation's history and a damn fine picker too.
Here's to a happy and healthy future.
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | That's too bad. Rick has probably done more for the brand and for the OFC behind the scenes than any of us will ever know.
Doors swing both ways and desipte the short term disappointment about this news, let's hope that long term both Rick and Ovation elevate to even bigger and better things.
PS - you never should have changed the headstock logo. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Rick's a good guy. I talked with him for quite a while at NAMM and we only talked guitars for a short while. Mostly it was about kids and college and that sort of thing.
Rick, best wishes. Wish there were some way to stay in touch. You're a good guy to know..... |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | immoody - 2012-03-28 5:11 PM Wish there were some way to stay in touch. You're a good guy to know..... Well, he is member No. 33 on these forums! Doesn't this lift the company ban on posts? |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Unless Rick has a gag order he can participate as of Saturday.
I only assume this |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | alpep - 2012-03-28 6:57 PM
Unless Rick has a gag order he can participate as of Saturday.
That would be a great addition.
Edited by dark bar 2012-03-28 6:22 PM
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Rick helped me get my custom Adamas done right, and he spent a good hour with me on the phone. Very friendly. Best of luck to you, Rick. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I've never met you Rick, but enough folks around here speak highly about you that I wish I'd had the chance. Keep in touch and best of luck! |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | We've been through
some things together
With trunks of memories
still to come
We found things to do
in stormy weather
Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Rick,
Come on out West (Northwest) and start your own Company!
Their loss buddy! |
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Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | I always liked Rick....Great personality and knowledge!
Rick along with John & Kim to me WAS Ovation,I know there are others but.....
Thank You for all you've done at Ovation and for the OFC.
Best of luck and keep in touch, Rick. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Rick, our best wishes... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Rick, sorry to hear this news...hoping for the best for you and also for Ovation. I really appreciate your passion for the Company and all the ways you have helped over the years. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7232
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Wow....
Well first off I'd like to wish you the best Rick and I hope you join us here from time to time.
To those that don't know him....
The Ovation FanClub™ had no bigger fan than Rick Hall. He "got it" from the very beginning. He was instrumental in the Ovation Owners Online (info in the FAQ) effort and while that was probably ahead of its time, a few years later when we started this message board he was, and has remained, our biggest advocate. While most of the other brand-based message boards were being controlled and/or censored by the companies they were honoring to be allowed to remain open, Rick immediately saw us as one of his best tools for feedback and ideas.
As for the factory tours, I'm still blown away. As an IT professional I have seen my share of the most elaborate tours and presentations created, including a "behind the curtain" tour of Disney, and nothing compares to the Ovation Factory Tours in my book. Rick and his team along with a lot of help from Alpep and the others who volunteered too, made each event feel like it was custom designed for everyone there. Both the musicians and the non-musicians that were drug along to these events were made to feel like they were all part of the family.
Ovation's loss will certainly be someone else's gain.
Rick, thank you for the friendship you have shared with Lisa and I personally and the for the support you have given the Ovation Fanclub™ since the very beginning.
Miles |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | A great help to me and he didn't mind just talking on the phone. |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Sorry to hear about this. Best of luck Rick in whatever you do. Many thanks for all the things that you have done for many of us. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Rick is a great guy and I'm sure he will do well post Ovation.
Though he did scare the hell out of me when turning around in his seat to talk to the guys in the back seat of the 15 passenger van. He was driving... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | 16 Years Ago, Rick gave MyDaughter(and HerMom) a Private FactoryTour when they had brought my CustomBalladeer up to be re-built to surprise me for My40. MyDaughter STILL talks about that, and for THAT (and Many OtherThings) Rick, I ThankYou. BestOfLuck! |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Rick,
Thanks again for all your help in the past.
Best of luck in your new ventures, and safe travels while getting there.
The upside is... You can freely post here now! |
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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Even if I never met Rick Hall in person, I have read, heard and watched so many videos of him that it seems to me to know him so well ......
What to say.....all the best wishes Rick for your new job. You have a bunch of friends here  |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | "Rick along with John & Kim to me WAS Ovation"
Yup...
"Fender wants all product managers to be based in Scottsdale AZ"
What the... there ain't NUTHIN in Arizona...
Rick - Best of everything and behave yourself! |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | MWoody - 2012-03-30 1:46 PM
.. there ain't NUTHIN in Arizona...
Well, that Tupperware guy.....and a bunch of Snowbirds.
But yeah, nuthin. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | (Well, that Tupperware guy.....and a bunch of Snowbirds.
But yeah, nuthin.)
Ya gotta love this place...lol
Rick, your guidance of the factory tours was nothing short of very special indeed...again, thanks! |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I am sad Rick, that the passing of time means fewer opportunities for so many wonderful things.
Seeing Pink Floyd live.
Drinking Sid Vicious under the table.
Doing the YSBT tour of Ovation under the guidance of some people I have come to understand
are quite wonderful, in their way. ( >in. their. way. esp. Cliff)
I wish you well in whatever comes next Rick.
(Now that you're free. Share the (s)poo!) :-) |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Having a long talk with an old friend who has terminal cancer got me thinking about bucket list items. The Ovation Factory Tour was one of those items that will have to stay in the bucket. Meeting some of the characters that attended those tours is still possible, but it would have been so much easier if I'd have just attended a tour and met everyone from all over the country and abroad.
My first introduction to Rick was a video of one of the past tours. I missed another boat. Happy sailing to Rick and others that got the boatride. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Rick you will be missed. |
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Rick Hall moving on from Ovation