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Location: Milano, ITALY | In this interview for our online magazine (ACCORDO.IT is the main source of information about musical instruments in Italian) Bill Kaman talks about his Ovation years and about the future of the brand after the DW Drum acquisition from FMI.
Maybe you will not understand much, but some pictures are great :-) Specially the lovely 1984 prototype. 
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Location: Connecticut | Here's the article after being run through Google Translate. http://tinyurl.com/o323y5r |
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Location: Milano, ITALY | Bill's original reply:
My first contribution was sweeping the floor since i was 15 and well underage to work in a factory, After that is was sanding the tops and necks by hand, then gluing braces and on from there. This was in 1967. through the years i worked in every aspect of production. I didn't start working on new stuff till the late 70s.
Marketing wanted to exploit the concept of collectability so they suggested that we do this. I developed most of the models, since i was in charge of R&D by then, 1982. I always loved wearing boots so that became an underlying theme in all the collector series ads for a while. And of course since it was a new model every year I needed a new pair of boots every year!
Since i left the company in 1998 and sold my other fueling business in 2002 I have been focusing on really learning how to play and sing and perform. While i use a variety of guitars like Collings and Takamines i still use my Ovations quite a lot.
How did I feel about FMI closing the factory? You can't print it.
If DW does it right I think they can have a very viable business. the trick will be to not try too much and don't go too fast, or too slow! They need to make the right models and have the right people playing the guitars. Then they need to be in the right stores and have the right people overseas selling the guitars. Basically do everything right and don't screw up, just like any business!
If i were in charge today what would I do? hire someone who knows the vibe for today and tomorrow, I'm too old to be in touch with that anymore (God did I really just say that?!?!) But its true, you have to be in touch to KNOW what to do in this business. I was there once but not today. To think that you are is a good way to fail, not that that has happened recently. But to answer the question I think there should be some round hole models and some elite models and of course some adamas. Maybe some straight acoustics but I wouldn't try solid bodies, all the world wants is strats, teles, pauls and 335s and there sure are enough of them out there now in every possible configuration.
The best Ovation ever Made? My 1984 Collectors prototype! But maybe the first 34 Slotheads, or the Wood binding 1537s.
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Location: Seacoast NH | Google Translate made for an interesting read. Cool article! |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I totally concur with Beal's response to today's type of leadership needs. Get in touch with today's young music scene. These kids are not necessarily affluent, but their numbers are staggering, they are consumers, and they do spend money on themselves. |
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Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | Great Article, and Pictures!!
Nice boots and bull too! (In the background ! LOL!  . )
Thank You so much for sharing this!!!  |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Gotta love Google Translator. I guess I too worked there during the "years of maixmum splendor"!! Can I use that on my resume? |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | CanterburyStrings - 2015-07-23 10:36 AM Gotta love Google Translator. I guess I too worked there during the "years of maixmum splendor"!! Can I use that on my resume? Resume/schmezume.....You should just change your screen name to "SPLENDORUS MAXIMA!" (Don't forget the exclamation point. The title just isn't the same without it. ) |
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Location: Tuscany, Italy | Thanks for sharing Alberto. |
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Location: Jet City | abiraghi - 2015-07-23 2:00 AM
We have Gregg Allman endorsing now?
Edited by Damon67 2015-07-23 11:55 AM
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Location: Texas | Holy Doppelganger! LOL...sorry bill. 
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Location: New Hartford CT | Beal, I'm really glad to hear that you have put your focus on playing the guitar and it seems you enjoy it more than ever. These are really optimistic times with DW firing up the brand and any residual gloom on the forum has been replaced with a few beams of sunlight. I don't think there is anything more exciting than not knowing what's just around the corner in terms of where the brand goes now.
I was there when Ovation moved into Hurley's in 1967. Saw them go from carrying a peach basket with a few necks in it to witnessing the massive output of 20-40K units a year. And participating in production as a subcontractor. Then the downward spiral...now a rebirth. It's really remarkable from where I sit and observe. To have a major player in this current climate...where opening a manufacturing business in Connecticut of all places...isn't that suicidal?...decide to actually make guitars again? It's got to be thousands to one.
Against all odds. |
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Location: Flahdaw | George Frey - 2015-07-23 5:36 PM
Beal, I'm really glad to hear that you have put your focus on playing the guitar and it seems you enjoy it more than ever.
I can assure you that Bill is an excellent entertainer. It's probably been 5 years since I heard him at g8r's get together, but he was good THEN. He can only be much better NOW..... |
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Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | Have you heard his new CD? FANTASTIC!!!
Such a wide variety of genres, and each one is Great!!!
I play it all the time!
Next one Beal, please put on "People Calling Me", I LOVE that song!!
https://youtu.be/RPU9VQR38xQ
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Location: Flahdaw | Bill should play this (if he doesn't already). Right up his alley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFRM4oJwLdc
Edited by Darkbar 2015-07-23 5:41 PM
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Yeah, paul Thorn is great and I do a few of his songs but not that one. Been busy working on new stuff. Bought a house in Austin today to turn into a studio and Matt Smith is going to run it. It will be a huge success. We have a great plan for marketing and promoting it, none. Word of mouth and by invitation only.
What's wrong with "years of maximum splendor". Doesn't everyone say that?
Last time I was in a Daytona restaurant they thought I was Gregg. |
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Location: Italia, Zianigo di Mirano (Venezia) | Grazie Alberto. ( it's really true : Bill looks just like Gregg...) |
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Location: Flahdaw | I wonder if Cher could tell the difference? |
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Location: Milano, ITALY | Titti: IMHO Gregg looks like Bill :-) |
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Location: Tennessee | cwk2 - Last time I was in a Daytona restaurant they thought I was Gregg. Last time you were in your tour bus, Dave Kell throught you were Gregg. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Now that was funny, Bobbo. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Yes, that was super funny! (ahhh...the DK jokes never get old) |
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Bill Kaman interview (in Italian)
