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Location: Budd Lake, NJ | So does athlete's foot...and warts...and cellulite...
--Karen |
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April 2004
Posts: 234
Location: Phoenix, AZ | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
I got a phone call this morning and found out then, just like all of you. Trust me on this, I'm the last person that the KMC people will be telling stuff to.
I think what this all means is that there may be Adamacasters in the future. Maybe Ballacasters, Customlegencasters. Work with it, it might grow on you...... You might be right. And, realistically, we have no choice but to wait and see what happens.
But, right now, I don't feel so good. I ordered a Deluxe Balladeer in 1969. I took a chance on you and your father. I loved that guitar, and I still have it. Over the years, I could count on Ovation standing behind what they made, and, somehow, always making something that felt good and sounded good. While I do have a Tele, I do not get the feeling from FMIC that I can count on them to keep making something I will want. They try new things, but when the public does not flock to the new, they drop them and go back to relic'g and resurecting the old.
Porsche has used the line "there is no substitute" for many years. In thinking of acoustics, I can not come up with anything which might take the place of an Ovation. |
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Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Let's be positive about this.
It is better to be bought by a company of strength and standing in the same industry than maybe by some private equity group that wouldn't know a headstock from a vibrato.
Fender obviously thought buying Kaman was an asset. I would expect them to treat it as such and bring the good and positive things to their organisation. We can only hope.
Aren't pre CBS Fenders worth more?
I agree with some of the previous posts about pre Fender O's.
Birthday greetings from "Downunder" Al :) |
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December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Wow! This was pretty unexpected news. It's only natural to expect the worst. But you never know, hopefully Fender will keep a hands off approach with a successful company. |
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Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I have just about the same feelings now as I had when working for the acquired company - uncertainty, fear, a little bit of excitement. I hope it turns out for the best. |
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Posts: 403
Location: Thailand | Happy Birthday, Al
povation |
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Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Honestly guys, I don't see how this is anything other than good news.
KMC inside of Kaman Corp was always an akward fit at best. Ever go to the Kaman Corp web site and see the banner graphic at the top? It has a montage of a helicopter, a guitar and some sort of industrial motor or pump. I don't consider myself anything like an expert on the dynamics of a diversified conglomerate, but it does seem to me that there should be an apparent synergy between divisions. Other than being an object of personal interest to CWK, the music division always seemed like the odd one out to me. BTW, there is a lot of interesting info to be culled from the Kaman Corp annual report .
So, you are Fender and you bought this thing. What have you got? I am totally speculating here, but I think they want the distribution business first and foremost. The name of the game for them is to grow through acquisition to a point where they have sufficient top line revenue to take the whole thing public. That's the play.
The impact on Ovation? Hard to say. The annual report doesn't break out revenue inside of KMC, so I don't know what impact Ovation has financially. But one thing is for sure: This may be a perfect time to take Ovation/Hamer Guitars private. That would be an interesting project. I'd love to get a look at the numbers and see if it could work. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Hope they don't have to give back the laser vibrometer! Sending good thoughts to the Ovation, Adamas, and Hamer folks in CT..
The little company I worked for got swallowed up by a big fish a few years ago. Even though I'm still gainfully employed, it's a huge cultural shift and many people opted not to ride it out even given the opportunity. |
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March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Originally posted by Callimachus:
Michael,
But we need dry wood...most of the year, you're humidity is 100%
:eek: :eek: :p :eek: :eek: I d'ruther be a little wet than one fire Tony! :)
And Happy Birthday Al! |
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March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
I think what this all means is that there may be Adamacasters in the future. Maybe Ballacasters, Customlegencasters. Work with it, it might grow on you...... A custom Legend with a Fender headstock & a whammy bar! Oh yeah! |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I have mixed feelings about this and sure hope for the best. I lean towards the belief that it is better to be (1) a self-contained profitable company that is (2) owned by a parent company that is in the same business rather than (3) being owned by a company in an unrelated business that has lost its historical attachment to the subordinate company. On the upside, Fender has tremendous capital and respect behind its name, and it understands the value of artist endorsement. On the downside, if it wants to grow the Ovation business, I can't imagine it will find much long-term advantage in doing so in a 150 year old patched up factory building that is charming and quaint, with a good heritage, but otherwise at its limit in production capacity. It would be nice to have some Fender execs, techies and fans (in addition to those of us who already appreciate Fender products) join this board and let us know what they think about this deal. |
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Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | The sky is falling , The sky is falling ,
Chill Out Please..........
When a company buys a competitor it usually means that they are weak in the market that they need to get into ( Ovations / Adamas )so they have to buy one to stay in the game.
Has anyone ever seen a high end Fender acoustic/electric??
The last thing I think that they would do is immediatley start trying to change up the Ovation Adamas guitar line.
I was at my local guitar store last month and the owner knew that I had Ovations and opened up a brand new all carbon fibre guitar ( forgot the brand ) for me to play . There are some new players coming into the Carbon Fibre market so what better business decision for Fender to do than to buy a proven profitible guitar business and start making money with it right out of the gate unstead of having to spend a fortune on starting into a new venture that might take years to develop and possibly fail.
A high end Acoustic/Electric is a weak link in the Fender family and Ovation/Adamas brings them into the game right now.
Carbon Fibre is the future and Fender knows it.
Thats my take on it.GWB |
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July 2002
Posts: 327
Location: Houston, TX | First, Happy Birthday Mr. Pepiak. Thanks again for doing all you do.
Second, might want to prepare for more traffic on the site.
I agree with much of what has been said already - don't really know what it means, or how it will turn out. But I can understand a little bit of a sense of loss, or feeling nostalgic. I think I posted one time long ago in some marketing (click!) conversation that I liked the fact that Ovation and Hamer weren't necessarily measuring success in units moved. They occupied a nice niche that I relate to, and I don't really care if the masses get it. I think there are others on this board that share that sentiment, and it probably contributes somewhat to the sense of community on this board.
Now things have changed, but like everything else that happens I'll keep rolling with it until it doesn't make sense to me anymore.
I hope there is job security for all in Conn so they continue making great instruments. |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | As long as Miles and Al don't change OFC to the "Ovation Fender Club" everything will probably be okay. On the other hand what do I know I only dispense drugs for a living. :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | It's kinda like hearing that your ex-wife just died. |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | It's kinda like hearing that your ex-wife just died. Probably more for you, Beal, than the rest of us.... |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Hopefully it will be a good thing. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Phil Wong:
As long as Miles and Al don't change OFC to the "Ovation Fender Club" everything will probably be okay. On the other hand what do I know I only dispense drugs for a living. :rolleyes: Could make for more things to hurl out of the siege engine????
hum.........
naw
they just sell it relic for big money
Limited edition
New Hartford Relic
$5000
On the Bight side we getting 100% of Glen Campbell |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Now when I play my orginal song "The Luithier Song"
I only Have to worry about 2 companiesz givin me a cease and desist orders
The Luither Song
Words and Music by Paul Edward Zukowski
(c) 2004
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Those that let our fingers sing
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Without them we would not have a thing
Alfred Dronge you gave us Guild Guitar
with its one piece arched back
And Leo Fender gave us the Telecaster
He gave us that Stratocaster too.
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Those that let our fingers sing
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Without them we would not have a thing
Charlie Kaman gave us that wild
roundback Ovation Guitar
Then he gave us the graphite Adamas Model
its sitting in the Smithsonian
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Those that let our fingers sing
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Without them we would not have a thing
CF Martin you are quite the man
you made this here D-28
Its great sound only thing redneck like me
and Hippy can totally agree
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Those that let our fingers sing
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Without them we would not have a thing
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Those that let our fingers sing
Lets hear it for the men who built our Guitars
Without them we would not have a thing
Without you we would not have a thing |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I forgot I have to change verse 3 as effective
Nov 1 I'll be playing it on a 1719 Custom Legend.
Just change this to those. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12754
Location: Boise, Idaho | Zukowski? Al, don't we have more than our quota of Pollocks on this board? |
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June 2003
Posts: 194
Location: Las Vegas | Hey, Fender's had great luck with reissues of all kinds... maybe they'll want to reissue some classic Ovation solid and hollow body electrics, hmmmmmmmm?
Not to mention amps... |
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December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Zukowski? Al, don't we have more than our quota of Pollocks on this board? eh.....
scotty beams them down right in front of me |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | there's a good Polish joke in there somewhere, Al...
"Beam us down, Scottowski..."
"She's uhready set on "Defrost", Cap'n" |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Jewel's Mom:
So does athlete's foot...and warts...and cellulite...
--Karen So
Karen
ROTFMAO!!!!!!
Fender fungus amonug us??
I think I like you!!
I like some Fender products.
I have CS setneck strat
"The Twin" tube amp.
Fender Champion 600 tube amp
and a Fender Passport 150.
Fender is a musical intrument maker and distributor. Better KMC goes there than
some investments banker who have no
knowledge of music business.
Plus with Fenders nastagia stuff,
Maybe Breadwinner Viper UKII Preacher and
Electric Storms might come back in small numbers
once in a while.
All have become collecable and have rising prices
PLus there may sharing of developement with the
VXT and VG Strat. Both habe huge potential.
Its not all bad news, but the unknown is scarry. |
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Kaman sold to Fender
