The Last Bass Outpost

Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: ack1961 on November 09, 2010, 05:24:29 AM

Title: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: ack1961 on November 09, 2010, 05:24:29 AM
Hey all,

I want to surprise my 17 year old son and take him on a tour of a great guitar/bass factory.  We've both become interested in building and he really appreciates the craftsmanship involved in making great instruments. We enjoy long drives, and we'll work out the logistics to try and see a band while we're wherever we end up.

Since I live in Raleigh, NC, I know I'm not too far (roughly 8 hours) from the Gibson factory tour in Memphis, but I was thinking of something a little more intimate and personal.
I know I can see The Wishbass facility in W-S, NC almost anytime we'd like.  Steve Wishnevsky has offered to show us around and that sounds really cool and we're gonna do it as a day trip.

I've seen video of the PRS factory (is it in New Hampshire or somewhere like that?) and it looks fantastic.

Just wondering if any of you guys have been on tours or have a tour that you would recommend.
Thanks,
Steve
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: exiledarchangel on November 09, 2010, 05:27:58 AM
Off-topic, but if I were your son I would vote you for the best dad in this universe!
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: uwe on November 09, 2010, 05:44:33 AM
I saw a report on the EBMM factory in a current guitar mag and found that very impressive. But California is probably a bit far away for you guys.
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: ack1961 on November 09, 2010, 06:02:28 AM
Off-topic, but if I were your son I would vote you for the best dad in this universe!

Thanks, I'm trying (and there's no owner's manual!). He's in his last year of High School, so who knows where he'll be after next summer.
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: Denis on November 09, 2010, 06:04:53 AM
If you end up going to the Gibson plant in Nashville maybe you can also hit up the Jerry Jones facility. Don't know if they give tours but it would be cool to see how they make Longhorns.
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: ramone57 on November 09, 2010, 07:50:24 AM
the PRS facility is outside of Annapolis, MD but they don't do tours anymore.
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: TBird1958 on November 09, 2010, 08:40:50 AM


 Make the trip to Seattle, come on by Mike Lull's shop.
Not so much factory but then once you're here there's tons of other cool places to go  ;)

It's way cool that you're planning this trip with your son, indeed, you are a thoughtful father.   
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: Pilgrim on November 09, 2010, 09:27:32 AM

 Make the trip to Seattle, come on by Mike Lull's shop.
Not so much factory but then once you're here there's tons of other cool places to go  ;)

It's way cool that you're planning this trip with your son, indeed, you are a thoughtful father.   

Not only that, you might be able to line up an interesting T-Bird obsessed tour guide.
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: ack1961 on November 09, 2010, 10:00:29 AM

 Make the trip to Seattle, come on by Mike Lull's shop.
Not so much factory but then once you're here there's tons of other cool places to go  ;)

It's way cool that you're planning this trip with your son, indeed, you are a thoughtful father.   

hmmm...interesting.  Perhaps a ski trip (been promising him Blackcomb/Whistler for years) and then pop on down to Seattle.

This is definitely turning into the most expensive thread I've ever started. I'm going to need an underwriter by the time this is through.
Title: Re: Looking for a good factory tour
Post by: Highlander on November 09, 2010, 04:55:44 PM
You could then come over to the UK and join in an elusive "mystery weekend" seeking out mysterious Mr Peter Cook, late of Ealing, West London; ex luthier to the stars (ok, Entwistle, and a few others... :P)