Looking for a good factory tour

[ack1961]

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

[exiledarchangel]

Off-topic, but if I were your son I would vote you for the best dad in this universe!

[uwe]

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.

[ack1961]

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.

[Denis]

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.

[ramone57]

the PRS facility is outside of Annapolis, MD but they don't do tours anymore.

[TBird1958]

 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.   

[Pilgrim]

 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.

[ack1961]

 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.

[Highlander]

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... )