Fender factory in Corona CA now offering tours

[doctorwho]

I saw a brief blurb on KTLA this morning on Fender ... it is now giving factory tours at their facility here in Southern California (Corona).

Here is a video news clip that is a little longer than the one I saw (apparently this one aired after I had to go to work):

http://www.ktla.com/videogallery/684435 ... -Tours-1pm

The tours are only during the week, so I'd have to take a day off to go out there.

Here's the brief text of the blurb (I expect that the link above won't work forever):

[collin]

Saw that same news segment this morning...interesting.

The exhibits shown looked sorta lame, and really the most interesting part would be the production line (I've been in the custom shop and it's pretty cool).

Kudos to Fender for reaching out and opening to the public. I'd love to see the RIC factory (yes, I missed the 75th Ann. tour..).

[jps]

(yes, I missed the 75th Ann. tour..).

Unless you were there it never happened.

[collin]

(yes, I missed the 75th Ann. tour..).

Unless you were there it never happened.

I wasn't around much in them days, had no idea about it!

[johnhall]

That's really quite ambitious on their part. Not even considering the logistics of scheduling, personnel, aisle space, and disruption of production, the insurance implications and compliance with California law relating to people in a factory environment make this seemingly easy thing actually quite a nightmare.

The only way I'd consider doing regular tours is in a purpose-built factory with separated glass protected aisle-ways or some kind of overhead catwalk. And yes, I have toured a number of guitar factories where this isn't done, just as Taylor and Martin, but that doesn't mean I'm going to jack up our insurance premiums to protect us from that one visitor injury that's bound to happen.

(My dad Hall asked me once if he could bring in a small tour of his Kiwanis buddies. During the tour, one guy had a heart attack and fell over, splitting his head open on the edge of a table. Fortunately the fellow was honest and realized this was not our fault, but others would have found a way to make some insurance claim. Our only cost ended up being some lost production time due to all the paramedic activity in the shop.)

[beatbyrd]

The only way I'd consider doing regular tours is in a purpose-built factory with separated glass protected aisle-ways or some kind of overhead catwalk. And yes, I have toured a number of guitar factories where this isn't done, just as Taylor and Martin, but that doesn't mean I'm going to jack up our insurance premiums to protect us from that one visitor injury that's bound to happen.

I recently took the Taylor factory tour and had the same concern. There were people of all ages; I'd say a group of 35. The various departments we saw had no special partitioning of any kind; just the aisleways and material traffic flow that you would find in any production facility. There was a single guide trying to herd the group through the different areas. Someone could have wandered off at any time. Most of the employees were 'tuned out' to the tour group. A few looked annoyed. The tour is of the acoustic guitar building. I am a fan of both automation and hand craftsmanship and was glad to see the CNC machines at work, the robot sprayer, side benders, as well as the patient folks meticulously doing the neck inlays, binding, and finish detailing.

I enjoyed the tour and will go again in the future. The increased insurance premiums are reflected in the unit price of their products. Still, I hope no one gets injured there. I'd be thrilled to get to tour RIC someday - even if there was a reasonable fee to offset any increased insurance. Tom

[jingle_jangle]

Taylor is a nightmare...