Silly question

[henny]

"I don't think we'd be at full capacity if we weren't fairly well "on the ball".

- John, Sky satellite channel 475 here in England, free 4003 advertising... a la flying Ricks...

That's what's keeping the orders rolling in. *snigger*

[cheyenne]

I think the '05 COY will be just fine with me whatever it is.

[jeff_ulmer]

I'm kinda hoping I don't like it, so I won't be tempted to order another guitar - especially since I still haven't gotten the one I ordered two Decembers ago!

[rictified]

I look at mine like it's a present that will be a big welcome surprise when it comes (and it's already paid for), but then again it's only been about 6 or 7 months. I showed my wife a Blueboy 4003 and even she liked the color, if she liked Rics as much as she likes malls I'd be a happy man.

[ken_swearingen]

john,i understand your running 100% if you added acustem shop that did not interfear with regular production.more business, more money,alot of happy forem members and you would never have to hear anyone say [you ought to make one of these ]because they could order one.while im at it also a parts department and repair shop[new and old]like i said more money,more business i also think a lot more new bus.

[thx1955]

How would you staff it, if you move your experienced workers off the normal production line, where do you find replacments of the same caliber and work ethic.

If you bring in a bunch of new guys, you run the risk of alienating your current staff, and maybe loosing them.

Either way the potential effect is a drop in overall quality, and possibly longer wait times for both normal and custom models ....

Oh wait, here's the answer, staff the custom shop with your best folks, and move "normal" production to China

[ken_swearingen]

jim i took a tour thru the factory in the mid 80s thats when they didnt give tours,i begged brian carmon to walk me thru,you would have thought you were in mexico if you didnt know better[where would they find peaple with good work ethic]hmm.i saw more women then men thats why you tend to see names like maria in the electronics cavity alot of the time.

[thx1955]

My 92 v63 is a Maria ..... quailty and workmanship is superb.

Work ethic is one thing, developing skill and experince takes time, which was really my point.

[johnhall]

Custom shop personnel just by definition would have to be the most skill skilled craftsmen we have, which are generally the supervisors. There would be a tremendous disruption and significant learning curve to add the appropriate additional staff to cover these positions.

Ken, it's not the mid 80's anymore nor is Brian Carman here anymore. We have a modern facility that employs people of virtually every ethnic background, reflecting quite well the diversity of the workforce here in Southern California. There are virtually no people employed here that you would call "entry level"- those folks work over at McDonalds or Radio Shack these days.

[jwr2]

mine said NAMM in it which either means there is someone there named NAMM or it went to NAMM 1998 ...

[jwr2]

[jps]

The ethnic diversity is incredible in So Cal, as is the quality of workers there. Folks back east are not used to this, except perhaps in NYC and Washington D.C.

[thx1955]

Good point Jeff, your spell checker is set a little too high !!!

[rictified]

Yes I also thought that Jeff had chosen his words very carefully in his last post.

[jeff_ulmer]

There is a certain transparency in his writing, his words are very clear.