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Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Hello everyone. One thing I noticed quicky after joining this group, was the limited number of U.S. models in music stores. That is one thing I have been seeing. Even in catalogs, there are tons of Korean made Ovations. My question is, is Ovation headed to Korea totally? Will Ovation one day be only an import guitar? Will the Celebrity models keep getting more and more features? Will the American models die a slow death? With the number of American models offering so few options, I really wonder about this....Paul Hebert |
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Posts: 32
Location: Columbus, Ohio | Paul, that is a very good question. When I went into GC to buy a low cost guitar for my teenage daughter (yes hollogram, I must be old in your eyes) nothing around $300 sounded, looked, or was well put together except the Taylor Big Baby and the Celebrity. I knew the Celebrity was built like a tank and the BB was fragile. No question which I was getting for her. Great electronics! I think yor will continue to see more Korean guitars just to keep production costs low. Look at all the colors, electronics, and options on these guitars at a very reasonable price. I'm sure the entire Celebrity line is a money maker.
When you and i grew up anything that wasn't made in America was junk. The kind and world nowdays is a complete melting pot of manufacturing and assembly. So the new generation doesn't even think the way we used to. This is the way the world is now. Most of the clothers we wear are manufactured somewhere else. So I think it will continue and grow. Ot has to to remain competitive.
I have mentioned before that I took her Celebrity and my 057 to my Taylor dealer for inspection. He didn't even want me bringing it into his store! But I must tell you he feels the quality is exceptional. People here have alsomentioned that the quality of wood is poor, uhhh, he said it was very high quality! Also felt the finish was better than many top end guitars. So, I've got no problem with Pacific Rim guitars. It's a new world. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Read Bill's last post under "Rarest Ovations Part 2". Pretty much sums it up. Ask yourself this - if Ovation DID make the kind of guitars that people state on this board that they would like them to (deep bowls, Adamas I, whatever, whatever), would you open your wallet and BUY one?
If the answer is YES, then pick up the phone and custom order one. Ovation will build whatever you want. My guess is that (human nature, myself included) we are a lot more willing to complain about the current offerings than we are willing (or able) to lay down the cash if Ovation actually came through. 500 people on this board can't understand why Ovation wouldn't roll out a Slothead Adamas identical in every way to the original. Well, if they did would these same 500 people lay down 5-10G each to buy one? Certainly not. Hell, the Folklore Deluxe comes pretty darn close to replicating the "old Ovation feel and sound" - deep bowl, non cutaway, minimal electronics and it sounds GREAT - all for less than $1500. Yet, I haven't heard of a single other person on this board who actually went out and bought one. Paul T. did the right thing and had a guitar built to his specifications and I think more of us should utilize this capability that Ovation offers - if in fact we really are willing to step up with the cash. Opinions are free and I in no way want to discourage anyone from bitching like hell about this or that. But don't let Ovations lack of offerings effect how/what you play. If you really want it - it's available. For a price. Dave |
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Posts: 146
Location: Germantown, MD | I'm in complete agreement with Horse and Dave. Ovation probably could not stay in business selling $5000 guitars, but making solid, less expensive guitars offshore gives them a strong financial base. Because of that financial base, they can maintain the capability to build one-of-a-kind guitars in the US.
Nobody told my Celebrity that she was Korean. She just thinks she's an Ovation. ;) |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | "People here have also mentioned that the quality of wood is poor"
Depends on how you define poor. With the exception of the new Pinnacle series, all of the import guitars use an Asian species of mahogany known as Nato or more correctly, Nyatoh for their necks. Plentiful, sustainable & inexpensive it's used mostly in furniture manufacture but also makes a reasonable neck material and it is used extensively in pacific-rim guitar factories. However it is considered less stable than the various Western species of Mahogany traditionally used in guitar making.
Secondly the imports (again with the exception of the Pinnacles) all have laminated tops. While it is perfectly possible to make good sounding guitars from plywood, solid wood tops are condsidered by most people to be superior.
It is not possible to make an inexpensive instrument without some compromises. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Great thread,
Something StandingO said that got me thinking. The Fokelore that was made was really an outstanding guitar. 500 people couldn't go out and buy it becuase they only made 100.... but that's not the point. I think I know the answer, but I'm curious as to where they DID go. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | "Where DID they go".
That's a good question. I've got one (#34) and the shop I bought it from has one more still for sale (#39). He had put the second one on eBay with a Buy It Now of $1329. and only got a high bid of $660. As far as I know he still has it for sale.
Question for the factory guys on this board - the Ovation site says they made 100 of these. But mine is stamped on the back of the headstock "34/50". Did they make 50 of these or 100?
Dave |
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July 2002
Posts: 150
Location: Minneapolis, MN | #9/50 is available through Elderly Instruments, they're asking $1441.30 (automated email price quote)...
Is there room for the idea that maybe 50 are steel strings/ 50 are nylon strings??
Anyway, I'm waiting for one to roll through the local GC (employee discount, woo hoo..) After that, all I have to do is get my wife to ignore the gaping hole in our savings account :rolleyes: |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I just talked to the factory. They made only 50, all steel stringed. The website is wrong. Makes me feel even luckier then before to have one of these rare babies. Dave
PS Rich, It's much too cold in Minneapolis to have one of these guitars. Please buy one with your employee discount and send it to Moody PI in sunny So Cal. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The fact that only 50 were made nearly a year ago & they still had one available to show at this years winter NAMM and they are still available in dealerships speaks volumes, though not about the quality or sound of the guitar, which is not in question. That guitar alledgedly came about partially as a result of comments on this board, and it seems that although most people here seem to prefer deep-bowl non-cuts, only 1 board member has actually bought one. Maybe the 12-fret neck & slot-head are too retro, but both of those features are a huge benefit in terms of acoustic sound. Maybe a deep-bowl 12-fret non-cut has limited general appeal despite what some of us may think. Or maybe the public perception is "it's an Ovation, it can't be any good unplugged" Either way I'm surprised that more people who have been very vocal and/or critical here, haven't been convinced by this guitar. The one I played at NAMM, a very unsympathetic venue in which to evaluate an acoustic instrument, was very impressive. I have ordered a custom guitar which is a 12-fret, slot-head, wide-neck, deepbowl cutaway with Custom Legend trim and unique electronics, so it's not too far away from the Folklore Deluxe. I'll let you all know when I get it. |
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Posts: 136
Location: Parkersburg, WV | Paul T.
I was trying to track down a previous string where someone mentioned getting a custom one made with a mini-mic connected through a Lo-Z connection. Was that you? Sounded like a great idea.
Patsbro |
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Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I wonder where they did go? Only 50, and figure 1/2 that went overseas... but I am surprised that there can be a new one found after all this time. |
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Location: Scotland | Patsbro, Yep, I liked the idea of an external mini-mike but the '95 collectors series with the mini-mike had a preamp which mixed the pickup & mike signals to a single output and had the same eq for both, which is of no use to me. My Custom guitar will have an OP50 for the pickup and the mike going direct out to an XLR, no onboard controls. It may turn out to be a total disaster, but hey, you have to try. |
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Posts: 136
Location: Parkersburg, WV | Paul T.
I look forward to your feedback when you get your custom order. There is something special when you can set up and use a mic. I know the Legend with the built in mic(1777-4rm) didn't impress anyone. If Ovation could perfect the mic/pickup mix I know it would be something I could use. Again I look forward to you getting your custom guitar. I've got several more questions later on especially concerning the process of getting one ordered and made.
Patsbro |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Pats, I think for a mic/pickup combination to work they need completely independant signal paths, independant outputs and independant EQ, and that's asking too much of an onboard system. Which is why I've chosen to do it they way I have rather than use the Optimax pre that was on the 1777-RM. We'll see, I'll let you know how it turns out. As for the ordering process, both the UK distributor & the factory have been very helpful & made the whole thing painless. Just today I had an email from the factory about a minor detail, so they are really making sure everything is just right. I have no doubt it will be exactly what I want. |
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February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Paul T.
I am currently looking around for another guitar. I am mostly a finger-picker and like the idea of a wide neck, 12 fret, slot headed guitar.
I recently tried an CA guitar. Sounded fantastic and is definately in the running, but if I'm going pay higher than I normally do for a guitar, I'm thinking of buy one that fits my style better. Besides, my wife doesn't mind when I put out $180 for an Aniversary guitar, but go over $1000 and she gets squimish.
I've been considering an Ovation 97 collectors. Seen a few on e-bay. Palour size seems interesting, but I don't know how they sound.
The new Folklore seem interesting too, but I haven't been able to find one in my area. I just don't feel comfortable spending that much money without the slightest clue about how it sounds.
Just wondering, can you share with us how much your custom guitar is going to cost? And what if you don't like the sound? Can you send it back?
Bradley |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Bradley, The parlour size has that unique midrange you only get from smaller guitars which makes it great for finferstyle blues, ragtime & slide. The '97 collectors came in 2 neck widths, standard & wide. I'm not sure how many of each were made but I've never seen a wide-neck version, you'll need to hunt one down. There's been a few on ebay lately, all standard widths. The other option would be a '70's Folklore. They crop up regularly, have wide 12-fret necks, deep-bowl non-cut bodies, sound great & like most older Ovations can be had for beans. The new Folklore Deluxe & the current Folklore 6774 both have wide necks.
I don't really want to get into a public discussion about the price of my Custom guitar, email me off the board.
I'd guess if I don't like the guitar it'll be because I've ordered the wrong instrument, but I've put a lot of thought into this guitar based on 25+ years of playing Ovations.
Returning it isn't part of the deal, but then I can't see me not being absolutely delighted with it. |
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March 2003
Posts: 12
Location: australia | ahorsewithno-humour;
gee mate i'm sorry i upset you but you were the one who first made the "older-timer" comment not me, i was just responding. i think it's good that someone with teenage children is still playing guitar and if your not yet in a wheel chair, maybe when keith richards dies you can join the stones but i think mick will insist that you must get yourself some american made guitars b4 you join his band. |
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February 2003
Posts: 32
Location: Columbus, Ohio | hollow-gord, I do have American made guitars, 2 Taylors, 1 Strat, and 2 Celebrities. As for the wheel chair comment. I am a nationaly ranked 5.5 tennis player. I also have a friend who is in a wheel chair. Plays tennis in a wheel chair league and is sponsered by Wilson, you wouldn't stand a chance against either of us. But, you could try. I would be obligated to help you after you pass out, I'm a member of the medical comunity. |
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February 2003
Posts: 32
Location: Columbus, Ohio | community |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Hey Horse:
In this comunity, spelling is not a prerequisite for having fun. |
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March 2003
Posts: 12
Location: australia | tennis isn't my game and i most likely would pass-out and when i do, please leave me that way, the idea of mouth-to-mouth with a horse worries me.
i'm glad to hear about your fine american instruments. |
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October 2002
Posts: 125
Location: Dallas | Horse - thank you most sincerely for your first & last posts here. You have my attention. Regarding your 1st post, I must agree... my CV-68 Celebrity Viper is killer. I certainly prefer American Made equipment, but HEY!, I got the best Ovation I could afford!! It is SWEET, and my Luthier agrees (...my guitar F.A.C.S./M.D. concurs - in Docspeak).
KD Cain
"Celebrity Owning Red Headed Bastard Stepchild of the OFC" |
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Ovation Made in Korea (only)