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December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Today at lunch I picked up my Montana (yep another Kaman enterprise) bass guitar that was in for repairs at a local repair shop.
While I waited I of course perused all the vintage and new guitars/mandolins/autoharps/organs/music books/etc. and noticed a multi-sound hole with epaulets guitar that wasn't there the last time. At first I was "Ooooo what's that?!" On closer scrutiny it was an Ovation copy with New York Pro on the headstock - strummed OK, but the whole thing had a cheesy look and feel to it. Didn't look at the price.
When I did a Google search on New York Pro Guitar I actually got a couple of hits (most were for a shop in Poughkeepsie) and I actually read a couple of things about New York Pro guitars and thier Fender Strat copies (hey that's what we need another strat copy). And I'll usually check out whatever e-bay sells the fan club posts, including the Ovation rip-off ones....
Anyway, I just wondering if the soundhole design, epaulets, round backs, etc., made famous by Ovation were not copywrited things. And how do these copies get out there?
By the way, the bass is in good condition - I bought it second hand as another instrument so somebody could play bass during guitar circles and my then 2-year old knocked it off the stand and it broke the head stock off - Rusty's Mix got it all back together after another person had it for over a year and never worked on it. It's an acoustic/electric model.... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I recall cwk2 mentioning awhile back (on a very similar thread) that the product patent is only good for xx amount of years (I forget how many) and then it's fair game.
I guess they don't necessarily have to copy the QUALITY. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | how many new york pro guitars do you want? I buy from the distributor. He has guitars made in china for him they are good quality for the money but that is about it. If he wasn't such a nice guy I would yell about his ovation knockoffs but whenever he tells me he has ovations I just laugh. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Patents are 17 years.
They have a trademark on the bowl design and trademarks are lifetime.
Of course they are only good if you spend the money to enforce your trademarks and patents......
It takes alot of time and energy but I always felt it was worth it. |
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December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Thankls guys that explains a lot. Especially that they have patents and not copyrights :rolleyes:
Alpep, next on my agenda is a 12 string, but it'll be awhile. When the time comes I'll let you know...
So, New York Pro comes from China :confused: |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | like I said Paul I have the connection how many do you want? |
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December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | One is all I need, but I was thinking of a USA "O" 12 string. Which model does everbody suggest? |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Older Adamas, of course. |
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December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Soon as I posted that I figured that was the answer! :) |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | One good twlve string before I die is my goal. I've had some not so good 12 strings and I love the sound. Adamas looks like the best to me also, but a good vintage Legend or something might do. The Chinese bastard doesn't interest me at all. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Well,if you really want one good 12 string, then take a look at this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2510784435&category=33029 |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | That's it Paul
For that price I'd really like to see and play the guitar, although the reputation of the Adamas is some gaurantee. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Bailey:
This guitar is almost identical with Big Blue with two exceptions. First, It doesn't have an external battery door, and BB doesn't have the Adamas logo on the back (Ovation was cutting costs by the early 1990's). I'd say this one was made in the mid to late 1980's.
All I know is that Big Blue is the finest 12 string I've ever played (and I've played a lot of them). The clarity that Adamaii are famous for, this guitar has. Which means that it doesn't sound muddy, like so many 12 strings. It's a beautiful sound.
But almost 2 grand is a lot of money, when you can't pick it up and play it first. That guitar should go for over 2 grand easy on ebay. But I think that the seller is selling it wrong. He should start the bidding lower and get people in on it. It's going to take some big brass ones to start the bidding at 18 and change. |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Well, if he could print your comments it might help. I think he should have more photos and a detailed description, including any defects, if any. That's a lot of money, but I'm sure a good one is worth it.
I would want one if I could afford it, I have argued for inexpensive guitars, but I'm willing to pay for rare quality.
Bailey |
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March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | paul, the ss adamas I prototype i have is also the finest 12 string i have ever played. we were doing an acoustic night last friday and my compadre in three groups i play in and i swapped guitars for the last 3 or four tunes. he had a martin 6 string he bought in '62 and even though it was set up well it was harder to play. half way through the first tune ha started to finger pick and was doing stuff he couldn't do with the martin. i think he would have played until they locked up the club.
bailey, i have a 12 string i had built for me that you would enjoy as a mandolin player. it has a very small body and i string it as a conventional 12 string or with pairs of the same gauge to get more of a mandolin sound. paul m, i think i have a photo of it on the cd i gave you. the big wide neck makes it easier to play, and since it is tuned like a guitar it is easier for me to change to during a set without changing my thinking. |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | That Adamas on e-bay is a beautiful guitar. Alas, well out of my price range...
Guess I should start saving some dollars..
I'll just have to be content with the new Legend :cool: |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Out of my price range too Paul W., but who knows what the future might bring so we can keep looking.
That's an interesting idea Russ, is there a picture of it in the gallery? Are you saying you aren't using wound/unwound pairs on the bass strings, I can't remember 12 string configuration off the top of my head, was it double strings from high E down to G and wound/unwound octaves from there on down? |
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Guitar Designs and Copyrights