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Location: Nashville TN. | The more I think about it the more I get upset with the Balladeer name going on imports.
Its been there since day one.
To me too much history to use it on anything not made in New Hartford.
Anyone else feel the same??? |
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Location: NJ | yup
the same way when I see epiphone imports and hamer and dean and rca and sylvania and etc etc etc |
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Location: south east Michigan | Well, I'm definatly not thrilled about it.
I'm hoping that there is a silver lining to this little cloud. Then again I have been reffered to as an ultimate optimist. |
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Location: Nashville TN. | I wrote my displeasure with that on the face of the warrenty card I mailed yesterday |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | The US guitar industry first went off to Japan, then Korea and now China. It's a sad state of affairs when you now hear/read; "Grab the affordable (brand name, model number) from Korea while you can!"  |
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Location: Omaha, NE | I've got a prized "Made in Korea" Epiphone electric.
But don't complain. At least there is still a such thing as a Balladeer. Could be worse. |
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Location: SoCal | This doesn't bother me in the least. It's been at least 20 years since I've seen a Balladeer that's impressed me. Probably why I haven't owned one.
The guitars that are the upper end are still going to be made in the U.S.
And they are making some damned fine guitars in China, Korea, and Japan..... |
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Posts: 1900
| In answer to your question, I'm not happy about it. I always thought competition wouldn't compromise quality. But, I guess it has. I remember when Balladeers were bright, responsive and had 5-piece necks...but, those were the days.. |
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Location: SoCal | Times change. Either move with them or be miserable..... |
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Location: SoCal | I'm with Moody. |
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Location: Maple Shade, NJ. | Yeah,.....I guess is just is what it is. |
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Location: Tennessee | Ovation was making Balladeers in Korea last century. This is nothing new and it doesn't bother me in the least. As long as the folks in New Hartford keep making guitars, I don't care what names they put on them. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Glen's not happy. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Other than being an old fuddy-duddy who does not like change, it doesn't bother me at all where they choose to build them. It's a global economy and very little is actually "made" in a single country. I bought a German car that was built in the USA with a French transmission. Go figure. What does "Made In The USA" mean when the workers are predominately Vietnamese and Maxican? I'd be less concerned with where it's made and more concerned with HOW it's made and HOW it sounds. USA quality standards are nothing to brag about. Dave |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | I agree with Moody , never cared much for a balladeer , the guitar that is , not the poor lads who were humping from castle to castle trying to make a living , some hundreds of years ago ..
Vic |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I used to fat, dumb and happy but lately I'm not so happy...
One quick reference:
1965 1/2 Ford Mustang, affordable, cool, back window that would remain fogged in most every circumstance (some better than others).
In 1976 - 1978 the model reached its absolute low, being a spruced up Pinto.
NOW, have you seen the new Mustangs? Dude, they rock!
My Point - every product line has its ups and downs. We have a lot to choose from and life is too short to play sucky guitars... |
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Location: CA | What MWoody said about the Mustang.
Or Ovation could do what Fender does: call them all Balladeers. Witness the plethora of Stratocasters they've unleashed on an unsuspecting populace. Same basic guitar made in — what now — at least 5 different countries in the past 20 years? And they're still selling 'em by the truckfull. |
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Location: CA | Oh, and why were on the analogy, in case any of you missed the absolute best commercial ever made:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzXHq7gKN8 |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | The Balladeer name has always been an import!
:p |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | You think they shouldn't make Balladeers in Asia? I think they shouldn't even make Ovations in Asia.
Or at least not call them Ovations.
I know it's an old topic, but I also know I'm not alone. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | If by moving balladeer production to asia they can accomplish the following things, how is this bad?
1) Make them cheaper = more profit to keep the company going, more money for R&D, factory expansions, artist endorsements, advertising, etc.
2) Make them in much higher volume and lower price point = increased sales. A balladeer in every guitar students hand. A balladeer in every band.
How is this a bad thing ???
Dave |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Tup,
I didn't find the word 'quality' or the phrase 'customer service/support' in your post...
Those two major elements are what I believe that keep most of us here participating.
Will lower priced guitars and more R&D guarantee such? |
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| ..by the way, I'm not miserable about it, I just remember when the Balladeer was a serious guitar. I'd rather spend the bucks to have the factory restore my originals than spend less for a cheap knock-off.. ;) |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Was Good to see Steve McQueen again , took the opportunity to watch that Chase again...muchas gracias oddball... :)
Vic |
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Location: SoCal | In stores, minimal product placement of Ovation's upper line, almost non-existent placement of Adamas, Ovation headstock on Celebs...and, that was pre-Fender.
Now, non-USA of lower end O's.
Again, other than small print on the label, probably no distinction between off shore and USA guitars. At least Gibson has the Epiphone headstock/logo.
Problem? What small percentage of buyers that didn't think all O's came from off shore will now be convinced that there are no USA O's. No placement means no orders, means no upper end O's - product/production line will be dropped. Guess you could custom order but pretty expensive. I am pessimistic about even that...after a few years, lack of parts, staff shifted to other production lines, etc.
My advice, grab the used ones or current stock while you can. If you want to sell, try and wait a couple of years...
Frankly, I had already seen what I thought was the end of the product line...at least in product development. Few, if any, radical changes in the Collectors line. Hard to improve on the textured top Adamas, Custom Legend, and Custom Elite. Upgrade the pre-amp, go to contour bowl, inset rosette...what else can they do. Already have great playability and materials.
Just remember, there where no USA Ovations displayed at NAMM. Only one Adamas and that was the very limited run of the 2008 Collectors.
Even though the 2008 Collectors (Adamas slothead) was shown, I did not consider that it had prime placement. Heck, off to the side by the Tak display, almost sitting on the floor. |
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Location: SoCal | That was wonderful!!! |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | My first Balladeer, my first Ovation (what brought me Here) was a Solid Top SSB Korean import....
Damn Nice Guitar. Started my O'diction!
So maybe this will mean another beginner can get a Great Solid Top with a Great Pre-amp for $400?
(kinda wish I hadn't sold it, Best SSB I've had.)
Random thought (aren't they all)... All the Toyota's, Nissan's and Mazda's the Japanese buy are Made in the USA! :p
I am getting two US Elite T's while they are still made here... And disgustingly inexpensive! |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Now now Tony , according to Arthur , we will see Korean Ovations , " Made in the USA " , so , perhaps the sky is not so dark after all , seriously though ,.. He does raise an Interesting point :)
Vic |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Tony Calman:
At least Gibson has the Epiphone headstock/logo.
It is how a guitar is designed and the materials used to construct it. Try an Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500R.
Nearest thing to a Martin OM at a third of the price. True in a few years the Martin will be worth what you paid where as the Epiphone will be worth a couple of C notes.
USA built Ovations to someone who appreciates the brand will be worth the money.
If Quality Control is used you will be able to get a decent Ovation guitar built somewhere other than the USA.
If Gibson can do it with the Epiphone Masterbilt line than I'm sure Ovation can. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
Tup, I didn't find the word 'quality' or the phrase 'customer service/support' in your post... Good point. As far as service I don't think I've heard how this will be handled for Balladeers. Maybe KS takes this over. For the price point of Balladeers maybe that's where it belongs anyway, who knows.
Quality is another consideration and I think the shot in the arm of Asian quality control is just what the Balladeer needed anyway, so this should be a good thing.
So overall, I'm pretty optimisic about the whole thing and how it will help Fender and Ovation as a whole. But truth be told I have no Balladeer purchase plans in my immediate future.
Time will tell, but I tend to look at the upside and not wollow in pity of what used to be and is no more. Better to spend my energy on things I can control.
Dave |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Better to spend.....on things I can control.
Dave     |
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Location: SoCal | I had a 1989 Model 4861 Korean Balladeer for a short time...impressed with the guitar, paid less and later sold for less because not USA. Not a problem...again, with no product placement in stores (as there is very little now), why would you invest in R&D, supply inventory, space in the factory, etc., for US Ovation when the public sees them as a respected, well built off shore brand. Risk with no incentive.
Again, NAMM...Ovation used their very expensive real estate (booth) and staff to sell the off shore Celebs. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | 我们做您美好的吉他
EDIT: 二 美元 |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | GOOD ONE T28 !!!
I guess "control" maybe isn't something I have a lot of these days.
DW |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hey , OVATION ain`t dead !!!....get that wood -box outtahere ...
Al..them Takaminers are invading our stronghold.. :)
Vic |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | If Kaman/Fender want recognition of quality guitars, don't call the Asian ones 'Ovation'. Simple!
Celebrity Balladeer, Applause Elite. Call 'em what they are. They ain't Ovations.
Even down here, I often hear "I played an Ovation once, didn't like it. But yours sounds GREAT!"
I ask them if the one they played was a US Ovation, or a Korean/Chinese one. "I dunno, but it was definitely an Ovation." |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | +1 muzza, people think I'm crazy when I tell them what I play, but refuse to get their grubby hands off of mine when they play them.
I agree, rename the low-end and seperate them from the good 'uns. |
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Location: SoCal | I can't remember what thread we were talking about
Taylors on, but since every thread seems to take 3 or 4 turns in different directions, I tack a comment about them on this one.
Guy came to our church band practice tonight. Real nice guy. Brought his Taylor (one of the less ornate ones) of which he was real proud. I had my OFC slothead (click!). Major difference in sound, the Taylor being very inferior. Not just different, it was weak. And afterward, when he played my guitar, he sounded much much better. I have no doubt that almost every Ovation I own would sound better than that Taylor.
So many people buy guitars (or don't buy them) on perception, not on actual sound or playability. Just like many people base their opinion on Ovations on the cheap imports, many people buy Taylors on the reputation.
Maybe I am on topic in this thread with this post.... |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | funny how it works isn't it.....
Paul, your remarks reminded me of listening to National Lampoons "Lemmings" with MusicMike on the way to Amelia Isle.... |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
So many people buy guitars (or don't buy them) on perception, not on actual sound or playability. Just like many people base their opinion on Ovations on the cheap imports, many people buy Taylors on the reputation.
Very True that , but how Taylor got that reputation is beyond me
Vic |
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Location: NJ | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I had my OFC slothead (click!). that would be DING |
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Location: Queens, NY | I wasn't happy about it. It kind of defeats the purpose of the whole LX thing, which was to help differentiate between USA and Korean Ovations. Now I guess there will be both USA and Korean LX models. Also, the fact that Balladeers were made in the USA I think was a big selling point. Even though Korean Balladeers will certainly be cheaper, I'm not sure they'll be as popular.
On the other hand, it will help streamline the production of the remaining USA models (similar necks, etc).
All I can say now is the Ovation Legend is starting to look good to me. |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by alpep:
Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I had my OFC slothead (click!). that would be DING
Ding! |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by HumblePie aka Solid Top:
Very True that , but how Taylor got that reputation is beyond me
Vic Alot of people ASSUME that because they bought the most Expensive guitar in the store, they must've bought the best.
Often true, but not always... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Good point OMA,
and another good example in other areas is SONY.
You PAY MORE for the Sony brand name.
Are their products the best? Sometimes but not always... but you do know going in that you will pay a premium for the Sony name. |
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Location: Huntington Beach, CA | All in all, I think with US made instruments you don't have to test/inspect as many to find the one for you, as you do with particularly Asian made instruments. Materials, manufacturing methods, QA, etc. may be different and unlikely "better" than US manufacturing. The point of foreign manufacturing is to take advantage of lower labor and overhead costs. That doesn't mean labor is equal in skill, just cheaper in price.
Get the US models while you can and switch focus from Ovation to Adamas. In my opinion, Guild still makes quality instruments in limited production in the US but the Chinese made Guilds are garbage. Thanks Fender!
-Eman. |
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Location: Nashville TN. | I just see so nameplates as iconic.
Coupe Deville, Corvette etc
Put the Balladeer name in with those.
I'd rather see it retireed than used non us model. |
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Anyone else not happy....