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| Why haven't the Ovation 'Q' guitars been released by Ovation as part of their standard product line?
R&D on the 'Q' guitar has apparently been going on for many years, but a 'Q' model has never been made widely available to the public.
Has anyone every played a 'Q', and if so, what are they like, and could you compare and contrast the sound of these instruments to other Adamases?
Thanks.
Al |
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Location: Tennessee | There were two versions of the "Q" guitar. Once was in production for a bit, characterized by wavy sound holes.
The other is a dream many of us keep hoping comes true. I got to play two different ones last year. In a word, they are stunning ... there is no comparison to other Adamii. I would love to see these made with a contour bowl ... but I think the price would make it a non-starter for the company. How many $10K guitars could Ovation really sell? That's why they never got put into production in the first place. |
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| Originally posted by Albert190:
Why haven't the Ovation 'Q' guitars been released by Ovation as part of their standard product line? Deemed too expensive to produce.
Has anyone every played a 'Q', and if so, what are they like, and could you compare and contrast the sound of these instruments to other Adamases? Farcking amazing. 'Nuf said. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | A number of us have played both prototypes, No.s 8 and 20 I believe, thanks to the kindnes and generosity of their owner. I doubt I could ever afford one if the factory ever did make a limited production run, but I'd certainly spend some time with a pencil running my numbers in an attempt to make it happen. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | 8 an 10
truely the ultimate of any standard |
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Location: closely held secret | The Q's are #8 and #10.
edit, Beal beat me to it.
I believe a certain banjo player mentioned the whereabouts of #9. |
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| One would think, though, that if the 'Q' were sold in sufficient quantities, Ovation would not not have to charge $10K for each guitar to make a reasonable profit.
If they priced the 'Q', say a thousand dollars (or so) more than a standard Adamas, I'm sure there would be tremendous interest on the part of the public in buying these guitars, especially if they really are far superior to the other Adamases.
By selling large numbers of these 'Q' guitars, Ovation could keep the price down and still make a substantial profit.
Al |
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Location: closely held secret | Al, I'm guessing the Q cost significantly more to produce than a standard Adamas.
It's most likely not about making a big profit. It's about selling enough to pay for the production costs. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | What on earth would make them that expensive to produce? |
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| Stonebobbo:
When you wrote:
'There were two versions of the "Q" guitar. Once was in production for a bit, characterized by wavy sound holes.'
How did the above guitars sound?
Also, how much did they cost?
Thanks.
Al |
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| After meeting the much higher production costs, you also have to consider the marketing aspect. Assuming a production cost of even $5000 (probably lower than the actual), how many people would actually buy an Ovation/Adamas for $6-7K? That's some pretty rarified air...
You can find the production version on occasion. Not much different than any other cross-weave Adamas, and nowhere near the "true" Qs. |
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Location: closely held secret | Temp with Q10:
T28 with Q8:
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | The only thing I don't like so far about them is the name "Q" guitar.
What does the name "Q" stand for anyway? ... on the other hand, maybe I shouldn't ask. |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Albert190:
How did the above guitars sound?
Like a CA with tone and soul.
Originally posted by Albert190:
Also, how much did they cost? I felt the need to ask - therefore, I didn't bother. |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Oh great, another one to long for. :rolleyes: It's probably a very good thing these are not available. I can't AFFORD to keep buying guitars like I have been.
Now...does anyone have one of these for sale? |
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Location: Indiana | I don't question the experienced voices here that point to cost when ever this subject comes up.
I am curious though as to what aspects/techniques of Q production make it drastically more costly than the all composite guitars produced by CA and Rainsong. |
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Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by Albert190:
Stonebobbo:
When you wrote:
'There were two versions of the "Q" guitar. Once was in production for a bit, characterized by wavy sound holes.'
How did the above guitars sound?
Also, how much did they cost?
Thanks.
Al Here's a link that describes the guitar: Adamas Q597
I never played one of these, but I'm willing to bet they sounded real similar to the W597s.
Street price on these were in the $2K range. They ocassionally show up on eBay and can be had for a bit less than that. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | No. 8 and 10, which is what I meant. Chalk it up to clumsy typing. If my memory is correct, I believe I heard that the true Q prototypes are all one piece, meaning the necks, tops and bowls are all fused together and cannot come apart. This is certainly the way they look under close inspection. On the production models, aren't the necks and the manner in which they are attached standard issue Adamas? |
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Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by Jonmark Stone:
I don't question the experienced voices here that point to cost when ever this subject comes up.
I am curious though as to what aspects/techniques of Q production make it drastically more costly than the all composite guitars produced by CA and Rainsong. Me too.
I spent some time playing a lovely CA GX model last week. Lovely guitar. Great tone and volume. Effortless playability. And of course its totally bulletproof. Street price is something like $2700 or so.
What makes the Q so much more expensive? |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | If any one from Ovation/Fender is listening to this thread, I believe the Q would make a great loss leader for the company. i.e. sell them for less than what they cost, but more than others, say around $7-8k.
Don't advertise them outside the Ovation website, but let them filter out into the world where people see them, have a play, then decide they can't afford it and buy another Ovation/Adamas. This concept is used in other industries, where they don't expect to sell many of the top-of-the-line model, but use them to create brand name respect which leads to sales of lesser models. e.g. Honda/Acura had the NSX which never sold many, but raised brand cred.
Maybe by doing this they'll stumble on a way to reduce costs without losing that Q mojo that people rave about. I've never tried one, but I'd like to. |
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Location: Gardnerville, NV | Don't advertise them outside the Ovation website, but let them filter out into the world where people see them, have a play, then decide they can't afford it and buy another Ovation/Adamas. This concept is used in other industries, where they don't expect to sell many of the top-of-the-line model, but use them to create brand name respect which leads to sales of lesser models. e.g. Honda/Acura had the NSX which never sold many, but raised brand cred. sounds like how they currently market Adamas in general |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | or all Ovation for that matter.
Anyhow, the "Q"s were three piece, a top and bowl that were joined half way down the side and a neck-through. Add to that a fingerboard, bridge and braces and tuners and you got a gitter.
I know where 8 and 10 are. DJ, the former head of R&D has one, maybe #9?
I don't know of any others but there may be one or two.
I don't know if it ever got far enough to have a real price.
The Q2 is just a wavey hole adamas and unless you're a fan of that non-hetro hole pattern I say just get a SMT or one of the others. From Al of course. |
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Location: Indiana | Interesting. Thanks Beal. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | The Q was in the price list for 1 year only. |
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Location: closely held secret | I thought DeBanjo said he had #9. |
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Location: Tennessee | Maybe he spells his name DebanJo and therefore it's DJ. After all, I think he did a bunch of design work whilst with his sidekick the scribbler. |
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Location: closely held secret | Maybe. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Nope |
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Location: Cork, Ireland | I see that no-one in the photos is actually playing them. Come on guys, they aren't real, are they? |
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Location: Tennessee | Nobody on this forum actually plays guitar. Well, Moody knows three chords but won't clue any of the rest of us in. Bastid. The rest of us just collect them and knit doilies around the stove whilst pontificating about tone and playability, of which we really have no clue. We just put 'em in an open tuning and strum them. ;) |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | What's an open tuning?
Is that where I standard tune and strum open strings? :rolleyes: |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ...this Q was kindof cool...
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Location: 6 String Ranch | They are so rare even Debanjo doesn't have one. |
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| Originally posted by stephent28:
What's an open tuning? G6add9 |
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Location: closely held secret | I thought he mentioned #9 at your house last March. On further reflection he may have simply said he "knows where it is". |
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Location: Nashville TN. | How much would the price drop if you had a run of say 1000 guitars??? |
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Location: closely held secret | Let's see... hmmm, hmmm, hmmm. Carry the 2... divide by...
Wow, I'd buy one at that price!
No, wait. I seem to be missing a critical piece of the calculation. Never mind. |
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Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
No, wait. I seem to be missing a critical piece of the calculation. Never mind. Let me help you do some figuring courtesy of Ma & Pa Kettle and maybe we can make the numbers work out so we can both get one: New Math |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | LOVE Ma & Pa. |
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Location: closely held secret | Perfect.
Tom Lehrer explains it pretty well also. |
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Location: Nîmes, south of France | |
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Location: Nîmes, south of France | I'm pleased to read more about these guitars.
Thanks to all for the informations and pics. |
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Ovation 'Q' Guitars - Why Aren't They Available As Part of Standard Product Line?