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August 2004
Posts: 709
Location: Germany | Hi folks,
this is a story about the chances of Craigslist and the spirit on this board. A few weeks ago I found this Adamas ad on Craigslist:
ser.# 325-90 mod.# 1689-7 made in 1978 signed by Charles H Kaman. Appraised by Gruhn Guitars,Nashville. Exellent condition. contact me at .....
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This was THE guitar I've been looking for years. I prefer the real 1 7/8" neck over the other nut widths and it's got the beige color. On top of that it's got a low serial number and the signature of Charlie himself.
Now I needed some good advice. No reasonable chance for me to call the seller and discuss condition, payment and shipping. My spoken English is insufficient to do that. So I contacted one of the most respected persons on this board who is also one of the most experienced international Tupperware shippers. And he was so kind to call the seller and he also arranged the whole payment and shipping stuff. He had to put a lot of effort in this transaction as the seller was very unexperienced with guitar transactions.
When the guitar arrived at his home, he sent me this good news message:
"You are going to be VERY happy with this guitar. It's serial number is 325 but it looks brand new. Seriously, not a mark on it. You would NEVER guess how old it is.
The guitar really looks great, like brand new. Nice dark wood on the neck and fretboard, no fret wear. I actually have not tuned it up and played it but I will this evening. It's got the mono electronics and old style knobs. The only thing I see, and not sure how it comes out on the photos, the white outer part of the -7 finish has really yellowed. But this actually looks really cool in my opinion. Almost looks like a gold finish. You're going to really like it."
Last week the guitar arrived at my home. Yeah, he was right, I really like (no I love) this guitar. It has this vintage Adamas look, smell and feeling. A real piece of history in near mint condition. I know you guys like pictures so here is one:
Isn't there a great spirit on this board? Thanks a lot to this helpful fellow OFCer. Please give him a Standing Ovation.
Karl
PS. More pictures on Jerome\'s site . |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Congratulations. Was this from Indiana? If so, I must have contacted the seller right after Toby did, as the seller told me he was already negotiating for the sale. Glad it stayed in the family. Wonderful acquisition. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Awsome story!!!! Congrats on a gorgeous guitar.
This kind of thing seems to happen often on this board. Great people!! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | :eek: AWESOME Adamas! A sincere congrat...
Ya just gotta love this international family! |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Wwwoooooowww--what a splendid, splendid, matron of a guitar. I usually don't crave the Adamases, but that one is definitely the cherry on top of any of our sundaes. She is just beautiful, Karl, and I am so glad you were able to have your dream come true!
(I think I can see the glow of your smile all the way over here......) :D ;)
--Karen |
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January 2006
Posts: 1128
Location: NW Washington State | Beautiful! Lucky that you're dealing with good people like Standing Ovation and Tupperware. I wouldn't trust a new guy like Gallerinski to handle something like this. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I have something almost identical. Mine is 88 digits earlier on the serial number, 93 for the fundamental frequency, and was originally a 1189-7 which acquired an Op24 later in it's life. Killer guitar. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Congratulations, Karl. If you would have asked, I would have brought it over to you in April. I'm glad you didn't ask though, and found someone who knew what he was doing.
As we discussed, I would like to meet you in Germany in a couple of months. Of course, this gives me even more reason to do so.
A few years from now, my relatives may wonder why my travel photos of Germany have so many guitar photos mixed in, but I will know. |
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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Karl congratulation for you gorgeous guitar !!
What a find !!!!
... and true. This is really a special board.
Thanks to share your new baby with us.
Riccardo |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Thanks for sharing the story, Charlie! |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | The story has even more twists to it than that. I don't think I even shared it all with Karl. I do remember calling Al late one night and saying "you'll never f--king believe this..."
Seller was in Missori, out in the middle of no-freaking-place. Virtually no PC experience, no paypal, nothing. I had to literally get on the phone and walk him through setting up a paypal account. He wasn't even sure he had a credit card until he looked in his wallet. Got that all working. But he has no way to ship it. He's 80 miles from the closest town with running water. His uncle is a trucker who drives to LA so at one point we were discussion that Uncle Bob would meet me at a freeway exit in Phoenix and exchange the guitar for a wad of cash. Anyway, turns out the seller had to make the big day trip to "the city" with his wife and he think maybe there is a Mailbox Plus store or something similar. He called me three times from the mailbox store to confirm details. The mailbox guy doesn't know how to use my FedEx account number and send it pre-paid to me so I'm giving him my credit card number and the line is so bad I had to repeat it about 6 times. It was just crazy as hell. Anyway, the rest of the story was pretty boring. The guitar arrives at my place and hell if it's not brand freaking new. I had a fleeting thought of "Screw Karl, he hasn't paid for the guitar yet so techically it's mine and maybe it should just stay that way." But my heart wouldn't let me do that.
Fantastic guitar that I know has filled the dreams of it's new owner. Glad I could be a small part of it's story ...
Dave |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | This is what makes this group great! Congrats to Charlie and Dave, you're top drawer! |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Yep, I think I speak for many when I say that falling in with this group of slightly demented, but HUGE hearted people is one of the best things that ever happened to me. Congratulations Charlie! And Dave, you keep proving over and over that you are one of the best! |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Congratulations, Charlie. I saw this ad and contacted Dave as to the guitar's value. He gave me a range and mentioned that he had purchased one. I asked if it was the one on the Springfield, MO CL and it was. I'm glad it went to a fellow member. And Dave has always been great about answering my questions. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Beautiful Guitar!
Now you can pick the guitar and tell the tale of how it made it from a barn in the Ozarks to bright lights of Civilization. |
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March 2006
Posts: 269
Location: Nîmes, south of France | Congrats CharlieRamon, this is a nice story which reminds me another very nice one i had with Mike in year 2007 (he finds for me the nice 1868-6P i was in search for a long time, and a new OHSC as well, then shipped the whole things to me).
The spirit on this board is absolutely awsome, kindness and friendship through music and Ovation/Adamas guitar are more than just words.
Have fun and be proud of your purchase and your friend who makes your dream become true !! |
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March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | How did somebody as unsophisticated as the seller of this guitar, get it in the first place? |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Congratulations on such a beautiful guitar and nice job Dave!
This place is the best! |
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March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Such great stories can happen only with great people.
Dave and Karl are among the greatest guys that I know so I'm not surprised.
Thanks to both of you for remembering us that the O's family is really unique.
Just like this fantastic guitar...
J :) |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | Great story and stunning guitar. The description of the sale/seller and everything you had to go through was a laugh and makes you want to shake your head :D |
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March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Jérôme:
Dave and Karl are among the greatest guys that I know
We talkin' about the same Dave? Toby? |
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March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Paul, you know another "super Dave"?
Not me! :D
J :) |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | BTW, Charlie, both of my Adamas I twins have yellowed around the edges as well...and both have the smell of a vintage Adamas...just makes them more special... |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | zippity doo-dah, zippity ayyy
my, oh my, what a wonderful day
not to mention guitar and story.
waytago, dave and karl! |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Karl, congratulations on an excellent acquisition! Nice job on the handoff, Dave, you've again shown your true colours.
Originally posted by MusicMishka:
Dave, you're top drawer! ...that would be socks and underwear. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Nice. :cool: |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Nice story. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
Karl, congratulations on an excellent acquisition! Nice job on the handoff, Dave, you've again shown your true colours.
Originally posted by MusicMishka:
Dave, you're top drawer! ...that would be socks and underwear.
Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
How did somebody as unsophisticated as the seller of this guitar, get it in the first place? His Dad owned it (don't they always). Dad and son needed money to buy seed for the farm so decided to sell it. True story
Dave |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Dad and son needed money to buy seed for the farm so decided to sell it. True story Now that's a tragic story!!! :( |
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October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Fantastic. Nice job, Dave, and it couldn't have helped out a nicer guy. Nice grab, Karl. Enjoy!
(And, once again, a situation comes up that directly involves neither of them but Miles and Al should really sleep well tonight knowing what type of monster they've created here. And, to let them enjoy it, I call for the community at large not to ask Al about an '09 Factory Tour for, oh, at least a day or two! ;) ) |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Bless 'em... |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Wow! What a story.
Hey Gallerinski, a guy in Madagascar has a socket wrench I've been looking for...you busy? |
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October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | he's never busy enuf... :D |
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January 2006
Posts: 403
Location: Thailand | Congratulations. |
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March 2008
Posts: 179
Location: Central Florida | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Dad and son needed money to buy seed for the farm so decided to sell it. True story Now that's a tragic story!!! :(
And life went on.
Absolutely gorgeous guitar there, Charlie.
And WELL DONE, Dave!
Otto
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1455
Location: Texas | Beautiful guitar, great story(ies).
How did they ever even figure out how to list it on Craig's List in the first place?
The OFC is pretty amazing. We have a world-wide support group, so we help each other avoid costly private therapy sessions. Then we further help each other spend the money (and more) that we saved on psychiatrists by finding guitars for each other…
…and since there's no better therapy than playing guitars…
…it's a win-win situation!
:cool: |
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This is the story of a rare Adamas purchase on Craigslist