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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Stopped by GC yesterday to take the new VXT for a test drive. The experience was a disappointment, not necessarily the guitar, but the experience.
The good news. The VXT fit and finish was excellent, the gloss black finish was superb (although the black gloss really shows hand prints and only maybe 100 folks seemed to have already handled this model), and the feel of the guitar seemed just right. With light strings and what felt like a two-octave fretboard (by memory, I didn't check this), it is effortless to play high.
The bad news. This thing needs much better marketing. It was tucked in a corner below the cheap acoustics next to the used amps. I couldn't find it on my own and had to ask if they had received one in stock, and if so, where it was. The stereo Y cable was connected with the electric channel going to a B-52 half stack and the acoustic channel plugged into a Roland AC-60 mounted high on a pole. The salesman couldn't get the acoustic side to work, so he switched batteries. Still didn't work. He blamed it on the cable, but they reportedly didn't have any more stereo cables (I doubt that it was the cable, which was new, as the cable packaging was still sitting on top of the B-52 head) . Another salesman came over and suggested just using a standard cable, switching to mono, and using the Roland. That worked, but to my ears, I really couldn't hear that much difference while panning the blend switch, plus it was so freakin' noisy I could not really hear anything that I was doing. In addition, I couldn't get the guitar in tune (to the extent that I could even hear it at all) so there may have been an intonation problem.
Here is the worst of it. While the salesmen were discussing the stereo chord problem, one said to the other that the Ovation rep advised that "they" were having a problem with the acoustic channel and if it didn't work properly, to let him know. I'm not exactly sure what all this means, and, of course, it is all second hand, but I sure came away from the experience with a bad taste for this guitar, GC, and the way it is being marketed.
I'm an Ovation addict so I'll be back, but for anybody else thinking about this model who doesn't know Ovation, what a terrible and disappointing experience. List on the guitar was $2395 and sales price was $1595. For these prices, I would expect better. Considering the alternatives and the typical customers in GC, I can't imagine there being any sales except to members of this Board. I'll try again at the GC in Boston in a week and hopefully we'll have a fresh model to try at the Reunion.
I hope your experience is an improvement. |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I doubt I will see the VXT at our GC for a long time, if ever. The've had the LX ad on the acoustic wall for years and when I asked when they were going to get an LX model, no one knew what it meant. I asked whether they ever would get an Adamas in and they didn't know what that meant. Basically, none of our local GC employees like Ovations. Often, I have more in stock than the store does. |
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Posts: 41
| I think the GC near me is very similar. They have a couple Applause's and a couple Celebrity's and maybe 1 or 2 USA made Ovations, but they are usually placed in close proximity to the cheaper guitars, while the Taylors and Martins and some other higher priced guitars are put in a seperate section.
The GC staff didn't know much about Ovations even though they pretended like they did so that they could convince me to buy it. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | In Brooklyn's GC acoustic room, they like the ovations, as they are considered a gigger's instrument here.
The electric part of the store is a zoo. You can't imagine the cacophony that goes on in there, cause you got the hip hoppers in the DJ room, the reggae guys in the keyboard room, the future rockers of america playing cat scratch fever ... whenever I'm there I take the headphones from the pedal racks. Once I've got the measure of what the guitar can do, then I play thru the amp only, working slowly up thru the volume until I'm annoying other people; there's no other way in GC.
Professor, when you get to boston, snag a headphone from the pedal board area.
I can't wait to check it out. I'm sorry to hear it was a dud. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Ah yes, marketing.......click. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | My one trip to a GC... They had a red Celeb cs257. That's it.
I was sorta 12-shopping. Trying to decide if I wanted a 12... period.
They said they had a Celebrity 12 in the back, but still packed-up. And he could get it (but it was $800).
He did let me play with a Breedlove, which is a really nice guitar (and only $700).
Really, he was trying to recommend anything other than an Ovation.
"Some people seem to really like Ovations for some reason, but over here we have..."
(They also had a dusty Double Deluxe hanging from the ceiling, solely for decoration.)
BTW- I got a twelve, but I rarely play it. :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | Originally posted by cwk2:
Ah yes, marketing.......click. (hehehe) |
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December 2004
Posts: 112
Location: Ballston Lake, N.Y. | I tried the VXT at the Albany NY Guitar Center. The salesman plugged me in. The guitar was in stereo mode, out to an acoustic amp and a Mesa Boogie electric amp. They kept it unplugged so as not to run down the battery. Nice guitar. The Seymour Duncan pickups sound smooth, very much like a Les Paul. Nice acoustic emulation. The neck is chunky. Very un ovation like. Reminds of the 52 reissue Fender Telecaster neck.
If anyone's interested, this store had a used 1619 Sunburst Custom Legend for $399.00. It had some "issues". A screw above the end pin on the lower body, some finish scrapes on the body above the neck. |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by an4340:
In Brooklyn's GC acoustic room, they like the ovations, as they are considered a gigger's instrument here.
Rick, I'll be in Willamsburg after the tour, where is the Brooklyn GC? |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | While running errands with lady s this afternoon, we stopped into to GC to see what was up with the VXT. Walked though looking for it ... couldn't find one ... went into the acoustic room. There were at least a dozen Ovations hanging on the wall ... a bunch of nice solid top celebs, a USA assembled Ultra, a LegendLX, a couple of LX Elites, a Balladeer 12LX and a double neck. Nice assortment and well done. Giving up on finding the VXT, went to leave, looked at the Dragon PRS way up high near the front door, turned around, and ... wham ... there was the VXT display all set up right square in front as you walk in. I guess I expected it to be hidden in the back so I walked right past it going in. :rolleyes:
The standalone display (about 8 feet across) was pretty cool ... the Sunburst VXT was hanging right in the center, there was marketing literature and backdrop graphics, and stacked from the floor on both sides were an assortment of acoustic amps on the left and electric amps on the right. In the center was a layout of a bunch of stereo cables. This GC has definitely got the VXT in a high profile display. Kudos.
The guitar itself is very well done. The craftsmanship is first rate ... the grained ivorioid binding evidence that no corners were cut. I didn't find the neck that chunky ... not nearly as beefy as my Hamer Mirage. The slight contour-bowl shaped back is a nice touch. Fretword and fretboard are very well done. The guitar was set up well and played well. The grain on the spruce top came though nicely. Lots of resonance in this guitar. At $1600 it is nearing the higher price levels in the store, but knowing what I know it's a fair price. Maybe less educated buyers might not agree since it really doesn't have much bling. These things will probably be better received and sell better once they get into the hands of the more quality oriented music retailers.
I wonder what it would take to get one of these in a natural finish? :cool: |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
I wonder what it would take to get one of these in a natural finish? :cool: A sander :) Sorry it was just too easy to resist. |
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Posts: 5575
Location: big island | i was gonna say "homer formby's" but a sander is the #1 answer after polling 100 people. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
Originally posted by stonebobbo:
I wonder what it would take to get one of these in a natural finish? :cool: A sander :) |
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Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | "A Sander"
I would be so kicked out of the tub...
A certain dealer told me that they won't make them until the GC run is through. Then I'll pitch for a Koa top.
When I asked a certain Customer Service Manager about buying the guts for one of these it was a most polite - can't blame you for trying but no.
We'll just have to wait for Christmas 2007.
BTW - Any photo ops at the tour of any VXT (or other???) building processes would be really cool! |
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April 2003
Posts: 557
Location: Burbank | I went to the GC in Hollywood, and after playing around in the acoustic room, I was going to leave and then I remembered, oh yeah VXT. I looked and then asked the sales dude? He said just sold it 15 minutes ago! He says let me see when the next one comes.... Hey we have 2! Would you like to see black or sunburst? I said sunburst. He brings out the guitar in it's case. I take it out and plug into someones tweed amp (they were stacked so I couldn't see the name. Lucky for me it was early so most of pierced, tattooed, pink mohawk types were still sleeping or in jail so it wasn't noisy or crowded. I plugged in not knowing about the stereo thing. I played it and just enjoying the feeling of it and then he says try the acoustic side (I forgot about this feature). I switched it and couldn't believe how good it sounded. Then I turned it back to electric, cranked the distortion and tried out the rockin side (I am no lead player but this thing was easy to play and fun). I really liked and had a hard time leaving it there but for $1500 it will be a while. I will have to go back for second spin for sure! |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Paul,
Sent you an email with directions.
Rick |
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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | The bad news. This thing needs much better marketing. It was tucked in a corner below the cheap acoustics next to the used amps. I couldn't find it on my own and had to ask if they had received one in stock, and if so, where it was. Isn't that always the case? Everytime I walk into any Ovation dealer, they have Celebrity's, and Applause' all over the showroom floor, just ready and waiting for action. Anything that was made in the U.S. is always WAY up top near the ceiling, or hidden in the back somewhere. Is this a marketing strategy of some sort??? |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Got it, thanks Rick. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Surprise! I stopped in the local GC tonight on the way home and looked around for the VXT. Went into the acoustic room and tried out a few guitars, then asked the guy if they would ever get any VXTs. He said they had a display right outside the door. I had walked right by it.
Nice finish. Very flat neck and flat radius on the fretboard. They couldn't get the stereo cable to work, although the cable worked in each amp. I just played the acoustic mode, since I don't play much on electric and it sounded pretty good.
This one was black and showed a ton of fingerprints, even on the first day in the store. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I love black finish guitars, but you'll go through a lot of elbow grease keeping it clean. I like black cars too. But the last black one I had was a fairly good sized SUV and I had to hire a team of less than fully documented workers just to keep the bugger clean. Never again.
So why are we hearing such horror stories about the Y cable on a brand new guitar? Does nobody actually check these before the factory ships them? This is like a bad deja vu with all the FRG fiascos on the collectors series. Just the black eye Ovation does not need. Every display guitar should have a working Y cable permanently welded into it. This is quickly turning from a guitar I don't need into a guitar I don't want.
Dave |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | The cable they had was not a factory cable. They had a y splitter with 2 cables plugged in. The battery light was on, but the preamp obviously worked on one channel. I wonder if the splitter wasn't working, although we got pops out of both amps when we unplugged the cables.
I don't like black guitars or cars. Give me red. We Pollocks like bright colors. At least that what my Mom always told me. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I want to clarify some of the things said in this thread.
There is not a problem with the preamps or the pickups on the VXT guitars. That is strictly urban legend.
The guitar will function in mono UNLESS the switch on the battery box is set to stereo.
this is how it was explained to me.
<>
I was able to try the VXT the last time I was at the factory and the guitar I tried was one that just came off the line. It functioned both in stereo and mono and I thought it was a terrfic option. If you use the guitar in mono you use the blend pot to blend the pickups.
I think this was a case of the salesman not being totally familiar with the product. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Good point, Al. In reference to my specific experience, however, the salesmen knew of the switch and tried it numerous times before switching only to the mono mode. |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | And a mono cable going only to one amp? GC people are for the most part morons. There are few exceptions (they can at least be taught), but the overwhelming majority know less about guitars than cops know about guns... |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | another thought is if the blend pot is in one position it will only give you one sound. |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | My salesman had no idea about the stereo/mono switch, but I found it and it had no effect. It was on stereo when I tried it the first time. They also couldn't find any literature on the guitar. I agree with Al. I don't think there was any problem with the guitar. It was just that the guys at GC didn't know how to work it. I bet if I went back tonight, they still wouldn't have it figured out.
I have had numerous other problems with the local GC not knowing what they were selling, so I'm used to it. Unfortunately, this time I couldn't figure out the answer for myself. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | StupidQuestion:
Is it possible that these "display guitars" have been left plugged-in, and pre-amp battery's dead??
btw:
KUDOS to Ovation for (seemingly) getting these into EVERY GuitarCenter!!
It seems t'be the ONE Ovation guitar that GC is actually PROMOTING!!!
(what a novel f@%king IDEA!!!) |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Unfortunately, this time I couldn't figure out the answer for myself. So you admit that it was operator error?? :p :D :p :D |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Cliff, the battery light was on the one I tried. I thought it might be the battery, but then the guitar worked very well on one channel.
Fred, I have no doubt it was operator error. My cars and guitars far surpass my abilities. I don't even attempt to figure out computers. |
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Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | I wonder, and this would be VERY cool, if the 59's are purely passive and will work even without a battery... |
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November 2006
Posts: 53
Location: Boston | I don't think it is a pure passive connection as the mixer must be active all the time.
I finally got to spend some time with a couple of VXT's (one sunburst one black) at the GC in Natick, MA. Both batteries were dead. Yes indeed they had left them plugged in. NO nothing.
They fetched a fresh(er) battery and bingo!
To GC's credit, (or more likely to the credit of the Ovation rep) they had a pretty decent setup with both an electric amp and an "acoustic" amp (in this case a decent little Roland as I recall).
I had a lot of fun. Very impressive.
I am mostly into electric/leads. It is a very nice electric guitar. Fit, finish, electronics, hardware are all world class. The pickups are the real deal and it was easy to get the full range of tones and response you would expect from a top notch guitar. I got some great sounds running both amps in tandem, with the dynamics of the acoustic amp providing excellent attack, and the compression of the amp (with a lot of gain) providing lots of sustain.
Clearly much of the store crew hadn't tried it out much as they kepyt coming over and checking out how/what was making the sounds.
I see this getting serious looks from any electric players looking for new sounds and for any gigging guitarist who needs to cover both electric and acoustic (maybe both in the same tune!).
It is a very nice guitar. Worth the $$ as an electric guitar. It will certainly hold its own with any <$2000 USA electric. And it is way under $2000 and way more then "just" an electric guitar. |
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VXT Testdrive Disappointment