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Location: Upper Left USA |
... I'm grieving the loss of a good friend.
I was really disappointed when Ovation took on the DJ Ashba motif of drug induced halucinations, which of course followed the Nicki Sixx Heroin crap where he (still) sits on the American Flag on their anemic website.
How frickin hard would it have been to send the CNC machine and "LX" tooling overseas when they outsourced the Acoustic production into Epoxy necked celebrities - that they call Ovations? What it really means to me when I see anything "AX" or "TX" in the advertising is that what I knew before is dead and all of the forward thinking and innovations like the "LX" and "VXT" have been squashed and replaced by 40 year old manufacturing techniques of disposable guitars for Hanna Montana fans. Maybe they should remove the "Ovation" label and re market them as "Kay" or "Harmony"... I must be moving ahead because I'm leaving denial and feeling fairly pissed. |
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Location: SoCal | On a number of the guitars builit overseas, they have removed the traditional Ovation logo on the headstock and gone to one that looks like crap. Good way to begin the indentification process of what guitars to stay away from....... |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Hmm, I understand how you feel brother.
Maybe I'm just older than you Woody (not wiser), and I too grieved. But I'm over it and have come to accept it. In fact I'm now much more cynical about my OWN past behavior. What I mean is SHAME ON ME for expecting that things would never change, for feeling robbed of my Ovation youth, for feeling that Ovation owned ME something ...
I think I owe THEM a big THANK YOU for being such a part of my life for so long. I choose not to bitch and moan anymore over what IS, but rather to be thankful for what WAS and that I got to be a part of it. They can kill the brand if they want to, but they can't kill the memories.
Oh how I long for the days that Milk Shakes used to actually be made out of MILK ... |
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Location: Flahdaw | Standingovation - 2012-06-27 11:01 AM
Oh how I long for the days that Milk Shakes used to actually be made out of MILK ...
Still available from the Custom Shop as a special order |
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Location: south east Michigan | Just wanted to drop in and give credit to Standingovation's post.
Well said sir.
I'm sure many of us feel the same way, just couldn't put it into words. |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I've been to too many funerals lately, so I've tried to mourn the loss and cherish the memories, just as I do for all the good times I've had with this site and its members. I wish I had the opportunity to get in a bit earlier and share more good times, but I can't change that.
A comment by a colleague on Saturday got me thinking of Ovation's "demise". He got into guitars later in life than most of us and owns a couple of Fenders. He saw my Ovation collection and immediately focused on an Ultra GS, asking if it was a Strat. After I told him it was Ovation's version of a Strat, I thought about how the companies were sort of competitors, but Fender won and pushed Ovation into the background. It happens. Fender didn't choose the direction we would have preferred, but it's the direction and we can choose to follow it or not. |
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Posts: 402
Location: New Hartford CT | The changing of the guard at Ovation began even before Fender took over. Unfortunately the new guard wasn't one of us.
Some key people left. Then came the day when someone with a degree had a better idea. 'We'll send ever increasing amounts of production (and associated subcontracting) offshore and it will have no affect on US work other than to increase it. We'll bring the subcontract work back in-house to keep people busy and save money."
Yeah, OK. |
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Location: Texas | I love improvements. Phones, cars, tools, amps, etc. The newest Ovation I have is a 1537 (I don't think the 40th K1111 RI counts) Ovation, imo, hasn't produced a superior acoustic since 67. Of course, that topic is highly subjective...but my point is, in the 80's you could walk into a "music store" and play any of the O's. Today...good luck. The only high end O I ever see at GC is a trade in, every now and then. And who supplies GC? It seems, like GM, FMIC has gotten itself into a situation where it is cannibalizing itself.
I posted the stats on another post about the trend is volume and 500.00, give or take a 100. Good guitars just do not fit into that retail demand. So, export the process and bring em back cheaper. Leaves no room for the Ovation we all know and love, to successfully compete, especially if there isn't one around to take off the wall and play.
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Location: sitting at my computer | MWoody, my condolences on the loss of your good friend. +1 re: the Ovation disapointment. But between all the mergers and acquisitions or worse, bankruptcies, few (if any) have remained the same. It's just the capitalist process in motion, gonna be winners... and losers. Change is inevitable, not always welcome, but inevitable. Heard an analyst saying that as the global market keeps changing and previously cheap labor becomes less so, combined with rising shipping costs, etc... that it may become more cost effective to bring that manufacturing back to the U.S.. I ain't holding my breath, but I sure hope he's right. At least (for the moment) there's a U.S. made Ovation Custom Shop. I hope it's still around by the time I can finally afford to order that custom Adamas I keep day-dreaming about!  |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | For the past ten years or so, its been difficult for me to get excited about any new guitar model other than customs and limited editions, regardless of the manufacturer. Fortunately, the factory still turns out wonderful Ovation/Adamas custom orders. |
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Location: Tennessee | I wish they were still churning out Ovations on Greenwoods Road, but they're making different guitars there now. And they are really good ones. But the flaw in most of the arguments is the assumption that the guitars they're making offshore are coming back here ... when in reality the majority of the production goes to other countries. So the shipping costs to get back here is irrelevant. And people in the Rest of World don't place a high value on American-made products, and have a generally favorable opinion of Asian products.
Also, analysts repeatedly show that cheap labor is not what is driving manufacturing out of the US. It's taxes, regulations, unstable labor conditions, and exposure to frivolous litigation that are the driving forces for companies to move manufacturing to more business friendly climates. The wage differential is a tiny fraction of the whole picture. |
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Location: Chicago | Look at it this way: there are hundreds of Ovation/Adamas guitars "floating about" from past production runs. Players who are worthy, those who deserve them will find what they seek. I sure did... in 1974 and 2007! For those who have contempt and scorn, there are dozens of OK other brands. HOWEVER, I do not think that any Taylor or Collings will give me the sound of an Adamas.... |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | stonebobbo - 2012-06-28 5:53 AM And people in the Rest of World don't place a high value on American-made products, and have a generally favorable opinion of Asian products. Being a member of the 'Rest of World', I wholeheartedly disagree with that comment Bobbo. American made products are still respected internationally, but getting harder to find. |
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Posts: 1281
Location: Ohio | Dobro
Players that are WORTH? What about tbois that just can;t afford guitars in that price range that are excellent players?
THis is turning into a big group of guitar snobs, just like the ones you gus complain about on other sites. |
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Location: Tennessee | Muzza, you're entirely correct. What I meant to type was "as high a value" ... especially when referring to mid-priced guitars. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | I agree with Nikon. I have played music in roadhouses and concert halls to cowboy boots and to tuxedos. I play a Korean made Custom Legend 2079 AX every person that has played and seen the guitar are in awe of the crafting and sheer beauty of it. I don't own an American car. Can't afford $40,000 for a car that should cost $15,000. So I drive a little Japanese made Mazda that just hit the 100,000 mark with no more than a rubber hose replaced. I believe had the sales been stellar on the American made "works of art", they would still be made here. that's just my opinion. Now you know why I didn't post photos of my "new" Custom Legend. You bunch of jerks that own 150 pieces of artwork that hang on your wall and don't get paid the love and attention my little Korean made piece of junk gets. There are some nice people on here, but so far a large number are a bunch of snobs. I play my guitar 3 hours a day. While many of these fine pieces of artwork hang on a wall so some guy can brag about owning them. He never plays them. But he has some that cost 3 times what mine did and someday he'll get $50 more for his than I do mine. Because it'll be filled with dust and hollow memories.
Edited by AdamasW597 2012-06-28 8:47 AM
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Location: south east Michigan | Wow....
What... an ... ***. (okay, arse then)
.
No wonder most of the "snob's' don't hang here anymore.
Edited by Slipkid 2012-06-28 8:55 AM
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Location: Northwest Arkansas | Old Man Arthur is still my friend. He 's been with me since the beginning. OMA, I'd tip a glass to ya if I drank. Martinez actually seemed interested, too. Most however on my 2079ax post tried talking me into buying something else. I got it. It plays and sounds great and I'll play it with pride. Even though it has that stupid new logo on the top. That'll definitely change the way I sound. It's a wonder I can even play it. To hear some of you talk. The part that bothers me the most, is this guitar is well-made. So I'll just go on and play those guitars made by someone who doesn't know his a$$ for a whole in the ground about guitars. Well, they sure made mine nice.
Edited by AdamasW597 2012-06-28 9:19 AM
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Location: Northwest Arkansas | I'm a *** for buying a guitar that wasn't made in the US. I guess I'll have to sell my Takamine and my Yamaha. Oh, and my Japanese Stratocaster. I've had all those for over 20 years and they've served me well. The Yamaha for 30. I went on a rant a month or so ago about the same thing and felt a little bad about it. I don't feel bad about that one and I sure don't feel bad about this one. I don't see anywhere on here the "American-made" OFC. I own an Adamas W597. Side by side being played by 2 people the guitars sound virtually the same. The Adamas has a little more bass. I play guitar well enough to be paid handsomely solo. I could play as much as I want. But being disabled my body lets me know how much. I have a roadie, who sets up my gear for dinner and because he's a friend. I am a musician first and foremost. I waited 4 months and 4 days for my guitar to get here. It is simply one of the prettiest and well-made instruments I own. So I will not hang my head in shame because I have to buy what YOU think I need. I believe Ovation made that one for me. It's mine and it always will be. Thanks for all the help obtaining it Greg. I literally got the guitar I needed. I don't dislike the snobs. I just don't understand them. |
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Location: south east Michigan | No... you are not an a** for buying and enjoying a off shore guitar. That's fine.
There are many, many other reasons.
Edited by Slipkid 2012-06-28 9:50 AM
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Location: Flahdaw | Hey cool!!! A fun thread! (bound to get funner soon, until it's locked, that is) |
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Location: Texas | Bob...Agreed. It has been a long dry spell since DaveKel left. |
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Location: closely held secret | Maybe you need to read your own thread.
mymartind35 - 2012-02-18 4:26 PM
I just ordered a Custom Legend 2079AX. I know it's foreign made. But is it still as good as the Legend name? I have an Adamas. I haven't heard anything sound like IT. I wanted to come to the experts and ask you all what you thought. Be TOTALLY honest. This is a lot of do-re-mi! I know you'll deal straight with me. Is this thing gonna sound great or is it just another plastic topped guitar? I have 3 Celebrities and they have their place. I just want a really good guitar. I play in a loud 70's rock band and I need a guitar that can handle it. I have a TA 200 Trace Elliot acoustic rig. It's 200 watts. So it'll get loud enough. I just want to hear your comments. Please. Oh and does it have a great acoustic sound! I'm ordering it from a local music store. I love the way Ovations play. I know I will have 10 or more. I just wanna know if this is worth the price.
You asked for honest comments (because you had no knowledge), and that's exactly what you got - FROM THE EXPERTS WHOSE OPINIONS YOU SOUGHT. The only posts even remotely suggesting you look at American made were from a PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN, comparing the build techniques and structural features of American vs Asian models.
We're 'snobs'? Your tone reminds me of a little kid who knew they did something stupid and then tries to get others to validate what they did as smart. When they won't, they get angrily defensive and start putting them down.I personally couldn't care less what kind of guitar you play or how you play it. But to walk into a room, address the occupants as 'experts', ask for advice and then start ranting and name calling because you disagree with the opinions you solicited... just a bit childish, don't you think? Of course you don't... |
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Location: south east Michigan | sorry.. double post
Edited by Slipkid 2012-06-28 10:47 AM
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Location: south east Michigan | And it's a damn shame, too.
This thread holds a few of the most well stated and intelligent posts I have read here in a loooong time. |
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Triggered by another post - grieving
