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Location: Bluffton, SC | The process really is something to be seen, brainslag. Kind of drives it home when you see a couple of guys, not machines, doing things like sanding bindings by hand. It's really pretty impressive.
Should consider stopping by next year. |
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Location: New Hampsha | Cliff,
I understand the extra value in hand-finishing the carved wood parts, and I'd gladly pay a premium for that. But do you (or anybody?) have any insight into why a hand-laid bowl or ring would be of any higher value - either acoustically or visually? Being an ex-boatbuilder, I know hand-laid is sexy but for reproducibility I'd take a machine layup any day. Adding thoughtful hand labor to get a premium product is OK, but the rest seems to be extravagant labor for no return on the investment. |
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Location: NJ | It's an acurate (as possible) reproduction of the ORIGINAL guitar!
Can't find/afford an 30-year-old original SlotHead??
This is as close as you're gonna get! |
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Location: NJ | Wasn't brainslag there??
I thought I saw his name tag on someone at the Factory (but not at the hotel) . . .
(unless maybe I'm thinking of someone else . . .) |
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Location: New Hampsha | Cliff - What you've described is an accurate reproduction of the process that produced the original. (With the exception of the top - did they use the original process for that as well?)
I would want an accurate reproduction of the unit, not the process. Hand-building could conceivably result in a dog - resin starve a portion of the hand layup, or more commonly - leave too much resin in the layup and that would just suck. With precision measurements and machine molding I would think they could reproduce the original unit with astounding accuracy. |
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Location: NJ | The top - I don't know about . . . Bill??
Is it worthwhile to gear up all that tooling/molding to produce less than 100 guitars??
(It IS a Limited Edition), and having an accurate reproduction sans the accurate process would give you a "knock-off" . . . |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I don't think there's too much room to argue based on the results of the process they are using. The guitars look, sound and play beautifully. I haven't heard one single disappointed voice from those who own or have played one.
Except, of course, that they don't have a freakin' 1-3/4 neck. |
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Location: SoCal | When you guys talk about "hand laided", isn't that just another term for masturbation? |
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Location: New Hampsha | Regarding the tooling costs - absolutely not worth it for 100 units. Not even close. Wrong universe, even.
But it make you wonder how many folks would jump at the chance to buy an exact reproduction of #47 for a bit more than the price of a 1597?
Which kinda bring it full circle to Brainslag's first point? Trying to reproduce your "best" and bring down the cost using technology or better processes should be a company's target, yes? Even if you call 'em "knockoffs". |
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Location: New Hampsha | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
When you guys talk about a "hand laided" bowl, isn't that just another term for masturbation? Run Away! :eek:
I can see Al circling for a precision airstrike!
Run! :eek: |
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Location: NJ | Okay, . . to bring it all around to the original question:
Don't ask me . . . I've GOT mine!!! :D |
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Location: SoCal | Does it matter?
Frankly, anyone that recognizes the value of the guitar (far more than cost) has either bought one or has tried to find a way to buy one.
Procrastinators will be out of luck as the run is limited and, unless a dealer will be getting one in that doesn't have a previous commitment, no more can be ordered. Al has some still coming in but I'm not aware of any other dealers.
I am still a strong advocate of the Custom Legend, Adamas I, Adamas II,, and U681T. I have 6-str's and 12-str's. However, the 47RI is my best (and favorite) guitar. Everyone that I have allowed to play it have been estatic.
I am not insensitive to the fact that many on the OFC are not in a position to pay that much for the guitar...kids in school, other expenses. I wouldn't have been able to do this a couple of years ago. Not easy now.
Only thing I can say is that the guitar is outstanding and worth far more than I paid. In fact, far more than I will probably pay soon for the 2nd one.
So, expensive to make, expensive to buy (compared to other Ovations & Adamas)...but, definitely worth it.
All I can say is do it if you can... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Tony Calman:
So, expensive to make, expensive to buy (compared to other Ovations & Adamas)...but, definitely worth it.
Yet $5k is about "average" for a real quality wooden box guitar. And Martin, etc. don't seem to have any trouble sell plenty of them.
Dave |
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Location: SoCal | Well, maybe it is "sticker shock" as (I believe) this is the most expensive Ovation or Adamas offering in dollar amount for a non-special order.
Course, if we took the ? approximate $2,200 cost of an original slothead in ? 1977 and adjusted it to today's dollars (rule of 72) - the original slothead in today's dollars would be higher than the 47RI cost. Approximate: 72 divided by 30yrs...inflation and/or cost increases have averaged a lot over 2.4%. |
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Location: Hiram, Georgia | Huunnnhh? |
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Location: SoCal | Bottom line, original slothead sold for approximately $2,200 (not sure but should be close) in 1977...
At 4.7% average inflation, would sell for $9,000 today; at 4.1% inflation, would sell for $7,526 today.
Conservative numbers from the Fed'l Reserve CPI Calculator show that a $2,200 item in 1977 would cost $7,351.49 today based on CPI (which might not adequately reflect a musical instrument).
Again, it is a reissue using as close to the original material as possible, yet listing for $5,000 and selling for a lot less. In other words, a good deal. |
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Location: Hiram, Georgia | man, I should've went to school, thanks for clearing that up Tony, I think the more that end up in the ofc family will help to preserve the value for posterity. Knowing they are in the family gives a secure feeling even if I my never own one. |
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Location: NJ | Mine (acoustic only) hung with a $2,800 tag and eventually sold for $2,400 in '77, but I do see your point, Tony. |
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#47 RI the best?
