|
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | When it was announced that Ovation was moving the manufacture of standard elites and balladeers offshore many were worrying that this was the beginning of the end for affordable quality Ovations.
I went into my local music store today and saw seven (7!!!) Ovations. By way of comparison, I've never seen more than two at once there ever, and sometimes they've had none.
They had an elite T, standard elite with in-laid epis, standard balladeer, a Seven, and three different types of celebrity (centre hole, epis and a solid top classical). The most expensive (balladeer & standard elite) were under $A1900 (about $US1200) which is way cheaper than before, even though the Aussie dollar has collapsed in the last year from 95 to 64 cents US.
I played the elite T and it seemed no different to a US made one I played years ago and was well set up. (Did the US elite Ts have the plugs in the bridge or were they attached like the more expensive Ovations?)
This move might actually get more Ovations into the hands of ordinary guitarists across the world. Several had the ubiquitous "Do not handle without talking to staff" labels, which indicates a quality guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Now ya' made me hafta go LOOK! (again)
None of my USA T's have 'plugs' or bolts.
I couldn't remember if my older 1778T had black plugs, but No it don't.
My newer Sweet T (2078T) and 2058T (12-string) don't have plugs.
I didn't even notice that the TX's had plugs until you mentioned it.
But the real question is... How do they Sound?
When I first read that you saw seven...
I thought... Oh well. ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Actually moving more ovations into guitarists hands around the world seems to be happening. When I was in Hong Kong in January and February (I happened to be on the same flight as David Byrne, which explained why I no problem getting my guitar on the plane (Cathay Pacific by the way)) and I saw in Tommy Lee's more ovations there than I did three years ago.
They've also, as I recall moved the ovations up a notch in the display area. There was a room for the Martins and high end stuff, then there was room for taks, taylors and ovations, and then another area for the rest. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4026
Location: Utah | Our local GC has had a steadily declining supply of O's. Now they're down to one used Balladeer and two Celebrities.
But the good news is that the high end room is now 2/3 Taylor. :rolleyes: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 840
Location: CA | I've never quite understood the stigma of 'made overseas'. Given the same tonewood (and solid, not ply), same bowl, same electronics, same or similar neck, same bracing — I don't see why a foreign-made O couldn't sound every bit as good as an American-made one. And since they're cheaper to make, and Fender (presumably) has put the power of their marketing behind this whole project, I'm looking forward to seeing more Os in stores. Hasn't happened at my local GC yet, but the year is still young. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Until recent times all off-shore Ovations had laminate tops. With that changing the differences will be fewer.
I have come across quite a few Celebs with some probems you would not find on a U.S. model. Things such as fret edges that if you weren't careful, would take out a chunk of skin. Of course all this could change. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I only feel bad about Ovation moving production overseas if it costs people in New Hartford their jobs.
Quality has never been a strong point of USA ovations, so maybe adopting some asian influence will help that. The reason Celebrity has sucked so bad for years is because of the shitty design. If they give the asians a good design, like the balladeer and the standard elite, I bet they can bang out a first rate product and put higher quality guitars into more peoples hands. How is that a bad thing?
Viva la Seoul !!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | After a trip to GC today, I was a bit disappointed to see 4 celebs and not one USA O.
The factory tours have reinforced the workmanship quality on my O's. I still have a tough time equating the celebs with an Ovation. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I just got back from a local store and they were deep discounting all the american (LX I believe) models. There was a 2771XL and a couple of others going from the High $600s to the mid $700.00s. The salesman said they were to clear out all the american made stuff. Does this sound right. One guy had 3 on hold! I dnot know if these are good prices as I have not been in the market for a new guitar for quite some time.
It would be a shame to put the american made products out of business regardless of the cost. Who will we turn to, where will we go? Will the mothership turn into a Kia Sedona? :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Yeah Rich... I think those are pretty good prices.
I almost bought an Elite LX model when they first came out. As I recall the out-the-door price would have been over 1k.
I ended up with an AD-II instead. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Brad,
The place is Motor City Guitar in Waterford if you ever get by there. I cannot be sure of exactly what models they had but 3 were contour bowl LXs. The ADII was full price ( somewhat discounted) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Yes Rich.. I have been there, but not recently.
It's a nice store. |
|
| |
We'll all be rooned (or will we?)
