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Posts: 79
Location: Toronto, Canada | Thanks to all for your input in helping me make my decision- called Alpep today and ordered my Adamas II...
Good thing I did, too. My 1994 Ovation catalog is just about worn out. I could not longer wait.
Now how to justify it when it arrives?
wemedge
Hi to all:
I'm finally almost ready to purchase an Adamas II (specifically model 1581. The Adamas I'm considering is the the made-for-export model with the ebony fingerboard.
I have read the merits of the Adamas and Adamas II so that is not in question here; I've been sold from the start expecially after I played one.
However, I've only ever played the "regular" Adamas II. I'd really appreciate any comments from owners of the export model Adamas II- a final push, so to speak, before I commit. Please, push me over the edge :D
I keep vacillating; don't want to regret not holding out for an older walnut fingerboard model...
Thanks
wemedge |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Frankly I like the ebony board better, both for looks and how it feels. Some will say it affects the sound but I think that's getting to splitting hairs. |
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Where did you find the Adamas you're considering? I contacted several stores in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal looking for a used one, but got no bites, so I ordered a new W597-BZ from Steve's in Ottawa. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I own Adamas II's with both walnut and ebony fingerboards and honestly there is no difference other than the looks. I prefer walnut, but that's just me. The one on the left is walnut, on the right is ebony.
PS - If you're not in a hurry, I will likily be selling the walnut (left) one before the end of the year to help finance another project |
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Location: SoCal | I, too, prefer the look of the black walnut.
Dave, have you noticed any difference in the sound between the two types of pegheads, slothead vs. non slothead? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Come on Paul... You already know the answer to that one. But it's hard the say the difference in sound is only due to the peghead. The slothead has had it's 2-knob electronics removed (in favor of FD14 electronics), and that old 2-knobber pre-amp is about as big as a shoe-box. I've got to believe that having that thing take up 25% of the internal volume of the guitar isn't exactly a good thing for the acoustic sound. So, yes the slothead sounds better to me, but I wouldn't give all the credit to the peghead alone. |
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Posts: 79
Location: Toronto, Canada | Originally posted by Duncan J:
Where did you find the Adamas you're considering? I contacted several stores in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal looking for a used one, but got no bites, so I ordered a new W597-BZ from Steve's in Ottawa.
Thank you for the replies, and thanks, Dave for the pictures. Emailed you.
Duncan J., I know where you're coming from. An Adamas is rarer than hen's teeth here in Toronto. Good luck with your purchase, please keep us posted.
The one I'm looking at is on Alpep's site (btw, Alpep, thank you for taking the time to have a very nice and informative talk with me the other day, me calling out of the blue- much appreciated.)
wemedge |
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Location: NJ | Wemege;
For what it's worth, I've played a couple of those "export" Adamases at Al's house.
For the money, . . . you're getting a HELL of a lot of guitar!!! |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Dave,
You have WAAAAAAAY too many nice guitars!
Norse(green as a frog)man1 |
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Posts: 295
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Wemedge,
If you're looking for a textured-top export-market Adamas, Al is probably the one to deal with, as you'll probably never find such a beast (the guitar, not Al) in Canada. Keep in mind, though, that you'll pay for the guitar, cost of shipping, Ontario sales tax and GST, and whatever duty Canada Customs determines must be paid. If you dispute the duty levied, you can argue it with Customs, but who ever wins an argument with the government? |
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Location: SoCal | There's one of the export Adamas's in Hollywood right now. Good price for a great guitar (right around what Al's charging -- I'd buy from him). |
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Posts: 79
Location: Toronto, Canada | The anticipation is killing me!
wemedge |
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Location: SoCal | It will make actually getting the guitar that much better. It's a really great guitar. |
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Posts: 79
Location: Toronto, Canada | My Adamas II arrived on July 1st as planned, thanks, Al!
I know most folks here already know this, but ordering from Al is great! A couple of phone calls answered all my questions, and four days later here I am playing my new Adamas II 1581.
The guitar arrived in impeccable shape, exactly what I wanted. It was home from the first strum. Nice and balanced as only an Adamas could be. Also, any reservations I had about the ebony fingerboard versus the walnut vanished. The ebony looks and feels terrific. This one's a keeper!
I waited many years to get one, and I'm glad I did. Only sorry I couldn't have done it sooner.
wemedge |
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Posts: 164
Location: Denton, Texas | The previous owner of my Adamas II apparently did not clean the walnut fretboard during his several years of professional playing and it is stained darkly in the heavy traffic areas. Any suggestions as to how to remove the stains? I used Martin cleaner/polish when changing strings and that had absolutely no positive effect. The walnut doesn't appear damaged, just dirty.
(Giving the guitar to Moody-pie is not an acceptable solution.)
George |
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Location: SoCal | GG: You don't have to give the guitar to me. I'd never suggest that. But let me see if I can help you with the fingerboard. Go ahead and ship it out to me and I'll do what I can to study and remedy the situation.
Just trying to help. |
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Location: SoCal | you might get it back in a decade or two... |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 79
Location: Toronto, Canada | Originally posted by George:
The previous owner of my Adamas II apparently did not clean the walnut fretboard during his several years of professional playing and it is stained darkly in the heavy traffic areas. Any suggestions as to how to remove the stains? I used Martin cleaner/polish when changing strings and that had absolutely no positive effect. The walnut doesn't appear damaged, just dirty.
(Giving the guitar to Moody-pie is not an acceptable solution.)
George
George, I looked at the picture of your Adamas- beautiful!
Re cleaning your fretboard, have you tried very fine steel wool? I use that for my Rosewood and ebony fingerboards. I have never tried it on an impregnated walnut fingerboard like yours, though, so hopefully someone with experience with chime in.
wemedge |
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Location: Denton, Texas | I'm going to change strings soon and will carefully try the fine steel wool suggestion.
George |
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Posts: 295
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Yep, 000-gauge steel wool should do the trick.
Wemedge, congratulations on the arrival of your Adamas (and it came on July 1 - talk about a nice Canada Day present!). |
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Location: SoCal | I would use 0000 steel wool, not 000. |
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Posts: 79
Location: Toronto, Canada | Originally posted by Duncan J:
Yep, 000-gauge steel wool should do the trick.
Wemedge, congratulations on the arrival of your Adamas (and it came on July 1 - talk about a nice Canada Day present!).
Hi Duncan:
Hope you had a good Canada Day and long weekend as well.
Yes, I am very happy with my Adamas (well, a bit guilty- I feel compelled justify the purchase of yet another guitar...). I actually got it on July 2, but it arrived at the depot on July 1st!
Looking forward to hearing about your Adamas when you get it (and pics too).
wemedge |
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May 2004
Posts: 295
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Paul - you're right; I checked my steel wool supply, and it is indeed 0000-gauge.
Wemedge - don't feel guilty about your Adamas; life is short, so play and enjoy. I was advised it'll be a few months before mine arrives; in the meantime, I console myself with my Elite 1718.
A few weeks after ordering it I visited a local store that sells high-end stuff - Martin, Gibson, Taylor, G&L. Now I've got my eye on a Martin 000-28EC (just over $4K Cdn.). I thought, "You're crazy, you just spent $2.5K on an Adamas, and you turn around and start lusting after a Martin? Flee from this store, NOW!" A narrow escape, but I may go back, the tug of GAS being as strong as it is. I'll just think of the Martin as an "investment property" - yeah, that's it, that's the ticket. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I'd go light with the steel wool. Do you want to clean it or make it look brand new? Something to be said leaving the playing marks there. You wouldn't want to get a 50's strat and refinish the f/b to get the fingermarks off of it. |
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Adamas II arrived!- Thanks, Alpep