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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | There was (still is) a lot of talk about the Adamas Q since 1997 (even earlier ).
I've read a lot about its specs, construction, electronics. I 've never seen one, I've never played one, neither.
Has anyone play-tested this babe?
How about you Al? Have you seen it? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It's a wonderful guitar. Weighing in a 4 pounds and full acoustic "Play it Straight" the only wood was the bridge, braces and f/b. big full balanced sound. It sounded, get this, VERY woody.
Hopefully it will come to market. |
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Location: NJ | I have seen it. I have played it. I hope when they relase it to the masses it has electronics. very impressive instrument. |
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Location: NJ | I've only seen pics of it (years ago) and it looked impressive.
Kinda like Ovation meets RainSong.
What's the deal w/these?
Were they/are they in production?
Custom shop??
"Limited" production??
$?$?$?$?$?$?$?$?
I remember seeing 'em on O's webpage years ago, but no more. Where'd dey go? |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | O.K. here is the question now:
How the sound of the Adamas Q (woody sound?!) compares to the sound of the early slot-head Adamas?
Bill, you have a slot-head Adamas, and since you have played the Adamas Q you should be able somehow to compare. Please tell me.
Al, how about the unamplified sound?
Sam was telling me that he did not like it, when he had visited the factory a few years ago.
Well? Is it bassy? how is the separation, sustain, presence, balance, volume, etc.
As compared to let say the slot-head, or later Adamases, SMT, or CVT.
Does it sound better than SMTs and CVTs.
I am talking always unplugged! |
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Location: NJ | I have not played a slot head adamas for any extensive length of time nor have I owned one so I do not feel I can make a valid comparision.
cliff they were presented at the Namm show and released but only maybe 10 then they were called back and perhaps destroyed. These guitars did not have electronics and I think listed for around 5K. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Al,
how about when compared to SMTs, CVTs, or other earlier Adamases?
Again: how is the separation, sustain, presence, balance, volume, tonal characteristics, overtones? etc.
Does it sound better than SMTs and CVTs ( I hope so), or other Ovations....
I am talking unplugged. |
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Location: NJ | better is a relative term. I prefer to use the term different. |
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Location: NJ | Destroyed!!!??????
Porque? |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | You don't have a clue don't you Al?
...and life goes on... |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | How about you Bill?
Besides woody, can you give me some more info?
When did you have the chance to play it? Were you involved in its design, production or else?
How it compares to your slot-head? |
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Location: SoCal | The closest I've ever come to a Q is a picture in the catalog. But I know that Glen Campbell played one for a while. According to a member of his band, he had problems with amplification and thought that the sound of it was "brittle". He now plays a new Viper on stage. |
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Location: NJ | elias let this serve as you second warning in reference to personal attacks and this message board.
I answered your question. I am sorry it was not to YOUR satisfaction. If I had more conclusive infromation to offer I would. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Glen Campbell played an Adamas Q???????????
Are you sure about that????
Sounds Strange!!!!!!
Anyhow, the very last time I saw him was a few weeks ago in CNN (Larry King's show Sunday) and he played a Taylor cutaway sorta 714ce or 814ce.
Great performer!
Any guitar in his hands sounds better! |
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Location: SoCal | Yup, positive. Ken Skaggs plays rythym (sp?) guitar in his band and told me. As to the Taylor he played on Larry King, per Ken, it was a rental. Ken plays Taylors and loves them. I keep working on him to see the error of his ways.
And I agree. Like Chet Atkins, or Jerry Reed or Marcel Dadi, or any number of other great players, any guitar that Glen picks up is going to sound good in his hands. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Hey thanks Al!
Much obliged!
But...you keep talking about personal attacks, ...but frankly I don't understand what you mean!
In fact I now do not have a clue!
What is this psychosis with the personal attacks???
Simmer down Al. Take it easy buddy. |
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Location: Scotland | I can confirm that GC did indeed play a Q, when I saw him in concert in the UK a couple of years ago. I have to say I was not impressed with the sound, but the sound-crew seemed pretty untogether that night so it could have been down to them, rather than any failings in the guitar. He also played a Hamer 12-string & a Fender Strat incidentally. He made a big thing in the UK press about being clean & sober, but strangely appeared to be shit-faced when he came on for the second set, the fact that he didn't touch a guitar for the duration of the second half kinda confirmed it for me.
Paul |
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Location: SoCal | I don't want to belabor this, but ol' Glen has been clean and sober for about 16 years. He might have been sick that night, but I strongly doubt that he was under the influence. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | I am pretty impressed that GC used an Adamas Q on stage! Amazing!
With regard to drinking, in King's show in CNN they had a long discussion and it seemed to me that GC is sober already. He openly admitted the "problem", he answered all questions, he was very confident...
but you never know I guess.
well..... |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I saw Q 7 just before I left. Sound was big and good, full, good ring, blows a slot head away and a slot head will usually blow away a SMT, QVC, CPR, CSX and all the rest of the letters. I might add that many of the Adamas 1(I know I shouldn't use the number)are better than some of the slotheads, like #220 and #3000
I understand from a reliable source that there will be electronics, but just a circuit board and battery (probably some kind on adjustments I'd think too) I've been assured they won't add much weight. Didn't know Glen had one.
Most of the first ones destroyed themselves, the necks kept pulling up, high action and no Trod to adjust. |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | I had the good fortune to play two adamas Q's at the factory a few years ago.They were prototypes and as far as i could tell they were complete,non electric guitars..My first impression before playing the guitar is how light it was.Extremely light..The guitar was interesting with the weave in the top,neck and bowl..It almost seemed toy like rather than a guitar.I dont know what gave me that impression.Maybe the light weight,maybe the weave in the body ,top and bowl..Well, that was first impression so i did not have a lot of time to absorb the instrument fully,just first impression...I then played the two Q,s and felt that the guitar was very,very bright..I cant say that i really liked the sound but again it was a prototype and maybe they were still working on the guitars? Also i had nothing else to compare it to.It just felt very bright and reminded me of some Alvarez Yairi's that i have played in the past that were weak on the lows and very bright on the highs....Overall im sure the Q would have a place in the market and should compete well with Rainsong..In fact it may convince some taylor,Larrivee guys to buy one..So, in my view i will hold judgement on these guitars until they hit the market(Who knows when?)and play them again and also see what price range they are in.I think the original Q's were to be offered at around $6900.00 or at least thats what the price sheet had them at... |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Thanks for the input guys!
That was very helpful, and informative!
I am anxious to see these babes in the market soon! :)
Yet Ovation should lower the list price if they really want to compete with Rainsong I guess. $6K for the Q is a lot , as compared to $1,500 for a Rainsong. |
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Location: NJ | rainsong is absolutely positively no competition for Ovation in any stretch of the imagination |
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Location: NJ | except that RainSong has a far better marketing department |
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Location: NJ | all you have to do is play one....then you know |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | I agree that currently Rainsong does not represent a threat to Ovation.
I have played the Rainsongs, I was not that impressed. It was not that bad though and many people like them and buy them.
Yet, whenever and if ever, Adamas Q makes it into the market I believe that they should consider Rainsong, and any other composite-guitar maker, as a competitor(s) (not because of fear they may lose the Ovation fans who might switch to Rainsong or else) but they may have a difficulty to convince the independent guitar buyer (the buyer who is not an Ovation fan, and still considers a composite guitar) to go with a $6K Adamas Q than a Rainsong or else for $1,500.
I strongly doubt that Ovation will complete the Adamas Q project any time soon, and if they ever release the product in the market, it will be in very limited numbers, and very expensive. This is my opinion.
In that aspect I think that only some Ovation fans (pros, collectors, etc) will consider to buy the Adamas Q , but nearly nobody else.
I guess that this is exactly what Ovation will target. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Rather than get carried away with explitatives lets put it this way.
Adamas Q = Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (or M-B CL55, or a lambo or...or...)
Rainsong = a worn out Yugo or a Trabant. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Are YOU serious?????????
:eek: :confused: |
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Location: NJ | cwk2 all I can do is agree |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I hope that Ovation's marketing department doesn't blow it on the Q. I think the "point" that most of the Ovation ad's lack is telling people WHY they should buy an Ovation. They used to put more techno stuff in the older ad's but as example, I did not know until a few years agp the UKII wasn't made of wood. It looks like wood, feels like wood. I didn't know the pickups were specially designed, they don't look special unless you know something about pickups. It's the same with the Acoustics... EVEN AFTER YOU OWN an Adamas, there have been at least 3 folks on this board that didn't know how to use the dummy plug on the 1/4 inch jack, and that it works off of phantom power if you have it, self included. These are all SELLING points. Even on the new Viper's, although you see the chambers in the ad, the text doesn't really scream "THIS WILL SOUND LIKE AN ACOUSTIC WHEN YOU PLUG IT IN BECAUSE OF THE CHAMBERS!!!!" (sorry for yelling).
From what I have heard, I think the "Q" is going in the right direction but at this point I think they really need to "sell" the guitar if/when it comes out. After hearing that SlotHead in Jersey recently, I came away with a renewed sence of what Ovation was all about. Keep in mind I have been playing an Ovation since the mid-70's.... I should have gotten it before now. |
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Location: Chicago | Speaking of the dummy plug.... so far when I've used the XLR jack on my Millennium Adamas, it has been with phantom power. Is the dummy plug that Ovation sells something special, or could I just buy a phone plug at RadioShack for $1.98, never attach a cable to it, and use it as a dummy plug to enable XLR without phantom power? |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Yes but get the "L" shaped plug so it doesn't protrude. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Bill, Al, all I can do is dissagree!,
:p |
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Location: NJ | That's exactly the point I was trying to make in my comment comparing marketing departments. I keep seeing these ads in Acoustic Guitar Magazine touting how Ovation is the "electric player's acoustic". No specs, no details, no description of features, nothing. In that particular publication, it's the type of ad that those particular readers would just pass over without consideration.
With all due respects to Steve Lukather and Melissa Ethridge, I'm pretty damn tired of seeing them as Ovation's "poster children". Celebrity endorsements are one thing, but seemingly "blind" endorsements are another. No mention of WHY they like/use the guitars, no technical specs, description of materials, craftsmanship, HISTORY, or tonal characteristics. Just a big, posed, "rockstar" portrait with a two line catch phrase. I'd be more impressed with heartfelt, descriptive and informative endorsements from unknown, clubgiggers or studio pros who've PAID for 'em, use 'em, and make their living with them.
Seasoned acoustic players may or may not be be up to date with what the "top o' the line" Ovations have to offer (I wasn't). They go into a guitar shop (at least 'round here it's like this) and you see the big displays for the Taylors, Tacomas, Larivees, etc. along with a couple of Korean super shallows and MAYBE a Balladeer. Informative hand-out literature is non-existant.
A lot of these players (a lot of my friends included) come away thinking "Wow, I can remember when Ovation used to be a major contender in the acoustic guitar market, I guess it's not like that anymore".
If/when they ever do decide to put the Q out there, they had better find a legitimate, contemporary endorsee and market this thing right. If it's gonna have technological advancements, they better tout them. If it's gonna sound great, they had better get people to hear what it sounds like.
The Q will no doubt be expensive. If they don't market it right (smart), they might as well call it the QuEdsel. |
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Location: NJ | Advertising is to attract attention and to grab your interest. I am not sure if modern advertising even cares to give an information and that applies to all types of products. did you ever watch a tv ad and wonder what they were trying to sell. well I have and at least when I see an Ovation Ad I know what they are selling. The ad catches your interest and then you go to the website (if it is up to date) or to a store (and few vendors have ALL models in all configurations) and you try to get information. Or you find a website like this and questions and get opinions.
Elias
I believe I have found the perfect goal for you. Start the rainsongfanclub.com website You can work on presenting their history and getting together owners users and endorsers. I cannot speak for Miles but I would be more than happy to give you any tips or information that would help this goal to fruition. This way others that share your view can come together in an open forum to pontificate the value of their instruments. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Al, is that you?
:D
No way Jose!
I'll stay here with ya!
I know you need me! :D
he, he, he, he.
check out my new topic: How other (Ovation opponents) people feel about Ovation guitars? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Oh well, we disagree. I respect your opinion, you respect mine.
By the way, there was an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish parked out in front of the gas station today. A totally beautiful automobile. I'd rather have that any day over a rainsong. |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Bill, was it parked in a parking space marked "CWK2 parking only" ?? LOL |
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Location: NJ | Yeah, and then Pierce Brosnan asked him to move it. |
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Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | sheeeeeeeezzz i just remembered how my "coastal" blue ford diesel is going to fit in with those fancy rigs back in amer-rica. an aston martin v-12? god, i've been living in the third world too long. i promise never to mention that r word if i can just have my picture taken in it. actually i never even knew a rainsong was a guitar. i do eat with a fork and spoon sometimes and always belch into my napkin------pass the hot sauce amigos. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Wasn't mine unfortunately, was the guy who owns Winn-Dixie. I had the blue 59 caddy today and it got almost as many looks. |
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Location: NJ | OK it must be car day today I took out my 68 pontiac catalina ragtop and the top WOULD NOT GO DOWN... damn just what I need another job. as soon as I get my garage built, it is going into the shop to get painted and I am getting the bumpers rechromed then the dual exhausts...hmmmm maybe I need to sell a few guitars now that I come to think of it...
[ May 01, 2002: Message edited by: alpep ] |
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Adamas Q