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Location: Upper Left USA | What would I like to see on the Ovation guitar Website?
Funny I should ask!
I would like to see a reference to custom ordered instrument for and by artists and…
…OFC Members! With picture and descriptions.
I have been able to post some of my Mutts on the Seymour Duncan site as well as the Project Guitar site!
It would generate some enthusiasm and that can’t be a bad thing.
What would you like to see on the (yawn) www.ovationguiars.com site? |
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Location: Tennessee | Freddie and the Fishsticks. |
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Location: NJ | ANYTHING but the MensRoomPictures . . . |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | How about REGULAR RESPONSES FROM A COMPANY REPRESENATIVE? |
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Location: south east Michigan | I really like the idea of a section with pics & specs of a few select custom order guitars.
I bet most folk outside the OFC don't know that special orders are even possible.
Everyone else seem to promote a "Custom Shop", why not Ovation? |
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Location: NJ | A centerfold-spread of that brunette that works over in . . . |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by cwk2:
REGULAR RESPONSES FROM A COMPANY REPRESENATIVE? Wouldn't that make this private/public chatroom a marketing arm of the corporation?
File under the careful what you wish for catagory, IMO.
But of course, you'd know better... |
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| Ovation Custom Shop/Specifications
Ovation Special-Order Gallery
Ovation Historical Museum
And, personally, I couldn't care less what anyones "legal dept" would have to say about it. This is a FAN CLUB, so we are supposed to be enthusiastic, even fanatical about Ovation Instruments. I have learned more about Ovation from this club than I ever have from 'the mothership', as they say.. :) |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Having an owner's endorsement section would show the level of owner attachment to the brand. Pictures of owners and their guitars....letters telling how great their guitars are....that would be a benefit.
Roger |
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| Bare nekkid ladies would be good. |
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| And full technical specs of each model - neck dimensions would be a real help. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Sound clips of various models.
And the guitars too. |
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Location: Oregon | Huge 3D space battles with Gibson Dreadnaughts getting blown to wooden pieces by lazers that would challange that of the Death Star. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | A media section where you could hear ovation artists demo'ing their favorite guitar. Or even just the guitars being demo'ed.
Maybe a video of some chick that's easy on the eys like shakira, and then a video of a guitar hero, and say, a video of an upandcoming band, or a deserving ovationista?
Also a more full description, giving materials and weight etc. They did this in some old print catalogs, why not now? |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | 72tour...you and my brother would TOTALLY get along well! More power to you! |
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Location: Upper Left USA | :rolleyes: |
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Location: ranson,wva | ive noticed the the archives is not a compleate listing of the geetars produced in the past..id like to see a full listing..jason |
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Location: Atlanta, GA. | YEAH!!! Just what exactly are they hiding from??? :rolleyes:
Remember guys, this post is about "what would you like to see on the Ovation site", not the OFC.
This place already has EVERYTHING...
'cept for the nekkid wemmin!!! |
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Location: ranson,wva | reason i brought that up is i dont have the funds for new guitars so buy used and older ovations..just my thoughts..jason(its a wonder i can still type after 15 rolling rocks) |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I'd be happy if the information that they DO already have was 1) accurate, and 2) up to date.
In this day and age it takes SO little effort and expense to maintain a thoroughly modern and professional website. There is no excuse not to do it.
Dave |
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Location: Parrish, FL | (its a wonder i can still type after 15 rolling rocks) It's a wonder that you're alive.......Just say NO to the Green Death! UGH! |
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Location: Houston, Texas | Originally posted by schroeder:
Bare nekkid ladies would be good.  |
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Location: Keller, TX | Um, no. Not like that. Not like that! |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "In this day and age it takes SO little effort and expense to maintain a thoroughly modern and professional website. There is no excuse not to do it."
That is probably one of the biggest myths perpetrated on the Internet and why there are so many very very bad websites. |
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Location: Houston, Texas | Originally posted by ttenn:
Um, no. Not like that. Not like that!  |
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Location: San Angelo, Texas | More detailed info on each guitar...and up to date would be nice...
The round bowl deathstar with lasers is a good idea, too... |
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Location: Utah | I'd like to see the secret OFC login page where we can order O's for half price, factory direct. |
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Location: Omaha, NE | This is a personal favorite topic of mine.
I teach a class at the Omaha Chamber of Commerce called "Internet Marketing for Small Business Growth". I use the Ovation web site in several instances as an example of what NOT to do. It really is just terrible! I don't know the folks involved, so I don't know what their issues are. But the difference between what they have and what they should have would cost probably no more than $10k, tops.
As to specific features, lots and lots and lots more content on the guitars themselves. Start with tons of high resolution photos. Don't worry about bandwidth. Give me DETAILS! I want to be able to see everything.
And how about leveraging this group some? I'll bet it would be easy for Ovation to get some volunteers from this group to put together little sample videos for each guitar. Talk about its features. Talk about what makes it special. Show how the pre-amp works. Play a few licks. Have a high-resolution MP3 file next to the video in case people want to really HEAR the guitar.
For a lot of us, we are lucky if our dealer has more than two or three US made ovations in stock at any given time. I would, for example, really like to hear a good demo of the new VIP pre-amp. That shouldn't be too hard to put together. Do it during the annual OFC Factory Tour, and kill two birds with one stone.
Hey, Ovation, throw a few guitars at me and I'll put all this together for you, no charge! |
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Location: Utah | ^ what he said!
I still can't figure out the difference between the different models. Sometimes it's the quality of the wood, sometimes it's just a newer model, or a different preamp, or something. It would be nice if they could clearly differentiate between the models, at least in a general sense. It isn't even clear from the website which models are higher on the price scale than others. It would be nice to be able to reference a known model and then look at the next model up in the line, or the next model down.
It just isn't clear or obvious.
The MP3 files would be great, as would the detailed pictures. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | a link to this website?
a fan page showing ovation users with the favorite guitar, include nick name and location? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
"In this day and age it takes SO little effort and expense to maintain a thoroughly modern and professional website. There is no excuse not to do it."
That is probably one of the biggest myths perpetrated on the Internet and why there are so many very very bad websites. Miles, I disagree. I know it's only one example but my company (I just work there, I don't own it) does 3.5 billion annually in revenue and we have exactly TWO people working full time to maintain the corporate website. I'm not going to do the math, but that's a VERY small percentage investment and the website is very well done. The site is uploaded with fresh content at least once per week.
I do agree that there are some really bad corporate websites out there. But I would not say it is because it is overly complex or expensive to have a good one.
I'll take some crap for saying this, BUT ... I think the Martin website is really nice. It's extremely easy to navigate and tells me everything I could possibly want to know about every model. The detailed specifications are just amazing. And every guitar has detailed photos from all angles. I just think it's really well done. And I'll bet that on a percent of revenue basis, they invest very little on it.
Dave |
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Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
That is probably one of the biggest myths perpetrated on the Internet and why there are so many very very bad websites. It depends...
The hard thing about web design is that everyone in the company thinks they know how to do it. Web projects get lost in a sea of meetings and disagreements.
The reality is, good web design really is pretty easy. And for a fairly simple site like Ovation's (simple, meaning there is no eCommerce...its just an electronic brochure) you could put a great version together in a couple of months (figure about 500 hours, and that's generous) and then maintain it with no more than 10 hours per week. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Now that's assuming, and I'm just speculating that the person that does the Ovation site isn't the same person that does ALL of the Kaman sites (I think there are about 24) and the internal sites AND it might not be his only job. I'm just say'n :)
It's easy to armchair quarterback when we don't know the whole story.
Of course there's the "practical" theory that if you are already selling as much of an item as you can make, to the point where you are back-ordered or near back-ordered most of the time, then should a website be a priority. Again, speculation on my part totally. |
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Location: SoCal | a link to this website?
a fan page showing ovation users with the favorite guitar, include nick name and location?
and scare them away? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | To have "Official" comments occasionally to clear confusion and dispell wrong information would not be an arm of the marketing dept. Could turn into that so just make sure it doesn't
I hear comments that the Kaymen sites aren't updated and hard to understand, etc. Probably true, I never look at them. It takes money for this and the focus there is the next quarter's earnings, not market share. That said I'll bet there are tons of companies that are just as bad if not worse |
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Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by cwk2:
It takes money for this and the focus there is the next quarter's earnings, not market share. That said I'll bet there are tons of companies that are just as bad if not worse That's certainly true. There are still some appalling web sites out there.
I know absolutely nothing about the sales and distribution channels that Ovation/Kaman uses, other than it seems like a traditional, multi-level distribution setup. The root cause of the Ovation web site's problems are probably found right there. It is pretty hard to get excited about web marketing when you are the distributor as well as the manufacturer. There is too much opportunity to canabilize your existing channel.
All the same, I still think they could do much better, and not compromize their distribution system or their dealers. I don't know what it is like in other local markets, but around here I have far more "on the wall" selection of Taylors and Martins (not to mention countless lower priced brands) than I do Ovations. Ovation could use the web to close that gap.
Maybe I have this all wrong. Maybe Ovation is moving all the product it can make, and has no desire to increase unit sales volume. Even then, a better web strategy could help to improve revenue and customer value perception. |
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Location: CT | Originally posted by Joyful Noise:
Originally posted by schroeder:
Bare nekkid ladies would be good. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I am in agreement about wanting to have more photos of earlier models included with the archives section, and the custom shop examples would really be impressive too. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by Omaha:
Maybe I have this all wrong. Maybe Ovation is moving all the product it can make, and has no desire to increase unit sales volume. Even then, a better web strategy could help to improve revenue and customer value perception. I'm guessing this is pretty close. Again it's armchair management, but I think they rely on their vendors to sell the product. There are a lot of "it sure would be nice" stuff to have on any website, but that's not the focus. When you are talking 24+ websites to cover their products (visit www.KamanMusic.com ) even a few grand per site adds up, not to mention the time. I mean seriously, it's one thing for us to take a picture of a guitar for eBay, but to actually take a full detail professional photo is not an easy task. Even with a jig figure one hour per instrument. It's not just taking the picture. The setup and adjusting the lights, tuners, angle etc, averages about 30 minutes. Not to mention any photoshop work or the fact that the logistics of getting the actual guitar to photograph takes time. You can't just use ANY guitar off the line for this sort of thing... It needs to be the best example possible. It's easier with Ovations due to the build quality, but perfect grain patterns and such... lots of work no matter how you slice it.
I don't know the numbers and don't profess too, but the few times I have been to the Factory it seemed they were doing their best to just keep up with demand. As one store owner told me about why he never has any USA Ovations on the wall... He said he does, but they are only there a couple of days and then they are sold. So until his next batch comes in, which are usually pre-sold anyway, there aren't any on the wall. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Just waitin`for the next picture.... :eek: |
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Location: Upper Left USA | So if they are near or at their production level:
Would I prefer that they make more at the risk of lowering quality?
Should I hope on them increasing the price so that there will be more on the walls in the Music Store?
If they actually commanded the awe and respect in the market place I feel they deserve would I be able to afford them?
Reality kind of sucks!
How about opening up a Factory in the Great Northwest so that production could increase without placing too much burden on quality and I'd have a place to bring Krispy Kremes to and kiss up for spare guitar parts? It could start by manufacturing a different model or signature line of Ovations.
What was that T5 competitor that nobody's talking about? :rolleyes: |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Don't know, no one is talking about it... :D |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I bet if Ovation had NO website, it would not effect their sales one single bit. Dave |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | :confused: I bought Ovation guitars,discovered Ovation website,then discovered there is a factory...what `s next.. :D |
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Location: Kingston Ontario | I would like to hear more tech talk...types of amps folks use etc.
Kaman now owns or is in partnership with Genz Benz out in Arizona. How about some feedback from users.
Jack cords can alter your sound. How about some input from the manufactures.
Feedback can be a big problem. I know Baggs has a solution because I purchase their Feedback Master. You don't have to put up with a howling guitar at a gig.
And by the way, The Bare Naked Ladies are a fantastic Canadian Band that has appeared on Farm Aid, SNL and other venues.
This is a great web site.
Tom (from the Great White North) |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Check out the Rickenbacker website. VERY NICE.
http://www.rickenbacker.com/ |
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Location: SoCal | I gotta disagree with you Tup. I never cared for the Ric site. |
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Location: SoCal | I bet if Ovation had NO website, it would not effect their sales one single bit. Dave Maybe, but as an aside...
IMHO, if there was no OFC, OvationGallery, OvationTribute, etc., might be less new Adamas/Ovation guitars sold. |
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Location: Hiram, Georgia | It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I gotta disagree with you Tup. I never cared for the Ric site. What don't you like? It has:
Photos and COMPLETE specs
Great history
Archive of catalogs
Archive of models
Great factory photos
Parts catalog
Online shopping for parts and accesories
Galleries of famous guitars and customs
Their own online forum
What's not to like?
Maybe it's just my pesonal tase, but I think it's very well done, classy, simple, and complete. I think Moody just likes to disagree with me for the heck of it.
Dave |
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Location: ranson,wva | i personaly thought the rickie site was well laid out and informational...maybe im partial be cause i own one?? jason |
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Location: NJ | I agree w/Tup on the Ric site . . .
They also had a REALLY nicely-designed booth at NAMM in Anaheim . . . so much so that I took a BUNCH of photos so that I could steal(uh, . . "borrow") some design ideas for work . . . |
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Location: Avondale, AZ | Beautiful women playing in the pool. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | 
...and trampolines are out of the question! |
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| The RIC website is excellent...(Ovation wishes... ;) ) |
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Location: Upper Left USA | The German Website for O was cool too!
They even had a featured Fan! |
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What would you like to see on the O site?