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Location: SoCal | I've been playing Noah's 12 fret Adamas for the last week. I put on new Elixir nanowebs that I had around the house and have to admit that it sounds great. But I'm still not bonding with it, and am playing my FD14 much more. To a large degree (not counting Big Blue), I guess I'm a wood top kinda guy.
But in thinking about the 14 fret Adamas, I thought about some of the things that Ovation could do to it to make it "more something I would buy".
First, It's gotta get rid of the cheap looking epaulets. Add a hundred bucks to the cost and put on older style Adamas I epi's. Much classier to look at (some say get rid of the epi's altogether, but I like them).
Second, make the body style a cutaway. It becomes much more versatile (sp?) as a player, and even with only 12 frets to the body, all of the frets above 12 become useful.
Third, any color but black. Build it in an Adamas reverse blue burst. You evoke the memory of a great guitar but in a modern configuration (think '06 Mustang GT). Black is dull. It doesn't jump out at you. And this is the 2000's.... it's not always beautiful.
Fourth, either use the original Adamas mounting ring, or soften the edges of the current binding.
Fifth, offer it with either the contoured bowl, or, for my money, offer it with the LX mid depth bowl, and use the old mounting ring. It would be almost as deep as a deep bowl, have plenty of unplugged power, but be very comfortable to play.
I'd love to see the original Adamas I headstock on the 12 freter, but I'm not fanatical about it. The new slothead headstock looks pretty wonderful to me.
These are my thoughts. Now, having posted them, I have to confess that another guitar this year is probably not going to happen. I picked up three O's in the last 5 months (87 C, 1773LX, & FD14), and the taxman cometh. But the guitar I described would be something to think about.
Thoughts? |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I think a cutaway would be popular. I'd stay with the deep bowl. The old binding ring would be a beautiful addition, and would work well even without changing the ep'let style. |
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Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Ovation has never made a steel 12 fret cutaway? |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | With the success of the new epaulets on the LX models I would like to see some sort of evolution in the design on the Adamas. The "cats-eye", the rejected '06 Koa-lectors, and the wave design shows that Ovation is trying new things. Perhaps a new style soundhole could be ringed with abalone. The Adamas line has never shown much abalone.
I am in the early stages of my "Adamas hunt". The OFC tour will provide the best chance for me to test drive the many different flavors. I plan on doing a lot of research. No joking around ...drinking ...or associated tom-foolery for me. No sir...this trip will be all business and I will exhibit a very serious attitude at all times. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by tdeej:
Ovation has never made a steel 12 fret cutaway? They made one for me. It sounds amazing.
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/photos/Paul%20Templeman_C.%20folklore... |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Originally posted by Slipkid:
I am in the early stages of my "Adamas hunt". The OFC tour will provide the best chance for me to test drive the many different flavors. I plan on doing a lot of research. No joking around ...drinking ...or associated tom-foolery for me. No sir...this trip will be all business and I will exhibit a very serious attitude at all times. Poor Brad not only has the worst kind of GAS (this particular strain is called Adamas Slothead Seeking Guitar Acquisition Syndrome or ASS GAS), but I think he's also dying of BS poisoning...
Sad, truely sad. :p :D :p :D |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | I disagree with EVERYTHING Moody wrote except for 2 points. Yes the epaulets look dime-store cheap and yes the binding edge is sharp.
But I easily resolved these two issues. For the epaulets I just took a black Sharpie pen and drew in the "veins" like on the original slotheads. Looks wonderful. To resolve the sharp edge issue on the body, it took some time, but I grew out my armpit hair under my right arm and it now forms a nice cushy "pillow" to protect me from the edge.
For the record 1) black looks great, 2) deep is good, and 3) not even Andres Segovia needed a friggin cutaway.
Dave |
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Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | The search is over. Now I have the custom folklore cutaway at the top of my list.
Paul, how does the sound compare to a Ute? |
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Location: south east Michigan | "ASS GAS".... now that is funny!! |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Yeah, but Dave, how do you REALY feel about my comments? |
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Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Dave, you are probably right about the cutaways, but I just don't have the talent of an Andres Segovia and cutaways provide me with one less obstacle in playing up scale. |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by tdeej:
The search is over. Now I have the custom folklore cutaway at the top of my list.
Paul, how does the sound compare to a Ute? Pointless even trying. They're completely different animals. The Folklore is a lot warmer and traditional sounding. The Adamas is louder and better balanced. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The only reason Moody would need a cutaway would be if the the guitar only had three frets clear of the body . . . |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
They made one for me. It sounds amazing.
Stunning!! |
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November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Thanks for the information Paul(s), this gives me more to ponder as I was actually thinking of the FD14 and Utes as very similar. I really need to get in on a factory tour next year so I can hear the different models in person. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | They are really two different animals. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I was hoping to have time to visit Dave and play some of his guitars when I'm in Phoenix in a few weeks. I was worried about not having enough time but now I'm worried about not having a hazmat suit. Must be hard to open doors with a big wad of armpit hair propping your arm up.
Tim, if you get the 30th and don't like it, keep me in mind. I'm taking a shot at the Country Artist and I learned last Spring in Moscow that SWMBO needs some cooling off time between my guitar purchases. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | The thing that disturbed me is that he apparently shaved or waxed his pits prior... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | y'mean, not everybody does??
oh.
uh, . . . . . . never mind . . . . |
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October 2005
Posts: 5329
Location: Cicero, NY | ohhh...gotta...lose...the...visual... |
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Wish list Adamas....