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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| So, some people knew already and were eagerly waiting for a report. Had some camera issues last night (never mind that I didn’t want to put the guitar down long enough to post), so the report had to wait until this morning.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll keep saying it: Mrs. g8r is THE BEST SWMBO ever! Normally when she asks me what I want for my birthday (coming up next month) I usually just say something to the effect of, “nothing, really, I have too much crap already.” This time, ‘tho, I said that the Adamas ‘08 Collector’s would be my dream present since I’ve been wanting an Adamas for some time now. That’s all it took, and she was on the phone to Al.
Those who have one know. Those who haven’t had the chance to play one are missing out on one of the best guitars to come out of New Hartford in quite some time. Contour bowl, wide neck, slothead, just enough bling, and the unmistakable and incredible Adamas sound.
From the first strum I was blown away, almost literally. The bass coming out of this guitar about knocked me off my stool. The only other guitar I’ve heard with more bass is Beal’s 2080 longneck. The mids are clear and crisp, and the highs ring out like church bells. Nothing overwhelms everything else, it’s so well balanced. And the intonation is absolutely spot on. Playing the individual notes of a D chord at the 7th and 14th frets is no different than first position as far as the onboard tuner is concerned – no variation in pitch whatsoever. Setup is fantastic as well, at 0.012” on the treble E string and 0.019 on the bass E at the 12th fret. The wide neck really suits my fat fingers and makes fingerstyle so much cleaner. The contour bowl feels very comfortable while I’m sitting, haven’t yet played it standing up to see how it differs from my regular deep bowls. Also haven’t plugged it in yet to try out the VIP, but that’ll happen later today.
If any of you are considering an Adamas, give the 08C serious thought. Limited run (this one's #21 of 100), all the best design elements Ovation/Adamas has had over the years combined into one great guitar.
Thanks Al, and many thanks and love to SWMBO!
On to the pics:
No pizza boxes, but unmistakably Al's work with the soda carton reinforcement:
The case is worthy of this beauty, too:
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Bootyful, Serge. Congratulations... and Happy Birthday! |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | What a beauty! Looks like you're using Damon's camera. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Nice!!
cngrts! |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | What a spunky guitar! I can't wait to get my hands on mine - hope you're taking good care of her Al. Aren't our SWMBOs wonderful? |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Your a lucky man g8r...
I hate do sound like a broken record... but...
Please get those pics to Designzilla. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | WOW! What a gift! How are you going to top it for her birthday? :D
Congrats! :cool: |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | and IMHO, the truth is that the '08 Collectors looks even BETTER in person than it does in pictures.
I was not terribly impressed with the looks from the pictures I had seen till I saw MusicMike's in person at Amelia Island.
after I saw it and played it.....WOW! |
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July 2005
Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | That's awesome! Bring it to the... never mind. |
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Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Very Very Nice!!!! I'm Jealous!!! (and Broke) :D |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | "WOW!" is right. congrats, g8r. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I love the grain on the face of the headstock. Congratulations.
Dave |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | oooooooo, ahhhhhhh! so g8r got'er! congratulations, serge, and happy birthday too. |
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November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | An amazing addition to a very fine collection. Welcome to the Adamas family...and what a way to break in to the club!!
Mrs. g8r....my offer still stands! ;) |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Enjoy! Very Nice!
;) |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Congrats Serge! For your first Adamas, you certainly moved right to the top of the line.
I've never been a fan of how the 08 looks. It's a personal thing. But the sound and playability of those is just incredible. No denying that at all.... |
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December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Way to go Serge! Beautiful! That is a Happy Birthday.
Send me some hi-res pics for the calendar please!
Congrats, once again on another great guitar! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | You guys with your great photos of your new guitars are going to knock mine off the calendar. Beautiful pics. I'm not a real fan of black guitars, but that one has about everything I would want in a guitar. If it just came in red. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | If it plays half as good as it looks, well... You know the rest.
Nice grab on that SWMBO there g8r! |
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March 2005
Posts: 2793
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Very, Very Nice!!!
To me, the bridge has a "hand carved" look (which I like) instead of CNC'd.
separate label for the S/N?
Congrats! |
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Posts: 70
Location: Hong Kong | Congrats.. & enjoy!!!
Would have bought one myself if it's in blue instead of black... |
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September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | FANTASTIC!!!! Al has tempted me with the '08, but I am restraining myself and staying with what I thought would be my last/best guitar (the 2080).
I must admit, however the bling on the '08 is very hard to resist.
Just curious if anyone knows....would the 2080 and '08 sound similar (if you were blind-folded of course as anything that beautiful would have to sound better...like owning a Mercedes over a Hyundai). Or does the slothead and wide neck give it something more. |
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Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I like the sparklys |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by JeffreyD:
FANTASTIC!!!! Al has tempted me with the '08, but I am restraining myself and staying with what I thought would be my last/best guitar (the 2080).
I must admit, however the bling on the '08 is very hard to resist.
Just curious if anyone knows....would the 2080 and '08 sound similar (if you were blind-folded of course as anything that beautiful would have to sound better...like owning a Mercedes over a Hyundai). Or does the slothead and wide neck give it something more. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by JeffreyD:
FANTASTIC!!!! Al has tempted me with the '08, but I am restraining myself and staying with what I thought would be my last/best guitar (the 2080).
I must admit, however the bling on the '08 is very hard to resist.
Just curious if anyone knows....would the 2080 and '08 sound similar (if you were blind-folded of course as anything that beautiful would have to sound better...like owning a Mercedes over a Hyundai). Or does the slothead and wide neck give it something more. More like comparing a Mercedes with a Lexus or Jag. All great, just different flavors...... |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Thanks, everyone. This has to be the longest day at work ever, waiting to go home and play it (well, maybe the longest since yesterday waiting for its arrival).
'Zilla, I'll upload the hi-res pics to my server and send you the links so you can download them directly, probably easier than sending multiple emails of multi-MB files.
Originally posted by JeffreyD:
Just curious if anyone knows....would the 2080 and '08 sound similar (if you were blind-folded of course as anything that beautiful would have to sound better...like owning a Mercedes over a Hyundai). Or does the slothead and wide neck give it something more. The only 2080 I've played is Beal's custom wideneck baritone, and that's a completely different animal. Once the adoption goes thru and I'm at Damon's we can compare directly :D |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Time to face reality, Jeffrey. There is no last guitar. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by JeffreyD:
Just curious if anyone knows....would the 2080 and '08 sound similar (if you were blind-folded of course as anything that beautiful would have to sound better...like owning a Mercedes over a Hyundai). Or does the slothead and wide neck give it something more. Paul had it pretty close, Jeff. Having played them both, I can say they're both OUTSTANDING guitars. But they are definitely different. The 08 sounds like the grand piano of guitars, rich, clear and balanced. The 2080 has a full sound, but it almost sounds a little bit compressed compared to the 08. A very cool sound, very unique (you know that). |
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September 2006
Posts: 27
Location: Lagrasse/France | Nice instrument. Congratulation!!! |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Congrats Serge! Now you can sell off all the others. :D |
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January 2006
Posts: 403
Location: Thailand | Congratulations. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by JeffreyD:
Just curious if anyone knows....would the 2080 and '08 sound similar (if you were blind-folded of course as anything that beautiful would have to sound better...like owning a Mercedes over a Hyundai). Or does the slothead and wide neck give it something more. Different enough to justify owning both! |
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November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | I played one of these last week, and it is a beauty. I was shocked to see one hanging in my local music store. I agree the guitar looks even better in person, and it sounds fantastic! |
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2008 Collectors In Hand!