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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Joel in France recently acquired this from eBay and had me ship it to him...He asked me to post several pic's as it seems to take forever to get the guitars finally delivered through French Customs...
It's a 2000 Custom Adamas Classical and it is one of two made: the other belonging to a factory employee...Ceder Top, Optima pre-amp, Slothead, wood inlay Adamas logo, Elite style binding, SSB, Nylon Strings, 12 fret to body...
Here's a couple of pics:
And the album:
http://ovationfanclub.ning.com/photo/albums/custom-adamas-classicia...
Interesting guitar and should be a great finger style instrument.
Congrats Joel! |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | why would this be an Adamas since it has a wood top vs just a custom built O? |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | That is one of the prettiest looking guitars I've ever seen! |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | That is one of the prettiest looking guitars I've ever seen! |
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Location: California | Very nice guitar! It should sound great. This custom has a little bit of everything.
"By early 1982, a slightly less expensive version, the Adamas II, was introduced only as an acoustic electric. The headstock and bridge were those of a standard Ovation rather than the carved walnut of the Adamas. The neck was five piece mahogany and maple rather than solid walnut. The changes brought the Adamas II in at a list price of about $600 less than the Adamas
A year later, Ovation showed that the Adamas design did in fact work with a traditional spruce top. The proof was the Elite model" from the book pg 84. Interesting stuff.. |
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Location: Newington, CT | Wow! Just beautiful! |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by hwebster:
The proof was the Elite model" from the book pg 84. Interesting stuff.. The elite was an Ovation. Those quotes still don't tell me why this particular guitar should be considered an Adamas. |
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Location: SoCal | I really really hate to say this, but I'm with Stephen on this. Wood topped w/ multi sound holes means an Elite. An Adamas has a carbon graphite top. Period. |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I really really hate to say this, but I'm with Stephen on this. Wood topped w/ multi sound holes means an Elite. An Adamas has a carbon graphite top. Period. The Adamas Wood Top Classical Prototype was made in 1980.
I forgot all about the Adamas WTC when I recently was questioning the new Wood Top Adamas.
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Location: SoCal | I agree, not the 1537, not this, not the current "wood top Adamas" I saw at the last stop of the Revolution Tour. Even if it has Adamas logo, inlaids, and suspension ring...it is an Ovation.
AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT????
As to my other 'beef', putting an Ovation logo on a Celeb is still a Celeb. Kind of like putting a Porshe logo on a VW. Probably a great VW but not a Porshe.
In the future, if they put a Fender logo on a Ovation Custom Legend, will it be a Fender? Thank goodness it will still be an Ovation.
However, this looks like a wonderful guitar/Ovation. |
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Location: SoCal | I was corrected when I said the Adamas 2081WT, with its wood top, was not an Adamas. We've generally seen graphite tops on Adamas guitars, but it appears that graphite was not a requisite. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | The word "Adamas" is Latin for "a diamond in its most native form - carbon"...pg. 82 "The History of the Ovation Guitar"
Wood Top = Ovation (w/Epi's: Elite)
Graphite Top (Carbon Fiber) = Adamas
What was that term... "Marketing Spoo"?
Yes, still nice Ovation guitars...but Adamas?
YMMV |
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Location: SoCal | ...Greek term adamas which means "invincible" or "unconquerable."
I guess it's a floating definition.
Maybe if the Book was around in 1980, they would not have made the mistake of making the Adamas WTC :confused:
It's whatever the guitar maker wants it to be at the time they use it.
30 years ago they put Adamas on a cedar-topped guitar and now on a spruce-topped guitar (and there have been other instruments in between).
The guitar maker does not agree with the graphite-top requisite. |
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Location: SoCal | maybe that is why the last four new (since 9/10) have been Takamines... :eek: |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Tony the OFCII is pretty sweet...outside of that, the old ladies (Adami) float my boat...again, Thanks Charlie! (and that Gas Station guy as well)... |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by MusicMishka:
The word "Adamas" is Latin for "a diamond in its most native form - carbon"...pg. 82 "The History of the Ovation Guitar"
Wood Top = Ovation (w/Epi's: Elite)
Graphite Top (Carbon Fiber) = Adamas
What was that term... "Marketing Spoo"?
Yes, still nice Ovation guitars...but Adamas?
YMMV Careful now, I got my hand smacked for saying that the WT was just an expensive Elite. |
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Location: SoCal | Mike, I agree...Al did a great job on the specs for the OFC and OFC II.
I have #50 slothead, three early 1687's, 1688, 47RI, OFC slothead, U681T, 1687-8 reissue, and two of the 1687-2 reissues. Plus the CVT Millennium. Amazing as at one time I didn't see why I would want an Adamas...course, then I took the chance (also based on KK's sage advice to get a textured top) and bought a 1687 on eBay. Wow! |
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Location: SoCal | Joel has an outstanding Classical Adamas Guitar.
Days ago, there was a post about another wood topped Adamas.
You guys gave this guitar accolades and no one questioned why it wore the Adamas name...
...even though it has a wood top w/multi sound holes... doesn't that make it an Elite?
Didn't someone say that the graphite Adamas top did not do well in a nylon configuration?
I would give a cedar/nylon/classical configuration an Adamas pass before a dressed-up Elite.
Congratulations Joel!
I await your assessment and please post links to recordings when you can. |
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| Aside from the few customs and one-offs that had wood tops, the Adamas guitar was designed, introduced, and marketed as unique in that it had the composite top, suspension ring, multi-soundhole and new bracing pattern. It wasn't until well after Adamas development and production that Kaman took that design and modified it to produce the first Elite, the 1537 (see the "Book" and TJ Rickard's historical internal documents posted on his ning page).
I remember seeing a couple of eBay sales over the years for Elites that had the Adamas logo on the headstock. That didn't make them Adamas, and they were even labeled in the bowl as Elites. For whatever reason (a shortage of Ovation-labeled necks that week?) the folks at the factory slapped an Adamas-labeled neck on them, but they still called them Elites, not wood-top Adamas.
It's a matter of semantics. As has been pointed out, to some a Celebrity is not a "real" Ovation, even if it says Ovation on the peghead. To most of us old-timers Adamas will always mean a composite-top guitar - that's how they were introduced, marketed and up-charged. The CF top and its other unique design and construction elements give it a distinctive sound. The new wood-top Adamas I've played are very nice, but they don't sound like an Adamas. To me, and I'm sure many others, an Adamas guitar will always be a carbon fiber composite top, no matter what the marketing pukes say. |
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Location: California | I think there are three of these around with carved heastock, bridge, etc... TJ\'s guitar is an example.
TJ told me that the sound of his is spectacular. |
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Location: Utah | Marketing guys like to have their brand identified with a certain niche. It used to be Adamas was carbon fiber, Ovation was top of the line wood topped, while Celeb and Applause were the lower price points.
But maybe there is a new alignment. Maybe Adamas is now simply top of the line USA made, whether wood or carbon fiber. Ovation is now the mid range and includes Celeb, and Applause is the lower price range. USA made are all blended into Adamas, TX, AX, and Celeb are all blended into Ovation, and Applause is Applause. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Irrespective of our personal opinions, it's still:
Potato - Potato
Tomato - Tomato
Bottom line here is that it's a beautiful guitar, Joel likes it, and it will be a great addition to his collection. He will certainly play it well...
I am looking forward to hearing the music he will make with this fine instrument...
So once again, congrats Joel! Enjoy! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Adamas is the Greek root for diamond and meant unconquerable or inflexible. Stretching that to "diamond in its native form", carbon, always seemed like a marketing stretch to me, but that's what sales people do and no one should really expect precision when someone comes up with a name. Otherwise we'd use all the correct scientific names for plants.
The marketing geeks surely knew better than to say that Adamas meant inflexible. It is also the root of the English word "adamant", which, when used as inflexible or unyeilding regarding opinions could surely refer to many OFCers.
I'm betting that the 1537s would have continued to be called would topped Adamas and there wouldn't be an Elite series, except someone in marketing vetoed it and had to call them Ovations.
If you're adamant about your opinion that all wood topped guitars have to carry the Ovation logo, buy it and change the decal. I really like the wood topped Adamas and if I had the money I'd have bought one, whether it said Adamas or Ovation on it. With a little playing time, it would sound better than a 1537. |
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Location: SoCal | How different is this nylon string from the one Jerome bought a few months back?
I'm too lazy to go to his site and pull the pictures, but somebody here might do that or look up the thread...... |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | If I was going to pick up a classical, this could very well be it. Or one of the EA Viper classicals that come up now and then. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I didn't spend much time with it...just made sure it wasn't damaged in shipping...it was perfect just like the seller said...I played it for a few minutes before re-packing it for the over the pond journey...it sounded nice: a lot of bass for a classical and plugged in I am sure it will sound stellar. The cedar top is gorgeous. Very wide neck... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I would imagine this would be hugely different from the Viper nylons or most other classicals for that matter. If someone wants a classical classical, this wouldn't be it. Neither would the Ovation Classics. I like the Ovation Classics, but people who want the light sound of a Flamenco or Spanish classical guitar don't. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I will someday try a classical nylon sound, but everything else about the guitar will be typical Prof: SSB or chambered hybrid, top shelf electronics, and plugged in. |
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| Hello,
the seller told me it's a med bowl.
Ovation or Adamas, this is a wonderful classical guitar.
I will tell more when she arrives in France.
And thank you Mike
best regards |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Joel, I think the bowl is a medium now that I look at the pictures again...I literally only had it out for a couple of pic's and to see if it was as pristine as it was claimed to be...still, a nice addition. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Joel, I am sure it is a terrific guitar and I wasn't trying to cast aspersions on your purchase.
I was just merely stating my thoughts on wondering why it was considered an Adamas....other than the name on the headstock.
I look forward to hearing your review once you receive it. |
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Location: California | noah
Member
Member # 3022
posted February 04, 2011 02:08 AM
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I was corrected when I said the Adamas 2081WT, with its wood top, was not an Adamas. We've generally seen graphite tops on Adamas guitars, but it appears that graphite was not a requisite. Mike/Joel, what did the maker put on the label? Just curious..
Congratulations on your new guitar! |
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Location: California | Interesting discussion on this thread
close up digital picture of the Adamas top |
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Location: Paris/France | Congrats, very nice guitar and I'm looking forward to hear it played by you Joël!!! ;)
Mine is closer to a Country Artist with an Adamas fretboard than a Classic like Joël's guitar.
She's now hanging in the main room of my house and I'm playing it as often as possible.
It doesn't matter to me if it's an Ovation or an Adamas, it's a fantastic guitar.
And when you see the cut of an Adamas top, it's funny to see that wood is the main part of this top so Adamas or Ovation???
We had the same discussion in France and both opinions are represented.
To my own opinion, it's a little bit simplistic to summarize an Adamas only with its top, it's much more than this but it's only my opinion... :rolleyes:
At the end, I'm very glad to see Adamas Wood Top models for 2011.
J :)
Here's a picture of mine:
J :) |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Mike/Joel, what did the maker put on the label? Just curious.. It's the Adamas Label...the whiteout covers the previous owners name (Custom Made for.....)
Jerome, I am glad to see them making guitars period...and you have to admit, they do look fantastic... |
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Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | Has anyone ever explained why an Adamas Classical with a graphite top wouldn't fly? Were there any made? I remember hearing something about there being at least one out there (a proto?).
I would have thought a graphite top on a classical would be very responsive? Sure someone here would know...
:confused: |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Who was this made for? Why would anyone go to the bother of whiting out the name on the label? |
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Location: Paris/France | It does exist at least THIS ONE custom built for Sigi Schwab.
J :)
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Location: Paris/France | And THIS ONE TOO who is a SSB but I'm not sure that it was not modified after leaving the factory. :rolleyes:
J :)
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Location: SoCal | There's also this one, built in about 1980 for ol' whatshisname. It now lives in SoCal, but sadly, not with me....
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Location: SoCal | Ok... but are there any graphite topped ones like Joel's Adamas with that 12-fret, wide flat board? |
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Location: California | Paul,
That is a nice nylon Adamas. I would love to try how the sound is on this guitar. Some day I get a nylon like these ones. |
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Location: Utah | There was one for sale about a year ago here in Utah. -5 top, round hole, flat wide fretboard. It was brand new and heavily damaged in shipment. It wasn't playable so I don't know how it would have sounded. |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by hwebster:
Paul,
That is a nice nylon Adamas. I would love to try how the sound is on this guitar. Some day I get a nylon like these ones. Hector, it sounds ok unplugged. Any super shallow bowl is only going to sound ok unplugged (I've played exceptions to that rule, but they are only exceptions). It's plugged in where it shines.
That particular guitar was one of a matched set built for Glen Campbell in about 1980. They may have been the first ssb guitars built by Ovation. The other guitar is a steel string and it's now up in Canada. Both belong to members of the OFC.
The nylon string feels wider than the standard CA 1 7/8", more like 2", even tho' it's a 14 fretter. Campbell played it for several years then traded it (at least this is the story I heard) to a member of his church who owned a pawn shop, for a Fender Jaguar. The person who bought it from the shop had the fret markers put on and played it for a number of years before putting it on ebay. The current owner bought it there. |
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Location: Maine | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I really really hate to say this, but I'm with Stephen on this. Wood topped w/ multi sound holes means an Elite. An Adamas has a carbon graphite top. Period. I'm late to the debate here, but here's a thought, Isn't an original Adamas top really only about 25% carbon fiber and 75% birch veneer. (ie. wood?) The early WTA proto I have does have some carbon fiber on the braces, granted very little. TJR |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by TJR:
Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I really really hate to say this, but I'm with Stephen on this. Wood topped w/ multi sound holes means an Elite. An Adamas has a carbon graphite top. Period. I'm late to the debate here, but here's a thought, Isn't an original Adamas top really only about 25% carbon fiber and 75% birch veneer. (ie. wood?) The early WTA proto I have does have some carbon fiber on the braces, granted very little. TJR |
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Location: Maine | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Originally posted by TJR:
Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I really really hate to say this, but I'm with Stephen on this. Wood topped w/ multi sound holes means an Elite. An Adamas has a carbon graphite top. Period. I'm late to the debate here, but here's a thought, Isn't an original Adamas top really only about 25% carbon fiber and 75% birch veneer. (ie. wood?) The early WTA proto I have does have some carbon fiber on the braces, granted very little. TJR
The Adamas models, meant to be top of the line, really had a more unique top than any other guitar. That was the real innovation rather that the carved neck, bridge etc. Not to forget the carbon fiber in the necks.
Is the "Q" model the only true Adamas?
The earliest WTA proto's did have Adamas cloth bowls, producton adamas walknut necks, and the 13 piece epi's & suspension ring.
The Elite model may not have even been named yet so they really are just a wood topped Adamas-like guitar. The missing link. I'd argue that years ago there were people who simply assumed a guitar with Epi's equalled Adamas. The 1537 really opened up a whole can of worms for future variants, followed by the later numerous celeb. models |
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| Here more photos.
the guitar is fabulous and very easy to play.
The sound is powerful.
https://picasaweb.google.com/joelguitare666/ADAMASClassicalCustom |
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Location: California | Joel,
It looks really nice and good the sound is loud. By looking at the pictures D,A and E strings seem to be strings for acoustic guitar? but I could be wrong. I would change with those for a classical guitar and the sound will be different and mellow with that beautiful cedar top. |
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Location: Nîmes, south of France | Adamas concept without steel and carbon.
Something is missing but this is my own opinion.
However it looks very nice with guts and cedar top.
Hope to play this beauty one day, congrats Joël ! |
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Custom Adamas Classical in France