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June 2008
Posts: 66
| I have whined in here about the lack of Ovation's to play in stores.
Came to grips with the fact that if I want to see,play,and buy a quality guitar,I should seek it out,not expect to walk into every guitar store and see 10 O's.
I think the marketing of Ovation is dead on.
You want one,give us a call.
Kinda like thinning the herd. |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | YEAH, Dead On. |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| I'm not sure what you said earlier, but I don't think their marketing is dead on. Guitar centers used to carry plenty of American made models; in fact, a few years back my closest one actually would even carry an Adamas model now and then. The last four or five times I was there, they had no American models. The difference between the American models and non-American models has never been clear, or advertised in the type of detail it should be.
I'm not even sure if the new Fender/Ovations will be made for much longer. The new website is a good sign that they will. If you want people to buy American made models, this company needs to get some into the consumer's hands, at places like guitar center. If they want American Ovation to be a type of Carvin company, order if you want one, then they are goling about it in the right way. With all the great performers who have played Ovations over the last 30-40 years notice the lack of signature models produced over the last 10-15 years. Of course, I could be wrong because I don't know what the previous goal was and what the current goal is. Perhaps, this company produces better economic results when focusing more solidly on their foreign made products. As far as seeking out higher level guitars.... it's pretty easy to find plenty of expensive and less expensive Martins and Taylors to play and compare, not so with American Ovation/Adamas.
I just recall a few years back taking 2 Adamas models from the cheap room into the expensive room at guitar center and liking how well the Adamas could compete.
I do not work in the business world or anything to do with marketing, so I could easily be missing something. All I know is that I like American made Ovations and sometimes it looks a bit like they are heading the way of the dinosaur. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yeah... I thought I was wrong once.
But it turns-out I was mistaken. |
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March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | If OVATION was running a small 'boutique', custom guitar shoppe, the theory might fly... but they aren't.
New and younger players coming up need to see the BEST you have to offer... not the low end of the market. They will just assume that's all Ovation makes and aspire to own Taylors 'when they grow up' (hmm, I think that might have already happened...).
I don't think every store has to have twenty Adamas' up on the wall, in every colour selection, but if they dont' have any, never had any... NEVER will have any, they're no kind of guitar shop as far as I'm concerned!! When I walk into a store and they have one on the wall (even a used one taken in trade...), it's like a big neon sign saying, 'THIS IS MY KINDA PLACE... THESE GUYS KNOW THEIR GUITARS !!'
A good portion of the regulars here either have Adamas' (or have played them at meets...) and know what they are all about, but I think many of us have forgotten that magic moment, the first time we actually had one in our hands. Where will these young players get that 'first taste'? Reading about them in magazines or here just isn't the same thing...
I think OVATION is missing the boat on this one... these top of the line, elite, cutting edge models are their best advertising and they seem to be ignoring that. Anyone I know... that has every played one... WANTS ONE, it's as simple as that!
Selling container ship loads of made-in-China Celebrities, iDea and Applause guitars might do wonders for the bank account, but eventually THAT is what people will associate OVATION with... not their long history of high-tech aural magic.
:( |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Avatar4550:
I think OVATION is missing the boat on this one... YEAH. You should run right over to CT and let them know how wrong they are. I'm sure they'd appreciate it. |
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March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | There seem to be a lot of changes in the wind down there in CT... Let's see how it plays out, before judging.
I also didn't say I should be running Ovation's marketing department. Only that if given a choice between similarly priced, top-of-the-range guitars... I think OVATION would do really well.
Right now, that choice ISN'T there.
Are they doing as well on this front as they could be? I'm sure there will be opinions either way... |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Avatar4550:
I think OVATION is missing the boat on this one... Originally posted by Avatar4550:
Let's see how it plays out, before judging. Well said. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by Avatar4550:
Selling container ship loads of made-in-China Celebrities, iDea and Applause guitars might do wonders for the bank account, but eventually THAT is what people will associate OVATION with... Eventually???
It's already like that and it's been that way for as long as I can remember. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4075
Location: Utah | I remember back in '77 I wanted to buy an Ovation 12 string. Out on Rt 22 was the nearest big guitar shop, Rondo Music, and they had Ovations in stock. My dad drove me down there and I played a bunch of guitars, including the Ovation. I couldn't quite afford the Ovation, so I went down the street to another shop (now an adult video store) and bought a nice Alvarez-Yairi. I didn't know much about that brand but it was a nice guitar that I could afford that day.
Today's 16 yr old won't find an Ovation or Adamas in any store around here. Maybe a Celeb or Applause, and there is nothing wrong with those guitars at their price point, but they don't compete with the Taylor, Gibson, and Ibanez in the $700 to $1200 range. The kid with $$ in his pocket is going to do what I did, spend it on something he likes that the store has on display.
I am encouraged by the new website and it's modern approach. It would be nice to see an expansion of jobs at our favorite guitar factory. |
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March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | Thanks FlySig... This is exactly the point I was trying to make.
Most people will buy the best guitar (they can afford...) that is hanging on the wall in the store on that day. Exactly as you did.
While a majority of young or beginning players are unlikely to drop 3 grand on an Adamas, having more choice in the $800 to $1500 range would be great.
Also, having an Adamas hanging on the wall behind the counter with a 'please ask' sign wouldn't hurt either... It would give young players something to aspire to... and maintain that 'mystique' OVATIONS had back when I was younger (a long, long time ago...).
;) |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Uh ... don't equate what once was with what is. It's a different world that when you went out as a kid to buy a guitar. Kids buy almost all of their stuff online today. If they do buy in a store, it's gonna be Best Buy - where they have just as many Ovations on the wall as Taylors and Martins. The only kids who go to music stores to get a guitar are taken there by their low-tech parents ... who probably would favor a traditional guitar anyway.
That's what makes the new site so brilliant ... it is set up like an online commerce site. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I would not have blind ordered one before seeing the factory tour. Stores are where you can try something. While younger people buy a lot on line.
Guitars don;t seem to be that unless they already know what they want. Not being in stores prevents impulse purchases. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | posted by stonebobbo:
If they do buy in a store, it's gonna be Best Buy - where they have just as many Ovations on the wall as Taylors and Martins. Gee? That is news to me. I need to go check-out Best Buy. |
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December 2008
Posts: 253
Location: Seattle | Ever since CNC technology was applied to guitars, the quality of the mass produced guitars has gone up. The quality product at the 400-700 price point makes purchasing a guitar on-line pretty safe. Capture customers when they are young and, with nurturing, you will have a customer for life.... (I can think of no better example than the OFC).
FMC gets it.
The good, better, best, merchandising has sold a lot of Stratocasters. Companies need a strong web presence or they risk not being relevant. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | With the majority of the line made overseas you will need to find the people that sell them and believe in them and stock the product
Al
www.lostartvintage.com
we never close |
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I was wrong.