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Posts: 396
| Hello. I have a 50th birthday coming up during the summer, and my wife has given me a fairly high price range in which to get a custom/special order, or else a standard model of something pretty good (collings, H & D, Rtaylor, 000-42,914ce, etc). So, I'd like to feed off some of your knowledge and experience out there.
I want something somewhat blingy, high quality, somewhat unique, and probably all wood.
So, could you tell me about some successful custom/special orders you have had and what type of features are the ones you love, and what do you regret not getting? Many of you have custom ordered Ovation/Adamas models. Whaich featured really worked for you? Also, any experience with Martin or Taylor custom models you have ordered? |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | ofc II guitars still available |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | I would get whatever you like!
If it were me I wouldn't go custom as there are PLENTY of guitars out there that I would love without ordering a custom one.
OK so you could get a long list of what we all like and order a custom guitar based on that but it would not be what you like.
If I had a load of money I would buy off the top of my head...
A Collings
Another Fylde
A Lowden
An early Martin
An early Resonator
So what body shape do you like? What wood for the sides and back do you like? What wood would you like for the top? What neck profile do you prefer? What nut width suits you? What fretboard wood do you prefer? Do you want electrics? Do you like jumbo frets? Do you like ...?
GO and try a LOAD of guitars and get the one you like. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Unless you know exactly what you want in a custom, then I agree with Dweez on this one. There are many very nice guitars out there for reasonable asking prices. Al's OFCII certainly comes to mind, as do his Koa specials. You'll pay more for a one-off custom order, so make sure the specs are precisely what you are looking for. Since one of your criteria is all wood, and presumably acoustic-based, I can't offer any suggestions as all my customs have come from Mother. |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I don't know about H&D or Taylor, but if you want a custom order Collings in time for your birthday next summer you are probably too late. Depending on the details, it's probably a year wait.
That being said, you can probably find some stock models of various builders that would more than meet your needs. It's a very open ended question that you ask. I would suggest to look over the inventories at places like Gryphon, Buffolo Bros, Cotton Music and Music Emporium. Not only do they list what they have in stock, but they usually list what they have in the build cycle as well. So you can place a reserve on somethng coming down the road. I did a custom order through Elderly Music and could not have been happier with the service they provided.
On the Ovation/Adamas side there is lots you can do and I've probably done 8-10 customs. Do not deal with anyone other than Lost Art Vintage. The only issue with Ovation/Adamas is that custom orders are for the most part cosmetic only. You're not going to do a lot to change the fundamanetal performance of the guitar. Looks are important don't get me wrong. But you can spend a lot of money only to end up with an expensive dress on a cheap whore.
Personal opinion? I love my Collings SJ Maple. If I had the money for another guitar right now I would buy the same thing in mahogany with 42 trim. Probably about $6500.
Good luck. |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| Thanks for your help so far. Obviously, I will get what I want. However, I have no experience in this rangs, so some of your experiences and ideas might help me see something I hadn't, or else give a second thought to something. This may be my first and last time I'm in this range of guitars. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | If it was me, I would look for a slightly used or, if possible, a cost-discounted version of the very best model within my price range. I would not pursue a custom order if this might be my one and only opportunity to score a top shelf guitar. Only you can determine what manufacturer and model that might be. Good luck, and keep us posted. It is always interesting to see how our tastes and definitions differ in this area. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | 1. get the OFC from Al
2. get a Tak 45th anniversary from S28 aka Takman28 over on the Tak board, very reasonable price.
3. go Collings shopping, easy enough to find something out there rather than to have to dream up everything you want on a special. My experience is you usually forget something anyway.
4. go back to 1 and repeat. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I also have an EXTREMELY NICE Froggy Bottom F12 Deluxe that might interest you. Current retail would be over 8,000.
This one has Master Grade Walnut Back and sides with a wide grain adirondack top. Florentine cutaway and nice bling.
Currently looking for $4000 + shipping. Other pictures on my social site page.
(edited by me
stephen find a smaller pic or resize please ) |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Oppps....sorry bout that oversized picture. |
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Location: closely held secret | Let me guess... :rolleyes: |
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Location: Tennessee | Is that a jumbo guitar? |
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Location: Michigan | I can't tell, my monitor is not big enough. |
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Location: Tennessee | Englishplayer,
You are in a unique place, congrats! It sort of depends on each person, but some things I personally would be looking for if I had a blank check (and I like sorta blingy too):
Brazilian Rosewood back and sides
Spruce top ... any real high quality piece would likely be on BZR anyway
Abalone purfling
Wood binding on the body (I like curly maple)
Wood binding on the neck and headstock to match the body
Tasteful rosette to include abalone and your bindings wood and perhaps a unique design element
Waverly tuners
Pickup but no preamp cut into the body
Ebony board and elegant abalone inlays
Feels good in my hands and sounds terrific
Low production volume making the guitar fairly rare
Oh, boy. I just figured out that I described the Tak EF75. And a Lakewood D-54 I just missed out on.
Alternative to that, I would get a custom made Adamas slothead with a gold top, but that's just me.
BTW, the OFC II guitar is a custom guitar you can get now. But not real blingy. But radically cool in its own stealth way. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Gee, I also have a TAK EF75 available for sale....$3500
I think I got too many awesome guitars for sale! Somebody buy a few and help trim the herd. |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | If "all wood" is a criteria, why ask this group?
In my past experience, if a roundback is worthy of consideration, you can get so many conflicting opinions that asking is almost worthless.
Just figure out what you like and email Mother for a quote. It's only money. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | you can't just e mail the factory. you need to get the specs together and have a dealer get you a price quote. |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| Mitz, why ask people here about all wood guitars?
People on this board know A LOT about guitars, all kinds. This may be a 1 time excursion into this price range, so I really want to hear opinions and stories. All of it may lead to no help or ideas, but folks here have a lot to share. Isn't this why there's a board? Let's all try to keep it positive. I'm gonna place some questions on this board and other boards because I want to take in all possibilities, as I don't want to miss out on an idea that might be useful to me.
Thanks for all your help so far and expect more questions, folks. Oh, since a few folks have mentioned it..... Guitar must be new. After all, it's a present from my wife. Any more ideas? Feel free to add on! I appreciate it. |
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Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | All of my solidbody O's are all wood guitars! :eek:
The 08 Adamas jumps to the front of my list.
Lately there has been a lot of "investment grade" hardware going up for sale.
Every 7th Full Moon you might be able to grab a "Slothead" or other significant piece. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by MWoody:
Lately there has been a lot of "investment grade" hardware going up for sale.
Every 7th Full Moon you might be able to grab a "Slothead" or other significant piece. Not if it has to be "new". That pretty much puts it into the "custom order" or dealer website/storefront territory. |
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Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I always buy American!
Every Toyota I have purchased was bought used from an American!
And it was new... to me. :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Well, E.P., you never mentioned what your budget is other than "fairly high priced," but that means different things to different people. Presuming it has no bounds, I'd go for a new Martin OM-100 only because I prefer the OM size over the bigger dread body. It probably wouldn't sound any better than, say, any other Martin or Collings (or other top drawer model) in the $5k to $10k retail range, but you'll never want for bling ever again, and you'll be the only one on your block that has one. |
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Location: Michigan | Got some big bucks?
http://www.olsonguitars.com/jt_model.html |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Or some even bigger bucks?
Martin D-100 |
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Posts: 81
Location: Canada | the funny thing about that martin 100, for the money it costs.....its ugly. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | real ugly |
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Location: closely held secret | It's a pimp guitar. |
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Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Isn't there a tv show, Pimp My Guitar?
It's extremely ugly and I don't know why it was built. Did Chris Martin come to his people and say "Let's build from the finest materials, the most butt ugly guitar we can possibly imagine and then try to tell people how beautiful it is. People are so stupid that there will be those who will pay tens of thousands of dollars for it..." |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Fugly alright. Did anyone else have the thought "Make sure the mouse stays away from the Buy-it-Now button in case I accidentally click it and end up losing my house for an ugly overpriced guitar? |
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Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | Almost as gawdy as the Martin Millionth it was based on...
http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/000854.html |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Again, the reason to go custom is if the combination of features you want are not available in a stock model. I've done it. I can also tell you that the best sounding instruments I own are stock models, maybe not common or inexpensive, but certainly not custom. |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Again, the reason to go custom is if the combination of features you want are not available in a stock model. I've done it. I can also tell you that the best sounding instruments I own are stock models, maybe not common or inexpensive, but certainly not custom. Well stated point of view above. Yes, I am leaning toward Collings. I love the quality, beauty, sound, ability, and consistency.
I'd need to go a bit custom in order to add a bit of bling. I'm still open minded and looking around. My wife is being very generous. |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | You know, another point is the definition of "custom". I have a few guitars that have been "personalized" but not really custom. For example I have an OM that I special ordered withOUT fret markers. I would hardly call that custom. On the other hand I have a small bodied 00 guitar that I ordered with Koa back and sides, rather than the stock mahogany. I would consider that a little more "custom". There is also custom that is complete one off. I would consider Kim's Adamas Bass to be in that category. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Last two "custom" guitars I ordered have been without fret markers. Not sure why but I was just going through a "clean look" phase. Love them....but I also really dig the 42 and 45 style bling.
The Borges that I should be receiving soon is an OM-18....so simple dots for fret markers but I did bling up the trim a bit. Hope it looks as good when I get it as it did in my mind when I ordered it. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The last three guitars I've ordered were all customs. Two were based on stock models with a few changes in materials or finishes (e.g., the Koa VXT). The third was a mixture of stock materials and features combined in a configuration that has not likely been tried before. Its totally your call and there may or may not be any rules, so make it your guitar. The rest of us may or may not appreciate it, but that doesn't matter because it isn't being built for us. Just go for it! |
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Help with custom/special order