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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Just thinking out loud... But what's with the 2009 Collectors' Edition?
I keep seeing them on eBay already, and slowly fading into the ozone with no takers.
Are they asking too much money?
Have they not been out long enough to become desirable?
[I could put my '07C up for more than I paid for it and it would be gone quickly!]
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Yup too expensive in todays market clearly. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | It is definitely one of the classiest looking guitars I've ever seen. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Nice. I'd love one. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | It seems that unusual Ovations take some time to get recognised by their target audience. Read the threads on the 1680 and you'll see it was mostly ignored on this forum until shortly before (after?) Ovation decided to stop producing them, because they weren't selling fast enough. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Regards the 1680 they weren't selling fast enough because of the price, once the deals were out there they sold 'em.
When the 09C is less than $1500 I'll be interested. |
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March 2009
Posts: 715
| OMA, that is one of the guitars that I tried on my recent shopping trip. At $3,599, it was the most expensive guitar that I tried. Even the used ME Adamas I tried at GC wasn't as expensive.
At $3,599, it is way too rich for my blood! I appreciate the workmanship that went into this guitar, but right now I couldn't afford it.
It is definitely one of the nicest guitars I have tried.
Michelle |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Everybody loves a great deal, but come on! I challenge anyone to show me a brand-new wood box from any of the builders known for high quality that's a limited-run with solid koa top, ebony fretboard & bridge, torti binding, and abalone galore for less than $2500.
Why should Ovation underprice a guitar of equal material and build quality? To perpetuate the perception that Ovations aren't "serious" guitars because they're cheap? Jeez! |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yeah Michelle... I don't think that my Mom paid that much for her T-Bird.
Originally posted by dweezil:
When the 09C is less than $1500 I'll be interested. Wait! They'll be selling Used for $700 around the beginning of next year.
[And I was just commenting that they aren't flying of off the shelves...] |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | The 09 is a fine guitar ... BUT, the problem in my opinion is several:
1) Enough with the Koa already. 06 Collector, Alpep Koa 12 Special, Alpep Koa 14 Special, Koa celebs, etc. And it's not just Ovation. Taks new 09 flagships are Koa, Taylor and Martin have new Koas. It's all because some nice 5 year old Koa stock is finally ready for use but personally I'm OD on Koa. If the Ovation 09 had a spruce top finished in sunburst I'd buy it on the spot.
2) The 09 price point is outside of the bandwidth of typical Ovation buyers. 1000-1500 is the range. For 2500 people are going buy a higher end brand. Competing with Epiphone and Yamaha folks will buy Ovations. Competing with Martin and Taylor they won't.
3) Ovation has a poor track record with these limited editions or collectors holding their value. With very few exceptions they depreciate like hell and then Ovation fuels the fire 6 months later by blowing out the left over stock as FRGs. You guys rave about your 07 Collectors that cost you under a grand. Great buy. How would like to be the poor bastard that paid 2000. when it first came out?
So, nothing "wrong" with the 09 Collector per se. It's just that as Ovations swansong it's the wrong guitar at the wrong price at the wrong time. Just my opinion, what the hell do I know about marketing. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | WillS has one up for sale and would probably sell for under the 2000 mark if offered. If I cound raise some cash I would snatch it up myself. I was wondering if the KOA would take a bit more time to open up than other woods? If so, that could be a deterrent for some people. I have read posts from some KOA owners that seem to suggest the tone is quite different than some of the traditional top woods. But in all, I would agree that this is one of the most atractive guitars ever made. (I WANT ONE!) |
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November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | They do sound good. |
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May 2008
Posts: 154
Location: Michigan | Originally posted by gulfcoast:
They do sound good. Not to me, I pick the one up at Elderly every time I go in there.
They got looks going for them but as far as sound goes in my opinion I wouldn't trade one for the sound my 1771LX makes in comparison.
JMT
Wally |
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April 2006
Posts: 972
Location: PDX | I'm with Dave -- i'm sick of seeing Koa. Especially as a sound board -- it's just wrong in my book.
I've played and owned Koa topped guitars. I play finger-style with a fairly light attack and i just can't drive that hunk of wood to produce any tone other than DEAD. It does have an interesting dark tone plugged in, but then, i don't like to play plugged in. Too much of a hassle and i'm always fiddling with the amp instead of the guitar.
_____
gh1 |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | I also play solely fingerstyle and have a light touch. My 2006 Collectors KOA is easily 'driveable', yeah it's a different tone to the madman that is the 2007 spruce top but it's a lovely warm tone that lends itself to a softer touch on my opinion. I think you do have to play it in a different way.
KOA is a great option as a sound board, not to everyones taste clearly. |
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March 2009
Posts: 715
| Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
[QB] Yeah Michelle... I don't think that my Mom paid that much for her T-Bird. OMA, you mean that your Mom has a Guild Thunderbird too! :D
When you said T-Bird, my brain automatically thought "guitar" and not "car"!
Michelle |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I actually really liked the KOA Celebrity that my wife bought me for my birthday. If I didn't pick up the '05 that same day, I would've kept it. It was a solid top and had a very nice sound to it. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | OK, don't shoot me, but I would describe the guitar as gaudy. Definitely not my cup of tea. On top of that, I don't like the sound of koa. So the only thing it would have going for it in my book would be the famous O playability. If someone gave me one I would sell it right away for a VERY low price to one of you. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
The 09 is a fine guitar ... BUT, the problem in my opinion is several:
1) Enough with the Koa already. 06 Collector, Alpep Koa 12 Special, Alpep Koa 14 Special, Koa celebs, etc. And it's not just Ovation. Taks new 09 flagships are Koa, Taylor and Martin have new Koas. It's all because some nice 5 year old Koa stock is finally ready for use but personally I'm OD on Koa. If the Ovation 09 had a spruce top finished in sunburst I'd buy it on the spot.
2) The 09 price point is outside of the bandwidth of typical Ovation buyers. 1000-1500 is the range. For 2500 people are going buy a higher end brand. Competing with Epiphone and Yamaha folks will buy Ovations. Competing with Martin and Taylor they won't.
3) Ovation has a poor track record with these limited editions or collectors holding their value. With very few exceptions they depreciate like hell and then Ovation fuels the fire 6 months later by blowing out the left over stock as FRGs. You guys rave about your 07 Collectors that cost you under a grand. Great buy. How would like to be the poor bastard that paid 2000. when it first came out?
So, nothing "wrong" with the 09 Collector per se. It's just that as Ovations swansong it's the wrong guitar at the wrong price at the wrong time. Just my opinion, what the hell do I know about marketing. I was this close to making essentially the same points when I saw this. Yep, yep, yep.
Particularly the part about the koa. Enough already! We get it. BD, DT. Time for something new. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Now that I have my Collector's 2006-FKOA, there's just waaay too much Koa out there!  |
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May 2006
Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
If someone gave me one I would sell it right away for a VERY low price to one of you. Um...dibs. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | If I had the money ... I'd buy one. |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | For $3600 I would not have bought my 09.
For what Al asked, I bought it. (SHOP AT AL'S)
As I said earlier - pictures do not do these justice - they look even better than the pics.
People who like the looks of FDs would not buy this guitar because they think it is too gaudy. And vice versa - I think the FD is painfully plain - I like bling, I love my 09. And that diversity is what makes us great.
Soundwise, The 09 holds its' own against any woodtop I currently own or have owned, and compares with my 1597 Adamas. It is not in the same league as the 47RI. In other words, it's about right for its price point.
If Koa has proven its' worth as a soundboard, (I think it has) then bring 'em on! The more the merrier! It opens up roundbacks to a new audience and increases exposure and market share for Ovation - bravo.
For every person who likes a plain spruce top, I hope there's one who buys a Koa top roundback. |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty |
For every person who likes a plain spruce top, I hope there's one who buys a Koa top roundback. Perhaps even the same person.
Get a FD-14, 06C KOA, 07C BCS and a bling monster (the 87C would tick that box for me) ;) |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | This might be one of those "I'm-not-sure-where-my-mind-was" moments, but I don't know if I've ever played a koa O. If I have, obviously the impression it left wasn't a lasting one; if I haven't, well..... Based on the looks of the picture Arthur's put up for us, I'd have to agree with Ali. I like everything about it--except for the top. (This, from the person who's ultimate Adamas will be metallic turquoise. ;) )
--Karen |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| It looks great......
Great points made above.
It's just too expensive. I would think it's a difficult sell at $2500, let alone $3500. In that range the competiton really jumps in quality, woods, looks, and sound. Also, what exactly is the future of Americab made Ovations? Ovation just isn't known for selling guitars in that range. I would never buy a collector's model until early in the next year after the price dumps and FRGs fill the air. Perhaps that won't happen this year, but i'd still wait and see. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | It's just too expensive. That's it in a nutshell. |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | It's not "too expensive" at Al's.
If price is truly the issue it just got removed. If you are not contacting our own Alpep to get one then you're not really held up by price.... |
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What's da Matter with the 2009 Collector?