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| I see on Musiciansfriend that there are a bunch of new models coming. Is there any American assembly, American set up, or American checking of the in AX or TX models? Or, do they arrive, go to a warehouse, and then shipped to retailers? |
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Location: Vernon CT | My understanding is AX & TX are made completely overseas! |
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Location: Tennessee | Nope. Yup. |
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Location: Reno, NV | What a shame.. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | The stickers are written in English... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | LX is American.
AX is Asian that used to be American
TX is Asian that used to be American T series |
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Location: CA | Which is not to say that the AX/TX are necessarily inferior — right? Assuming they still have solid tops, that is. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Well, my Ultra 2171 is an import. They put the strings on in Connecticut, maybe...
I don't know if the new Elite AX and the TX have dovetail necks, but both of my Ultras did.
This is why I had to send my 2178 to Woody for modifications (and he sent it on it's way).
Once a Dovetail neck comes off of the assembly line it is 'Done'.
There is no set-up other than to put the strings on and slap the appropriate shims in.
Somehow I don't picture those folks in Korea spending anywhere near as much time adjusting stuff as the folks in New Hartford.
If time is not taken in the original 'build' of the guitar, you will end-up with a shoddier guitar.
Solid Top is great, but...
My 2171 came from Musicians Friend, and I had to send the first one back for the present one.
My 2178 was bought used, which is why I had to send it to Woody.
You cannot send an AX or TX back to the MotherShip.
I have bought a half-dozen really nice Celebrities online and they were OK.
But I still would not expect the same quality from an AX or TX as I would expect from USA.
That is not to say that they are crap, but I would still say "understand what you are buying"... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Oddball:
Which is not to say that the AX/TX are necessarily inferior — right? Assuming they still have solid tops, that is. Who knows. Asian craftsmanship may be better than American. |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | Craftsmanship aside, the imports are very different.
-imports have 1pc necks/dovetail joints.US has 2 or 5pc with the new neck design (check out the LX features on the Ovation site.
Imports have rosewood fingerbd and bridge (I doubt the wood is the same grade they used in Conn.), with black stain. US gets premium grade Ebony.
-Tuners are lower quality Pings than on the US-made.
The difference in the neck construction is HUGE. It represents the difference between a throw-away guitar and one that's meant to be overhauled after 30 years and go another lifetime.
If one of my US-made Ovations made it to it's 30th birthday (I happen to have one), I would sent it in for a spa treatment at the Mothership and have a valuable guitar again. With one of the imports, it's doubtful it would be playable for 30 years; then you throw it away. It's construction and pricepoint make it unworthy of further consideration.
I know I've gotten carried away, and I know I'm right.
John <>{ |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | John, agree. My comment above was subtle and didn't actually come across well in type. My point was, it's not an asian/usa thing - it's material differences. for example Celebrities aren't pieces of crap because of WHERE they are made, it's because of their design and what they are made OF. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I tried a bunch of the Asian Ovations when I was in Hong Kong two weeks ago. They left me cold. No mojo. That's not to say they were horrible, they weren't, they just lacked the sparkle of the American made. |
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Location: CA | I hear and acknowledge the neck differences. But just to continue playing devil's advocate for awhile longer — As far as the necks, given reasonable care, I don't see why a solid neck can't last as long as a multi-piece one. Yeah, not as desirable wood quality, but the whole point is to make them cheaper, right? Long as a neck stays reasonably straight and adjustable, does it really matter what woods it's made from? I mean, it's not a GIVEN that a one-piece neck will deform over time. Is it?
Secondly, if given the choice between 1) A Celeb which, while many are exquisitely beautiful guitars, I KNOW they have laminated tops and will probably never sound as good acoustically as a solid top guitar; and 2) An Asian-made AX/TX with a cheaper neck but a solid top whose sound COULD conceivably rival an American made Ovation . . . I would choose the AX/TX. To me it's a no-brainer. Not that I'm tending that way, or that SWMBO would let me have another guitar anyway. But if Ovation/Fender are going to continue to offer overseas alternatives to their American line, I personally think this is a better way to do it. (Since I don't follow this all religiously, I'm only assuming that the Celebs will still be built as well.)
I'm sure you are all familiar with the whole Fender thing where their mid-80s guitars made in Japan were built so well that they rivaled American ones. My limited perception (derived from a pastime of cruising guitar shops and megastores at every opportunity) is that Asian-made guitars have gotten lightyears better in recent years. I have to think that, given the same quality woods, pickups and hardware, the Asian shops could turn out guitars every bit as good as those made here.
All those wanting to join the lynchmob, please form a line. |
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Location: alabama | Oddball, this is something I've been thinking on myself lately...this is slightly off of the AX/TX debate, but in my very limited Ovation experince, here's what I know...
I'm on my fourth Ovation. My first two were laminated top Celebrities. My third was a solid spruce top Celebrity. Decent guitars, but not even in the same ball park as the Taylor I was used to playing.
My current Ovation is a '93 Elite that is very seriously one of the best playing - and sounding - guitars that I've ever had in my hands.
I can't explain why - and hopefully someone on here can (I'm curious), but hey, it's my two cents worth... |
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Location: Michigan | I bought a Korean AX Elite . . . came out of the box with 1/4" string height . . . adjusted down, it still kills my fingers . . . sounds pretty good, but a/b'ed with an LX, the LX feels way superior . . . I am sending it back, unfortunately, because it's not a Kia or a Toyota, it's more of a Yugo . . . |
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Location: Ohio | Guitar Snobbery at it finest! |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | It's just the accent that puts you all off.
....and a problem with 'R' notes.... |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by Oddball:
I'm sure you are all familiar with the whole Fender thing where their mid-80s guitars made in Japan were built so well that they rivaled American ones. Upon the sale of Fender by CBS in 1985, the new buyers had no capacity to build guitars in the USA. They had no US factories, no inventory, and no stock, only some tooling and the tradename. Therefore, their only source of product was overseas, and the 1986 models all came from Japan. Compared to what had been produced by Fender in the USA for the decade prior (and arguably some additional years before then), the Japanese products developed a reputation for being far superior and their resale prices can reflect this. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | It's just the accent that puts you all off.
....and a problem with 'R' notes....
And the chopsticks with every purchase...
but they do go great with the included kimchi... :eek: :D
ymmv |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Maybe north and south Ko-reeha will blow themselves up and production will move back to Connecticut.
just a thought....... |
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Location: Nashville TN. | I would like see more production back in Connecticut.
I hate seeing what happened with USA made Ovation.
Its hard to sell guitars people can't try.
I am not sure how long it survives as a custom shop only. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Even when they made them in CT you still couldn't fidn them in stores, so I don't see the big deal from a BUYERS perspective.
Yes, as an American citizen I do not like the idea of manufacturing being moved out of the US. But from a business perspective I completely understand Fenders position and motivation.
1st rule of thumb: Don't fret over things you can't change. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Right, go fretless................ |
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Location: Nashville TN. | Its why the Road Show should consider traveling with the entire USA made line with them. While showing off one ofs is great there were people asking about Mando Nylon strings and Elites at the one I was at. Sometimes people say things to other consumers they will not say to a dealer or factory rep.
I think they can change this problem.
It will take a concerted effort over a few years.
If you get the USA guitars into people hand they sell themself. As they start to sell at these events
the stores will start to stock them again. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Haven't y'all been paying attention to what Al has been saying?
Not counting Old Stock...
Unless you Custom Order an Ovation from New Hartford, all new Ovations will be made in Asia.
So unless you get a used oldie-but-goodie... Your new Ovation is an Import. :mad:
Sorry to be so crude... But your worst fears have been realized.
Ovations have become import crap.
But I will continue to purchase mine... Used.
(and I tried very hard to figure out a way to send Al $1649, but I couldn't swing it) |
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Location: Nashville TN. | It doesn't have to stay that way. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Why do people get so uptight about where their guitar is made?
Yet they don't think twice about buying all kinds of consumer goods made over seas, clothing made in 3rd world sweat shops, and don't blink an eye about doing business with local entities who employ illegal immigrant workers.
If you're going to bitch, at least bitch consistently.
CLICK |
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Location: NJ | unfortunately even if we want to buy some items made in the USA we can't.
it is a sad commentary on our society.
I am not happy seeing my favorite guitars being sent abroad for construction but at least I can say I did my best to make it not happen. |
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Any American in AX or TX?