|
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Lemme first start this out by apologizing for not posting this YESTERDAY (as was my intention) but we spent the Day at a friends' house in the Hinterlands of NorthWest Jersey . .
btw; Al:
Dave from Dave'sSound sends BestWishes.
I also met Glen who was the recipient of all of the P&W Cd's after his housefire. He sends BestWishes&Thanks as well . . .
BACK IN 2005:
I (along w/everyone else who attended the FactoryTour that year) walked into the Engineering Dept. like moths to flame.
When I saw the ContourBack Koa Elite 12Fret SlotHead with the "blow-hole" soundport, I was DUMBfounded!
Waskel & I were practically wrestling each other taking turns at it. To me, it was just an absolutely STUNNING guitar!
Sadly(but not really), it wasn't chosen as the design for the '06Collector(click.)
Al had the foresight(after some "prodding", I understand) to order 12 custom-built units. They came and went, and I just wasn't the situation to partake as such.
When it came down to the LAST 12-fret that he had left, I just couldn't let it go without SOME kind of attempt. I sent Al a check to "set it aside for me" under the auspices that I'd send him a little at a time till it was paid-off, OR if somebody came up w/FullPrice, he could sell it, NoHarm/NoFoul.
Al agreed.
Earlier this week, I was quite surprised to learn that through various "Benefactors" on my behalf, this guitar was delivered to my office:
Again, I am DUMBfounded.
(which is not an easy thing t'do, if you "know" me . . .)
As nice as the first OFC Guitar is (for a f@@kin'ReIssue:-) this is MY personal "OFC Guitar" because it is (as opposed to another SlotHead Adamas) particularly striking & unique (for my tastes) and that it came from the Good and True Friends that I have made here.
I don't WHO was individually responsible, and I really don't WANT to know.
t'me, it'll always be from HERE.
I am TRULY Thankful. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Excellent, Cliff! (I know just how you feel!)
No matter how much you like that guitar now, it's gonna grow on you. It just seems to become a natural thing, very comfortable to hold and play. I'm really glad you were able to grab the last one.
Congratulations! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 288
Location: New Hampshire, USA | Wow - congrats! The koa's are definitely my favorites. Color me green! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Happy Thanksgiving indeed! Congrats! What a cool community... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I congratulate you cliff, and even more, I congratulate your benefactors. Nothing feels as good as being able to do something nice for a friend. That's one of the many wonderful things about this site. It is made up of some of the finest people in the world! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | It won't be any good till it has cashews in it........... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | a heartwarming thanksgiving story. congratulations, cliff. the koa looks awesome from here! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | sniff-sniff... This is just like one of those happy ending holiday movies on the chick channel.
However... tonight you will be visted by 3 spirits. :eek:
.
Play the hell out of it Cliff!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | All yahs get a room...
Congrats cliff! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Congrats Cliff; I can't think of anyone more deserving: you have used and introduced the Ovation/Adamas brand to so many folks thru the years at the gigs you have played and continue to play...Enjoy it and create with it...Happy Thanksgiving back at ya... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Enjoy it Clifford ... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Enjoy it Clifford ... I know you will! Congrats! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Time for you to now go take some lessons...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | A truly unique instrument in the hands of a truly gifted performer. Sounds like a near perfect match. All the best is yet to come. Enjoy! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Cliff: Congratulations! You are a talented musician, and a truly decent person. Enjoy your guitar! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Nice!!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | I guess this backs up the theory that the Instrument chooses the artist! Like Moody said, go get some lessons now.
Congratulations and welcome to the Koa Club! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | You are very deserving, Enjoy!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Enjoy!
Now go sing a love song on it to that wonderful lady in your life.... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | They like you, they really like you!!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4816
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Now, if only he could sing...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | Enjoy, MrD. You'll do it justice. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | bring it to the Mountain House after Christmas, we'll fix you up big time! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1553
Location: Indiana | On a day where news events revolve around mans inhumanity, this is more than wonderful. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | You go Cliff your good man for a wine-o bum.
Pauly
And I say that with deep respect |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | Cliff
glad Dave is OK. he is a good guy.
BTW I still have a few of the 14 fret guitars available. These have all the same specs as the above guitar except they come with the 5 piece neck and have 14 frets clear of the body.
very nice indeed.
you know how to get in touch with me.....
as I have been saying HO HO HO
all these guitars have to GOOOOOOOOOO |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Cliff: How about recording something with it for us? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | She's beautiful, Cliff; I'm so glad you've got her.
--Karen |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | "When the player is ready, the guitar will arrive...." |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Enjoy Cliff |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Cliff - congrats! You deserve it. I know I've gotten much enjoyment out of your songs (especially "Olde City Bar"!) and I know every one else who's heard you has as well. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Cliff...congrats. You have been a strong mainstay of this board. Well deserved.
Just surpried I wasn't asked to contribute. :confused: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Just surpried I wasn't asked to contribute. Me too Tony: I gladly would have...
But it's cool and Cliff got it anyway...
Ya gotta love this group... :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I'll gladly take up the collection for all those that wished to contribute but didn't. I take paypal ...
Ha ha ha, just kidding.
These are VERY special guitars and I'm glad that Cliff got one. Not sure where all 12 went to (about half are accounted for) but these are probably keepers each and every one of them. I bet the 14 fret is equally stunning and maybe slightly different sonically. Anyone had the chance to compare 12 vs. 14 side by side?
Congrats again Cliff. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Anyone had the chance to compare 12 vs. 14 side by side? ...yeah, at the Factory in 2005. The 12 won... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Congratulations to everyone involved- givers and givee. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The collection will go for the next guitar............ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Anyone had the chance to compare 12 vs. 14 side by side? ...yeah, at the Factory in 2005. The 12 won... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Oops, my mistake. I forgot Al's 14 frets were the blowhole style. So the only difference is the neck.
It would be interesting to hear the difference made by the bridge placement. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Yup, that's what I was wondering as well. It's an interesting question, but not one I'm willing to spend two grand to answer. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Maybe Al has compared them. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | Yes I have compared them
To be honest I don't see a significant difference. Yes the 12 fret has slightly more power but for me the convenience of the 14 fret far outweights any addition to the sound that the 12 fret has.
buy one there are in stock |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Thanks for the info, Al.
Due to the huge generosity of this boards' members I have one.
I would strongly encourage anyone on the fence about these to contact Al. These Koa's are exceptional guitars, unique and very limited. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Way Kewl. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3408
Location: GA USA | This has been a good year for our little club in a lot of ways.
I just sold one person a guitar and had him send payment to another person, neither of whom I'd ever met. A few folks I know thought it was risky/crazy. We know better, don't we? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
I just sold one person a guitar and had him send payment to another person, neither of whom I'd ever met. A few folks I know thought it was risky/crazy. We know better, don't we? You can get burned. There have been a few bad eggs here and members have lost money, guitars and trust. Yes we know better, but you still need to be careful. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Whatever happened to the representative from West Virginia? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | My guess is that he has put the whole issue behind him now and moved on to other things. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I think he has one of Iffy's guitars "on loan" also. :mad:
(sorry for beating that dead horse, just pisses me off)
And...I don't want to hijack the thread with meaningless crap. Cliff, again, congrats. I know you will put it to good use. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
This has been a good year for our little club in a lot of ways.
I just sold one person a guitar and had him send payment to another person, neither of whom I'd ever met. A few folks I know thought it was risky/crazy. We know better, don't we? Yes, we know better. It was great to finally meet a fellow OFC member. Enjoy it, Jas. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3408
Location: GA USA | Thanks, dawg.
Ditto what Trader said. Congrats, Cliff. That looks like a sweet guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ThanxGuyz.
I apologize for the "drive-by" postings, but as of late they've been clamping-down on InternetUsage at th'Job, & it's been a hectic weekend. We were invited to ThxgvngDinner at a friend's & I was in charge of the soup (CarrotGinger - came out Well). So, that took all of WedNite.
Thurs. was out-on-the-road, feasting/drinking, back on the road . . .
The rest of the weekend was spent finishing-up "projects" in preparation of Winter (both Ours and a neighbor's) . . .
Poor guitar hung relatively unused down in the MusicRoom (aside from little "drive-by visits" when I'd have to run downstairs for "the right screwdriver" ;-) . . .
I DID manage however to spend a bit of FridayNight w/it.
FridayNight was a Cuban cigar, a Barbados rum . . . Koa wood with smoky, caramel overtones.
(btw Beal; . . for the after-Christmas-thing, I think that the darker tones of the koa would lend itself better to macadamias . . . or at the very LEAST . . honey-roasted cashews
First order of business was to doff the pussah FactoryStrings in favor of something with a bit more Testicular Fortitude.
NOW We're Tawkin'!!
This thing "pumps".
The whole ContourBack initially threw-off my "perceived" reaction to the acoustic sound, because it throws the sound out in "front" of you . . like every Ovation . . only MoreSo. It wasn't until I played toward a reflective wall that I could hear what was being "put out".
Acoustically, it's not "loud", . . but it's "punchy" as hell! WayCool. This WILL be the new GigGuitar!
Speaking of which, I can't give a plugged-in perception, as the dodgy VIP-preamp(ShitHappens) is being rectified by the ever-vigilant Mr.Budney and a replacement is probably at my office waiting for me t'get my ass to work.
TSBT.
(TheyShouldaBuiltThese).
The 12-fret is great! Nice & compact & less chance of whacking the errant mic stand.
The CountourBowl is GREAT for sitting!
(no more "it slide off my knee" . . "
Takes a wee bit of getting used to when standing.
It's like holding a "box" guitar, & doesn't do that "Ovation roll" up towards you.
The only "drawback" (if y'can call it that) that I (personally) find is the skinny neck. Since I trade-off a lot with either a 12-string or a Classical at gigs, a WideNeck woulda' made sense.
Didn't somebody order HIS as a wide-neck? Was it Witko?? (you suck, Dave!;-)
These guitars are REALLY too nice to just be sitting in Al's House(. . . I've BEEN to Al'sHouse . . )
They're just STUNNING-looking (everyone who's seen it has been blown-away by it) and play & sound great! I'm actually QUITE surprised that these things weren't grabbed-up sooner (especially in the European/AsianMarket(s).
just a VERY cool guitar!
Gotta' go . . . rum's almost gone . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Cliff, when you pulled the PUassy strings off, what did you put on? 13's? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | yup.
EJ17's t'be exact . . .
Wasn't sure if I'd need t'pop in a shim.
I didn't, & it seems fine . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| congrats cliff, she's in good hands |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | NICE guitar Cliff! Play it in good health.
Can't wait to hear it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Macs it will be........... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | That's a gorgeous git. I wish they had been made in quantity too. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6992
Location: Jet City | Sweet guitar indeed. I played someone's at the gathering here and didn't put it down for a long while. I think half the webcam video shows it in my hands.
Enjoy |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Al;
You need t'send me some of your cards.
If someone at a gig asks about the guitar, it'll be easier/more efficient t'just put a card in their hand and say "call This guy!" . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | sure
you need to wear the shirt too |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | let's not get carried away . . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Everytime I wear the shirt, my kids ask "Daddy, is that you"?
UHHH, NOOOO! lol
(had the same reaction on the streets in Amelia: made the run from the Waffle House that much more interesting...lol) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Nice going OFC, and congrats Cliff. 13s and D tuning work really well on the Koa 12 fretter. I love it when you're approached by an informed Ovation player while playing out and he (or she) kinows nothing about the guitar so they pepper you with questions. The last time somebody asked me where it came from, I told them I know the Big Guy in New Jersey who has connections at the factory, and was lucky enough to appear on the short list when had a handful custom-made for his friends. That pretty much ended the questioning. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . 13s and D tuning work really well on the Koa 12 fretter . ."
yep.
Soon as the new strings were tuned/stretched, they went right into DoubleDropD . . . SoundedGreat!
". . He's th'Man on th'Shirt . . . . . " |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Epilogue:
Someone had asked that I post a recording of the KoaLA.
If y'look on MyPage over on the other site, there's a recording there. It's a "cover", but it's one of my faves, & seems to "fit" right now with "the Season" & the passing of others . . .
Recorded this afternoon with a touch of hangover, so please forgive.
Two track. Guitar/Vocal, and then BackgroundVocal.
HappyNewyear! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | sure.....make me work to hear it (wanker!) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Elderly Women. Nice, Clifford. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I was never a huge John Prine fan but he did have some nice cuts and "Souvenirs" was one of them. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Very nice cliff!
"...graveyards and ol' pawn shops...", great line. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | I liked it. When Prine and Goodman would do that tune together, it was magic.
If I could even sound half that good when recording, I'd probably be recording. But I can't so I don't..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Nice job, Cliffy! That Koala sounds great. |
|
| |
A Late Thanks