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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | i don't get it , stop building high end american ovations and start building high end american made fenders?
i am confused as to what they are trying to achieve . GWB
http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-classic-koa-audi... |
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Joined: September 2003 Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Don't think of it as a Fender acoustic.
Think of it as a high end Guild with a Fender label on it.
There must be enough Fender slappys out there who will jump on it just because of the logo.
Thing is.... being built at the Mothership, this might be the best acoustic ever to carry the Fender name.
Edited by Slipkid 2013-05-17 9:56 AM
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Joined: August 2002 Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | guitarwannabee - i am confused as to what they are trying to achieve . GWB Enough revenue to keep the doors open and the workers working. And building world class guitars. |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Hear, hear! I learned a WHOLE lot from the "O Stigma" post. If this guitar sounds and plays well and supports good people in Hartford, I'm glad. |
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Joined: August 2002 Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Here's a video about a little of what they're doing in New Hartford these days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MNNxbsHumc
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Joined: May 2003 Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | GULP! $3899 - that better be one hell of a Fender. Has anyone played one of these New Hartford custom Fenders yet?
It looks like a very nice guitar.
Edited by Brian T 2013-05-17 3:19 PM
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Joined: September 2003 Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Nice little clip. . I'm glad to see the doors still open. Cause if they weren't open at all and there was not even that little corner for Ovation, we'd really be bitchin'. |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | i did not know fender even built a high end acoustic guitar , all i ever see at any stores are very low end price units.
then to see them advertise a new model high end mfg.$3899.00 seems like a huge leap for them .
it is a bold move for them and a 360 turn for a global company to bring back high end american made guitars.
i want to see the factory keep the jobs and the guitars here in the u.s
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maybe there onto something and i hope it works but i also remember fender building there latest plant south of the border to be competitive.
good luck to fender on going in this direction and maybe other companies will look at what fender is doing and start bringing some of our goods back to ( made in the u.s.a. ) GWB |
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Joined: December 2006 Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | I'm OK with whatever it takes to keep John and Kim answering the phones when I call, and those highly skilled craftspersons working on my guitars when needed. I don't care if they slap "Taylor" on the headstocks. It'll be a sad sad day if that factory closes down. FWIW, my first and only acoustic for nearly 20 years was a Fender. (and it was a cheap POS with a laminate top)
Edited by Damon67 2013-05-17 5:27 PM
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | guitarwannabee - 2013-05-17 2:59 PM
i did not know fender even built a high end acoustic guitar
They DON'T...
But if you can buy a coupla guitar companies until they get the craftsman that will...
Yeah... I want John to answer my email just like he has done since I came here.
And I want Fender to have an excuse to keep New Hartford open.
Just so we will have the MotherShip.
I am glad that the employees are having fun and getting a paycheck.
I won't be buying any Fender acoustic guitars though...
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Joined: November 2012 Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | No I won't be buying any Fender acoustics either! The only Fender acoustics I've ever seen or heard are the low end pieces of crap by beginner students bring to their lessons. I've had to send several of them back to the music stores they bought them from for adjustments because of horrible buzzes, VERY poor intonation, and downright poor workmanship. Honestly, any company that's willing to put their name of those instruments should be ashamed! |
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Joined: December 2006 Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Kaman's put their name on some pretty shitty instruments too. Ever try a Montana? |
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Joined: April 2010 Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | damon67 - ...Ever try a Montana? Hannah?! just kiddin' No never tried one, but have seen 'em on evilbay. Was pretty surprised to see Kaman Music Corporation on the label, right beneath... Made in Romania. huh??!! |
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | As The Bard wrote, "A rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet."
If the Fender Custom Shop is serious about this, it could be the dawn of a new day. The sticker shock is a trifle daunting.
I will leave the playtest analysis to some of our more affluent, & discerning, membership. |
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Joined: December 2001 Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | if you wanna play you gotta pay |
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Amen, brother!
And, I REALLY don't like the way the IRS plays! |
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Sorry, that was political. I apologize. |
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Joined: June 2002 Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | That Fender looks like a cutaway version of the Guild 60th anniversary model. If that's the case, then the price is a bargain. |
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Joined: May 2002 Posts: 651
Location: Australia | After all these years Fender should except the fact that no decent player has ever or will ever want a Fender acoustic guitar. They have absolutely no legacy in pro quality acoustic guitars but still they will bash their heads up against the wall with some acoustic custom shop while right under their nose they have Ovation, a worldwide respected acoustic guitar for 40 plus years played by 100's of international stars over the years but what do they do with it, simply kick it to Korea.
In fact I wish Fender would sell Ovation to someone passionate about the brand who would refocus on the players and on making great acoustic guitars in the USA once again.
Fender have done a great job reviving Gretsch but a lousy job with Ovation.
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Joined: May 2013 Posts: 20
| richardd - 2013-05-27 5:16 PM
Fender have done a great job reviving Gretsch but a lousy job with Ovation.
Gretsch had a slightly more famous pedigree, if you get my drift. Perhaps if The Beatles used Ovations on their 64 appearance on Ed Sullivan maybe Fender would be more willing to market them, however as talented as Al Di Meola is, he's not as big of a draw. Is it unfair? Most certainly. Even George Harrison said he wasn't a fan of his Gretsch sound, and dumped it for Rickenbackers and Fenders in the studio by Rubber Soul. The fact that more talented guitarists such as Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin, (and Paul and John, but in the 70's to be fair), use them is a testament to their quality, but sometimes people don't want the good guitars; they want the guitars their idols used. No one used Les Paul guitars in the 60's, but after George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, et all the other famous 70's rockers started using them, all of a sudden LP's were fashionable again. Even Hofner wasn't a great guitar company until Paul McCartney made them famous. Beatle Nerd Rant over, but sometimes brand identity is hard to rebuild. For example, Fender makes a crappy acoustic....
Edited by paulramon1992 2013-05-27 10:28 PM
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | So, speculatively, how long to establish a Fender Acoustic loyalty & culture? And, will the beancounters allow it?
Have to agree with richardd- stay with the accepted & recognizable branding. |
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Joined: May 2002 Posts: 651
Location: Australia | Sorry Paul, I don't quite understand the point you're trying to make but as a major Gretsch fan (I own 6) I can tell you that the after the company was sold to Baldwin in the late 60's, the brand continued to slide until they went completely out of business in the early 80's. It took a Grestch family member who had the passion for the product to bring back an extinct brand and look at it today.
Ovation is nowhere near where Grestch was so it would be nice to think that down the road there could also be an Ovation second coming. |
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Joined: August 2005 Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | richardd - 2013-05-28 9:16 AM ... I wish Fender would sell Ovation to someone passionate about the brand who would refocus on the players and on making great acoustic guitars in the USA once again. Well said. (Well... well written!) |
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Joined: May 2013 Posts: 9
| This was a really good read! In the end it comes down to the almighty dollar. The passion the luthier has for the guitar is not going to be in line with what the CEO's and bean counters have in mind. Sad but the reality. I look forward to seeing where Ovation how from here, I just hope it isn't scrapped all together. |
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Joined: January 2009 Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | These high end acoustic Fenders will be great guitars. Will anyone buy them tho? That's what remains to be seen. |
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Joined: May 2013 Posts: 20
| I think the point I was making is Fender is more interested in Fender than they are in Ovation. Still, you're right. They have something great in their laps and they'd rather spend their time building up their own brand. Still, I guess we could wish. |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | i am concerned that will fender ever make the decision to eliminate the adamas and ovation brand guitars and end an era of great guitars? GWB |
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Joined: May 2013 Posts: 9
| guitarwannabee - 2013-05-29 11:44 PM
i am concerned that will fender ever make the decision to eliminate the adamas and ovation brand guitars and end an era of great guitars? GWB
That's my concern as well. |
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Joined: December 2003 Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Well, China owns our bacon now... what's next? |
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Joined: December 2006 Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | MWoody - 2013-05-30 12:33 PM Well, China owns our bacon now... what's next? eggs? |
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I just received a newsletter from Premier Guitar...
It includes a Looong video from Fender.
This is where they pretend that Fender has a great tradition of building Acoustic guitars in their Custom Shop at New Hartford. (rather that a tradition of making really crappy acoustic guitars)
marketing spoo is just amazing.
But I will admit, if you combine the talents of all the companies that FMIC has bought you should be able to make a decent guitar. Or at least a Guild with a "Fender" sticker on it.
Here's the Video
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Joined: December 2006 Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | technically, that shop DOES have a great tradition of building acoustics, it's just now Fender owns it.
I guess I don't understand this entire thread. Yeah, I love Ovation guitars and I wish they would stay around, but I don't think myself or the rest of the OFC regulars can keep the company afloat with our purchases.
Face it, due to several different things like marketing or lack thereof, cheapening the Ovation brand with Celebrities saying Ovation on them, woodbacked snobbery, etc., people just DO NOT BUY high end Ovations. The general perception is they're cheap sounding pieces of plastic. Now we all know that's not the case, but at this point I believe the damage has been done.
I remember working a sales gig for a company and when I was new they would give me lists of previous customers to get your feet wet. I was excited at first, thinking how easy. They already know us, it's not even like a cold call, right? WRONG! It was twice as hard as a cold call. Many of these customers left because of a poor rep/service, bad experience, etc. Trying to win these people back was next to impossible. I would rather start from scratch and not have to overcome preconceived notions.
I don't know that slapping "Fender" on the headstock is any more or less of a challenge as it has been to sell high end Ovations, but at least they're trying something new and keeping all of our friends working over there at the factory. I'd much rather that then Fender using New Hartford as a tax write-off, selling the building and equipment off to the highest bidders, leaving a history of great guitar building in this wonderful place full of wonderfull people to die.
In my opinion, Ovation isn't dying, it's dead. Enjoy the ones that were built. The only way I could ever see it renewed is if someone who really cared came back in and put their heart and soul into it, cuz that's what Ovation needs again, that heart and soul. There's probably only one guy on the planet that could resurrect this division of Kaman, the guy who has it in his blood literally, but that ain't gonna happen.
I'll always be a fan of Ovation, but I've accepted the fact that someday people will probably assume our 'OFC' stands for Ovation/Fender Club. |
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | damon67 - 2013-05-30 3:02 PM
In my opinion, Ovation isn't dying, it's dead. Enjoy the ones that were built. So True...
Personally, I was surprised at the amount of trouble goes into making a woodbox.
Ovations are simpler (Thanx Charlie). Design a top, attach a bowl to it.
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Joined: June 2003 Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | MWoody - 2013-05-30 2:33 PM
Well, China owns our bacon now... what's next?
Egg xactly!!
Edited by Phil Wong 2013-05-30 5:33 PM
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Joined: August 2002 Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Well, call me a PollyAnna but I personally think the Fender folk are generally very smart people. Especially the ones making decisions of this magnitude and investing the money it takes. They know what they have with Ovation from a brand perspective, and it is not trivial. I've heard repeatedly from people at NAMM that Fender intends to revive Ovation, and that they are spending lots of R&D money studying what they can do with Ovation. Sometimes you have to let things go dormant for a while in order to re-launch something that recaptures the attention of the world. VW did it with the Beetle after the market turned away (with people complaining they were being made in Brazil and Mexico) and all the naysayers were calling the original Beetles crap and the true fans were bemoaning the dying of the brand.
My bet is on Fender relaunching a new, improved Ovation better positioned to re-establish it's place in the market. When that happens, not many around here are going to be happy because they will NOT be your father's Ovation, but I'll bet Fender plans on making Ovation a dominant force in USA-made mid-priced acoustic guitars once again. Just like VW did with the New Beetle in its market.
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Joined: December 2004 Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | I hope you're right bobbo. That would be a best case scenario. |
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Joined: April 2011 Posts: 119
Location: NH | I thought that was a fascinating video. I know there are a lot of factory tours on the internet, but I really enjoyed the interaction with the operators. Call me a "traditionalist" but I just can't can't get used to seeing a strat headstock on an acoustic guitar.
I hope bobbo's right, but my experience has been when a manufacturer goes quiet about a brand there's usually a reason for it. And it usually isn't good. It's a feel good analogy comparing Ovation to Volkswagon, but I think Ovation falls shy of the mark when comparing Ovation to such a long standing global icon such as VW. Look at what Philips did in the 80's with alot of their brands. How about that? Maybe the "improved positioning" will be adding the Fender logo to the Ovation headstock. Or a stratocaster neck to a custom elite.
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Just like VW did with the New Beetle in its market.
First, the "New Beetle" is NOT a Beetle.
If it don't have an air-cooled rear engine it isn't a beetle.
But I guess if you wait until the next generation of buyers who have never seen the original...
Maybe the "improved positioning" will be adding the Fender logo to the Ovation headstock.
Or a stratocaster neck to a custom elite.
The first would be sad... The second would be fugly.
But if you wait long enough and put it in the hands of some tween idol...
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Joined: March 2005 Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | With a limited run of only 150 of this model they are obviously just testing the waters. |
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Joined: November 2012 Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | I recently put my 2006 Custom Elite 2078 LX in the hands of a die-hard Fender player (electric) who also plays acoustic. He was very impressed, as I expected. I told him most non-Ovation, wood box snobs are often pleasantly surprised when they actually play an Ovation. He said, "That's because so many are crap and not a 'real Ovation' like this [2078 LX]." Says it all, doesn't it?
Edited by MeredithI 2013-06-01 1:27 PM
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Joined: April 2008 Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I think that Fender are thinking about Ovation. If they were going to shut it down, they would have closed the Mothership some time ago. Seems to me they've gone out of their way to keep it open, which leaves hope for a new marketing/development push. |
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Joined: August 2003 Posts: 396
| I would have bet on them killing Ovation, but American O still lingers on in a coma-like status. How long after they bought Tacoma did the kill Tacoma guitars? Tacoma made some sweet acoustics. |
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Joined: October 2012 Posts: 34
| Englishplayer brings up an extremely relevant comparison. Historically, Fender bought (Guild) Westerly and shut it down and made a (foster) home in Corona for Guild. Later Fender bought Tacoma, moved Guild in, and then killed the native (Tacoma) brand... On the surface, this appears similar to KMC/Ovation.
BUT, there is a very big difference between Tacoma and Ovation... Tacoma was not a profitable or even particularly well-established brand.
Many of you have touched on the two salient points here:
1. Whatever keeps New Hartford building guitars in the US is good; and
2. If Fender can find a profitable market for Ovation, they'll get behind it.
Regarding 1... No one is more sensitive to off-shoring of jobs than our friends in New Hartford. They will do everything they can, including building small runs of acoustic guitars with Strat headstocks, to keep the jobs in the US.
Regarding 2... Ovations may never be made in any volume in the US again, but don't count the brand out. Fender may be a corporate beast, but as someone already pointed out the Ovation brand is unique and has deep history. I'm sure I don't have to tell any of you that. You may be surprised down the road as to how they apply resources to nurture the brand. We are seeing it with Guild, and maybe we'll see it with Ovation (soon).
For those who haven't been following along, Fender has created what they call their "acoustic custom shop" in New Hartford... Fender brought on Ren Fergusen (of Gibson luthier fame) over a year ago and has practically given him carte blanche there to experiment and create new models. It's not a volume thing, but it's keeping some of our friends busily employed. Keep your fingers crossed.
Edited by Chazmo 2013-06-03 6:52 PM
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Joined: November 2011 Posts: 741
Location: Fort Worth, TX | Guitsome - 2013-05-30 8:02 PM
Call me a "traditionalist" but I just can't can't get used to seeing a strat headstock on an acoustic guitar.
This is the wrong forum to bring this up and I apologize in advance. However, have you seen the Martin Merle Travis model? I watched a video from his son playing one. He said Paul Bigsby created it for Merle's D28 and he explained how it came about at Merle's suggestion. It predated the Fender same exact headstock which Leo Fender is accused of copying. Interesting guitar history trivia. Martin did a reissue run of 100 pieces of that guitar awhile back
http://www.bigsby.com/vibe/about/history/
http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/item/565-d-28m-merle-travis.htm...
Edited by DaveKell 2013-06-04 5:22 AM
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | that neck stock where have i seen that before ??? GWB
http://www.fender.com/series/artist-design/elvis-kingman/?utm_sourc...
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Joined: July 2003 Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. |
FENDER KINGMAN USA CUSTOM SHOP FLAME MAPLE ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC LMT EDITION simply stunning sound. |
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Joined: July 2003 Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Guitsome - 2013-05-30 8:02 PM
I thought that was a fascinating video. I know there are a lot of factory tours on the internet, but I really enjoyed the interaction with the operators. Call me a "traditionalist" but I just can't can't get used to seeing a strat headstock on an acoustic guitar.
I hope bobbo's right, but my experience has been when a manufacturer goes quiet about a brand there's usually a reason for it. And it usually isn't good. It's a feel good analogy comparing Ovation to Volkswagon, but I think Ovation falls shy of the mark when comparing Ovation to such a long standing global icon such as VW. Look at what Philips did in the 80's with alot of their brands. How about that? Maybe the "improved positioning" will be adding the Fender logo to the Ovation headstock. Or a stratocaster neck to a custom elite.
In 1960s there a lot pro playing Fender Acoustic like George Jones, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Tex Ritter, Ray Davies, the list goes on and on.
I have beat 1969 Fender Malibu its best playing acoustic I have ever seen. I found the feel helping the creativity. |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | pez was it this one .GWB
http://www.fender.com/acoustics/dreadnought/pro-custom-kingman-c-an... |
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Joined: July 2003 Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | |
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Joined: August 2003 Posts: 396
| With $3500 to spend on a guitar, would anyone go with a Fender Custom shop guitar? Anyone? |
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Joined: June 2002 Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Englishplayer - 2013-06-08 10:09 AM
With $3500 to spend on a guitar, would anyone go with a Fender Custom shop guitar? Anyone?
If it's made in the Guild factory and it's anywhere near as good as the recent Guild custom shop guitars - YES !!! |
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | If it is made at the Guild factory, wouldn't you just want a Guild?
(if it was made at the Ovation Factory, I would want an Ovation)
****************************
BTW-- Kia makes nice dependable cars, but a luxury Kia is still a KIA.
So... If I were to spend $3500 on a guitar, it surely would Not be a Fender.
Also If I were spending a few hundred on a wood-box it would not be a Fender.
Morgan Monroe, Yamaha, Epiphone, Ibanez, Breedlove, Martin... even Taylor.
And I am talking about Great guitars for way less money.
There are sooo many good wood-box guitars why would anyone even consider a Fender.
(And for less than $3K I could get a Koa LAV, or an Adamas)
Edited by Old Man Arthur 2013-06-08 5:18 PM
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Joined: June 2002 Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | The irony that strikes me is that for years around the OFC we have dumped on those Taylor-Martin-etc. guys who just buy for the NAME. Like how can the name alone make it a good guitar or a good deal. Now we do the opposite - we dump on this new Fender just because of the NAME on the headstock. I don't get it - maybe we're still too mad that Fender killed off Ovation to take them seriously. |
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Joined: August 2003 Posts: 396
| Myself, I never dumped on Martin/Taylor; in fact, I own one of each. The Fender name in acoustics has translated to poorly received cheap guitars in the past. It's got some bad baggage. So now, with only a terrible track record, I'd never dump 3500 into one of these no matter where it was made. How much does the value of a fender acoustic dump 10 seconds after I buy it? For that matter, I haven't played a Guild in a long time, but that wasn't worth $3500 either. I own 2 ovations, but I would never spend $3500 on one. The 2 I have sound just fine and the combined total was about $1600 for both new. I recently played a Collings om that was about 3500. Do they really want to compete with that?
If they want to begin slapping Fender on an acoustic label and charge $3500, then they better get some into the hands of performing artists and begin a marketing campaign. This should have been done with American Ovation for the previous 10 years, but we've beaten that horse to death. For all I know, it's a great guitar. If I were in business I would never slap a fender label at $3500 and try to compete in that market. I'd love to see the business model for this and the strategy that would make this a success.
I say good luck to them. For a while now I've only purchased guitars made in the USA and wine from California. So, I'd like to see them successful and keep the workers working. I just can't imagine this is the best way to do it. Of course, I reserve the right to be incorrect. |
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Joined: August 2003 Posts: 396
| My above post comes off much too negative. Good luck to the folks at the factory. Perhaps, I could use a touch of optimism in my outlook on the Fender endeavor. |
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Joined: April 2010 Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Standingovation - ...we dump on this new Fender just because of the NAME on the headstock. I don't get it - maybe we're still too mad that Fender killed off Ovation to take them seriously. No offense intended but Fender certainly hasn't ever been a brand we'd praise for noteworthy acoustics (pun intended). I think there's a big difference between the sheep mentality of buying a particular brand guitar just because it's the 'in vogue' name ... and that of personally avoiding a brand due its established reputation for mediocre acoustic guitars. Seems more like prudent skepticism to me. Anyway, I'm obviously NOT in their target market 'cause although $3500 may be chump change to some, it ain't to me! IF I had that much to drop on a GAS spendin' spree I'm pretty sure I'd be comin' home with at least two more awesome, used, USA made Os and still have beach party funds left over! |
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Standingovation - 2013-06-08 5:03 PM
I don't get it - maybe we're still too mad that Fender killed off Ovation to take them seriously.
I know that I am...
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Joined: April 2010 Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | uh oh, Arthur ya went 'n bought more red Krylon didn't ya?! Looks like ya used a stencil this time tho. Likin' them stickers! I got that same LIG one! |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | i looked at the fender website and went into acoustic guitars and i see that they have 9 or 10 high end guitars listed at $ 3000.00 to $ 5500.00. i have never ever seen a fender acoustic in any store that had a list price over $700.00. where are the guitar stores who stock any of these or are they all just online purchases from the custom shop.GWB |
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Joined: May 2013 Posts: 8
| Yep, they're making Fenders, Guilds, and Adamas and custom Ovations at the old New Hartford factory. And at least servicing Hamers. Basically just a great shop with great craftsman still, whatever name they put on the product. The folks there are just happy to be open at this point. I guess having multiple product lines helps keep the place open. Not to morph this into a Guild thread, but the Guild website has an interesting video on the Custom shop in New Hartford. Obviously a promo thing, but a nice look inside. You can see they're doing some hollow or semi-hollow electrics as well. I'm sure some of you have seen this but here's the link: http://www.guildguitars.com/custom-shop/ |
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Joined: August 2002 Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Englishplayer - 2013-06-08 6:26 PM I own 2 ovations, but I would never spend $3500 on one. The 2 I have sound just fine and the combined total was about $1600 for both new. I have spent over $3500 for an Ovation (Adamas) TWICE and clearly the guitars are an order of magnitude better than the $1000 Ovations I've bought. They are worth the money if you want a great guitar and not one that is just fine. I have a general rule that it's bad form to crap all over something that you've never directly experienced. If you haven't actually played one, I'd respectfully request the Fender naysayers get their hands on one before making bigoted judgments. The Fender Kingman (New Hartford) I played was really nice, played extrememly well, and sounded fabulous. Well worth the money they're getting for it. One's on my list to come in as soon as something else departs.
Edited by stonebobbo 2013-06-18 12:41 PM
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Joined: December 2006 Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Again, my only acoustic for more than 2 decades was a Fender with a Strat style headstock. I was an electric player mostly, and it suited me well.
No matter if they've caught on or not, Fender's put some nice acoustics over the years. Even some of the imports were decent, like the higher end F series. I had an F75 with a solid top, built in Japan that was a really nice little guitar for the paltry sum paid.
There's some really cool looking custom stuff coming out of there. I think those ol' Kingman's look awesome, very retro and cool. If the boys (and gals) at the Mothership are building them, I bet they sound good too. |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | FENDER KINGMAN USA CUSTOM SHOP FLAME MAPLE ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC LMT EDITION simply stunning sound.
pez : where did you get to play one of these? in a music store or someone you know has one?
i have yet to see any fender high end acoustic's in a music store.GWB |
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Joined: December 2003 Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | +-------------------*--------------+ Denial Anger Helplessness Acceptance I'm getting closer... |
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | One more time...
A Fender guitar made at the Ovation Factory is NOT an Ovation. Neither is a Guild made at New Hartford. I like Ovations because I Like OVATIONS. Don't care what Fender is Making, or where they make it. They may be Nice guitars but they are not Ovations.
I have never really caught the Fender bug... I had a friend could wail on a Strat and make it sing. I have known people who Built Fender guitars in the USA... Before they moved that Factory to Mexico. But if there were two similar guitars of similar quality, and one was a Fender... I would have bought the other guitar... That was before Fender screwed Ovation Fender had previously screwed other companies and their employees already. And I am only speaking of Electric Guitars... Cuz Fender never was famous for acoustic guitars. Even my Strat-loving buddy said NOT to buy a Fender Acoustic... to buy that Yamaha instead.
If Fender hadn't bought Ovation and closed 95% of USA Ovation Production, We wouldn't even be talking about their stupid wood-boxes!
BTW-- I don't care much about Brand Names either... If some other company starts making Roundback Lyrachord Guitars with great playing necks and nice electronics at an affordable price, I will try, and maybe buy their guitars. But right now I have 13 USA Ovations and a Korean Viper in the mail... In the future I will just be buying USED OVATIONS. |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | that is what i like about you oma you tell it like it is.GWB |
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