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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 21
Location: Austin, Tx | First off I am not trying to upset anyone. I purchased my first one new back in 76. And despite taking a beating where ever I went and played kept it and even bought more. The traditional wood guys just shook there heads despite the volume my guitars had and I respectfully picked lightly so their Martins and Gibsons could be heard. For the last several high end purchases I have opted out of Ovations and now have a Brazilian and a few custom shop others. But I saw one of the new Ovation models and liked what I saw so I started pricing them out. The prices were right at 4K. And even the mid level models are $1900 to $2100, not even going to bring up the Adamas line. I know the US factory is full of first rate builders, I know they continually are improving the quality, I respect their professionalism. But I can't justify $4k. $4k is right at the starting point of some of the top custom builders. I will keep shopping them used because there are a few past models I passed on that now I wish I hadn't. This is depressing.
Regards |
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Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 187
Location: Florence,SC |
"But I can't justify $4k. $4k is right at the starting point of some of the top custom builders."
Even though I don't have $4K to spend on a guitar, I'm not sure I understand your point. The statement above sounds like you believe a low end custom-built guitar is a better quality guitar than a high end Ovation. That doesn't seem like you "respect their professionalism". |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 21
Location: Austin, Tx | you inferred "starting point" as "low end". Starting point for a custom shop is not a low end guitar. Just as the $4K Ovation is surely not a low end guitar. I am just having a hard time getting to the $4k price point. There has to be 5 times the man hours associated to the traditional builds. Go watch the Ovation factory videos online and see that they really have it together when it comes to manufacturing. That has to have increased efficiency in more guitars with less man hours associated to the build. Just the bowl alone means they don't have to assemble the traditional box. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | what was the price of gas in 1976?
or bread?
or milk?
or a car?
or even your first ovation?
there are many choices in the 4K range but none as unique IMHO as an adamas or that plays and sounds like an Adamas
I see your point. I was the biggest adamas dealer in the world at one point.
hard to sell what they are not making.
plenty of bargains out there to be had also in the used market |
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Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 187
Location: Florence,SC | Sorry, meant no lack of respect when I used the term "low end" when I referred to a starting point custom built guitar ... I simply meant low end of their pricing schedule.
Edited by Puppetman 2014-04-20 1:58 PM
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Joined:
January 2014
Posts: 402
Location: Taxed To Death State | What does a custom shop strat start at? Now factor in that it's not a solid body and the degree of difficulty to build goes up. $4k, I think is in the correct neighborhood. Don't forget, the factory is in CT and it's insanely expensive to live here. Good quality craftsmen in CT don't work for $10 an hour. It costs around $3500 a year to heat a home here in northern CT. Gas is $4 a gallon. Everyone's gotta get paid. We also have a state income tax on top of federal. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6201
Location: Phoenix AZ | Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics, since 1975 ...
1st class stamp has increased 600%
Gasoline has increased 800%
Gallon of milk has increased 175%
Median new home price has increased 1050%
Median household income has increased 600%
Rough check of Ovation, Martin and Fender price history they have ALL increased 800-1000%
Conclusion: Invest in real estate and drink more milk.
Rather than considering ourselves "victim's" of todays guitar prices, I prefer to consider ourselves "lucky" that we still have such choices. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 21
Location: Austin, Tx | Well all great points. Going back to saving mode.......signed Future new Ovation owner |
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 252
Location: Seattle | So....I could never pony up the cash for new USA product....suspect I am not alone. Bought great used Ovation USA product and a couple of imports in the last 10 years.........maybe if there was actual product in the stores it would of been different. No one I know drops $3500 4000 on something so personal a a guitar without playing it first.
As a "bottom feeder" I certainly did not help keep Ovation alive, but damn, I do love the ones
that came my way.
Edited by kentrookie 2014-04-23 12:18 AM
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | you are so wrong.
I have sold 3500-4000$ guitars to those that did not play them all the time
in the real world it happens |
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Ovation Pricing