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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Just arrived today: My 1187-247 #87: The last one made!
I just got her in and have only had a short time to play her but, what a sound: my wife even remarked how nice this sounds and that’s a huge endorsement! It is so balanced and responsive; and yes, it’s a cannon! I have never had a guitar which responds to finger picking (without picks) the way this does...sooo nice!
There are a couple of Quality Control issues which I will be addressing: on the right Epi: there is a paint smudge where someone wiped a finger; if you look toward the bottom, you can see it...and the neck and scroll are gorgeous dark walnut but on the back of the peg head there is polish residue which was not cleaned w/a tack cloth after the polishing wheel...it won't come out with anything I've tried...guess I can live with it but for a top of the line instrument; it should not be there. Last there is a very small chip where the hole for truss rod removal was drilled in the graphite: again, just sloppy work. Maybe I'm being picky, and perhaps I am; hey, that’s what makes them unique I suppose and from a foot away, none of these (with the possible exception of the Epi smudge) is visible. So, all in all, I am thrilled to have this fine addition and I cannot thank Leslie (vision) enough for selling me one of the two she received about a month ago: it is brand new in the case and is now registered and Dave's site and Jerome's have been informed w/ pics to be sent to Jerome later today.
If you are fortunate enough to be able to find one of the maybe one or two yet available, and have the means; you will not be sorry! I will post more as I become familiar with it and play it some more (and have a chance to A/B it with the 1687-2!
Very, Very Cool! It had been worth the wait!
:rolleyes: |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | niiisch! Enjoy. |
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Location: Canada | What a work of art! Absolutely gorgeous! You're not being picky - frustrating when such a beauty is not treated with the pride of workmanship it commands.
Congrats! Play on!!
Kath |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | Congrats Music, a real Beauty!
Hope I get a chance to visit her in person soon! |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | So,how's it sound plugged in? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Congratulations Mike! As has been said may times before, those are GREAT instruments and it's pretty unique that you have the last one built. Good luck with it.
Sorry to hear about the quality issues. I don't have a lot to say on that topic, since I've been down that road before. It just continues to bug the living heck out of my that they have such poor control over what goes out the door. Oh well, look on the bright side, maybe that's what helps keep the prices lower than the other brands so more of us can afford them.
Can't wait to hear what you think when you've spent some quality time with it.
Dave |
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Location: big island | i'm grinning ear to ear for you, mike! congratulations braddah!! |
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Location: Texas | When Mike told me about the epi - I went and looked at my #81 - same thing happened on mine. Mike is much more observant......this is a job for John Bundy - calling..............LOL
Great pics MIKE and thanks for the songs you played over the phone this morning. This guy can play!!!! :D |
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Location: Germany | Congrats! I absolutely agree what you've said about the sound of the #47RI. Mine always prevails over the other Adamas 6-strings (OFC, 1687, 1682) I own. Enjoy!
Karl |
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Location: Minden, Nebraska | Looks beautiful, and I know you'll enjoy it. But I am likewise baffled by the QA at the factory. The management has baffled me before, so just remain baffled, but not surprised. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by fillhixx:
So,how's it sound plugged in? :D
Congrats Mike, be sure to bring it to Fl. in the fall. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | fillhixx said:
So,how's it sound plugged in?
Depends on who's playing!
:cool: |
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Location: closely held secret | Congrats, Mike! Beautiful! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I know we've been down this road before (Tupp) but, I still have trouble understanding how it is that, a top of the line handmade Adamas gets past inspection with a "Finger Smear"...
Maybe... these things make Adamas CustomShop guitars unique? |
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Location: South of most, North of few | I'm with ya on that one Jeff. This is probably less glaring than Dave's was, but still.... I guess the problem is they are recruiting from the human race. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Nice Guitar,Congrats.. :)
Vic |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Here are pic's of #'s 81 and 87 and the Epi smuges...FYI
#87:
#81: 
Pitiful! |
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Location: Thailand | Congratulations Mike. |
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Location: big island | mike,
are you certain they are smudges and not simply irregularities in the grain? |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | 
"I see nothing!" |
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Location: SoCal | Not on # 3, looks like "smudges" to me... |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | No, I wish it was the grain...sorry the picture is not better; I can take another later today...I haven't seen 81 but on my 87 it looks like someone either was trying to correct the white lines painted on the epi's and just wiped it with a little finger or had paint on their hand and them tried to wipe it off rather sloppy. It doesn't affect the sound which is TDF but it was one of the fitst things I noticed when I looked at the guitar...I'll call JB on Monday...probably have to send it there for a hopefully short time...The dark walnut headstock and nedk are really striking and beautiful...I played it for two hours last night...the heck with the NASCAR race...It plays and sounds better than my 1991 D-41 Martin that I used to own (and it was a killer guitar)...and is without a doubt the best sounding Adamas/Ovation product I have ever played! The imperfections are just stuff...the instrument is really fine! Just wish QC/QA would be more attentive...not that much to ask I think with a list price of well over $4,000...of course price shouldn't matter...nothing should leave the factory if not just right!
;) |
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Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Sorry to hear about the quality issues. I don't have a lot to say on that topic, since I've been down that road before. That is an absolutely beautiful guitar.
Regarding the quality issues, I'm of the opinion that that's just something that Ovation fans are going to have to learn to accept. The simple fact is that the leaders in the industry (I'm thinking Taylor primarily) have completely surpassed Ovation in terms of refinement and fit-and-finish. When you put my Koala side by side with my 714ce, the Taylor is simply better. The finish is better and smoother. The binding is more uniform. The neck is straighter.
But I like the Koala better and rarely play the Taylor much anymore. I only keep it around because sometimes I need another guitar that I can tune to an alternate tuning for a gig.
But these are not "quality control" issues. These are process issues. You do not inspect quality into a product at the end of the manufacturing process. You build quality in by refining and optimizing every process that is used in production.
Taylor has invested millions over the years doing just that. Ovation remains far more dependent on the skill of individual craftspeople. The 'variations' in the guitars that we see are a direct result. |
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Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by Omaha:
Taylor has invested millions over the years doing just that. Ovation remains far more dependent on the skill of individual craftspeople. It takes people to put soul into the instrument ... machines may do a perfectly consistent job every time, but then it would be a machine-made clone of everything else and I'd rather have my money go to a person who lovingly puts hands to wood to make something that has a bit of karma in it. If there is an occasional human moment, so be it. Ovation always makes it right. |
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Location: Paris/France | Congrats Mike,
It's a fantastic guitar and your pictures are beautiful!!
Thanks.
J :) |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I don't think Ovations reputation wrt quality is going to go away any time soon. For the most part you get what you pay for, and that's fine. There's a reason a Legend is 1/3 the price of a D-28.
Dave |
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Location: Buffalo,NY | Congratulations. That is a beauty and I'm happy to hear that you love the sound.
With respect to the finger "smudge" or whatever it is; don't worry or fret over it. In a few years you'll be able to claim that you own one of the two know rare "smudge" models ! :D
Regards,
Tom |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Hey everybody, thanks for the good wishes and for the comments...I really am not fretting (sorry, no pun intended) over it; and the guitar is so nice and the sound is more than i ever hoped for...one simply needs to put some time into playing one of these to appreciate the quality of the sound...something thats inherent and not able to be "smugged" or altered...Forgive me if I went on too much about the small details of what is not quite right: the stuff tha tis right completely overwhelms what isn't...I could not be happier...I own other guitars some of which cost more than this guitar retailed for: none can boast a finer sound...or in my opinion, a better look; and I have exotic woods in most of my wood models...The 1187-247 is a true classic...mine with the dark headstock and neck is so beautiful and unique...As Dave said, being the last of the series makes it unique as well. The entire process of how I was able to find this...the dissapointments of coming near to owning several others...and the generosity and compasion of the fine Lady I bought it from...well lets just say this goes down with the other incredible circumstances of finding the other instruments I own and play...It is a special story, and this is a special community to share it with. I appreciate you all so much! Even with small disagreements from time to time, I would not hesitate to say how much I am thnkful for this group of guitar and music loving, GAS fueled, sometimes irrevrent, sometimes dysfunctional, but always fun to be associated with group of persons whom I am proud to call friends! Ovation and Adamas guitars have always been a bit of the "marching to a different drummer" "throw tradition out the window" mentality that we all seem to share...thats what makes them special and this group follow suit! |
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Location: Nîmes, south of France | Congrats Mike !! Looks very nice and must sound great, i'm very happy for you  |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Here is a much better photo of the "smuge" or "fingerprint (you can actually see a bit of the fingerprint on the bottom part of the smuge)...I will be sending this to the Mothership soon but for now...I just can't put it down long enough!
:(
:rolleyes: |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Maybe someone needs to do a fingerprint check.
Dave |
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New Arrival! Adults Only! May Cause GAS!