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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 795
Location: Texas | Tone, feel, looks, sound, volume, vibe, delivery...
After a long series of studio sessions for a few upcoming projects of my own and a few other artists, all I can say is that Adamas textured tops rule......and of course both me and you have known this for over 20 years.
If Charlie and Co. would have started the revolution with the Adamas textured tops, either slothead or standard Adamas I and II models and forget about all the others, all the other Ovation wooden tops would had been superfluos and most players and other guitar companies would have understood the concept very clearly.
I know I know, the bling of the Custom Legend and the coolness of all the other ones, including the Elites, Collectors, special editions and so on.........................well, there is just no match for the old Adamas texture models, period.
Go play one and learn!
The one I am talking about specifically is my Adamas II -7 that I got from my dear friend Mr. Tony Calman.
I have been recording in the studio for many weeks and we have had an arsenal of great guitars, including vintage Martins, Collings, Santa Cruz, Gibson, Taylors, Godin, Turner, and many other custom American and Spanish Flamenco and Classical guitars; .......well friends, the Adamas textured top ruled in many levels.
Enough volume to cut through as a rhythm and lead instrument, but not overwhelming boominess like a D-28 style guitar ....................and a beautiful tone all the way which is what music is all about, right!
Now I will be selling a bunch of my studio guitars and just keeping this one. It is that good. The recording engineer was speechless.
Sorry for the rant, but if you are an Ovation fan and have never experienced the joy and adventure of owning an Adamas textured top, playing it and getting to know it everyday and having the experience of understanding and learning what it really is, you owe it to yourself to get one and you are in for the treat and revelation of your life!
That is one of the main reasons why Al, Miles, Moody, Cliff, Temp, Tony, Dave, Sam, Michael (playadamas) and me and many more hang around here.
Adamas textured tops rule! |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I still don't understand the endorser program.
You should definitely be a part of it.
The "Lara" ltd ed has a nice ring to it! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I completely agree...after 30+ years of playing Ovation guitars primarily (and many many other brands along the way) I just recently bought my first Adamas as most who have been following the story on this forum know...I am completely blown away with the 1687-2 on all levels: playability, tone, volume, lushness of the sound; ability of the guitar to sound exactly as I wish it to (finesse), and of course beauty: it is just such an awesome guitar. My first gig with it will be Saturday night when I am in concert for our local Fire Department. I am so blown away with the quality and sound of this instrument that I have scarcely played any of my other guitars in the nearly month that I have had it.
I am looking forward to my 1688 which I will be ordering later this year...and, after playing Woz's at the tour, if it is anywhere close to his (and I know it will be) my search for guitars is over (not that I wouldn't care to own other Adamas's), but meaning that I have found the perfect guitar(s) for me and I will be letting go of some mighty fine Ovations (and other's).
Serge, I have seen pictures of your -7 and it is a beauty...it fits you well!
I also just received a 1976 brochure I purchased entitled: "Adamas: A Summary History of the Development of the Adamas Guitars" from the 1977 NAMM Show...and found that it is signed in ink by Charles H. Kaman in the back and on the front is an 1687-2: it is now a special addition to mine...it's just too cool!
And Beal, thanks for taking your Dad's vision and continuing it...You both have impacted Music in a tremendous way!
Well, it’s so nice to hear someone express some of the things about that which I am now coming to realize: I am blessed to own one of the finest Guitars in the world! And to associate through this forum with some of the coolest folks I have met in my life! Awesome!
Blessings... |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Serge is a good friend to a number of OFC'ers. It has been discussed before how it is a shame that a great artist isn't recognized.
Personally, I am proud that he is back playing an Adamas. His talent and his heart makes him a good spokesman for the instrument.
When I came on the OFC, my only experience with an Ovation or Adamas was the 1980 Custom Legend 1158 (acoustic, slothead, 12-string). After awhile, I wondered what all of the fuss was concerning the Adamas. And, there were three - textured top, CVT, and SMT. A couple of learned individuals told me to get a textured. Excellent advice.
I have nothing against the CVT and SMT...and, I have had several and felt they were fine guitars. However, other than the Millennium that I got from Woz, the rest have been sold or traded (Millennium is in a class by itself).
Problem is that I had to buy an Adamas to try it...many on this board have never had an opportunity to play an Adamas I or Adamas II 6-str or 12-str. In addition, probably few have been able to play the original slothead, the 47RI, or the OFC. If there is a regional get-together, don't miss the opportunity. OFC'ers are great as far as sharing. They aren't inexpensive and there will be a time and place when the kids don't need shoes or school tuition. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I have been praising the textured top guitars for years ..... not too many people listen. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | there is something about 'em, ain't there?! |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Originally posted by alpep:
I have been praising the textured top guitars for years ..... not too many people listen. It just took a while to finally get my hands on one.
Since then there is no looking back.
I love my UTE. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes, the textured top is the best. The smoo tops were after my time and are OK but not the same. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Ya got me hooked on em.
Randy |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | I love all my guitars, but the 47 RI is almost always the first one I reach for. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Not to change the subject... I currently two textured top Adamii and love 'em both...
but, I gotta put in a plug for the FD14 as well... It is one hell of a guitar. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Originally posted by alpep:
I have been praising the textured top guitars for years ..... not too many people listen. It just took a while to finally get my hands on one.
Since then there is no looking back.
I love my UTE.
I also have to plug the 1537. I actually like it better than the 1681 I had. |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Since the 1681 arrived, I haven't had any of my other guitars out of their cases. I'm playing it so much that I'm already wearing divots in the first four frets. Not that my playing has improved for all the time I'm putting into it. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| "The path is clear
Though no eyes can see
The course laid down long before.
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen,
Though many times they've seen the way to leave"
I agree about the older Adamas models......yet I would have to say Ovations American made, deep bowl, wood top's are fantastic guitars too for unplugged acoustic guitar work!
Plugged in....... "every line they make has it's genius"!
I know how you feel though; the Adamas's just make ya proud to be a musician!
Randy |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Serge,
I bet, even though some of the guitars you want to get rid of are not ovations, I hope you post 'em here in the sell/trade section for a week to give us a crack at them before you unleash them into the wilds of ebay.
When does the next album come out?
Are you going on tour? |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I have two, a 1581 and the OFC model, and love them both. I appreciate the cutout on the 1581, but prefer the less chunky neck on the OFC model. They're also indestructible. When I first played the 1581 with the band, they teased me immensely. From a distance, they all thought the guitar was covered in black leather. Unless the incredibly small Adamas department at the factory is expanded in size, these guitars will never be produced in any kind of volume. I appreciate this as well. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Lem, you have got to play either an OFC'er or a 47. The necks on these are wonderful. Much less chunky w/o the k-bar.
I've often stated here that I'm a wood topped kinda guy. The only Adamas I owned was Big Blue. But since getting the OFC slothead, I've stopped playing most of my wood topped guitars (the exception being the GC reissue). The OFC slot has, in my opinion, a better balance than other Adamas I's & II's I've played. The neck is wonderful, not only in it's feel (profile) but also in it's feel (walnut) and appearance. The guitar looses less tone and volume going up the neck than any guitar I've ever played before. And the sound is like a wood topped Ovation plus.......
I like the light weight (no k-bar). I like the fact that there were only 12 of these built. I like the headstock carvings and the fact that the carvings are all part of the neck, not added on later.
I just like this guitar. And I'm liking it more and more every day. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 795
Location: Texas | I am sure the new slothead 47 reissues and ofc guitars are killer, and look forward to playing one someday.
Lately I have been focusing on just one guitar, I mean keeping around and playing just one of my favorite models, so I have decided I do not want to have 2 of the same, so 1 Adamas deepbowl is enough for my herd.
And yes, when I decide what will be for sale I will post here first.
In the meantime I am looking for a 1881 Adamas II supershallow bowl cutaway.
Please let me know if you have one for sale.
A new L&R DVD will be released in the Fall and a new CD in the Winter.
Touring? We will go out and play a few dates here and there, but it is so expensive to be on the road that we only travel out for very special gigs. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | You can't think of Ovation and Adamas as the same company. No more so than you can think of Ovation and Celebrity as the same company.
Dave |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | In the meantime I am looking for a 1881 Adamas II supershallow bowl cutaway. Make that two of us. I regret in some ways having gotten rid of mine, though I know it went to a good home and is appreciated. They've gotten hard to find for sale anymore though - one of these days I may just have to custom order one to actually get what I want. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | It is an honor to be able to play a guitar that sounds so good, even when I play it. Serge makes a guitar sound like it should. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Lem, you have got to play either an OFC'er or a 47. The necks on these are wonderful. Much less chunky w/o the k-bar.
I've often stated here that I'm a wood topped kinda guy. The only Adamas I owned was Big Blue. But since getting the OFC slothead, I've stopped playing most of my wood topped guitars (the exception being the GC reissue). The OFC slot has, in my opinion, a better balance than other Adamas I's & II's I've played. The neck is wonderful, not only in it's feel (profile) but also in it's feel (walnut) and appearance. The guitar looses less tone and volume going up the neck than any guitar I've ever played before. And the sound is like a wood topped Ovation plus.......
I like the light weight (no k-bar). I like the fact that there were only 12 of these built. I like the headstock carvings and the fact that the carvings are all part of the neck, not added on later.
I just like this guitar. And I'm liking it more and more every day. Stop beating around the bush, do you like the guitar? :D ;) |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| You're not wrong Serge. |
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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 146
Location: Japan | My first 3 Adamas all had textured tops, then I went for about 5 years in the wilderness with no Adamas; so sad to remember...
Next came my SMT years, and even now if I compare them to my textured tops I keep thinking "Wow, I love the sound of this guitar!", no matter which one I'm playing.
However, there is just something somewhere in the mids, less honky feeling than the CVT's, that I just love!
Now I've got another textured top on it's way to me and just bought a beautiful ruby SMT that I'm hoping to trade to my ex for my old blue textured top that I gave her when we broke up!
If anyone has a textured top cutaway 6 for sale, please let me know! |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Does Adamas make a textured top, shallow or super shallow bowl, cutaway model? Stuffed in a lightweight soft case, wouldn't this make an awesome travel guitar (i.e., in the car or camper, not the backpack)? |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| since I stole the 12 I have off the bay, I have seen the light and heard the "Honk", and am looking forward to having a TT 6 to go with the 12..
I have played several SMT Adamas models and while excellent, just didn't thump quite the same.
my Buddy Slydog just got himself a Ute(among several others) and am just letting him get used to it.. and maybe put it away for a while... so I can visit the "library" and "check it out" for a while.
Glenn |
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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 146
Location: Japan | Yeah, the SMT's are better suited for less aggressive sound tastes than the textured tops, which can cover everything with the right touch. |
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Absolutely Adamas