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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Model number on the box says "2006 - X 1/12". Model number on the label says "2078LX-FKOA-OSH". I just call it LAVKO. The Lost Art Vintage KOa special.
Full review and photos to come, but let me just comment on a few of the nice little "extras" that just thrill me.
1. Improved TKL case, now has soft padded handle
2. Guitar comes with dummy plug for the VIP
3. Label is under the neck extension, not right in sight of the blow hole
4. Back of headstock is laser scribed "1/12"
5. Label is hand signed by Darren
6. TRC is koa
7. Heel cap is koa
8. Fretboard is beautifully bound in polished ebony
9. Not just plain tortie binding, but b/w/b/tortie
10. Same b/w/b/tortie on the blowhole
This may sound like a lot of fluff that has nothing at all to do with how the guitar plays or sounds, but damn it sure makes a new owner feel good.
Twelve fret, wide neck, slothead, contour bowl ... yeah, this does not suck at all! More later.
Dave |
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Location: Orange County, California | Nice!!! VERY Nice!! |
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Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | I just want to know how it sounds! |
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Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Well, I'm beyond the point of anticipation on this! I can't wait to get mine. I plan on wearing it out in very short order!
Photos! Quick!! |
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Posts: 5576
Location: big island | a LAVKO for a WITKO. how nice! |
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Location: NJ | I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
THIS is the guitar they SHOULD've put out! . . . |
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Location: Orange County, California | +1000 |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | No pics yet, sorry. Long story. The house is being painted inside and out and virtually everything I own except a dilongi toaster over, a computer, and a LAVKO are wrapped up in plastic. I don't speak the required language to ask the painters where the hell my camera is. Hopefully by Friday. I'm flat worn out right now, so full review will have to wait until the morning but I put in a good half hour with the LAVKO and I'm totally impressed. If you played this guitar in your local shop you'd say 1) that sounds very very nice, 2) plays wonderful, 3) looks amazing and 4) at a tad over 2 grand is an absolute bargin. I can't describe the sound. It's totally unique and beautiful. Does not sound like a typical ovation and I mean that in a good way, not that there is anything wrong with a typical ovation sound. This has a lot more mid range. The whole spectrum is clear, crisp, loud and a good bottom end. The looks are what catch your eye first, but I'm really seriously impressed with the sound.
Cliff, I disagree. In hind sight I'm glad this didn't go ut as the '06. Yes they would have sold them by the boat load, cuz the guitar is THAT good. But now the uniqueness factor of only being 12 in existence (actually 13) makes it a little more "special". Plus I understand that some of the reason these took so long was the critical koa selection they did. If it was a regular '06 they would have just slapped them out and ran a bunch of FRG's etc. and cheapened the whole idea. Just my opinion.
More tomorrow and once I get the house together I'll post pics and link an MP3 for you. Total thumbs up for LAVKO.
Dave |
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Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Originally posted by Tupperware:
I don't speak the required language to ask the painters where the hell my camera is.
Dave Bummer. Push one for English. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yo, Hermano... Adonde Camara, por favor! Muy pronto. Gracias! |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Can't wait for the pics and review. |
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Location: boulder | The Koa lost art vintage ===KOA LA V
say it all together now.
and it ain't vintage so koala for short.
Nice Dave.. |
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Location: ms | This is frigging killing me i need one. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | BINGO! Fugot trumps the master of nicknames. I like it. KOALA IT IS !!!
I don't know who all ordered one of these (are all 12 spoken for?), but you're gonna be some happy campers.
Still no camera. I tried "Adonde Camara, por favor! Muy pronto", but got no reaction. I think my painters are French Impressionists.
Dave |
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Location: big island | some o' dem aussies oughta get hold of these "koalas" then. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Hey Tupp, just because you can't photograph it doesn't mean you can't play it and tell us what you think! |
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Location: New South Wales, Australia | Originally posted by Lanaki:
some o' dem aussies oughta get hold of these "koalas" then. I'd like one. I reckon it would sound sweeter than the furry variety. They make a real grunting noise at night particularly when they're feeling a bit frisky. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Prof. I have a hard time describing this guitars sound. It does not sound like other koa guitars I have played. People have posted that a koa guitar would sound dark or the top doesn't move freely enough, it does not have volume. Well ... that's a lot of bullshit. This thing sounds buttery smooth and extremely well balanced. It almost sounds like it has an electronic cross over in it and the bass comes pumping out of the blow hole and smacks you in the chin while the mids and trebles eminate more uniformly from the whole vibrating top. This is a SUPER, SUPER COOL INSTRUMENT. Nobody will be disappointed with the sound. I just don't quite know how to describe it.
Dave
PS - Btw, excuse me while I do a small soapbox for Al. Sorry of this pisses anyone off but it needs to be said. Have people noticed what this guy has committed and delivered lately? U681-12's, OFC Guitar, Tak75's, Koala's plus numerous other customs and one-offs. Other dealers TALK about things like this, but usually trip on their own dicks. AL GETS IT DONE. End of rant. |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Super, super cool is a pretty good description--for someone who was a teenager in the 60s or 70s. Why didn't you just say it was groovy? |
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Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | Groovey, Cool, Neat..whooooooooooop (sound of pungent, acrid, smoke being inhaled rapidly into unsuspecting lungs).. OOps, sorry all, must have been an old flashback. :o
Come on Dave, go buy a cheap digital and send us some pics..we can only stand so many accoulades without pics..
Oh No, hear comes another flashback.........Like wow, keen, grooo........ |
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Location: big island | "righteous, man" |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | Gosh Randy!...you sure are quick at the keys today...LOL! |
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Location: big island | "Gosh"? and what decade is that word from? |
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Location: Tennessee | Sounds like a bitchin guitar, Dave. |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | No question about it - the vernacular around this place today has been, like, far out, man. |
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Location: NJ | The first guitar came in last week. I am expecting more in the coming weeks apparenlty they have been rather busy with the vxt and this project took a back seat for a while.
I concur with Dave very even nice sounding guitar. Koa is a unique sound. Combine that with the 12 fret neck and the bridge in the sweet spot and you got a killer guitar.
yes there are a couple left so don't think you missed out.
dave
although I humbly acknowledge your accolades, I prefer that we do not bad mouth anyone here and let my actions, as they always have and will, stand on their own merits. |
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Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | "Gosh"? and what decade is that word from? Main Entry: gosh
Pronunciation: 'gäsh, 'gosh
Function: interjection
Etymology: euphemism for God
-- used as a mild oath or to express surprise
Gosh, I looked a lot for the decade and couldn't find the answer, so I settled for this definition from Webster's.
"Gosh Darn I need a Life" BegginJm
Sorry for losing track but I couldn't find the pictures for the 2078LX-FKOA-OSH. |
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Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | Gosh, if I post to one more topic I will be a Centurian!
Sorry, I couldn't resist.... |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Just took the guitar outside in the sunlight. One small correction: The fretboard binding is not polished ebony. IT'S TORTOISE. Freaking cool has hell ...
Photos are posted in a new thread.
Dave |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | OK, I said on the other thread is was the coolest binding I've ever seen. If I'd have seen this first, I'd used a different word than cool but that pretty much says it. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Sounds like a nice guitar. Makes me feel a little gassy........ |
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2006 - X 1/12 aka LAVKO