|
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | ...or any other guitar hype that makes people go out and buy high end guitars for thousands of dollars without playing them first: :confused: .
I don't care if it's made of Brazilian rosewood that came out of Anton Jobim's personal sauna, I ain't buying into it without playing one, or ideally, playing several. All guitars, and woodbox guitars in particular, are so individual in their personalities that I continue to be amazed after almost 4 decades of playing.
One of the worst sounding guitars I've ever played was a pre-war Martin D-45. Go figure? All low end with little discernible high end going on. Then again, several years ago I had the pleasure of playing a 000-sized all mahogany Chicago-made Harmony that was amazing! I think it listed for around 60 bucks back in the sixties.
I admit, I have bought several Adamas guitars sight unseen in my day, but IMO, they are the most consistent guitars sound-wise I've ever gotten a hold of. And, I could always send it back until I got one I liked (long wait, though!)
I know a lot of you are saying that you can always send it back....but will you be able to get another one that you like? Most likely not.
So, then you'll keep it and pretend that you like this "amazing" guitar.
Sorry, I ain't settin' myself up for this one.
Let the games begin!! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | hey goober,
could you say that all again but in hawaiian this time? ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Hippie-Hypeie-Lakka-Brazzy-Mojo . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | cliffeth speaketh in an unknown tongueth. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | SNICKERS give you gas too? must be the peanuts. Of course, GOOBERS are chocolate covered peanuts, aren't they? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Randy, all I can say is that I hope your EF75 is the best one they made. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Everybody is entitled to their own opinion but I would never keep nor hype a guitar that did not live up to my expectations.
Yes, I bought this on blind faith by the raves of CWK2 who has played more than a few good guitars in his day but I would have sent it back if it were a dog.
Based on my continued raves, Dave took the plunge (and he knows a bit about good sounding guitars) and then the Prof and Colt (after playing one) and now several more without a single gripe.
This group is too vocal to fall into the trap of keeping a guitar they don't like. Look at the varying opinions of the UTE. Most love it but some hate it and are not afraid to say it and sell it off.
Sometimes you just gotta believe.
Sorry if the train leaves without you because you couldn't decide if the destination was right for you. Just my 2 cents. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | being out here in the middle of the deep, blue sea, i just gotta rely on the judgement and ears of others. i've purchased and sold many, many guitars since my 12th birthday and the thrill of the hunt goes on and on till this day. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by Goober:
Randy, all I can say is that I hope your EF75 is the best one they made. mahalo goober! all i can do is hope so too. i'm content with my first-hand experience that takamine makes some fine instruments. add that to the testimonies of credible folks on this forum and i just gotta "chance 'um", as we say in hawaii nei. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | >>Sometimes you just gotta believe.<<
Wooden guitars...the new religion?
Inconsistency is the hallmark of an all natural instrument.
Oh, I believe that some of these are very, very fine guitars. But they can't ALL be that way, and with just a few left to buy, it's not a gamble I'm willing to take. Bye bye train! Somehow, I don't feel left out at all.
I hope everybody here picked the RIGHT one. Ain't gonna happen, though. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by Goober:
Inconsistency is the hallmark of an all natural instrument.
Inconsistency is the hallmark of an all-natural laxative too! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | No shit! I mean, yes shit!! ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | "shit" in hawaiian is "kukae", pronounced ku-kye.
how can you talk dirty in hawaiian without a few lessons? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | then there's "mokuhia" (mo-ku-hee-a) which means "excessive discharge of feces".
there certainly is a lot of mokuhia goin' on around here. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I would have to make the "assumption" that a "special" run of 80, much like the #47 RI is handled by the top luthiers and not the run of the mill production line. This would account for a higher level of consistency and higher build quality.
But to each his own. I have a wonderful sounding and playing instrument and I am more than happy to have taken the leap of faith.
I think tickets for the train are sold out anyway! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | and yes I know what "assume" means which is why I put it in quotes! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | ;) Yes Randy, there is. I miss going fishing Saturdays just to see what bites the hook. LOL!
One thing that I really do think will keep this guitar from being "highly" collectable is that the designers at the factoy made a classy, expensive guitar and kept the same cheesy Tak logo and headstock.
This guitar deserved better! That headstock makes it look like an $800 guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Interesting thread.
I was actually thinking this morning that I should sell my 1537 and 87 C and buy the Tak. Then realized that if I do sell them, the right thing to do would be to help pay off the OFC guitar. And that might happen this summer.
One of the best/worst aspects of the OFC is the incredible G.A.S. it produces. It makes me want to try one of everything. But in reality, I don't have the resources (very few of us do, although there are some here) to do that.
Here's where I have to admit that I've never played a Tak that made me want to buy it. Possibly this new one is different. Probably it is. But I know that there's a lot of OFC driven G.A.S. behind the desire to own one.
I'm going to stay on track for the OFC guitar, then possibly one more custom built wood topped Ovation when that's paid off. In the meantime, I'll enjoy reading what everybody else is doing..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Yes this is an interesting topic. First off NOBODY should feel compelled or pressured to jump on ths train just because a few guys around here like a certain guitar and are a little vocal about it. If I'm overdoing it, tell me and I'll back off.
But Goober is right, guitar sound can very significantly from one instrument to another. In a perfect world you would do exactly as he suggests, try multiple copies until you find the "one" that sings to you.
But in reality how are you gonna do that? Tell me where the store is that has multiple copies of $5000. + guitars. So, my own personal experience is that I buy on faith and recommendation. In the case of the Tak75, I trusted the opinions of Stephen and Bill very much. I figured that even if the sound varied +/- 20% from guitar to guitar it should still be great even if I ended up with the worst one of the bunch.
And the market for used instruments is HUGE, thanks to eBay. Worst case you sell it, maybe take a small loss, and move on. I bought a 00-18 on ebay that absolutely sucked soundwise. I turned it around and got something else. And on and on. For me, a guitar purchase is not a life time investment. If I end up not liking it, or lose interest in it later, or find something I like better... just sell it and try over. One exception would be my Collings CW-28. I don't think I would have spent THAT kind of money without playing it first.
The situation with the Tak75 is (to me) a little bit special because it's SO underpriced to begin with. It's really a "can't lose" in my opinion. Compare it to a $6000. Martin or Collings and maybe you'd say "hmmm, I don't know". But the damn thing is less tha HALF that price! Compare it to Gibson, Breedlove and Adamas and it's a no brainer. The fact that there are only 4-5 of these left available drives me nuts because I know friends of mine will shit when they hear mine and kick themselves. I called Brother Bobby and Sigler Music. Both have no more EF75 remaining.
OK, stepping off the soapbox. This born again wooden guitar fan will go back in his hole. Actually going outside to shoot some photos for the website.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Going to the tour is a great GAS manager.
Between the hotel lobby and the Mothership you get a chance to test drive about everything out there. Sometimes the guitar lives up to the hype...sometimes not. I played a UTE for the first time at the last tour. A few months later I had one. (Cliff's advice kepted on playing in the backround... "Brad... ya need a UTE!")
The #47RI had a lot of hype / mojo behind it. I had a chance to play a couple of them. The guitar proved worthy of the hype and de-mystified it at the same time. It is an awesome instrument, but realized it was nto nessesary to sell my UTE to get one.
So... This year I look forward to playing an OFC guitar. How much I like it (or not), at least it won't be this mystical, magical instrument that will instantly make me sound 10 times better.
If one of these TAKs show up this year...cool. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Goober, I agree, but also disagree about the HEADSTOCK. Yes, it's the same old size (too big) and shape as cheeepo Taks. BUT, it's bound in figured maple, faced in brazillian rosewood and the Tak logo is actually inlaid Koa. It's pretty freaking nice!
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Paul, sometimes decsions are based on availability.
The 1537's and 87C's are terrific guitars but they show up with regularity on ebay and through the OFC membership.
The EF75 will be the same as the #47 RI and the OFC guitar. Very few and far between and if they become as collectable as they should be, never this cheap again.
Maybe Al could work out something on a trade if you were really interested.
The Tak sounds better than either of the O's IMHO. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | Great discussion, guys. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2007
Posts: 23
Location: Westchester, NY | Thanks for the reality check Goober.
I've been looking for an all wood guitar since picking up a Martin Backpacker, it sounds o.k. but smells great!!. My wife even noticed it. Ive always been an Ovation fan and been also on the hunt for an Adamas. I like the feel of the all wood guitar, tried a few in Sam Ash including Martins and Larivee's.
Thought for a couple of days about the Tak, but in a lucid moment I realized I couldnt drop 3g on a guitar I saw only pictures of. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Foyle, in the "sale/trade" section, I have several Adamii for sale. Maybe one will fit the bill for you. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | " I was actually thinking this morning that I should sell my 1537 and 87 C and buy the Tak. Then realized that if I do sell them, the right thing to do would be to help pay off the OFC guitar. And that might happen this summer "
Would that be a sunburst 1537 ? in pristine condition,including case perhaps ?
Vic |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | Personally I like the Tak headstock. Too many guitars have the same cookie cutter headstock. Trademarks set a company apart from the competition (ever wonder why the Ovation headstock looks that way?) and I like the fact that this guitar will "never" be mistaken for anything else.
It seems to me Martin uses the same headstock on their whole line, so what's the diff?
I completely understand the hesitation to buy without hearing/playing and if you read the original thread you'll see that in spades. I was the ultimate skeptic mainly because I just don't have the play money, some here, have.
Altho I know none of these guys personally, I have read their posts and given the quality of instruments they have and their years of experiance, I felt I could trust their judgement,and that they were giving the straight goods on this model. I still could not just go for it on blind faith, so to speak, and luckily for me I was able to play the guitar I bought.
This was a very serious purchase for me and it ends a 40 year search for a premium guitar. As I've said, I may at some point want another guitar, but I sure won't "need" one. Due to where the price point was I have ended up with a guitar that is so far beyond what I had envisioned it is amazing.
I hope someday you all find "The One" if you haven't already.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | goober
I think you are only half correct on this one. We ask opinions about things we purchase all the time. My sister will not buy ANYTHING without looking it up in comsumer reports and if it is not rated or test she will not buy it. I told her they don't test every brand of everything and she got mad at me.
someone recently asked me about buying a pickup. I have owned many and I told him to stay away from the new ford diesel. This is thier first year and they usually need to get the bugs out of them first. Would it be wrong to ask that advice? or would you buy a diesel even with the advice? your personal choice.
As for guitars, yes your hands and ears should always be your primary guides. But when buying something that is not available locally or of limited supply is it wrong to go with the judgement and thoughts of someone you may respect in the biz? I think not. Sure there is always the chance that you get the instrument and it will not be for you or that you will get a dog but generally that is why you instill trust upon whom you make the purchase.
by no stretch of the imagination should my ears be considered golden or is my opinion worth anything but I get asked about instruments all the time. I see a bunch of them have owned tons of them and probably have played some of the most interesting collectible guitars on earth due to my associate with scott chinery. does that make me an authority, no, but at least you may conceed that I can be a good guesser.
I had an original fuzz face for sale at a guitar show once for $350 the customer asked me what I thought of it. I said it sounded like buzzy bees to me and I didn't like it. he asked to try it out. he told me how wrong I was and how great it sounded and handed me $350. it all depends on your context. I guess the best salesman like everything they sell. being a member of the worst salesman on earth clube I can tell you that I don't have to like everything to sell it. with that said, my opinion still should hold more weight than a snot nosed kid in guitar center working to get enough cash to buy a crate amp and berhinger pa so he can go out on the road and make it big.
but then again maybe not |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Maybe you can't judge a guitar with out hearing it for yourself. But you can sure look at pretty pictures and dream ...
Lots more photos updated on the website:
http://www.takaminegallery.com
A member here emailed me and I'll quote him, even though it is somewhat profane. "You know what Dave, If I had the money I'd buy the f*cking thing just based on how it looks. Son of a b*tch that's one nice looking guitar."
OK, I'll stop pimping this guitar so heavily here. After all this is the OVATION fan club. And what am I some kind of traitor? My work here is done. Closing comment: We accuse folks on other boards of being closed minded wrt Ovations. Let's not fall into the same trap.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Dave, I'm not close-minded. I just felt like going fishing......and I caught a shit-pot full! LOL! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Goober, good points raised.
And since I started this whole thing with the first post I'll say I'm sorry, but when I got my #71 and it was that good I had to tell somebody and ya'll're it.
The headstock that they are using on this model is like the Nashville series, it's a little narrower than their regular production(One of my last suggestions to Ichiro Katayama, now Tak pres, was to go with a littler peghead for the Solid Solid series. Glad he took my advice) I think it looks every bit a $850 peghead, don't you?
Now as for the Dirty Hawaiian, Mr Sutton is waiting in Asheville to show you #21. If you're good maybe he'll even let you have some mountain sake, which has been known to make the Takamine people talk a 1000 year old dialect of chineese and throw each other into the bushes at a NAMM show. True story, ask about it.
As far as going on and on about this guitar, yeah we did, so what. Isn't it nice when you get so pleasently suprised and it's all good and keeps getting better? I guess this will die down some now that Tuppy has the takgallery. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Hey Goob, that comment wasn't meant for you. You made a good point that playing a guitar and judging for yourself before you commit big bucks to buy it is the thing to do. In a perfect world, that's the way it would be for all of us.
My poke at being closed minded was meant for those folks (and I used to be the ring leader of the bunch), that by default kissed the ass of every single ovation guitar ever produced. The worst POS that ovation could ever in their wildest dreams produce was still superior to anythig else out there. 'Course we all know that's crock pot full of half cooked cabbage. Same's true on the other side of the Hatfield-McCoy's camp. Folks "over there" won't give ovations a second sniff 'cause by definition any guitar with a plastic bowl has to be some kind of toy, or something. They even call 'em stupid names like Salad-bowls and Tupperware. Well, we all know those folks ain't right a good percentage of the time either.
So what's this all mean? No idea. 'Cept that there's a whole bunch of really good guitars out there and depending on your personal taste and the requirements of the job, you can pick the right tool for it. I'm starting to not really care what the name on the headstock says. Btw, the OFC guitar HAS no name on the headstock. Just thought I'd point that out.
I guess I felt "sorry" for the EF75 because it was an unknown, under-appreciated little gem. Selling at half what it's worth and only available is very limited quantity. The call was shouted out by Bill others, and a good half dozen folks responded. Far as I know, nobody has had second thoughts or been disappointed.
Play on brothers!
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by cwk2:
Now as for the Dirty Hawaiian, Mr Sutton is waiting in Asheville to show you #21. bill, is this statement meant for goober, or for me?
sorry for my confusion, just didn't want to miss anything since i will be in asheville in june. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | All I know is that (before Bill that is), I got to PLAY this thing before any of you clowns.
Or to quote the great Larry Fine (of the 3Stooges) in his immortal address from the stage to the crowd at Woodstock:
". . I had long hair befor ANY of you jerk-offs!! . ." |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | "where are the clowns? there ought to be clowns. send in the clowns..." |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | So Dave,
You'll still sell me the tenor uke at the tour? :cool:
Thanks,
Goob The Goober
BTW, the woodbox I'm holding out for is when I play that "right" mahogany Collings. That shouldn't be too difficult. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes Lanaki, that was meant for you. Maybe with enough mountain sake you can get steve to talk hawaiian. Call him ahead of time and set it up |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I think you can get his email from here. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Is that the "plum" sake?? . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | "Hi" |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . . Ah, . . So . . " |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Who you callin' an ahso, Cliff? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I trust the opinion and recommendations of experts. The OFC membership has a lot of them. I have not been dissappointed. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by cwk2:
Yes Lanaki, that was meant for you. Maybe with enough mountain sake you can get steve to talk hawaiian. Call him ahead of time and set it up i should have my EF75 by then, but i would like to catch one of debanjo's gigs, if possible.
mountain sake might just be cheaper than gasoline these days. probably burns cleaner too. i know our rental van will be able to run on it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | So, now that the propaganda for that TAK EF 75 seems to be drawing to a close , somebody could maybe tell me about the OFC Gem ?!....will it come in SunBurst,Engelmann Spruce, Price....and why No Logo ??!....( OFC Logo would be Nice,in Ovation design , on Both Guitar and Case ) .
TAK !!....(Tak stands for Thank You in Danish )
Vic :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | As an "unidentified person" at a NAMM show once asked, "If I have two shots of this will I be able to see God?"
And Debanjo said "With three shots of this you will be God".
He's only doing pick up gigs. Need a banjurist for your gigs? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by cwk2:
"With three shots of this you will be God". as he jumps off the building trying to fly... ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by cwk2:
He's only doing pick up gigs. out of the back of fords or chevys? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | dodge |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | shhhh! i didn't wanna mention dodge. we're talkin about asheville... |
|
| |
Tak EF75 Hype...