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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I was in a small guitar shop in Washington D.C. earlier this week near Dupont Circle. The proprietors had maybe 50 guitars on display, mostly inexpensive overseas models, but a few good vintage models as well. They said they had another 500 guitars hidden in various rooms and asked what I was looking for because they more than likely could find it in the back rooms. So I asked them about their supply of vintage Adamas to which they replied, "vintage what?" I explained how it was the top end of the Ovation line and they said they didn't handle anything from Ovation because all their parts are proprietary and their models can't be repaired using common OTS parts. Without knowing much about this, I still stuck up for the brand and said that the manufacturer offers a lifetime guaranty so there isn't any need to take it someplace else (obviously not referring to the second-hand market). As an independent guitar shop, I just wonder how typical their attitude and responses were to such questions? |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12762
Location: Boise, Idaho | I called our local mom and pop Ovation dealer, who had Adamas listed in the yellow pages, and asked if they had any in stock. The guy who answered the phone didn't know what they were. I stopped in to the same place once when I was going by and they didn't have any US Ovations, so I asked if they had any hidden somewhere. He pointed to a Celebrity Deluxe and told me it was made in the US. When I pointed to the Made in Korea label, he said they had one that looked just like it that was made in the USA, so he thought it was, too. I haven't been in there since. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Sleepy ... was it that shop on Connecticut Avenue near M Street that's on the second floor? I went in there once and didn't stay very long ... the stock I saw seemed pretty cheesey all the way around. I didn't know about the "back rooms" though. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | ADAMAS....is n`t that a plastic guitar with coloured wood on.. ;)
Vic :cool: |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | So, after you learn how to play, you gonna get a REAL guitar? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | By back room they probably meant "I can order one at Retail for you". |
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September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | The local guitar store here in Montpelier has an Adamas W597. They have had now for at least two years. I am praying that someone would buy it or that I can find enough money and get it for my birthday. But he tells me people will play this guitar and say it's the best sounding guitar there and turn around and buy a Taylor. What is wrong with these people.
Pauly |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2793
Location: Atlanta, GA. | It's a mindset...
They're the ones that are worried about what others will say about them for buying a "non-wood" guitar! |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Paulcc1:
... he tells me people will play this guitar and say it's the best sounding guitar there and turn around and buy a Taylor. What is wrong with these people.
It might sound best, but some people don't like the looks or the plastic back. It's just personal preference, don't let it bug you. Accept the fact that maybe sound isn't what some folks are out to buy. I couldn't buy/play a guitar that I didn't like the looks of. This dismisses a lot of great instruments, but that's just my preference.
Dave |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | Thanks Dave I did not think about the looks. I happen the like the looks of the Ovation/Adamas, so its ice cream.
Pauly |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
Sleepy ... was it that shop on Connecticut Avenue near M Street that's on the second floor? I went in there once and didn't stay very long ... the stock I saw seemed pretty cheesey all the way around. I didn't know about the "back rooms" though. Yes, that's the place! |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | A few years ago, I just about wore out my welcome at my local shop. They had Taylors and Ovations and others, and I would go in an A/B an Adamas 1597 against various Taylors for hours.
I ended up buying the Adamas.
A little over a year ago, I found a Taylor I really liked: 30th Anniversary model 714ce. That is an amazingly great guitar. Not perfect, but striking in so many ways.
I sold my Adamas a few months ago. I've got a new Ovation on order from Al. Until that arrives, I am Ovationless (except for my ancient Matrix, which is borderline unplayable these days).
I wish all dealers had better inventory and more knowledgable sales people. That isn't just an Ovation thing. Its an everything thing. My dealer is really into Taylors these days (so much so that they have little Taylor necks installed as door handles going into their high end acoustic room), but they still don't have more than a handful of Taylors at any given time. Maybe two dozen at most. And rarely any of the high end stuff (700 series and up).
The fact is its the cheap stuff that sells. That's where the volume is. That's where the wall space goes. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15683
Location: SoCal | Omaha, what'd ya order from Al? |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | That 714ce is a very nice guitar. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I've got one of the koa specials coming from Al. Been a long time coming, and I'm really looking forward to it! The koa, the offset soundhole, the tortise shell binding, the slothead, the 12 fret, the VIP...I'm jonesing big time.
Yeah, the 714 is sweet. It is just amazingly versatile. There really isn't anything it can't do. I about had a heart attack on Saturday. The drummer in my band tipped over this big aluminum suitcase he uses as a platform and missed the Taylor by about 1/4". Literally. The case hit one of the legs of the Hamilton stand it was sitting on. Wowza! Would have really crunched the side of the guitar had it hit. |
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Ever hear of Adamas?