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| Al,
That’s all so true. Marketing and perception are very powerful tools. Thayer most powerful for those who are least knowledgeable and even those most knowledgeable about a product did not escape what now is remembered clearly as a fools purchase on they way up the learning curve.
Indeed it is more likely that for those that feel Ovation or any company has changed for the worse can attributed it to a change in their own perception and a more discriminating opinion based on their increased knowledge about the subject than that company has actually changed. Its more likely that their favorite company didn’t just get up one morning an say ‘lets start build some crap!’ but that it has always built some crap and just now your beginning to recognize it.
But back to the reason I started posting on this thread. I think with a little thought we came up with the next generation guitar. While keeping in mind how powerful marketing and perception are and how, as Bailey pointed out a guitar only sounds as good as the person playing it, lets get started!
So where do we start? At the beginning of course and I thin with out taking our eye off the ball a brief look at music from the beginning of time when the first bird whistled a tune or the Timber Wolf that first broke the silence of the night with his long and lonesome minor cord lament to first cave man beating a leg bone a hollow log to the technology of the Line 6 Variax would serve to point out a couple of fundamental things we need to keep in mind if we are going to build a truly new and exciting instrument.
The physics of the music and the musical instrument have not changed. To make a noise by some mechanical means and then to manipulate the rhythm and frequency of that noise seems to be the Idea that we are going to have to go with. The next important thing we can take from history is that the more people that cane here the noise the more desirable and successful it is. Dose that mean ‘the louder the better’? Well maybe. From the phonograph to the CD, from the acoustic guitar to the amp towers at the ballgames, technology has turned the musician and instrument in to something that know one could have imagined a couple of hundred yeas ago. Bailey pointed out in his posting about the Line 6 Variax “in my years of playing, I have never heard an applause for an instrument, but have heard thunderous applause for a well played song.” This was very well said in the context of the point he was making but it is just as valid in the context of this point. With out the recording and amplification innovations we enjoy in the music business today it is unlikely that ‘thousands’ could applaud a song, well played or not.
Its late and I’ve got to get some sleep but I have one last comment on something else Bailey said when he said, “that the player makes the sound, not the guitar”. You may be right. After hearing a song sung by her pet canary, Maya Angelou wrought these words. How is it that such a small artist can produce such a well-played song on such a small and simple god given instrument as to communicate and inspire someone in such a profound way is beyond me?
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.
Mike |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | So tell me, does all this mean my recently purchased Celeb.12 string is basically unfit to use for firewood here in the good 'ol USA?!
When a long lost relative dies and leaves me a fortune, I'll get me an "acceptable" piece of Americana. I guess in the mean time, I'll hide in a closet, lick my wounds, and scratch out an S.O.S. on my roundbacked bonsi branch. Or, step out once in a while when I'm feeling my oats, and apologetically strum my cracked vintage acoustic only Legend?
Norse(I think not!)man1
- seems to me the reason Ovation got started, was the pompous attitude of the standard not willing to lower it's nose far enough to see below it's belt. |
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Location: NJ | ". . . my roundbacked bonsi branch . . ."
Actually the term is "bonsai", but no, technically yours would be a "kim-chi pot" ;) .
Don't worry about it Norsey, it's STILL an Ovation.
Shut up and ENJOY it, will ya'? :) |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | lol Cliff! I'm just having fun. Believe me, I am very much looking forward to my new 12. I'm not offended, more amused.
Norse(having lunch at "China Buffet" today,hopenoones offended ;) )man1
p.s. kim-chi pot lol! |
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Location: Waterloo, IL | Norse, have you ever eaten any kimchi? One of the first things I learned when I got to Korea was the smell of Kimchi. I could smell it in the air as I stepped off the plane. There are many different kinds of kimchi in Korea. There are so many that there is a kimchi museum in Seoul. And yes, I tried many different types of kimchi while I was over there. Maybe you will get lucky. Stick your nose inside your new 12-string, and maybe you can still smell the kimchi. :)
Chuck
Still looking for a 12-string of my own while trying hard not to be jealous of Norseman for getting one. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Yes, looking forward to Kimchi time!
Good Luck,and if you go cheap like ol Norseman, give me a call, perhaps we could get together, share a cold pop and a couple of (deep)bowls of Kim chi.
Norse(chop chop fer now)man1 |
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Location: Waterloo, IL | Norseman1, have you ever eaten any kimchi? Have you even smelled kimchi before? If I get lucky on Ebay this round, or find a 12-string somewhere that I can afford, I would really enjoy geting together with you to strum along together, share a few cold cokes, and have a few bites of kimchi with you. I am trying once again on ebay for a Custom Balladeer. Maybe God will smile on me for this one. If not, I keep praying that He will have a special Ovation 12-string somewhere out there for me. Life's too short to have hard feelings with anyone, especially a member of this board. :cool:
Chuck |
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Location: Borrington | I am a dreaming of a studio at Ovation recording and makin vidios for mtv, starin the best geetarists at OVATION. After work of course. A good investment for Kaman Music Vidy"O's" GET IT! open mike in enginerring, produced by Ovation/HAMER bring back the camera's.I am to futureistic and can not spell. Web cam roamin around, solO'S in every dept.wE Could have Millisa
in the new studio singing with an Adamas 6 string #72 or ol #6, and Adrian Legg. And we pay them.I WANT Kaki King miked up real loud!!!!!!!! |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Norsey
I said nobody applauds the guitar, your Korean guitar will play just fine. Our band has had thunderous applause while playing instruments from every where but here. The pickers make the music and could care less where those thangs were made, you don't take a vintage, collector's guitar on a dive pickin' job.
Chill out and Pick, don't COLLECT. |
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Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | but, bailey, it's hard not taking the good uns to gigs. even the novices in the audience notice quality sound. and i always like the look on bubba's face when his martin can't cut through the mix like my o's and a's. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Got me there Russ. |
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the future of Ovation.....
