|
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | This is the "brother" to the Adamas U681 guitar. A batch was built for our friends at the Martin fan club a few years ago. Oh surprise - it's a 12-fret, wideneck slothead !
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 308
| I bet U681 kills this thing! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | The headstock is just wrong! What's up with that pinned bridge and the sides are too square. All these right angles are just wrong, nowhere for the sound to roll out. Might as well put a pickguard on it. Does it dig into your leg and ribs when you sit and play?
And where's the abalone? Must be the base model. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I just like feeding raw meat to the wolves! My point was, there is something "special" about a 12-fret, wideneck, slothead. And Ovation fans are not the only ones to know this. Maybe U681 does put this one to shame. Wouldn't know because I don't currently own either of them. I just thought it interesting that when the Martin fan club came up with "their" guitar a few years ago, this is what it turned out to be. To me very U681-ish. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Oh! . . . it's a GUITAR!!!!
I thought you were posting a pic of one of those mushroom/fungus-things growin' out the side of a tree . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Dave, I was just trying to get all of the Ovation Snob issues up and out of the way from the git go. Notice I didn't ask how much it costs.
You are correct in your frustration over what works best vs. what hits the market. Probably related to the inability to change Ketchup and Coke Bottles into something more useful.
I am actually a little jealous at how Martin can have such a simple shape to their headstock and it has a high recognition factor anyway.
"It's going to be a good day Tater!" |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | I recently did an internet search "12 fret guitar". Amazed at the number of makers that are producing them. Big compaines and small alike. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by MWoody:
. Probably related to the inability to change Ketchup and Coke Bottles into something more useful. I had no idea the Adamas was made from recycled condiment and soda bottles.
I'm a 12fret believer. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Looks like some potential Figured Maple in that tree as well!
I would love to see the demographics on who and where these guitars are being sold! We have our own idea but it would be nice to see who needs to be pleased. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Kidding aside, nice guitar Dave.
How many were made? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Oh boy, here come the Martin bashers again. ;)
I'll say one thing for my Martins, in 6 years of gigging with them, the electronics never cut out on me in the middle of a song. That's a lot more than I can say about my 1 year old LX which has done it twice! My local authorized shop has already found a faultly wire and had to replace the pickup. I'm starting to lose my patience with this guitar. I hope it's finally fixed this time. Unfortunately, I can't make it cut out in front of the repairman, so he's just guessing. It's like a car that runs like crap until you bring it to the mechanic and it runs great. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I don't know details of the Martin club guitar (don't own one). I think a stock 0018VS runs about $2500 and this one has some nice up features. I'm guess $3500 to $4000.
At NAMM I was quite struck looking at all the guitars builders and the number of 12-fretters they do make. Martin, Larivee, Lowden, etc. All had nice 12-er's. I didn't see it myself, but Paul Templemen was raving about a 12'er from Epiphone that he claims was just incredible.
The U681 certainly finds itself in good company and I hope ASML makes 12-ers much more accessible to the masses. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Most all have 12 fretters, Collings, Santa Cruise, Borges, Goodall, etc,etc,
Some of these are 1 3/4 but some are 1 13/16. All nice guitars but again a second or third instrument. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Dave, that Epi was a wide-neck slot-head 12-fret, kinda based on a 1930's Gibson Roy Smeck stage deluxe. I gather from some emails from OFC members that the street price is around $600 and I kid you not it was the best guitar I tried at this years show, regardless of manufacturer or price. But, it's a Chinese mass-produced instrument, so they probably cherry-picked & it's unlikely that every example in stores will be as good. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | I was there when Temp played the Epi 12 fret. Good guitar for the money, but I wasn't as impressed as him. And I'll bet he's right, that it was cherry picked. But still, a decent instrument. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Paul, if you rememember, that cheap Chinese Epi absolutely destroyed the $5K "handmade" Paul McCartney signature Epiphone Texan reissue |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I've always been partial to 12 fret slotheads
I have an older Ovation 12 string Pacemaker and a Martin 12-20 12 string. Love the sound of both.
I wonder if Ovation would consider an Adamas 12 fret Slothead 12 string? I'll bet it would sound awesome. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Temp, very true. |
|
| |
U681 Guitars "Brother"
