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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 795
Location: Texas | Why oh why? I do not get it.
Why are there so many copies of every popular guitar model that are not even as good and so much more expensive than the real thing?
Because people buy them, I know that.
But why do people pay more for a reproduction of something instead of just getting the real thing?
And of course, there are no copies of any Adamas model, why? and Ovations have been copied, but they look like a cheap version of sorry Applesauce or Celebrity models, really.
I just don't get it. A million copies of Martin D sizes, from cheap Hondos (or whatever is the cheapest copy) to Collings, Santa Cruz, Mossman, Ibanez, Takamines, Taylor, etc.etc.etc.
A million copies of Fender Stratocasters, Telecasters, Gibson Les Pauls, SGs, and many other models that you know are just copies of the real thing and most of the time, way more expensive.
Is like having copies of Santana, Clapton, Beatles, Mclaughlin, etc. and we know they are out there but...............who cares?
And the same in the mandolin world, there are so many Gibson F-5 copies out there that are way more expensive than the real thing. The same with Gibson banjos, etc.
But mostly there are many copies and reproductions of the most popular guitars and mandolin models.
The other companies claim that they are reissuing the models the way they were made in the pre-war golden era, but the prices of their copies are not really worth it in my opinion.
My point is, being out there in the ruined music biz, and witnessing what instruments I see on stage and jams and in the studios; so many bad copies of the real thing for way more the price of an original that I just do not get it.
A D-18 is a D-18...an expensive copy of a D-28 is still a copy of a Martin D-28, the same with any other model. And yet, no one can reproduce an old Martin 1930s D sound, vibe, mojo and age.
I respect companies that introduce new ideas like PRS, Godin, Hamer and many others that bring something new to the table.
And that is why I like Adamas and Ovations. They are what they are and we like them. They fill a void in the world and that is why there are so many fans that like them so much.
Man, If you want a Ford Mustang, just get a Mustang, not an overpriced copy of an "improved" Mustang, new or vintage.
So, I say, let us be happy that we get to play and buy (old and new Ovations) the original thing and not overpriced copies.
Now, if you want to spend your money in reproductions, well, it is your money. But of course, you knew that already.
I just know that if I want the real thing, more than likely it is still available, instead of getting an overpriced copy.
:cool: |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | Originally posted by Country Artist:
So, I say, let us be happy that we get to play and buy (old and new Ovations) the original thing and not overpriced copies.
:cool: +1 CA |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | OK. Who possessed Serge and where did you take the quiet guy that we knew? |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 482
Location: enid, ok | +1+1 CA. I'm with beggin. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | More Choice , and since when is that a bad thing...?..after all , if you want the original , what`s stopping ya , monthly payments will get you what ya want..
Vic |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Hey! Be nice to Free Enterprise.
I got a really nice Lyon phony Strat, good gig-bag, a battery 5w amp, AC/DC adapter, cord, tuna, strap, extra strings, lesson DVD, and FIVE picks, for $97!
(At Target... it was on sale for $88 a week later)
It actually plays real nice, and I still got it!
'course, it would be kinda hard to sell... Who'd buy it? |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | re: "I just don't get it. A million copies of Martin D sizes, from cheap Hondos (or whatever is the cheapest copy) to Collings, Santa Cruz, Mossman, Ibanez, Takamines, Taylor, etc.etc.etc."
Serge, if there wasn't competition for Martin, they would only offer an acoustic and, as it did in the 70's, their quality would faulter. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Gibson and several other long estblished companies are churning out cookie-cutter product that just doesn't cut it compared to small-shop versions. If I wanted say, an Advanced Jumbo (and I do) I wouldn't even consider a Gibson reissue, I'd go for the Collings or Santa Cruz, or I'd commision a luthier to build a replica. Better materials, better build quality. Just better, end of story. Same with an F-style mando. The new Gibson stuff is OK, but not even close to the quality of Collings and a ton of others which offer superior materials, build quality, playability, attention to detail and tone. Stelling/Deering compared to current Gibson banjos - No competition. The fact that some of these "copies" are more expensive is irrelevant, some people will gladly pay more for that level of refinement regardless of the name on the headstock, and that's up to them.
As for the so called "Golden-era" reissues. a Pre-war Martin D28 re-issue is maybe $4K while the real thing if you can find one is more than 10 times that. 1930's Gibson Advanced Jumbo $35K, maybe more depending on condition. Reissue about $3K Are they as good? maybe not right now but check back when they've been played for 30 years
Certain designs are copied because they have become classics, icons, benchmarks. The cheaper copies provide an opportunity for beginners, semi-pros or tightwads to own a tried and tested, decent instrument, and the boutique versions provide levels of sophistication which are difficult or impractical to achieve in mass production. There's a place for both.
Personally I find the state of the instrument market right now, particularly at the cheap to mid-price end to be a complete bore-fest, but I neither buy nor sell that stuff so I don't let it bother me. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Copy is flattery and some designs just "work". There's obviously something right about a dreadnaught size and shape. That's what the public wants so that's what builders make. It's not so much that builders want to copy Martin, they just want to build what sells. To not be a total clone, they make their own little tweeks here and there sometimes surpassing the performance of the original (Collings), and sometimes coming up with an affordable alternative (Takamine), and sometimes coming up with total shit (Hondo). Not everyone wants the original.
Dave |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Selling an inexpensive clone is a marketing technique. Creating something unique is risky. The market is attracted to familiarity, particularly at the lower, entry-level end. Fender's Squire is a perfect example. For the 7th grader whose parents can not afford much, a Squire looks almost exactly like Eric Clapton's (and how many others?) guitar, still sounds o.k. plugged in to folks who don't know what expensive gear sounds like, and costs less than $200 new. It is all about marketing and Fender sells a bunch of these. |
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Guitar Copies...why so many...?
