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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1559
Location: Indiana | Another depressing visit to GC and I find 3 SSB Celeb's and 1 iDea in the remotest back corner of the store. Not a single USA quality guitar to be sampled. No skunk stripes, original patented pickups, LX's, or inlaid epi's.
I have yet to find a contour bowl to form an opinion.
I understand Fender/Ovation is in flux and emphasizing the outsourced guitars. But they do still make a few USA guitars, right?
So outside of mail order/internet (and Al & Alison's shop's of course), where the heck are they? And if that's to be the only source... sight unseen... outside of we O nuts, does anyone really expect that business model to work?
Step into the High End iso booth and you'll even find 3 non-traditional CG Rainsong's. But nothing that shows off what we know the talented craftsmen at the mothership are capable of creating.
Just an old fart asking rhetorical questions I know, but I've always had a hard time accepting change. (I still use a 35 year old set of Haig Ultra irons on the golf course.)
I have a fantasy that someday, a renegade investor will acquire the rights and abandoned designs/techniques and go back to making the guitar models that challenged the industry. Imagine the entire "reissue" set as a standard line from a boutique shop operating out of an old mill in Connecticut.
I still allow myself the occasional fantasy.
Happy Saturday friends. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Jonmark Stone:
from a boutique shop operating out of an old mill in Connecticut. You 'paint' a pretty mental image there! |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Perhaps " they " need the time to reflect on matters ,. that could be a Good sign.. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4065
Location: Utah | Going back about 5 years, the local GC put Ovations on the center of the wall, directly opposite the door as one enters the acoustic room. They displayed approximately 8 or 10 different O's. A couple were Celebs, the rest were various USA models. My daughter bought her 1778T Red Flame there, and her friend bought a 1778LX there.
Now, they have Martin guitars in that spot. Ovations are at the far end of the room, as far away from the door and from the high end room as possible. It sort of implies that the Ovations are the opposite of high end. Which is true since they only have 3 or 4 celebs. Once they had an iDea guitar.
Things have changed and not for the better as far as GC displaying Ovations.
I bet that an Adamas or two in the high end room would blow the socks off of most of the guitars in there. |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | My local Guitarget has only had maybe half a dozen Ovation guitars on display at one time, and never had an Adamas. Ever. And, the O's they had were usually Celebs. I haven't been in there in about six months, though, so couldn't report how "well stocked" they are now. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1559
Location: Indiana | Originally posted by FlySig:
I bet that an Adamas or two in the high end room would blow the socks off of most of the guitars in there. Exactly what crossed my mind as I watched a twenty-something drooling all over a Rainsong.
Anyway, it's a new day. Had a decent morning with my old school golf clubs and am about to lay down some tracks with a trusty vintage A braced Legend.
Life is good... let 'em eat cake. |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | After seeing a Taylor owner blown away by my Adamas the other day, and then yesterday the same thing happened with a guy who thought if it isn't a Martin it's no good, I KNOW if people tried an Adamas they'd want one. I referred both of these guys to Al, and I am certain that neither of them will sleep at night 'til they own one. I too wish that more stores carried them. But at least when things like that happen we have a place to send them. Thanks Al!! |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I really consider GC to be like a drugstore. Stop in for inexpensive items you need at the last minute or while en route, but look elsewhere for the good stuff. |
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Joined:
September 2008
Posts: 1281
Location: Ohio | GUess you guys are at the wrong GC.
The one up here in North Olmsted Ohio has a NICE selection of US built ovations (Yes, they do ahve a few Celebs too)
Steve |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1559
Location: Indiana | Must be more potential guitar buyers in North Olmsted than here in Nashville.
Nashville Cats, been playin' since they's babies... |
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 715
| Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
I really consider GC to be like a drugstore. Stop in for inexpensive items you need at the last minute or while en route, but look elsewhere for the good stuff. Which is why I ended up going to Patch's and buying a guitar from him. I also had to go 1 1/2 hours north of where I live just to try the 2009 Collectors.
With the exception of a ME Adamas, the GC and Daddy's stores around here had mostly Celebrities with cracked tops.
Michelle |
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 252
Location: Seattle | Like most retailers the MFG has to pay in some way for product placement.... The Ovation Fender transition will take time to sort out. Fender did not have to purchase Ovation.... but they decided to for business reasons. Any marketing plan presented to GC has to have a good stable sourcing AND profitable product line to be attractive. Look at the other Fender offerings and you will see a good, better, best product model. Right now at GC Ovation is just good and so so compared to the wall-o-strats. IMHO Fender is unlikely to allow Martin (or Taylor, etc) to be the step up when there is money to be made by offering a full line. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | It would be nice to think that you're right about that. I've taken both my OFC slothead (ding!) and my Adamas I 12 string into the local GC and blown away the sales guys there. I'd love to see several Adamii I's in the local GC high end room.
But it doesn't mean they'll sell them..... |
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