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August 2003
Posts: 888
Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Looks like there are some great deals out there now on VXT's. Looks like about $900 will get you a new one. Does this mean the VXT guitar is dying? I'd like to pick one up while they're still available.
Anyone buy one of these recently? Are you happy with it?
Jim |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I had mine custom made by the factory during the first year of production and am very happy with it. Workmanship is top notch. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by stellarjim:
Does this mean the VXT guitar is dying? Hmmm, when was the last advertising I saw for one ... or the last time I saw one for sale in a shop. And when was the last time I saw a name act playing one in concert or on TV ... I think "dying" may be too gentle of a word.
I know some folks around here bought them and really like them. That's cool. I think the idea had merit, but not sure about the execution. I played three of them in GC back when they first came out. Two of them did not work at all, period, zero, no sound. There was 0% chance any shopper would try it and buy it. The one that I did play worked fine but to be honest it sounded like a cross between a bad electric and a bad acoustic. Two halves added up to far less than a whole. But I do think the design is very pretty.
Just my opinion. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I bought one for Damon quite awhile ago. I got a great clearance price. It was only the second one that the local GC had and they sold it at clearance. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | They never really excited me much. I have acoustics and I have electrics and can switch them out when needed. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | That's what I found with the Duotone. Great guitar, but it sat while I played the acoustics or occasionally the electrics. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I don't know what VXT's you guys have tried, but I'd love to have one. I played on one for awhile in CT a few years back... and for an electric player it's really got some sound. My favorite position was blending just a little of the saddle pickup in with the bridge pickup. Also heard someone else doing just the opposite by using just a little neck humbucker with the saddle... Freak'n amazing tone.
Also, the $900 ones have been our for about a year... Aren't they the solid color ones? I could be wrong, but I seem to recall a lower priced one that hit the street about a year ago. I recall it cause a guy at the guitar show this time last year had a regular VXT and he was ticked that that lowered the price so he was going to make ZERO on the one he had. |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | A friend of mine bought one a year or two ago. He wasn't very impressed with it. He experimented with different strings on it and finally found a set that makes the guitar sound much better. He's very happy with it now. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I wasn't that impressed with the acoustic sound either, until I heard Matt Smith play one At Amelia last year. With eyes shut, I would never have never known that it wasn't a full-on acoustic. The sets I play are primarily acoustic, but occasionally, they toss us some gritty electric pieces in between and there is no time to switch guitars. This is when I use the VXT and all it takes is a slight adjustment of the pickup pan knob, a few stomps on the pedals to bypass the Zoom and kick in the Keeley Blues Driver, and the resulting tone difference is like night and day. It isn't for everybody, but it is a darn nice guitar that works for these types of situations, and the workmanship is top notch. |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | IMHO, I think it's funny looking - there's something about the shape/curves that just doesn't flow for me. Too much Bootay - junk in the trunk. Based on that I wouldn't consider it.
I might be accused of heresy, but I think the T5 is a much better looking guitar. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret |  |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Ow! Who threw that rock!?!? |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret |  |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "I wasn't that impressed with the acoustic sound either."
I've heard this and frankly agree... but as soon as I stopped trying to make it sound like something it wasn't... and instead use the Humbuckers and Saddle to create sounds based on what it is... I was VERY impressed.
Both the T-5 and the Duotone are guitars for Acoustic players to sound a little more electric.
The VXT for me, is an electric guitar that can shred... but can also get some killer clean tones you just can't achieve with standard pickups.
I'll probably add the Fishman saddle and pre-amp to my Carvin with a blend control for that same effect. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I wanted to try one with single coils
Could not findone to try |
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December 2004
Posts: 65
Location: Phoenix | I've had mine a year now, got it from Al. I've played out with it a fair bit in club settings in a full rock/dance band. The electric sound is as good as any electric I've played, though admittedly I play mostly rhythym. The acoustic sound...well, it's OK. Doesn't sound like my older 1868 Elite, but I think it could sound close if I could take more time to EQ (I go into a DI box then into the board, but don't often have time for much of a sound check).
It's a well made guitar, holds tune well, it's lightweight, has good sustain, and looks good. I would not have paid full price for a new one though, even considering it's an American-made guitar (I bought a demo one from Al).
Is it as good as a more-expensive Les Paul? Probably. But then again, there are less-expensive imports that play almost as well (if not as well).
IMHO, Ovation's marketing has let this model (if not the rest of the company) down. It took some savvy marketing to make the whole world believe that rockers only play Les Pauls, or blues players only play Strats, or blugrass pickers only play Martins. If Ovation aggressively marketed their products, maybe offered the VXT with custom models from day one...
I'll shut up now. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I dropped the hammer on a VXT Standard from Al
I'll pick it up when ready in a day or 2. |
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September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
"I wasn't that impressed with the acoustic sound either."
I'll probably add the Fishman saddle and pre-amp to my Carvin with a blend control for that same effect. I have a DC400 with the Fishman. I have never been able to get anything resembling an acoustic sound out of it, even ran through my Yamaha Acoustistomp. But it does add some interesting dynamics to the buckers with a little twist of the knobs. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I think Mr. Ovation is right, accept it for what it is, and you'll make some great sounds. I wish I had the extra scratch for some of the $800 popping up. If I had the money I'd snatch one in an instant. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | You know? It's the dumbest thing: I just sold mine to Waskel because every time I get my hands on anything electric, I'm reminded that I can't make them sound even half decent. So why do I read a thread like this and think that maybe I should get another one? Like Stan Rogers said..."I'm an idiot!"  |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Patch:
maybe I should get another one ... aka TJ syndrome! ;) |
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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
... aka TJ syndrome! ;) I'm impressed! It takes a master to sarcasto-slap two people with the same statement. ;)
Does Jim know there's a disease named after him? And more importantly, does he know it's contagious? :eek: |
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December 2004
Posts: 65
Location: Phoenix | It seemed to help the acoustic sound when I strung it with medium Chrome Jazz flats, by the way. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Got mine today,
A VXT Standard.
I noticed that I had to change my playing style to account for the sustain. Once I did the acoustic sound is not bad. I was plugged into Fender Champ 600 low gain channel.
Does it sound like $2000 acoustic?
Well no but certainly sounds like an $800 to $1000 acoustic.
The SP-90 pickups sound great on the electric side. Blending gives it some very nice sounds. |
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Deals on VXT models
