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Will Ovation Survive in Japan?

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arumako
Posted 2014-10-06 8:18 AM (#494716)
Subject: Will Ovation Survive in Japan?



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1034

Location: Yokohama, Japan		It's been a long time since I walked into a music store, but my son was thinking about getting an amp for his acoustics; so we decided to head out to one of the more prominent music stores in the area. When we got back to the acoustic guitar section of the store, I was really pleased to see Ovation being displayed with Taylors and Martin's. Despite all that's happened, Ovation still is a respected name in Japan.

Of course, I asked the clerk to let me test the amps with an Ovation, so he unlocked the anti-theft device and brought a brand new black beauty Celebrity Elite CE44P-5 that was selling for (after yen to dollar exchange) $898.00. There was a Koa (for 150 bucks more) and a Padauk model (same price as the first one) displayed right next to the black one, and they were the most beautiful looking guitars on the whole wall...but there were no Adamii, and obviously no U.S. New Hartford Os on display.

But when I played this guitar, I was stunned with horror. The construction, setup, just everything felt wrong about this guitar. The fingerboard was not flush to the soundboard (the gaps were quite obvious), and the neck angle was way off making the action of the guitar quite high for even an Asian Ovation...no sustain...none of the punchy mids and sparkling highs...I couldn't believe it, so I looked at the others and they were no different. One had a headstock that was obviously glued to the neck (something that would have been sold as a "Refurbished" guitar several years ago is now okay to sell as new).

My 2008 iDea was made in the same country that these Os were made in, but my CC54i sounds and plays better than these newer models. Anybody who walks into the store interested in an "O" will certainly walk out of that store never wanting to own one - just as expensive as competitive brands, but poorly constructed, hard to play and horrible sound... If Ovation does not get some Os from New Hartford on the music store shelves in Japan; in a year or two, I don't think we'll see Os in Japan at all.

But then, we can buy the mock Os from Alibaba via mail order. They come from the same country and from what I can see, the quality is... well anyway...jeez, bring the Mother Ship back...

Edited by arumako 2014-10-06 8:21 AM
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2014-10-06 1:59 PM (#494725 - in reply to #494716)
Subject: Re: Will Ovation Survive in Japan?



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR		$898 for a Celebrity? ouch!
They are only $500 or so online.

Also... I have owned many Celebrity's that were okay guitars.
But they surely didn't cost that much.
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arumako
Posted 2014-10-06 9:49 PM (#494736 - in reply to #494716)
Subject: Re: Will Ovation Survive in Japan?



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1034

Location: Yokohama, Japan		Thanks for commenting OMA. I apologize for my Celebrity bashing. My son and I own 1 each and they are both good guitars. Many of my friends own them and swear by them too. In Japan, it seems that they are trying to price point the Celebrity's to fill the gap in the market that used to be filled by the New Hartford Os. Combined with the fear of seeing Ovation fizzle out of the market completely, brought out the fatalist in me. Sorry!
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alpep
Posted 2014-10-07 8:10 AM (#494741 - in reply to #494716)
Subject: Re: Will Ovation Survive in Japan?


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582

Location: NJ		imho it is hard to compare the usa built stuff to the imports
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muzza
Posted 2014-10-07 9:29 AM (#494745 - in reply to #494716)
Subject: RE: Will Ovation Survive in Japan?



Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736

Location: Sunshine State, Australia

UNLESS you can find one of the old Ovations that were made in Japan.  They were awesome. I can't remember when they were made there, but the quality was top notch.

One of the local music shop owners here reckons they were actually better quality than the US ones of the same era.

I can't say personally, as ALL of my O's have come fron NH. Only had one bad one - and I only bought that one about 3 hours ago. (AJ's LX Legend... what a mess)



Edited by muzzlitebeer 2014-10-07 9:35 AM
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Alanbama
Posted 2014-10-07 11:17 AM (#494746 - in reply to #494716)
Subject: Re: Will Ovation Survive in Japan?



Joined:
January 2012
Posts: 41

Location: Birmingham, Al.		I have owned USA Ovations. A Glen Campbell and an Elite Custom. This has been some years ago and they were flawless guitars. Last year I purchased an Elite 1778TX-5. It's made in Korea and is a very fine instrument. When my current financial situation improves I will be getting a USA model but for now the 1778 is wonderful. It's sad to hear the news out of Japan though!
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arumako
Posted 2014-10-11 7:47 AM (#494850 - in reply to #494741)
Subject: Re: Will Ovation Survive in Japan?



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1034

Location: Yokohama, Japan
muzza - 2014-10-06 11:29 PM

UNLESS you can find one of the old Ovations that were made in Japan.


I've played some MIJ Pinnacles. They are certainly good guitars, and they are constructed with great care. The Japanese are really good with quality construction. The 3862 is a cross between the super shallow Legend and a Std. Balladeer, but my 1861 seems to resonate much better. The 3862 sounds closer to my sons A-braced 1861. I wonder if they made non-Pinnacle models in Japan?

alpep - 2014-10-06 10:10 PM

imho it is hard to compare the usa built stuff to the imports


"Hard" might be the ultimate understatement. None of the imports I've heard even come close to my "bottom-of-the-line" X-braced 1861 Std. Balladeer made in NH (not to mention Adamii).
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