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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | As Ovation owners we don't how how lucky we've got it. Over the past week I've been in frequent touch with a dealer (non-ovation) about ordering a guitar. It's a standard issue guitar, just made in small quantities so nobody stocks them. This is a very well known and reputable dealer of this brand of guitars.
Anyway, I want to order the stock guitar but I do NOT want the pickguard. Yes, I know I could just peel it off my self. But this is an expensive guitar and I don't want to take any chances of residual discoloration, etc. So I asked to just order it with no pickguard and if it costs a few bucks extra for their troubles, that's OK. Basically it would be like ordering a Country Artist and asking Ovation to omit the truss rod cover. No big deal, right?
Well, turns out that this makes it a complete "custom order". So I've got to fill out this huge long spec sheet with every single frigging spec, dimension, and finish on it. They definately are thorough. So I copy/paste all of it from the normal spec list for this model, but specify that I want no pick guard. Spec sheet goes off back to the dealer.
Friday I get the price quote via email. Which I'm amazed because it was only 2 days since I sent in the details. So far I'm extremely impressed with thoroughness AND speed of response. This is looking very promising. Until I read the quote. They want an $845. UP charge over the standard issue guitar to not install a pickguard. HUH? Ok, to be fair this is on top of an already pretty high standard price. But $845. you must be kidding.
I don't mean to dump on the company because I really do like their guitars. I suspect this is some computerized quoting thing (that's why it was so fast), and as soon as I can talk to a real human the price of a pickguard deletion will become much more reasonable (free?). But I post this weird story just to point out how lucky we are to deal with a company like Ovation and Kaman, and dealers like Al and some others. We should not take this for granted.
Dave
PS - Don't bother emailing me and offering to remove the pickguard for $250. Ha ha that's really funny. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | if it is the company I am thinking of, then I am only 2 hours away. You want me to go up and give them what for ????
I also have some emails of people that you may go to.
E mail me |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Dave,
Do you know the price of a "custom order" whithout the neck??? :D
J ;) |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Truth IS sometimes stranger than fiction....
That kind of upcharge indicates a fairly expensive guitar to begin with, which suggests handmade in limited production numbers. Just how hard IS it to say to the right person, "Leave the pickguard off that one."?
Yes, you are right on concerning Ovation's customer service and what can be done via Al. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 146
Location: Germantown, MD | Okay, nobody else has picked up on it, so I guess I've got to.
Dave, I'd feel awful charging you $250 to remove the pickguard. I'd do it for $200. ;)
John |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | I'm trying to figure out why he'd want an Improv without the pickguard?
;) |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 253
Location: New Orleans | I like an acoustic guitar without a pickguard too because I feel that not having it allows the top to vibrate more freely and I don't really care for the look of a pickguard anyway. I've often wondered if the Ovation epaulets limit the vibration of the top. I dont know, but that's why I opted for an Elite 1778T...the top has total 'freedom'. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Dave,
I'll Remove the Pickgaurd for $150! ;) |
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Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 127
Location: Corvallis, OR | Geez - If they want that much extra when you don't want a pickgaurd, just think how much they would charge if you didnt want the whole guitar! |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Makes sense to me. Without the pickguard to hide the knots in the wood they have to use better wood for the top.
I've always disliked pickguards on acoustics; it makes the top look lopsided. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...ever try to get a price cut when ordering a sandwich and telling them to "hold the mayo"?... yeah, right ! |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | You don't want the p/g on the guitar at all because the adhesive attacks the lacquer and there will be marks left on the finish. You do need to talk to a real person and get the real price. Maybe you need to try that little company down in Austin Texas, their p/gs come in the pocket of the case and you put them on if you want. |
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Interesting "Special Order" Story
