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Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | I've only had the chance to play three Adamas guitars so far;
The Cobalt W-597 I bought last year, a Kaki King issue at a Guitar Center in West Knoxvile, and more recently, one of the OFC Adamai.
My Cobalt simply blew me away as did the OFC Adamas.
The Kaki King guitar sounded horrible in comparison, the $25 Appplause my son uses for his beater sounded better.
I'm sure it needed some new strings but it really didin't sound good at all, mybe there was something wrong with it who knows, but I seem to remember they had it priced at $1200 or so.
At any rate is anyone here has never played an Adamas, you are missing out.
I thought my Ovations sounded good but there is a distinct difference in the quality of sound these guitars produce (the Kaki I played notwithstanding< I really think there was something wrong with it). |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Something is not right there. The KK guitar is part of the line that gets such great raves (1581 series), and apart from the "manifold gasket" epaulets, it pretty much true to form. Secondly, $1200 is less than half the going price for that guitar and ought to get snatched up quickly at that price, especially at a GC showroom. I think these guitars list out at around $4K.
Which OFC Adamas did you try out ... the Slothead or the 2080 style? |
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September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | It may have been a little more but not much.
Maybe there was something wrong with it.
The OFC was newer 2080, AMAZING!
Edited by Michael R. Winters 2012-02-12 6:03 PM
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Michael, what was wrong with the KK guitar? Isn't it a mid depth bowl while the 1581's are deep (altho' that shouldn't make that much difference)..... |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Glad to see a dedicated Adamas forum.
So many on the forum are unable to play one...especially the earlier textured top ones. I highly recommend attending a regional get-together if one is available - you may have that opportunity to see what a superb instrument an Adamas is.
As to the KK, I have found great guitars that are almost unplayable after being mistreated at a guitar store...a little TLC and they sing.
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December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | I think adamas guitars are one of the best out there |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I am the proud owner of six Adamas guitars: both OFC models, a 1581 30th Anniversary, and three SSBs - an 1881, a prototype wood topper, and my custom 1187. If I had to cut it to one, it would be the 1187 SSB, my primary gigging guitar. The 1187 has the smallest neck of all my guitars, even the ES-335. This can make it tight for chords, but perfect for lead lines with my small hands. I don't use the boost button as much as I thought I would because I prefer to activate volume boost from the pedal board. Boise Mark stopped by a few weeks ago and had a chance to try it out.
Edited by ProfessorBB 2012-02-13 12:33 PM
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Prof, can you post some pictures of your 1187. Always up for a bit of guitar porn.
I'm the proud owner of 3 Adamas guitars. My favourite is the 08C. To make that perfect I would have added a carved headstock and made it red. This is the one I'd grab in a fire (if I only had one free hand). The 1680 (which some people think is the best Adamas ever) is a bit behind the 08C in my mind (when I'm playing) but does sound great when you're sitting in front of it. The 12 string 1685 has had a hard life (before I had it) but the neck restoration and reset by The Wizz has it playing (and sounding brilliant). The only way I'd let this go was if it was to grab a 1688. All are fantastic guitars. |
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Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | #43 has nice jangle and sustain |
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Call it BLASPHOMY .... but I own all 3 ADAMAS WOOD TOP guitars.
1681-WT (non cutaway, single epi, OP-PS, deep round glass bowl, no hatch)
2581-WT (cutaway, single epi, OP-PS, contour glass bowl no hatch)
2685-WT (cutaway 12-string, single epi, OP-PS, contour glass bowl no hatch)
These guitars are WONDERFUL sounding instruments combining the warmth of a wooden guitar with the clear precision tone of an Adamas.
For the traditionalists out there, I've also got a "few" textured topped Adamas guitars of various age, color and configuration. I've tried a few smooth topped Adamas over the years but to me they have all sounded like crap compared to a wooden guitar.
Edited by Standingovation 2012-02-14 12:12 AM
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Mike, I played that same KK Adamas at the Guitar Center in west Knoxville. I thought it sounded OK. Not nearly as good as I expected. I think the best sounding Adamas is the 1680 followed by the UTE. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | elginacres - 2012-02-13 9:36 PM #43 has nice jangle and sustain "Nice" is putting it mildly. Forever is a more accurate. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | richard.parker - 2012-02-13 5:56 PM Prof, can you post some pictures of your 1187. Always up for a bit of guitar porn. 
In the photo below, the custom is on the right with the single Epi and cutaway. The other is StephenT's 30th Anniversary 47 Reissue. 
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Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | The #47 RI is my favorite. It sounds just a bit better than the OFC I. It may be that the preamp takes up a bit of space in the OFC or it might be the difference between the saddles. The OFC provides me with a #47 that I could plug in. Prof's custom gives him that, with a cutaway and shallow bowl. It's much more suited to all the performing he does.
The Ute is a different animal. It's got the volume of a deep bowl and the clarity of the textured top, but with a wider 12 fret neck. Fantastic finger style guitar, plugged in or not. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | While I like all of the Adamas guitars for sound, the one that speaks to me is actually the OFC II version of the 2080. For me, it's simply the best of every aspect of the Adamas from both a technical and tone perspective. While I have heard some excellent sounding wood guitars, I don't think I would ever own one. I'd rather have an Ovation at any level than a wood guitar. I just can't wrap my head around the sound of wood. Now don't get me wrong, there are times when it sound right. The other night on the Grammy's there was a couple that came center stage and played a very bluegrass, old-school country tune. It would not have sounded as correct with an Adamas. They were going for a "sound" of yesteryear and nailed it. While neat, that is not my cup'o tea. As for the high-end acoustics of the wood variety, I have played a few, and while some of them have aspects that are just amazing, they inevitably fall short of an Adamas in some way. Either they don't sound the same all the way up the neck, or they are more bass the high's or more high's then bass, or the neck isn't as comfortable, or or or or they just don't compare. |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Thanks Prof, that sure is one fine looking guitar. The #47s are a real work of art. |
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September 2003
Posts: 815
Location: Colorado | richard.parker - 2012-02-14 9:33 PM Thanks Prof, that sure is one fine looking guitar. The #47s are a real work of art. That 1187 looks better in person...it plays really nice, too. |
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Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | No exaggeration: I have converted half a dozen hard core 'wood box only' guitar players over to Adamas guitars. They came to my house, balked at my A's and then (those silly boys) ... they played them. By the time they left they were asking me to let them know if I ever sold them, because they wanted them! Seriously. Like Alex says, they just don't get the respect they deserve (except maybe on these forums of course) and I just don't understand why. Screw the 'they're plastic' b.s. ... it's about the sound and those fabulous, fabulous necks! And from the time I was a little girl, I always loved the way they look. I LOVE mine. All of them. I wish I could own an '08 and I miss the 1681 I sold. But I'll get another one someday .. hopefully. I agree with capo guy. The 1680 sounds the best, IMHO. It is my favorite.
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I suppose the UTE and the 1680 are fine guitars but they in no way compare to the original slotheads.......
which is why the last ones sold in the 13,000 range and the next one to show up (if ever) will probably be in the 15,000+ range....bad economy or not. |
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May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Hey, Stephen! I have never even seen an original slot head in person, let alone played one. Coming from you, whose opinion I value very much (because I think you're a very talented fella), I have no doubt that the original slot heads are 'da bombs' and without a doubt, surely sound incredible. I personally enjoy the 1680 for a variety of reasons, including the wider nut width, fabulous 12 fretted neck and well, best of all ... the sound. Oh, and she's GORGEOUS, too! Then, again, I don't think I've ever seen an Adamas I didn't think was gorgeous ...
Willa |
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July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Willa: Remember the originals have something no others can have....age....and years of playing in order to open up. StephenT is of course - correct again! What else would you expect from Colorado! |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Gimmie another 30 years and my 08C will have the mojo of an original slothead (along with new frets). |
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May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Yeah, Elginacres, you are right, of course I have a few vintage beauties ... love them all. Tafkar, I'm envious of your '08C. You're so lucky to own one.
Willa |
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Posts: 489
Location: California | Hope one day to play an original  |
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I can't believe I'm the 1st one to post on this :)
