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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by rlovison:
The 2778 isn't a $5000 plus Taylor and if my 2778AX needed a neck reset, I'd buy a new guitar.
Richard That was my point... An LX is designed to Keep.
The AX is a throw-away guitar.
BTW-- Taylors have bolt-on necks.
Which look remarkably similar to USA Ovation neck attachments.
I cannot find the photo I was looking for... but here is one from The Wizz that sorta shows the similarity...
I cannot find a photo of an LX neck joint, and I ain't gonna take one of mine apart to show you...
But USA Ovations had/have a repairable neck joint for much less than $5000.
And yes, I know that a well-made guitar should not need a neck reset for a long time...
But the fact that AX's and Celebrity's are made in a way that is unrepairable does not give me confidence that they are made to last a long time. Yes, they don't cost $5000, but $600+ for an AX is still a lot of money to a lot of people. |
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Joined:
October 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Massachusetts | Thanks for posting the photographs.
I called KMC Music and asked if the 2778AX could have its neck reset. I was told it could and any authorized Ovation repair shop should be able to do it. I was also told that it had a lifetime warranty though of course labor and materials for the first two years and just materials after that. Since I only paid $338 for it new, I doubt I would pay to have a neck reset after two years as the cost would probably be more than what I paid. Of course, that might change if I become attached to it. :)
When I asked why the decision was made to change to a dovetailed joint, the tech said he didn't know as they are not told the reasons for design changes.
I'm more interested in the playability and quality of sound in a guitar but if both are the same in the LX and AX models, I would have preferred an LX. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by rlovison:
Of course it's more difficult to repair than a bolt on neck but geez, usually when you need a neck reset isn't this due to some problem in the soundboard causing the bridge to rise?
Richard [/QB] The last photo posted by OMA (from the Wizz) is my 12 string, which The Wizz refretted and re-set the neck. It's an Adamas and the top is as flat as a marathon runner's belly. It's an early '80s model and probably has another 25 years worth of running in it. |
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Joined:
October 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Massachusetts | I'm not sure what the true feelings are that are being expressed in some of the posts in this thread but I'll try and clarify mine a bit more.
First off, I do not consider my new 2778AX to be "Asian junk" nor do I consider it a "throw away guitar". Each one of those phrases carries a lot of baggage. I do understand the sentiment that some prefer Ovation guitars to be constructed in the U.S. and that the quality may have suffered due to outsourcing the manufacturing to Asia. I actually feel the same way and have the same concerns but until the rest of the world catches up to our standard of living (or we fall to theirs :) ), these are the kinds of problems that won't be going away any time soon. I don't know the reasons why Ovation shifted the manufacturing of some of their guitars overseas but quite possibly if they hadn't, Ovation might have ceased to exist and we would be without the guitars we have so grown to love.
Anyway, with whatever years I have left to live I doubt I'll need to reset the neck on the 2778AX and most likely if I continue playing to the degree I am now, I'll probably be looking for a more expensive guitar within a few years as my skills increase. In the short period of time that I've owned the 2778AX, I've grown attached to it, loving the sound as well as how it feels when I play it. It has been a welcome replacement for my almost 40 year old Balladeer and I'm extremely grateful for being able to find a guitar of this quality at such a reasonable price.
Our world is a strange place. The art of making anything and quality of craftsmanship is continuing to decline due to the way our financial system works. For most it's all about money, survival and competition, isn't it? And now the world seems to be ruled by people who make money by producing nothing. Oh well.
Richard |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4536
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by rlovison:
And now the world seems to be ruled by people who make money by producing nothing. Oh well.
Richard We should go back to the good ol' feudal societies when you could get rich just being a peasant. |
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Joined:
October 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Massachusetts | Originally posted by dark bar:
We should go back to the good ol' feudal societies when you could get rich just being a peasant. Nah, how about we move forward and try to imagine something more compassionate and cooperative than what we have now? :) I sure like my new Ovation standard elite. :D |
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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Great replies, and reasoning, from Richard, but as a "soon to be Ovation owner", I can't help but think that if I get a Korean made one, I'll always wonder how much better the USA guitars are, and also will have to put up with people always telling me "oh you have an ovation, ah yeah but it's not a real one is it.."
I know that's not THAT important...but it's there |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Design-wise, the biggest difference between the US and Asian O's is the CNC neck. So now you can get an O for $500-600 less than you used to.
If I may make a comparison: My wife and I bought a 3yr old Chrysler T&C with 30k mi. for $10k. My daughter and her husband bought a 3yr old Honda Odessy with 30k mi. for $26k. The Honda is a better van and will probably last for more trouble-free miles than my T&C. But I could afford to buy my van. My daughter and her husband make a lot more money than we do so they could afford the Honda.
Did I buy a junk van? No. Would I rather have a Honda? Yes. But I paid $16,000 less for what I have...and that's just fine with me.
These are not my only feelings about this subject, but this is a valid perspective. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I wish that my sig line in the Archives didn't update itself...
Not long ago I was the proud owner of a 4861 Korean Balladeer,
along with a CC44, a GC057, a CS257, a CC57...
Those were what I could afford, and they were great guitars.
I wish that I would see another CS255 SSB 12-String with an OP-30 when I have money.
I hope nobody was thinking that I was belittling anyone for buying Asian Ovations/Celebrity/Ultras.
But! If we are comparing a USA 2778LX with a Korean 2778AX (which I though we were) I want the LX.
If we were comparing a 1718 with a 1537... I'd want the 1537.
You get what you can afford.
I might also add that in the near future 2778LX's with be really scarce... They already are!
So all other things being equal.... :p |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 30
Location: Russia, Moscow | Just my 2 cents.
I haven't had a chance yet to compare 2778LX and AX side by side, but I've tried and owned several USA, Chinese, and Korean-made Ovations. Now I have CSD225, 2758AX and 2778AX.
2778AX has dovetail neck joint, like vintage Ovations had. Just look at the older Balladder or Pacemaker models. Craftmanship is very fine, I dont't have any complaints, but for some minor things. Most people will never pay attention to these things. The solid spruce tops are fine, bracing is made very accurately.
I played 1758, and I can say: 2078AX has more open and more 'acoustic' sound to my ears.
To make a long story short, these AX guitars are just good guitars for their price. These are just workhorses, you can rely on anytime and play them just everywhere. And if you need a neck reset, every skilled luthier will do that. |
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Stand Elite 2778 AX vs LX
