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November 2002
Posts: 30
| I found this forum while searching for some info on Ovation guitars. Last year I bought a Fender American Standard Tele, Ash, with maple neck, a beautiful guitar, but it just didn't for me what I wanted. Guy who sold it to me wanted an Ovation, so did I, but I bought his Fender instead. Well it's a year later and I find myself grapsing at my Ibanez "Lawsuit" more than ever.
The part I'm getting to is this, I went to my local store, (where I live there is only one), and tried several new Ovations. The 1778T just stood out amongst them as the most clear, harmonically superior among them, including a 1991 Collector's which made me drool. The bottom line is the price, $1049.
I find online dealers with prices from $599 to $699 free shipping, case included. This store is known worldwide since the owner is the Fender setup guru. They do, and I must say, do wonderful setup work on their instruments. This cost is about $100. What kind of pricing do you guys/gals see our past our mountain range on these instruments? For goodness sakes retail is only $999. They said they'd work with me, and I've needled them to death to find out what "work with me is", ok, I'm definitely not cheap but I just don't want to get ripped off, what do you guys/gals think? |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | he gave you list price with case figure 30% off of that and you should get retail |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 30
| Thanks alpep, for some reason I just don't see this guy bending that far but I'll be going back in this week to do some final negotiating. I do understand he has a business to run, and I'm all for local buying but if I can buy for $600 on line, get him to do the setup for $100...then he can at least meet me half way between the two I figure. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | more like 799 not 600 in fact I misquoted the list it is 1100. |
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November 2002
Posts: 266
Location: Tampa, Florida | I agree with your assessment of the elite T. I thought it was a great guitar. You can buy the 1778T elite for $683 out the door w/ case at www.guitartrader.com. I would buy an Ovation online without hesitation. I feel the workmanship is excellent in general on Ovations and would feel confident the guitar I got would be good to go. Even the big online dealers (musicians friend) are selling them for $699 w/ case. Tell your dealer you want to support him, but hey, you are on a budget. Believe me, he will make a profit if he sells it for $700. I was quoted like $950 w/ case at my dealer who has one, but walked. I'm telling you, don't be afraid of buying an Ovation online. Just make sure you are dealing with a reputable dealer. I highly recommend guitar trader (they are a local shop located in San Diego) and have been happy with their service to me. good luck |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 30
| Just thought I'd update this post. Walked into my local store and guess what? The price tag had been changed to $1150 asking. I told the salesperson I really was interested but thought it was priced too high. He started into his high pitched car salesman routine, "Hey buddy, you ready to go home with this baby today?", yadda, yadda, yadda. I said, "I'm interested if you're price is interesting." He replies, "Well if you're ready to take it home NOW, I'll give you a price." After more of his routine, I'm like, "OK HOW MUCH!" "$925, that's today only, and only if you pay cash." Well needless to say I walked. I'm going to give it one more try before I quit, this time directly with the owner. I'll tell him flat out I can pick it up for $600-$700 and pay him to do a custom set up for $100 and still save alot. So wish me luck, my fingers have been itching. |
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November 2002
Posts: 266
Location: Tampa, Florida | Ricker, you must frequent the same dealer I do! I had the same experience today. The shop is on my way to one of the out of town hospitals I call on and had the only 1778T in the area. I had to stop in and indulge again today. It is truly a pleasure to play. I compared it to an adamas and still the 1778T won!
Anyway the sales guy was like "are you ready to take it home today?" I told him 3 times i needed to sell a guitar to buy this one but still the pushy thing. I told them their price of $900 was way steep. Oh, well their loss. I am not afraid of buying this guitar from a reputable online dealer. Think of it. They have free shipping and a 30 day guarantee. The guitar is $600 online. If I don't like it, I can send it back. Even if I pay $50 shipping to send it back, I can send back 6 guitars before I pay as much as the local guy. Plus I don't like their pushy routine, and won't buy a guitar from them. I go in there to look at Martins, Taylors, Taks, and Ovations. All of the models I inquire about are over $1000 list. They have no respect for the search most guitars players undertake whwn looking for a new guitar. All they want is to create an impulse sale.
BTW, since the kid at the store couldn't answer this, I have a question about the OP30 EQ. The saleskid told me to upgrade you had to "rewire" the guitar. I believe you can simply pop out the OP30 and pop in an OP40. Am I right?
thanks. Heres a link to the guitar trader listing for the 1778T in pewter.
http://www.guitartrader.com/itempg.icl?orderidentifier=ID1039140119...
Great pics! They also have the black and the super shallow T's. There are a lot of other sites out there with great prices. If you don't want to mailorder, another way to get a good price is to et price quotes and take a trip to a megashop like guitar center or sam ash. They will usually price match. Enjoy the search. It is part of the joy of playing guitar. |
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November 2002
Posts: 30
| I was told by my dealer that the OP30 would interchange with all the others without rewiring so I'm not sure now. Maybe someone else on the board knows. My dealer also told me that future preamps would be interchangable no prob. I'm giving it one more go tomorrow, and I'm sure of the outcome, I figure I'll give them this one chance and if nothing good comes of it, I'll never bother them again for a sale, I'll just take custom and setup work to them. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | the preamps are now modular and will interchange |
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1778T Elite ?
