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April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | My Brand New Elite 1858 Custom Made 12 String Just Arrived This Morning at My Place of Business.
Man She Is SWEET!!! Ovation made this Guitar for me with a Mid Depth Bowl and a Transparent Blue Finish.
I've Been An Ovation Fan for Many Years-My First One Was a Glen Campbell Model 12 String( Man I miss that guitar)
Thru the years I've owned Washburn Guitars,A Fender Jumbo, Yamaha Guitars,an epiphoone 6 String(My actual First Guitar) All are gome now and Until Now all I've owned is a Seagull S6+ Cedar top Cutaway.
Now Finally, I'm an Ovation Owner again.:-)
next I'll have to find me a good deal On an Ovation 6 String.
I'll Try and Post Photos In The gallery Soon.
Steve |
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August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Congrats, Man!
I'm drooling...the guitar sounds like a gorgeous piece of work.
Enjoy...that baby will last you!
Johnny |
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Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Yeah, enjoy! Love to see the pics to check out the transparent blue finish.... :eek: |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| Congrats! Now, I've started looking into my getting my first 12 string about 2 weeks ago. and you left me hanging! What were you looking for in this one that say isn't in the custom legend models? How would you describe your unplugged sound? Picture! About how much more does this cost than the 1858 (about $1100 street)? How long did you wait? Let us know!! Congrats! |
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Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | In Considering what I wanted- I went with price consideration, I was impressed with the Multi-Sound configuration.
I was impressed with the acoustic sound of the 6 String mid depth elites,..but I wanted a 12 String. i always Knew from experience how Ovations sounded Plugged In, But I did'n want to plug in for practice or playing around the house.
Ovation made the modifications on the 1858 to my specs.
I wanted a Mid Depth Bowl, And before the order was placed decided on a finish change.
The Only reason I didn't go with The Custom-was the price.
I could've gone with a good used 12 string-but decided I wanted the Warranty.
It was just a matter of choosing the model I liked and getting it in a 12 String version.
Acousticly, The Sound Is Amazing- Plugged in It's Astounding.
The Custom Legend is a great guitar,..So is The Regular Legend for that matter.
Just remember if you are buying new- Ovation is glad to make a bowl depth change and a finish change if you want it.
It's all a matter of what you want.
Hope i answered your question.
Thanks,
Steve |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Tell them what you want & if it's possible they'll do it. My custom ordered Folklore has quite a lot of non-standard features, but everything I asked for for was done, very quickly, & the price was good. For those who complain about the lack of deep-bowl non-cuts, all you have to do is ask.
Congrats on your new guitar Steve. |
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April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Paul,
Thanks for the reply. It's good to hear from you.
We've never met But I feel i know you from your posts.
By the way The pics are now Posted in the Members Gallery.
Borrowed a Digital Camera to take the photos.
They might be a little grainy- but you guys will at least get the idea of how great this guitar looks.
The Even better thing is She Sounds a great as she looks! |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | That is one beautiful 12 string! Something about a blue 12 is just a wonderful thing. Congratulations Steve.
Just curious, how long did it take Ovation to build your guitar, from the order to delivery? |
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Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Paul,
Ovation 's projeced turnaround time was three Months-They got it ready in under the three month period.
Not Bad Uh?
Finish changes are pretty easy and inexpensive as long as you use a finish which they provide in house(Some of The Celebrity Finishes finishes are not done in the US-so they are not always available.
The bowl depth change was a piece of cake for them.
I'm really Pleased-She Sounds Wonderful.
Thanks for asking. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | It's good to hear about Ovation doing such good work.
I've always thought the the color blue makes for the best sound in 12 strings. I don't know why..... |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I was quoted 6 months & it was delivered in a little over 3. I recall a line in a Star Trek movie where Scotty tells Kirk that the way he keeps his reputation as a engineer is by grossly over-estimating repair times. |
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Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | True,..Very True! Ovation Came thru Though.
Mark Lamana helped with The custom order and was very helpful.
I did go thru a dealer in Colorado via the web for the best price on this custom job.
however keep in mind that anyone of our Fanclub Members including Al will probably give you a great deal, especially if you mention you're an ofc member.
The great part about Al from what I understand is not only can he get you a new Ovation,..he's got some real neat prototypes too !
I had to give hime a plug-cause he's such a nice guy. |
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Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Al???? Nice???? Well, if you say so... |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| Steve, Looks great!! Thanks for your commentary in how you put this baby together. OK, so how does one begin this process of customizing? What's the first step? I'd like to know if I can get what I'm looking for .... for the price I'm looking for! |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | my damn image gets skewered all the time. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Hey Al:
It could be worse. Somebody could post a pic of you dressed like a girl! Or even worse, pretending to be a politician. |
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Posts: 299
Location: Netherlands | Steve, beautiful guitar! I've never owned a 12-string, but i'd like to have one...
Martin |
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Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | That's a very pretty guitar Steve!
I had 'em do my Custom-Custom Legend 12 back in 1990 (Again, back before marriage, kids, and when I had some disposeable income).
I seem to remember it took 'em right at three months to do, and the price was very considerable in order to get a one-off piece, I think a $150 or $200 above the regular cost.
Actually, I have to admit this now, I'm sure the statute of limitations has expired by now :) but the guitar was shipped to me priced as a 6 string Custom Legend, significantly less than a 12 to begin with and again, less than the cutom-build price. Forgive me guys, but I didn't complain :)
I ordered it the week before I went to Parris Island for boot camp and I remember getting a letter from my mom just before I graduated that the guitar had come in.
Also, when the guitar came into the shop where I ordered it, the owner showed it to a lady who was looking at a Custom Legend 6 for her husband. She said she wanted it but he told her it was a custom built guitar for another customer. She pulled out her checkbook, and told him to put whatever he wanted for the amount that she had to have it. He declined.
It is my 2nd favorite of my three Ovations right behind my dad's 68 Deluxe Balladeer he gave me a year before he was killed in a car accident.
I cherish them all though and I spread the word on Ovations whenever I can. I've had a few friends buy O's after playing mine. |
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Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Thanks for all the comments.
To Get a custom Job Done -First decide what kind of Model you are looking for.
Once that's decided--if you would like to-Decide any Bowl Depth changes-Preamp changes if you would like to do any changes.(I choose to stay with the OP40) and Finally any finish change you would like ifit's not already listed as a finish listed as avialable for the particular model you've chosen in the catalogue.
Next- Call or Email Ovation( My Contact was Mark Lamana)
They can give you the pricing for the changes wanted--
The price I was Quoted(Retail Mind you) For Bowl Change was $150,...Finish change on in stock colors offered at the factory--$75.00.
If they have to mix the colors to try and get a different type finish-They'll charge Extra For That.
Mind you These Prices were quoted to me in Late March.
So you'll still need to check with them -just in case they've had to make any Price Changes,
After that's done and you've got an idea of what you'd like to do--
Contact Your Ovation Dealer or any authorized Ovation Dealer(My Deal was done Thru BPM Music in Grand Junction Colorado-Simply because they gave me a better deal than I could have gotten thru my Local dealer--Website www.bpmmusic.com--It gives a toll Free Number and you can call
Dwight Erricson-He's the one who did my deal)
If you can find a beter deal-go with it--
at any rate the Ovation dealer will Process the order for you.-You will Need Half Of Your Projected street Cost-Put down before they start work on your guitar.
The way I did it was Half Down--Then periodic payments until payed in full.
When it's ready-if your Guitar is already payed in full- Ovation will ship it directly to you From New Hartford. If Not The Dealer will Ship it to you when it's payed.
That's the way it worked for me and I hope many of you will have the opportunity to have at least one done -just the way you want it.
It's Kinda Like Burger King- Have it Your Way!!
(Only Not as Messy and Not as Fattening LOL)
Hope this helps!
Thanks again for all the Kind Posts-If anyone has anything to ad--it would be welcome!
Thank You Ovation,..OVation Fan Club, and of Course BPM Music In Grand Juction Colorado-For Helping Make My Vision A Reality. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | You really should contact a dealer FIRST to get the custom order guitar speced out and priced. |
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Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Al,
Great Point to keep in mind for the future! But since this was my first order- i needed a Ball Park figure for the changes i wanted.
I already new the Street price (unchanged) of the 1858(I had Ovations catalouge and retail price list) and had casually asked the dealer i was communicating with about a custom order-but thay had never done a custom order before.
So i emailed ovation- they emailed the prices for the changes- i then forwrded it to the dealer-and we got the wheels turning that way.
they in turn were able to get up with their Ovation contact- and there you go.
If my local dealers street prices hadn't been so High-I'd have used them. In fact, That's one of the First Places i went to play some models.
In this day and age the consumer will always go with the best or what he deems the fairest price for what he wants to purchase.
I was kinda just learning and testing the water
on this particular model.
Al, like i said I think you bring up a very good point--I only wish you had been the local dealer instead of the One here.
Because you own Ovations already-You 's a had a better clue about how to go about the process and you would'nt have tried to Stick it to the customer.(The Local Dealer here does this on guitars on a routine basis)
When you know what retail is-and they only offer you $150 off retail, then want you to buy a case.
That's just a little extreme-don't you think.
Anyway, i've rambled enough.
Thanks Al for your input. It helps to educate me on possibly a better process to go thru for the next time!
Take Care |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | While I'm absolutely NOT trying to blatantly blow Al's horn (. . .or anything ELSE of his for that matter!), but while were on this tack, Al can be a very, VERY useful resource in matters such as this. Al seems to spend an innordinate amount of time at the factory.
So, . . even if you lived way out in the middle of Bumblefuck, Iowa (not to offend any Bumblefuckians out there) and were planning on a custom order (or even just a new model), you'd be MUCH better served by our own Alberto than some puttz at Guitar Center that doesn't know dick about Ovations (or even LIKES them, for that matter!), doesn't give two shits about your order, and will be a less-than-average "go between" with you and the Mother Ship. Those advantages (and having the piece of mind that an answer can be a few keyboard strokes away) FAR outweigh any additional shipping charges that may (or may not) be incurred.
Something to consider.
. . . . okay Al, that's ONE . . . two more "plugs" and I get a deal on that Elite T shallow bowl, right? :D |
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August 2003
Posts: 396
| You guys are a real fountain of info! Normally the new ovations are 25-30% below list for a good enough deal, is that a ridiculous expectation for the price of the custom details? If Ovation says their retail on the custom work is say $300, would a fair deal be 10, 20, or 30% off the custom work? Ideas? |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The cost of custom upgrades are determined by the factory. The sale has to go through a dealer, so any reduction will be be down to whatever discount the dealer is prepared to offer. Generally if a guitar is inventory tying up cashflow you'll get a better deal than a special order, so it's not really a valid comparison. I also don't think it's reasonable to expect a dealer to cut his margins to the bone on something that is essentially unique. If you want an off-the-peg standard production guitar you can shop around for the best deal because everyone has them & needs to move them, but not on a one-off custom order. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Cliff
I do spend too much time at the factory, it is an excuse to go visit some friends too!!!
In fact I will be there Monday. Need me to pick you up anything??????? |
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My New Baby Has Arrived!
