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Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Hello everyone. With all the talk on here about Korean made Ovations, I got to thinking. How much does it actually cost to make an Ovation in Korea? I just bought my nephew a CC01 model for 229 dollars. I really wonder how much the wood and materials cost Ovation. I realize Korean labor is cheap, but I am more concerned about how much the actual materials cost to make a Celebrity guitar. I find this very interesting, please tell me what you know about it. Thanks ....Paul Hebert |
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Posts: 147
| I remember reading Nike paid Korea $3 for a pair of Nike’s retailing for $50 in the US. If this translated to guitars then a CC01 at $399 retail would cost Ovation about $24 FOB Korea.
Mike |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I have been to Korea and my previous employ had an office there. I think the biggest difference is the Labor costs. Also the value (or lack there of on any given day) of the dollar against the WON is a big factor. I too would be curious what the difference in materials cost is for a complete guitar between Korea and the US. I would not be surprised to see a lot less variation in the cost of the materials from one place to another than one might think. I guess what I'm saying is that I think you pay for the craftsmanship of a USA Made guitar more than the parts, but it's not that simple either I'm sure. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | A Yugo is rubber, plastic and steel.
A BMW is rubber, plastic and steel.
A Ferrari is rubber, plastic and steel. |
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Location: Ct./ USA | In my opinion the biggest cost in making an Ovation is really not the labor. It really is the price of quality and the cost of material, in necks it's mahogany, maple, walnut, ect the right cosmetics, no knots, worm holes,timbercracks, and the associated scrap to build a neck of the higest quality to meet the goals of our venders and players. As far as the labor is concerned, we are pretty efficent in producing per hour production. Also here in America we give a dam about the enviroment. We recycle what we can. We comply with the DEP.We comply with OSHA. Now you tell me that they do that in Korea! It is not cheep in America because here we treat people as craftsmen and craftswoman.We need insurance to be able to work today and tomorrow.Kaman treats us very fairly!
Clear tops have to be free of defects and in top of the line gutiars tight grained. Graphite is made in an aerospace enviroment. They have strict guidlines to follow. We buy wood, but we have to build an instrument out of it. I could go on and on so e-mail me. |
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Location: NJ | doug
some very good points. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Doug, some good points. I'm begining to think maybe it's just the mass-produce ability than the labor that makes the difference. Although I have not been to the Korean factory (next tour maybe) I'd guess it's a pretty high-tech facility, all computer operated and the employees very well paid. As far as the materials I'd say about the only difference is the woods, although some asian woods are stronger, and the electronics are the same. The difference in price may just be the ability to mass produce, as opposed to the hand-made assembly line.
I really wonder how many companies share the same factory too??? I have heard that there is one company that makes most of the import electric solidbodies we see like Kramer, BC Rich, Schecter, Ibanez, etc... |
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| Miles
The big three Korean guitar Mfg.’s are Samick, Cor-Tek and Alvarez. Samick and Cor-Tek also have factories in Indonesia. I think Cor-Tek is making acoustics for Fender and Ibanez and electrics for Fender, Ibanez and Hamer. This is just a guess but I think Samick is making the Ovations. Samick is largest guitar maker in the world. They make 60 guitars per minute, 720 per hour, 1,380,000 per year, and 4000 different models under 400 different brand names. That's over half of all guitars made each year!
Mike |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Mike
If that's true, the image of the Ovation founders trying to match or exceed the sound of a quality acoustic kinda disappears in the mists of time. Factories punching out thousands of wooden ghosts of guitars past is a little scary. Do we treat them like chopsticks and discard them after each gig?
Bailey :eek: |
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Location: Connecticut | The question really is what would you do if the Top of the line Models were made next year in Korea. Is it the quality or craftmenship suffering or our ego. It is a Fact that most items made got their origination in the USA. Cars, most electronic devices, and almost each everyday item in our home. The issue is Americans don't like when we loose jobs to a forien market because they produce it faster nad cheaper. Notice I did not say better. I wonder did Japan say Honda's are not as good today because they are now built in America. Yes they are because we tried to slow the import by imposing a higher inport tax. This changed there thoughts to have them built in the USA. I regress back to the Ovations. You like the older models because it might have been what you were first introduce to and then as you became a better player you tried to find the perfect sound. This is where the Deep bowels came in. They had the best sound at the time. But because of technology, materials and craftmenship. The shallower bowels started to sound much better than before, and combine this with the electronic imporvements you have a great guitar. We all like Ovations for different reasons and it should be that way. I'm not a marketing person. But People see Eric Clapton or Keith Richard with a certian type of guitar. They think hey if I get one of those one day I could play like them. I can't say honestly one day I want to sound like Melissa or Glenn. Get Creed, Avril, Santana, Matchbox 20 or some other bands that people see to start playing these guitars. Then you may see more in stores to meet a demand you created. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Redsox1924
You have touched on a theme that weaves in and out of this board, and that is, is there something about an American guitar that makes it better? I question whether a wealthy Korean would buy a Korean made Ovation. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "I question whether a wealthy Korean would buy a Korean made Ovation."
I'm not sure I understand the question. If they wanted an inexpensive Celeb Ovation, that's what they would buy. If they wanted a top'o-line Ovation (USA MADE), that's what they would buy. I don't think that changes based on where you live. |
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Location: Ct./ USA | Too MSB'S Comments;
WHEW, I did not realize the magnitude of Samic ect. production in Korea. DAM IT. I feel like I work in a shell, a little box carving my 30 necks a day. Those numbers you quoted make me numb! No wonder they can bring down costs. The really big mass production of gutiars is to meet world demand? I hope they do not take my job away to feed some monster in Korea. I don't care what Ovation does to make my work seem eaiser, machine, more robot people what ever, I am STILL going to spend 10 to 12 min. to finish a neck,and remove ALL the RIDGES, SCRACHES, FILL ALL THE VOIDS, ROUND OUT THE RADIUS'S BLOCK SAND THE LUMPY GRAIN, APPLY THE FIRST COAT OF OIL, KEEP THE FINGERBOARD EDGE STRIGHT, FILL THE FRET VOIDS WITH LOCTITE AND UNTILL THEY TAKE THE LAST FRIGGEN PEICE OF MAHOGANY I AM GRIPPING WITH MY CARPEL TUNNELED FINGERED HANDS DAM IT USA IS STILL #1 :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Well said Doug. Guys like you make Ovation great. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I guess everyone is entitled to thier opinion. For the record, I (nor) Al is paid by Ovation for anything. We just happen to love the guitars. I spent enough years in the south pacific when I was younger to weigh-in an opinion on the MOB. Surfers + Guitar = GOod Thing.
As far as the rest of the post, I'm not sure it has anything to do with anything, as your %'s and such are very inaccurate along with most of the rest of the post.
Your opinions however, are welcome, as are you. Someone else will correct this inaccurate information in the post I'm sure.
Welcome to the board. | |
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Location: NJ | Jeeeez!
I hope you have your legal secretary types all of your briefs because your spelling and use of the English language BLOWS!
If this is the mindless flock of sheep that you purport that it is, then go somewhere else and bang your gavel where somebody actually gives a fuck at what you have to spew!
I for one find it hard to validate the opinion of someone who's career is being that of two parts lawyer, two parts politician, and one part whore!
Keep your opinions under your bench, you robe wearing hump!! | |
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Location: NJ | Y'know, I'll have to admit that this jagoff had me going at first. I thought "Okay, maybe this clown actually IS a judge up in CT and has some sort of "agenda" against Kaman/Ovation". Then when I saw how his posts just denegrated into just sheer mindless trash with no substance, I realized we're just dealing with one of those clowns who have nothing to do but hide behind a phony "profile" they've set up to get on the board and delude themselves into thinking there creating "havoc" with child-like repartee.
No wonder this clown got his ass kicked so much in school. Yank 'em off!! | |
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas | A word of thanks to the administrators of this board. There are some excellent posts here about guitars and playing music in general. The immediacy of the Internet allows for such meetings of like-minded people. Unfortunately, that immediacy also allows for small-minded people to have thier "fun" as well. The time spent adminstrating is greatly appreciated. And, thanks to the those who keep it interesting with your regular posts and pics in the gallery.
Thanks! | |
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Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | i think a number of us know who this "verdict" guy is. his m.o. gives him away. he's been here before, and if it's who i think it is we are witnessing an unfortunate misguided misuse of an intelligent mind. actually he had quite a collection of ovations himself. his bitterness is a personal thing and has erased rationality about what our board shares here. this board is about a musical brotherhood and not just ovations. i really feel sorry for the guy, and pity what his bitterness has turned him into.
sorry, i should have included the sisters in our "hood" too. by the way, how many sisters are in our club? | |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Boy, this guy verdicked (or should it be verdickless, didn't you love that line in GhostBusters?) sure seems to have a problem. He sounds alot like Dr. He He He who used to plague the site from time to time. One of the Jeckyl/Hyde type of guys who knew alot about Ovation and guitars and really contributed when he wanted to. Then he'd go of his meds and trash like this posting would come out. You never knew which you were going to get.
Wonder what set him off this time? Maybe Doug, you took his job? He secretly wants to be a neck shaper. Anyway, keep up the good work.
Al, Miles, I was going to use one of the icons to send a little message to this guy but noticed that there are only ones with thumbs, none with fingers. Is this something that can be added in the future? | |
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Location: The Shop | Bill you are to much!
By the way,we miss seeing yu around the shop.My wife said that she saw you at Harry's funeral,he was a good man.Hope to see you soon.
cms-man | |
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Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Verdict, lay of off the drugs. DAMN, at least if you are going to come in here and ramble not making any since at all, stay off of the drugs! | |
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How much does it cost to make an Ovation?
