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December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Several eMails, posts, and other conversations have led me to pose this question to the masses.
Do you know a place (most likely store) where you can see several model USA Ovations? Especially EliteT's and Adamas guitars.
The reason is that although I know one store that occasionally gets an Elite in, mostly the stores I know have Celeb's or maybe Tangents. I'd love to hear about stores that have several Elite, Adamas and other guitars onhand available to play/buy. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Miles,
maybe i need to load up the suburban with a ton of guitars and make audio samples for the website? |
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December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Come on down... |
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December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | WOW!!! I sure hope the marketing people are looking at this thread. Out of 900+ members/enthusiasts, NO ONE here knows of a store where they can go, and with relative confidence know that there will be a few (not thinking 100's but maybe a couple of each) USA Made Ovation guitars available to try out?????
I guess I will modify the question to...
On a regular basis, what USA Made Ovations are available in a store near you? |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Al
Not to change the subject, but I'm thinking of buying a Suburban to replace my destroyed vehicle, a neighbor has one in good condition that I think I can afford. How do you like yours?
Bailey |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | In the entire UK I know of maybe 2 or 3 stores that keep a reasonable range of US-made Ovations constantly in stock. Of the numerous dealers in my area only one regularly stocks Ovations and they are mostly Clebs & Applause. |
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November 2002
Posts: 32
Location: Warsaw, Indiana | I live in North Central Indiana and our local music store use to carry a large selection of USA O's, however, according to the owner he said the number of finish cracks were increasing and the company was getting very hard to work with. So now there is only Applause ( and very few of those) in the store. Bummer! |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Bailey
I have a 90 suburban I LOVE IT, So does my wife. It has served us well, taken us on many trips and to many guitar shows. I plan on replacing it but newer ones are so damn expensive that I just keep on looking,
Mine has 2 wheel drive. I don't want 4 wheel drive if the weather is that bad I will stay home. I will also suggest getting the "barn doors" it makes it easier to get stuff in and out and you don't damage that "tailgate"
I have the 350 chevy motor which has been around since the sixties and is a rock solid design the only difference is that it is now fuel injected.
Hope some of this stuff helps |
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December 2002
Posts: 13
Location: Pittsburgh, PA | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
WOW!!! I sure hope the marketing people are looking at this thread. Out of 900+ members/enthusiasts, NO ONE here knows of a store where they can go, and with relative confidence know that there will be a few (not thinking 100's but maybe a couple of each) USA Made Ovation guitars available to try out?????
My local store, Pianos N Stuff , has several Ovation models in stock and hanging on the wall. Mostly Celebrity models (I got mine there), but they also have Balladeers and maybe a few other models as well. I don't know about Adamas, but I'm going to stop in and get some strings tomorrow (they're closed Wednesdays) and I'll take notes.
I see you're in Maryland; depending on where in Maryland you are, it might not be too much of a hike for you if you wanted to visit. (If you do, let me know when you're coming; my office is less than 5 minutes from the store.) |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Here in Northern NJ, the only Ovations I ever see in stores are Applauses, Celebrities, and MAYBE, MAYBE the occasional Balladeer. Unfortunately, the only place that may OCCASIONALLY have a Custom Legend-12 is (ugh!) Guitar Center. The closest one to me (Totowa, NJ) has the North African Cherry-top Collectors' and a quilted-top Adamas, but they're hung up about 15 feet high on the wall and being that that I avoid the inept staff there like the plague, I don't usually bother "Justin" to go get a ladder. I have YET to see in person the Elite T, the new Folklore (being that their "limited", I doubt that I ever will), or a Tangent (not that I'd want to). Whenever I enquire, I usually get the same standard reply that "...Ovations just don't sell...".
There used to be a small music store in Midland Park (where I bought mine oh so many years ago) that USED to have pretty much the entire line on display. One of these weekends I'll have to take a drive out that way to see if they even exist anymore. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 10
Location: Mechanicsville, VA | Depending on where in Maryland your at, it might not be too bad to check out http://www.richmondmusic.com/. I'm not sure of the models, but they usually have 10 or 15 O's in stock at any given time. A quick phone call and I'm sure Kip or John will let you know what's available. They are also currently expanding their acoustic room so that they can keep more stock on hand.
Really good group of guys to work with.
Kurt... |
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December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | After some phone calls I had to modify this post..
I live in Frederick MD. Bo's Strings (and the guys name really is Bo) used to Carry the USA models but I was in there a few weeks ago and only imports. Then there is Guitar Centers (3 within an hour) and Bill's (not sure on that one) and Make'N Music who doesn't carry the line. Big Music store in the mall, nope... and Music and Arts Center... not that I know of.
Good news however. I called Victor Litz (under LINKS) and they usually carry between 6 - 12 USA Ovations at any one time. They are low now and only have an Adamas, a couple Elite T's, and a Balladeer, and a 2002 Collectors, but they are in the process of re-ordering/re-stocking.
By the way, Victor Litz is a great place to deal with. I know the owner for years, his name is Tony (or talk to Darren or Jeff) and if you say you heard about them from here I'm sure you'll get the red carpet treatment.
So... that's not bad.. Al's House, and Victor Litz, the two places on the planet so far to try out and buy USA Made Ovations. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The next time I'm in Manhattan with some time to kill (which isn't too often), I'll take a stroll down 54th St. and see what the pickings are there.
SOMEBODY's gotta be sellin' these things!
My question is if WE can't find 'em (and we're LOOKING for them!), what's the chance of the uneducated player coming upon one amidst the forest of Taylors and Takamines in all of these stores.
Perhaps Ovation feels that whatever revenue they're garnering from the current sales of USA products are sufficient, and they're concentrating all their marketing efforts on the Taks and O'Imports? If that's the case, they're missing out on A LOT!
Saw an ad last week for the '03 Collector's Edition. Nice guitar. Nice ad. Would've been an even nicer if it was placed in an acoustic guitar magazine, instead of the BACK cover of an electric magazine! I have YET to see an Elite T ad.
- eh! I been down this road too many times before! |
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December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | The most Ovations I've seen in a store was at Mars Music, I was in there last month during the bankruptcy sale. Some Tangents, Celebritys, Legend, a 6 sting and 12 string Mellisa Etheridge Adamas, the two-necked monster, etc. I wonder what happened to all the remaning inventory? When you type in www.marsmusic.com in your browser it now takes you to Musician's Friend! I haven't been to Guitar Center in a long time - Mars was just as bad as far as staff, so I really didn't like going there unless I really needed something.
My favorite locally owned shop, www.earhartelectronics.com , always has one or two non-Celebrity Ovations and a handful of Celebritys. I'm in the FW side of the DFW metroplex, but seldom make it to Dallas. Guitar Center is, and the defunct Mars was, in Arlington, TX. |
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August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Cliff-
Robbie's in Totowa (rte 46 E.) often has American Ovations, maybe 5 or six. I've heard you can often get a good deal there on guitars because he (Robbie) doesn't buy on credit, so if a guitar sits there for a while he gets eager to move it. I've gotten some great deals there on effects n' stuff. Often I can get new effects there cheaper than used on ebay! It depends- you have to know your prices well, some stuff is priced high.
Johnny |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | My local Guitar Center (here in North California) always has a pretty good selection of Ovations ... usually 20 or more hanging on the wall in the acoustic room. Everything from Collectors to Elites (both low and high end) to Legends, Custom Legends and an assortment of Celebrities. They also have Ovation mandolins and nylon stringers. The only challenge is getting through all the kids playing Dinkys through distortion pedals on Marshalls stacks turned all the way up (oh, wait, those are the salesfolks -- :D ).
My local Mom and Pop carries Taylors, Gibsons, Takamines, and the low end of the Celebrity line (which they ask $700 for a CC57). No USA models. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Cliff, when I was in NYC back in August Manhattan was pretty much free from USA-made Ovations. Mandolin Bros on Staten Island had maybe 10, including Elites & 2001/02 Collectors. Sams Ass & the stores on that drag had LOTS of imports. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | John(Strummin'12);
"...Robbie's in Totowa (rte 46 E.)..."
Yeah, I haven't been THERE in a LONG time!!
When I was a kid, they were the only shop within walking distance (and that was an hour "walk" each way). At the time, he was the only place open to get a replacement electric B or E string on a Sunday morning. We used to refer to him as "Highway Robbie" (because of his prices).
I don't go there anymore because I'm usually heading westbound and it's easier to just hit GC than to make all the U-turns on 46 at that hour.
D'ya ever go to the Music Den on 46 E in Parsippany? They have a pretty good selection there (although I think it was better when it was Long & McQuade). |
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August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Cliff-
The Music Den on 46 is now one of THE MOST expensive places to buy EVER, but they are FANTASTIC for rentals.
Recently I had to purchase a set of D'Addario EJ38's (12 string acoustic set) there, just for the convenience (they're 5 minutes from me). I paid nearly $15 after tax! I buy them normally from Dave's Sound Repair in Whippany for $9 a set, and $5 a set for the EJ16's (6 string). For the $6 savings per set, I go to Dave's (10 minute ride) and stock up!
Music Den also wanted like $300 more for the multitrack recorder I was shopping for. It's crazy. I think they rely on rentals and lessons for biz. They sell to the novice kids who's parents don't know any better about pricing and trust them because they get lessons there.
I did, however, buy a used P.A. head in incredible condition (almost new) from them for $600 less than retail new. I guess it just comes down to knowing price on what you want.
Keep them in mind if you need to rent a larger PA for a large room gig or something!
Later, Bro!
Johnny |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Shit! What a small world!!
I've known Dave for YEARS! My girlfriend and his wife grew up together. We occasionally all go down to LBI together. I never even thought of going to him for strings! I've shopped him for some P.A. speakers, but he was a little high. He does GREAT repair work though! He did some repairs on my P.A. head. At that price, I'll just ask him to bring some strings home with him and I'll pick 'em up! He lives one town away from me.
THANKS for the tip!! |
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November 2002
Posts: 32
Location: Warsaw, Indiana | Al, Just another point of view. I have a 94 Suburban, 350 and I too love it. I however, have the standard horizontal split tailgate. What I like about this is although the barn doors do make removal easier, if you have to haul something long then it is easier and safer to lift the window open and rest the item on the tailgate and not have to worry about the barn doors. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | It also offers you a bit of "shelter" when it's raining and your loading/unloading. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 9
Location: NE Ohio | Unfortunately the only place I've found that has a selection of Ovations radily available is the two Guitar Centers that are in Cleveland. Unfortunately most are Celebrity series Ovations but I've notice a trend that is similar to Hamer in that the Ovation imports are branded Ovations as are the Import Hamers. I find the practice very confusing to me. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | cliff
I know dave also. tell him I said hi he is a great guy.
78 adamas
I use the pickup for the long stuff but you have a valid point |
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August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Dave IS very cool, been going to his shop for years...since like '86! His wife is my 1st guitar teacher's sister-and I found that out YEARS after I stopped taking lessons from him. It IS a small world.
I buy so many sets of strings from him per month! (4 guitars restrung each gig, plus back up sets!). At his prices, I can't get 'em mail order cheaper!...My girl will go there on her lunchbreak, and he knows.. "pickin' up strings for Johnny?"
Bill, the guitar tech, is a very cool guy as well.
Johnny |
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Ovation test drive.
