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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | I'm in the market for an Adamas.
I'm a fan of ebony fingerboards (and larger frets) and the shallower profile necks like the 84C (thought I am really warming to the feel of the 1537 :) ) so what can you recommend...
So far I have on my list either a W597-CB or 1597
Some people seem to really rate the textured tops, why is this, do they have a 'nicer' tone?
Or is it just looks?
There just seems sooo many Adamas's out there it is hard to work out whats good and whats not - ok they probably all good and just preference...
SMT ? CVT? Textured tops? Adamas II 1681? 15 87? etc etc. ARRGHGHHH! |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | A textured-top Adamas pisses all over a SMT/CVT . . . |
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December 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | +1 textured-top |
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Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | There's a reason Ovation discontinued the SMT/CVT guitars and brought back the textured tops...... |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | There's only one type of top worthy of the adamas name and it ain't very smooth ... |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | and to think... my millenium was feeling so much love over the weekend. Fame and fortune are fleeting. |
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December 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | Ouch...ok, that was "one" smoothtop that was worthy of the Adamas name on the headstock!
Trade you my Ute for it :D |
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March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | As the posts so far suggest, I think you're going to find that textured-top Adami get the highest marks for tone of anything Ovation/Adamas makes.
I have never played an Adamas with any kind of top because I've never found one to play. Until I do,
I've said it before and I'll say it again — I really don't like how they look. I'm sorry. . . shoot me. . . but that glittery reverse-burst stuff and that weird 'rope' binding looks just absurd to my eye. Every time I see it I'm reminded of my daughters' Barbie phase when they were growing up. Almost all of Barbie's outfits looked just like Adamas textured-top guitar finishes.
I'm sure it's one of those 'acquired taste' things. And I'm sure playing one someday will help that 'acquisition' process quite a bit. Until then, Adami-wise, I'll continue to lust after that sexy-looking 597s. |
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May 2008
Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | Heresy!!! :)
Wait till you play one Oddball... |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Oddball, where in CA are you? |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Oddball,
I'm kinda with you regards the look! Ouch shoot me!
I've heard some people say the W597-CB is VERY close to the Millenium and the Millenium is VERY close to a textured top so maybe a W597-CB is close enough to a textured top?
Having said that if I'm splashing out on an Adamas I want a "full blown" Adamas, no point cutting corners. I asked what the best deep bowl O was and was told 1537, well that recommendation seems to be spot on! |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | I went with the textured top based on what I read on this board. No second thoughts. What a sound! |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Tim in Tidewater:
that was "one" smoothtop that was worthy of the Adamas name on the headstock!
I was referring to production models. The Q is indeed damn good, as is my 2080 NAMM glosstop. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | THat gloss top 2080 is a stunner. If it plays/sounds half as good as it looks... well you know.
I'm sure it's only a matter of time (really money) before I end up with an Adamas. I'm looking forward to holding my first one ever at the gathering.
I think my first one will either be a newer 2080 or an older textured top |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | OK so if the textured tops are the better Adamas then...
1. Is it cos they are textured that they sound better or is it that the textured tops have different bracing etc.
2. Its seems almost perverse that a new 6778LX in the shops in the UK is £899 but a top notch 1537 can be had for near half that. OP they are different guitars but there is NO contest IMHO! So a 2nd hand older Amadas seems to be a better deal than a new or newish W587
3. What older textured topped ebony fingerboard Adamas's would one recommend?
4. Is a Adamas II 'better' than a I?
5. As a HUGE fan of shallow bowls I am amazed at my reaction towards my deep bowl 1537, it does actually feel really comfortable to play.
I'm in no rush to get an Adamas, just want to be armed with as much info as I can gather before a bargain arrives on Ebay. I have had lots of really helpful advise from fellow memmbers here and for that THANK YOU!!! |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Dweezil,
Al has "in stock" the only two in current production that you need to look at:
2008 Collectors
2080
Call him and take care of business. I believe he has a great price on a 2080! |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Tone is king but don't forget the SWMBO diplomancy/factor.
For example : Was taking the pics of the 1537 (which she hadn't really noticed as a new member to the family) and said to our friend whose garden I took the shots in "I like that guitar". Some of the Adamas's just look far too 'frilly' so me to get away with another 'under the radar' addition. Plus I am still not convinced that the tone outweighs the styling...
So to conclude I need to balance tone and looks.
The 84C & 1537 score on both counts even the S868 does. The LX is going on Ebay this week! |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | '08 looks MUCH better in person than in the pics!
Cat's eye is just cool and it sound great too. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Careful how far you take that, dweezil. SWMBO made the mistake of saying "you don't have any blue ones" after seeing Dave's Adamas textured tops. She wasn't quite prepared for the cost of the OFC, but at least I now have a blue one. She's been careful not to express any preferences for the appearance of guitars, except for the ones I already have. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | :) |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by dweezil:
Plus I am still not convinced that the tone outweighs the styling... You will be once you play one... |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I'd always wanted an Adamas since I first saw one in the early '80s and had a chance to play an Adamas I that a music store had in stock.
The w597 was an impulsive purchase, on the back of a grand piano for SWMBO. The w597 does not sound as good as the Adamas I (although a few years have passed and maybe my hearing isn't what it used to be), but it is still an impressive guitar. Since I bought it, I not played a better guitar. IMHO it craps all over the elites I have played in music stores and is marginally better than the Legend 1117 which SWMBO said had to go if I was getting an Adamas.
I suspect the deep bowl of the textured tops is responsible for a lot of the tonal differences (w597 has a medium bowl) which also explains why the deep bowled 1117 manages to hold its own with a wooden top. However, I also suspect that the thick layer of gloss on the w597 also inhibits the vibration of the top and that the textured tops have a lot more freedom of movement as there is less crap stuck to them. |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | but that W597 is a wowzer plugged in and ease of play. acoustically speaking, it is no match for a woven top in any bowl depth. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by The Artist (FKA Richard):
I suspect the deep bowl of the textured tops is responsible for a lot of the tonal differences ... Interesting theory, but I'd still put my money on the top. Dave |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Maybe I ought to say at this point that I'm more interested in the plugged in sound as want this for recording purposes... |
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Adamas questions
