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Location: SoCal | Thru all the talk of the 12 fret Adamas and the 2005 Collectors and the OFC'er, Ovation has come out this year with a series of guitars that appeal to me greatly, their traditional series. These are guitar that are built the way Ovation built guitars 15 years ago, but with modern electronics. The Legend
http://www.ovationguitars.com/?fa=detail&mid=1806#
just appeals to me big time. Looks to me like Ovations are supposed to look. And with the A bracing, I know it sounds great.
Anybody have any idea if the traditional series are selling well? |
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| When I got the brochures these were the guitars that most appealed to me. I just think they are beautiful and just cry out to be played.
They are not even listed by the importer over here - and the only Adamas listed are the CVT, Smt and the 2 Melissa Etheridge models.
So the answer to your question Paul is - in the Uk - not selling any. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Are there any listings to look over anywhere? |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I posted a week ago asking if anyone knew when these are going to be available and got no response. I haven't seen them ANYWHERE at the dealers in the SE Michigan area that I frequent(Elderly, Motor City Guitar, Marshall Music, GC)....I don't think they are available yet. If anyone knows different, I'd like to hear it....I'm interested in the 1719 Custom Legend.
Mike, the models are listed on Ovation's website with the current models. 1711 Balladeer, 1717 Legend and 1719 Custom Legend. I believe there is a 1718 Elite, also.
Roger |
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| In thinking about my next O or my first A, I saw this line on the website and I am interested. However, Is this line going to be readily available or is this more of a selected or special order situation? |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Englishplayer, it does not SAY "special order" on the website....my suspicion is that since they were announced at January NAMM, that they are a while getting into the shops, like the LXs were in 2004. I didn't see LXs regularly until May/June last year.
I fear that the Ovation line may be getting a little "complex" for some dealers....they would generally prefer, from what I have seen, to carry a bunch of CC026s and CC057s, and a very few U.S.-made Os. More U.S. Ovation models means that it will be tougher for them to decide what to carry as far as the more expensive guitars.
Roger |
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Location: SoCal | If the guitars sell, the dealers will carry them. I see Taylors and Martins on the walls of guitar stores. I have no idea what the models are but if people buy them, stores will carry them.
"If you build it, he will come".
I do suspect, however, that Ovation is a bit overwhelmed in the production department with the success of the LX line. |
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Location: NW Ohio | I'm interested in these too. Where's Al to let us know whats up ? |
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Location: NJ | I thought they were custom order but I could be wrong. I will try to find out some info and let you know. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Paul, the problem is that if the dealers don't carry them, they won't sell as well. It's tough to sell a guitar you don't have on hand. The dealers I see generally don't carry over 5 U.S.-made Ovations at a time. Now they have to decide whether to carry LXs, non-LXs, traditionals or Adamas in the five or so they will keep on hand(not to mention shallow-bowl and mid-bowl complexity).
It would make sense for them to be special order, as Al said. But it isn't stated on the website, as it is for the Folklore and Country Artist. And I suspect that if they are special order, they won't sell that many. Hardly anyone will even know they exist, except enthusiasts like the ones here.
Yes, I would suspect that Ovation is rather overwhelmed with building LXs, that is why I am surprised they introduced this new Traditional line. Although, they may succeed in getting me to buy one more O that I wouldn't have otherwise...the LXs just aren't enticing enough, I'm afraid. But all ya gotta say is "deep-bowl, no cutaway" to get my interest......
Roger |
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| With dealers carrying more Korean made than American made, I'm not sure why a dealer would carry the traditional line and the lx line. Each Ovation competes too much against other Ovations? |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | For now these guitars may be an answer to the rantings on this board and any of us that can afford them might be wise to get some early models however it can be done. Sorta like when Martin came out with a D-28 for a REASONABLE price, and the buyers found themselves saddled with a priceless classic when all they wanted was a good playing guitar. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Englishplayer, a dealer probably would "pick-and-choose" within the LX, non-LX, traditional and Adamas lines as to what he thinks will sell. This is what I'm pointing out....before, he might carry a Balladeer LX, a S771 Balladeer, a Standard Elite LX, a Legend LX and an Adamas. Now, he'll have to decide which of the above (a pretty standard mix from my observation) he gives up to get a traditional....and he might not BOTHER (never mind the added complexity of shallow- and mid-bowl, as well as 12-strings).
Bailey, I don't think these guitars will be "priceless classics" (I don't think even the 1719-30CL will fit that category), but I feel certain they will be good-playing and -sounding guitars.
Roger |
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Location: SoCal | I believe that the Traditional series represent some of the best guitars that Ovation ever built. Better than the LX's? You can't compare the two. They are apples and oranges in the sound department. They have a deeper sound, a bit more compressed. With the Kaman bar and older bowl, they are heavier than the LX's.
In short, they are a different animal than the LX. Their sound is closer to my 1537 than to an LX. The LX's are closer in sound to my lae 60's Deluxe Balladeer and GC DB.
But the look of the traditional Legend, to me, is pure Ovation and is one of the most beautiful guitars Ovation ever built. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Agreed, Paul. I would rather see both traditionals and LXs in the shops than a line of just LXs. We will see if the shops do carry a mix. I don't hate the LXs, but I don't plan on buying one at this point. I will buy a 1719 if I can find one in a shop in SE Michigan to try before buying.
Roger |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | My personal prediction, you'll see the line split in to four series, whcih it's already started to do. Import series (celebs and shallow bowl stuff), traditional series (deep balladeers and legends), LX series and Adamas series. But the kicker is that the LX and Adamas series will be all contour bowls. You just mark my words.
As far as what shops carry vs. what you WANT then to carry, it's a very simple formula. If I'm a shop owner I'm going to stock what I know I can sell. If my clientele is heavy into buying MOB's that's where my inventory investment is going to go. Why would I do anything else? When is the last time you bought a guitar from one of these places? Sure wouldn't it be nice if I could go into my local shop to try out the new LX Custom Legend. Then I could go buy it for ebay or from Al (no disrespect to Al of course) and the local is holding the bag. The face of commerce is changing (has already changed), so get used to it.
Rule of thumb, people that buy expensive shit know what they want before they go in the store. It's like my local MB dealer doesn't stock SL500's. But he sure sells a lot of them. Buyers know what they want, walk in, and order one. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Mercury/Buick doesn't even make a model SL500. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Jeff, sure they do. You just never see it because they don't stock it. All you see are the Azteks and stuff like that. Trust me, you can ask for an SL. Dave |
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Location: SoCal | Dave, how do you know about your Mercedes dealer? You buying a lot of SL's? |
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Location: NJ | Lorraine get her new toy yet, Bill? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I've bought plenty of SL's. Oh, those were Ernie Ball SL's. Moody, your a P.I. for gods sake. I know you have already run me and know exactly what I drive. Dave |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Mercury doesn't make an "SL500", that's not Mercury's market. In FoMoCo's thinking, you are not supposed to go to Mercury for a "SL500", you are supposed to go to Jaguar, that's why Mercury doesn't have one.
As for Buick, GM tried that type car (well, kinda) with the Reatta, and it flopped.....
ANYWAY.....
Dave, I hope you're right about the four distinct ranges. Makes sense to me. But when dealers carry only 5-6 U.S.-made Ovations, you will probably see only two of each of the three U.S.-made ranges at best.
I'm on the other side of "play it local, and buy remotely" discussion....I DON'T. I want to buy the very guitar I try out. The problem with ordering something they don't carry is you then have to take it, even if it proves to be a not-so-good example of the model(and, boy, do they exist). I won't buy unless I can play first.
I've bought FIVE guitars from Elderly (at the store, NOT mail order), two from my local (2 miles away) Guitar Center, and one from Huber and Breese (other side of town). I did buy ONE guitar over the web, but that was when I was getting back into playing 2 years ago, and I won't do that again. I support shops that carry what I want.
Roger |
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| If anybody ever gets to play one let us know. I keep telling you guys - bought from Al plus shipping and insurance plus 3.7% import duty plus 17 1/2 % tax and still half the price in the Uk. You have no idea how lucky you are. We are not even going to see these. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | ...Oh sorry...Thought this was an Adamas thread.... |
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| Nobody likes a snob. |
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Traditional series
