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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Oh...you guys are all so silly! |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | Okay-- so Brian T.; you quoted me (not by name) and then made the "glass houses" comment. Not quite sure how to take that. Is the intimation that I have crappy guitars? Since I'm not fortunate enought to own an Adamas or an Elite but only a lowly Balladeer, Pacemaker and CS 257 that I should take my inferior toys and go home? Dude, I didnt mean to pee in your pie. I did not even know what kind of guitars you personally owned. I'm just one of the trouble makers of this forum. Sometimes I like to point out the "other" points of view.
I am sure your balladeer is very sweet. But since we're pressing the point, I have to say I have yet to hear a Celebrity that did not make me "wince" a little bit. I participate in other forums and it's really narrow minded to hear the all-wood snobs totally dismiss the entire Ovation line after sampling a plywood top Asian model. Kind of seems like what's happening with RainSong on this thread. A lot of players swear by them. |
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August 2005
Posts: 616
Location: cincinnati, ohio | "I have to say I have yet to hear a Celebrity that did not make me "wince" a little bit." quote: Brian T.
Then you'll have to hear mine sometime. Maybe I'm just lucky. |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | Then you'll have to hear mine sometime. Maybe I'm just lucky. Yes,
I'd like to hear it sometime. Maybe your Celeb is a really great example. If you're in Ohio maybe we can hook up sometime, I'm up in SE Michigan, we're having an OFC gathering in August. Maybe you want to come up and see us.
But remember that your pal with the rainsong may have been trying out some different strings, or didnt know how to set up his rig, was having an off-night or something similar. No reason to blame the guitar. |
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August 2005
Posts: 616
Location: cincinnati, ohio | Touche. Point taken. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Random comments about the previous 8-10 posts on this topic:
1. I've only played one Rainsong in my life, I have no idea what model it was and I could care less what it is made of. It fucking sucked. Period. Until I play one that I like, my opinion will be that ALL Rainsongs suck. Sorry but I can be as closed minded as the wood box snobs, that's my right.
2. Re: the "Ute debacle". Even the most twisted neck, badly painted, poor QC U681 that somehow left the factory sounded head and shoulders better than ANY Ovation model ever produced except the FD14. All of them. Period.
3. Salad Bowl and Tupper Ware comments: No comment.
4. Snobbery about Celebs and Applause: Sorry, I disagree. Isn't a $1500. Ovation SUPPOSED to sound better than a $500. Celeb? I don't see the snobbery in it. Celeb is a great guitar and beats the pants off of almost anything else in it's price range.
Just my opinions,
Dave |
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August 2005
Posts: 616
Location: cincinnati, ohio | "I'm up in SE Michigan, we're having an OFC gathering in August. Maybe you want to come up and see us." Brian T.
Whereabouts in SE Michigan? If you don't want to say, you can e-mail me. That might be do-able; doesn't sound too far away. It'd be nice to put faces to some of the names.
Interesting that we're all so passionate about guitars that we're getting into pissing matches over it!! |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | Brad (Slipkid) is hosting the party on August 19th. He is in Algonac, which is about 30 miles NE of Detroit. I'm a little closer in to Detroit which helps explain my bad attitude.
Drop Brad or me a private message and we'll get you a mapquest link. |
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December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | 
Rainsong Jazz Guitar... Nikki not included. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Over the last couple of days, there's been a couple of comments on the U681T. The comments may not have been intended to be negative. However, I perceived them as "cheap shots".
A few of us got early models that had a couple of problems. Yet, the guitar itself was amazing.
In perspective - difficult guitar to make, look at the old Adamas. The factory bent over backwards to make the guitar perfect. Heck, as my problems were very minor, I wouldn't have sent mine back except that I was actively encouraged to let them work on it...came back perfect. Heck, they did more than they should have - they gave me a new top.
My hats off to the guys and gals that strive to give us outstanding instruments.
Personally, I see this as a proud moment for Ovation/Adamas. |
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June 2004
Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | Originally posted by Tupperware:
2. Re: the "Ute debacle". Even the most twisted neck, badly painted, poor QC U681 that somehow left the factory sounded head and shoulders better than ANY Ovation model ever produced except the FD14. All of them. Period.
Originally posted by Tony Calman:
Over the last couple of days, there's been a couple of comments on the U681T. The comments may not have been intended to be negative. However, I perceived them as "cheap shots". Dave & Tony - since I involked the name of the U681T, let me apologize and clarify.
I didn't intend to deliver a "cheap shot" or imply that the U681T's that had to go back sounded bad, and if my writing earlier communicated that, forgive me. In fact, I never read a single post that said the guitar wasn't sonically outstanding. My comment was refering to the workmanship, and comparing US to non-US Ovations. We expect the workmanship of the premium line to be better than that of the considerably less expensive lines. For a limited edition, premium guitar, the U681T's that had cosmetic issues should have never shipped if they weren't right to begin with. Look at what we saw at the factory and what we see regularly on this board regarding FRG guitars. Most of us can never find the microscopic things, that highly skilled hands and eyes detect during the manufacturing process, that bump really fine guitars into FRG status.
Somewhere in the process with the early U681T's, QC messed up and the mothership and Al (absolutely through no fault of his own) worked really hard to make everything right - even better than right (witness Tony getting a new top in the process). THAT is the Ovation that we know, love and respect. And it was probably a good wake-up call because I haven't heard anyone else complain about any issues with the newer limited editions as they have come out. They appear to be coming out perfect, which is what we AND Ovation should expect from the flagship line in the first place.
So, getting back to my post, my point was supposed to be (at least in my head, obviously not in my words) that we don't expect Celebrities and Applause guitars to be "as perfect" or sound "as good" as US Ovations and Adamas' because they are priced and aimed at an entirely different market. Sometimes, the premuim line has a "bad day", and things leave the door that aren't up to anyone's expectations. Conversely, if you play enough of them, I'm sure you will probably find some really outstanding Celebrities.
Oh, back to the U681T for a second. There is another example of less than desirable workmanship still available for sale.
"B Stock" Ute
As I said about this exact same guitar in a post a couple of months ago because I bought it and sent it back: Originally posted by worshipleader:
The guitar was a mess in build quality with respect to the neck where it attaches to the body. I don't think it should have ever left the factory that way, and I can now really empathize with you guys who got one of the first ones from Al and had to send them back. The fretboard was way high off the top of the guitar and there was some sort of black filler under it to fill the gap. It was also way low on the bass side and normal height on the treble side at the body, and it had a bend in the fretboard where it met the body and then started a downward slope as it proceeded over the body in the direction of the bridge. Did not have an FRG sticker inside the guitar. It was just sloppy.
So I don't know how Ovation can sell a new, "B Stock" (not FRG) U681T to Music123 . I thought that Frank told us on the tour that they don't sell "B Stock". In my heart, I would have hoped that after I posted about this particular guitar in April, someone at the mothership would have said "Oh my gosh!", and recalled it from Music123, fixed it and let it go as an FRG.
But then again, what do I know - I just play cowboy chords anyway ... |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | About the Music123 guitar: I dug into this awhile back. They had a U681 that was returned and they resold it as used (but called it B-stock). They still list B-stock U681 on their site and if you call them they'll tell you it is temporarily out of stock but that can order one for you. THAT'S TOTAL BULLSHIT!
Dave |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Saturday...August 19th. Algonac, Michigan
More details to follow. |
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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | I received my invitation for the get-together, and I EXTREMELY regret the fact that I have a gig on that night. If I could get out of it, and come down there, I certainly would.
Y'know, I just may be able to find someone to take my place that weekend. I'll get back to you. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Boy.....you professional giggers. You need to get your priorities straight :D :D
It would be great to have you if it turns out you can make it. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Wait...strike that...
I'm really green with envy. It would be great to (at times) be able to say.."Can't make it...gotta gig". |
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May 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Knoxville, TN | NO repeat N O
comparison. I played one at Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville a couple of years back and I couldn't believe how crappy the sound was for the price; I think it was around $3000. My Adamas is hands down the finest sounding instrument I have EVER owned and that's even after owning a Martin HD-28. I loved the Martin sound but they are too high maintenance; too much polishing, too many humidity issues. They are awesome guitars but I'm just an Ovation man; sorry C.F. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Wait...strike that...
I'm really green with envy. It would be great to (at times) be able to say.."Can't make it...gotta gig". I guarantee that I'd have more fun with y'all than at the gig, although the gig ain't bad. I just need a vacation. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Saturday August 19 at gh1s in Portland. I hope to have AFG's Ute there. I just have to figure out how to haul the guitars over. They are cannons. I want to compare it to my Folklore, and all the rest, of course. |
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March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Was in Nashville at Gruhn Guitars and played Rainsong and was not impressed. Played a CA and it blew me away.
Steve |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | :p TOLD YA SO!! :p |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | To roughly quote Leo Rosten,
"You can argue with what I think, you can argue with what I know, you can argue with what I believe--but you can't argue with what I feel."
Having said that, I feel that a liking for a particular guitar is really just a matter of taste. Isn't it? Take musical genres. Some people like opera, some like country, some like pop. As diverse as the people who perform them.
I have only played one Rainsong, the same one that Robbie has--and it is a beautiful guitar. (Inspite of what some of you have said.) No, it doesn't have the same type of sound or feel as our potbellies, that's true--but it gives variety to the overall sound of our worship band and, as painful a thought as this may be, keeps us from being musically monotonous.
If Ovations (and by inference, those of us who own them) don't get any respect, do we really deserve it if we don't treat other guitarists' preferences with at least some modicum of the same respect we think we deserve? Would I buy a Rainsong? No...but I wouldn't denigrate my guitar brother's choice, either.
Happily strumming my LX,
Karen
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G-1111-4 "Gertrude"; CE868LX-4 "Jewel"; Viper 1271 Natural "Blanca"; Steinberger Spirit 5-string bass "Sugar"; Fender American Strat "Ivory"; Galiano mandolin "Plink"; Vega 5-string banjo "Twang"; fiddle of uncertain antecedents "Shriek". |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | So I asked my guitar player in the worship band why he brings his Rainsong instead of his Taylor or Martin(s), and his answer was pretty much what I expected.
1. Impervious to temp & humidity so it plays and stays consistent and in tune.
2. Sustain to die for.
3. In worship band, we always play plugged in, and the Fishman electronics sound great.
4. If he was going to play acoustic, his choice would be different.
I think I'll tell him to add an Adamas to his collection and get the best of both worlds ... |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | OK.
I meant no disrespect to other's guitars.
Maybe this one is a real good one.
It's just that with my limited knowledge of guitars I've never seen a rainsong that was better than a fresh spoo pile on the new carpet. I guess I'm just getting opinionated in my old age. Maybe I need to get out to music stores more often. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by cwk2:
It's just that with my limited knowledge of guitars I've never seen a rainsong that was better than a fresh spoo pile on the new carpet. Bill, I'll grant you your, "limited knowledge of guitars".....
...But, where'd you come by your expansive knowledge of "spoo?" |
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RainSong anyone???
