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Location: Pennsylvania | YAY RICK!!! That was awesome of you to come on and reply! Thanks so much!
As for the factory tour, I'm in! ;)
By the way, I'm out on vacation from tomorrow til Sunday (which is a bit of a shame, cause the guitar gets delivered tomorrow), but I'll get the Elite T on Sunday or Monday and give y'all the lowdown on how it plays, sounds, etc., and maybe post some better non-washed-out pictures! |
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Location: NJ | Snow;
Gee, it'd be a real SHAME for you to hold up your vacation departure just for a silly ol' delivery!!
If you want, you could have it delivered to ME here in nearby neighborly New Jersey so's that I can "keep an eye on it" for you 'till you get back. No PROBLEM!!
[ August 07, 2002: Message edited by: cliff d. ] |
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Location: Pennsylvania | Actually, I have a secretary at the office (where it's being shipped) that's going to sign for it so I dont have to hold up my vacation at all! Now isn't that convenient! ;)
Hey, I'm going to New Jersey on vacation though! To Long Beach Island...real nice place. Relaxing.
So do New Jerseyians ever come to PA for vacation? Probably not. What's up here to see? Mountains! Deer! |
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Location: Scotland | Hey Rick, thanks for the info and the invite. Part of my plan when I was over in NYC recently was to shoot on up to New Hartford & tour the Factory, but when I checked with Andy Schlosser it turned out you guys were on holiday too!!!! Terrible timing. Count me in, I'm planning a return trip, so that's a perfect excuse.
Paul |
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Location: SoCal | You know, I could see starting to save some money now to make this trip to the factory in the fall. Anybody wanna share a hotel room? |
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Location: Central Florida | Hey Paul,
If this convention at the factory idea becomes a reality, count me in!
I actually visited the factory once back in 1971, but unfortunately never made it past the lobby. My family and I were taking a trip to Canada (I was only eleven at the time), and I'd talked my parents into "detouring" through New Hartford, CT so I could make pilgrimage. You can imagine my disapointment when we were told that we would not be able to tour the factory itself. We were told it was due to insurance restrictions (of course, that makes perfect sense to me now, but at that age it just seemed stupid!). Anyway, the lady at the receptionists desk took pity on me, and as a rather nice consolation prize, she loaded me down with all kinds of really cool promotional items - several of which I still have today! So what could have been a major bummer of a day actually turned out not to be half bad. Eventhough I never made it past the lobby, I still remember my trip to the factory with complete fondness. I don't recall that receptionists name, but whoever she was, she really saved the day, and an eleven year old boys dream.
Jeff |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Rick
Thanks for bringing some relevant information to our attention. Generally we fly on opinion or "seat of the pants" as you might have noticed if you visit the board. The Elite T has been either a vindication for some of us who want a reasonably priced American quality guitar or a disappointment to those that want a cheap collectors item. Personally, I love the concept, and I see it as revenge for the 70's and 80's when the Japanese flooded the American market with Yamahas, Alvarez Yaires, etc. which wreaked havoc on the American guitar manufacturers, but also showed they had become complacent. Now every country star plays the black Takamine while he sings about his love of the country.
This guitar has Character, let's see where it goes.
Bailey
[ August 09, 2002: Message edited by: Bailey ] |
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Posts: 41
Location: Boston MA | Originally posted by Bailey:
Rick
Thanks for bringing some relevant information to our attention. Generally we fly on opinion or "seat of the pants" as you might have noticed if you visit the board. The Elite T has been either a vindication for some of us who want a reasonably priced American quality guitar or a disappointment to those that want a cheap collectors item. Personally, I love the concept, and I see it as revenge for the 70's and 80's when the Japanese flooded the American market with Yamahas, Alvarez Yaires, etc. which wreaked havoc on the American guitar manufacturers, but also showed they had become complacent. Now every country star plays the black Takamine while he sings about his love of the country.
This guitar has Character, let's see where it goes.
Bailey
[ August 09, 2002: Message edited by: Bailey ] |
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Posts: 41
Location: Boston MA | Just ordered the new elite 1868t in the pewter have not played her yet but i think it looks great im new to the ovation famliy and fan club will let all know how she plays when i get here |
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Location: SoCal | Hi Brian. Welcome to the group. Where did you order the elite from (or, gramatically, From where did you order the Elite?) What are you playing now? I'll be very interested in your opinion of this guitar. |
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Location: Boston MA | moodypi,I got her on e-bay you can look at it by search #897605596 This is my first Ovation I play A Fender Strat USA all so Yamaha FG 412S there has been some debate on weather or not it is a mid-depth or not that is what the sale says.But some others have said it my be S/S will let all know when I get her,soon by weeks end. Brian
[ August 11, 2002: Message edited by: Brian ]
[ August 11, 2002: Message edited by: Brian ] |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Brian
It is definately mid depth and from reading other postings here, mid depth is only a half inch from the early legendary full depth acoustics, I mentioned my grandson's gothic explorer which is the modern trend, he is home on leave and I checked it, and it has a plain ebony fret board with no inlay or anything. Another indication that this Elite T is in step with the times.
I am anxious to hear how you like it, I'll gaurantee you that no other guitar brand would have the technical support you will have on this board.
Bailey |
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Location: Boston MA | Bailey first you are a funny guy I was laughing at all your posts on the trip to the factory!!! any way just sent the cash today should have her by monday. Lets see will check in later seeyou in the funny papers!! Brian |
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Posts: 162
Location: Pennsylvania | Hey guys! I just got back from vacation and the elite t was waiting. The first thing I did was tune it up. Even while tuning, I said "woahh." The notes were very thick with a very unique sound.
One thing I noticed while first inspecting it/playing it was that the bass slider on the preamp just bounced around disconnectedly in its slot. I mean, we knew they were building it to save money, but they could at least connect all the sliders! ;) It was easily fixable though, I just unscrewed the top of the preamp and saw that the slider just needed to be "plugged in" to its "port."
Anyway, I played it for the rest of the day (mostly acoustically, cause that's what I bought it for, unless I'm playing at a show), and here's what I can say. Because of only 11 soundholes or because of the thin paint, or whatever reason, it has a very rich and full sound. Tight and thick and not in the least tinny or ping-y. The action is very low, and the neck not as thin as I thought it'd be--basically the same as regular ovation necks, but just take the point of the V off. There doesn't seem to be a buzz except for when I bar something poorly. I wouldn't mind if the action was a fraction of a fraction higher.
The soundholes being only on the bass side seem to even out the sound rather than dampen it. The highs on Ovation guitars often ring out louder. It seems that this configuration does well at evening everything out. The sustain is very good, and the notes ring out perfectly.
My brother has played guitar for 7 or so years (and has never so much as seen an Ovation) listened to it and played it and said "that is the best sounding guitar I've ever heard!" Quite true for me--there is no way I could be more pleased with the sound!
Now for looks... The pics that we first saw (on ebay) dont capture what the guitar looks like, but most of us knew that the pics were washed out. The guitar is jet black and not a bit shiny anywhere. The ebony bridge and fretboard and all the other blacks match perfectly in blackness. Even the strap pegs and the jack are black. The only other color on the guitar is the silver Ovation symbol on the headstock and the light maple strip on the headstock. That strip of maple is a strange little touch, but cool nevertheless...
(At first, my brother loved the sound and didn't like the looks, but by the end of the day, he said it had grown on him a lot--so much that he wants one!)
Nothing on the guitar is shiny and nothing smudges! I can touch the guitar all I want, and it wont smudge. My brother plays a little rougher than I do and he scrapes the pick against the top occasionally as he plays. It had me a little worried, but the enamel paint showed no scratches. So without major abuse, the guitar will look just like new for quite a long time.
I'm not sure what the Ovation symbol on the headstock is (inlay or decal?), but it looks just like the gold on the regular elite, so I'm assuming its the same. The tuning pegs are the same as the regular elite, but hopefully the black wont wear off over time! The new preamp makes for a tight fit in its hardshell case, but not overly tight.
So I'm very pleased with the guitar's unique, full sound (and unshiny black looks).
I'll leave it at that for now, cause I've written probably much more than any of you cared to read!
Later, guys. |
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Location: Pennsylvania | Well there's my reaction post--long as hell. ;) I hope it didn't seem like I praised it too much, but I'm honestly thrilled with it!!!
I think I said most of what I wanted to say of it... I do want to note that there are dots on the side of the fretboard, though they're not on at the top. If I think of anything more, or if you have any questions, I'll post again. Just not so long as before. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Snowlock
Not too long of a description in my book, I suspected that the clean unrestrained top would give a good deep tone. Of interest was your comment on smudging, my grandsons first comment on his gothic guitar was that every fingerprint on it was obvious until they polished it with something to keep it from smudging. Good review, keep us informed.
Bailey |
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Location: Pennsylvania | The guitar has great mid to low tones (highs are nice too). I guess the textured enamel paint just doesnt smudge. Dust and the like will show up a bit, and ya might not want to wear a loose-knit wool sweater while playing, but the guitar retains its blackness pretty well. Even the black paint on the headstock (which doesn't seem to be enamel (at least not textured) doesn't smude. I would suppose its because its a no gloss paint. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | As a small note, all the blind fingerboards have side markers. Except the nylon string guitars that are trying to be classical, they have none. The nylons that the rest of us like usually have side markers. |
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Location: NJ | i always use the sidemarkers and never care if there are any other markers |
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Location: Pennsylvania | Yeah, I'm a side marker guy, but dont use them too often anyway. As a small cosmetic note--under close inspection, a couple of the markers were inlayed a little roughly. Like they were launched in with a modified power nail gun. Not that I really care about such a minor detail, but heck, since we're on the topic, I might as well run my mouth. ;) |
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Location: Boston MA | snowlock just talked to the sales man and I to got the 1778T [in Pewter though] there was a error in the e-bay add. Should have her by the end of the week will look at the markers and give all what I think when I get to play. Brian |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Actually the way the side markers are put in is that the holes are drilled and there's this piece of spaghetti plastic, black or white, and it's got glue put on it and in the hole it goes and chopped off with a rasor and on to the next hole.
Some of the Hamers actually had small pearl dots inlayed, much more work buit they look great. |
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Location: SoCal | I, for one, don't need fret markers. I can count all the way to the third fret in my head! |
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Location: Pennsylvania | Yeah, I used the term "inlay" loosely. I gues cause I didn't know what to call them, and they are _laying_ _in_ the wood.
That's interesting about how they really do it though. Just imagining the workers with their plastic spaghetti, putting one in the fretboard and munching on the remaining peice of noodle. ;)
The side markers actually dont look bad. You've got to look pretty close to see that a couple holes were drilled roughly. Really not even an issue. One thing that's perhaps an issue for me (though a small one) is that my hands sweat and cause the finish on the neck to become very slick. Okay, that's gross. Sorry I shared that, guys.
[ August 14, 2002: Message edited by: snowlock ] |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | Same thing happens to me when I play my guitar too, Snowlock, so don't..... sweat it? :p |
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New Elite
