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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Since coming to this board about 7 months ago I have greatly increased my lurking time at local music stores. Sad to say but I have not noticed the Ovations flying off the shelf. To many of them have been there for at least 6 months.
From GC I think about 3 or 4 have moved including a dressed up Celebrity, a Balladeer and a blue MOB. I have not noticed any leave Huber Breese.
Anyway, GC has taken about $100 each off 4 Ovations. The nicest O they have is a pewter Elite T with a textured top.
I just wish they did not have to resort to a clearance price.
Brad
p.s. my e-bay LX fund is up to $350 and climbing!
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July 2003
Posts: 10
Location: Gaithersburg, MD | I just picked up an Elite 1778-T Pewter at Guitar Center in Rockville, MD for $600. There were three other people in the acoustic guitar room looking at Ovations while I was there. They also had a used Elite-T shallow bowl in great shape for $499. Although they did not have any LX's in stock, they had several Legends (new and used).
By the way, I love the Elite. The neck is incredible with low action. The mid-bowl has a nice full sound. Now I officially have an Ovation collection (two Ovations).
Jeremy
1867 Legend
1778-T Elite
10-String Graphite Chapman Stick
Yamaha S80
Yamaha RGX820Z |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | JC,
Congrats on the Elite T... my friend was saving for a Breedlove (and being rather a snob about it), then he played the Elite T Pewter! He bought that and gave up on the Breedlove!
Also, do you have any pics of the 10-string Chapman Stick?...
just naturally curious
tim |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | "I just wish they did not have to resort to a clearance price."
Let me relate a recent experience. On Monday I cross an increasingly costly Tacoma Narrows Bridge to make an Allergist appointment. Turns out my enemies are Scotchbroom and Grass. I just happen to be wearing my most comfortable OFC T-shirt for the pin-poking-procedures. Afterward I go the the local GC and do my own poking around.
In there are the walls of everything shiny and electric - take a hard left to the acoustics. "I just wish they did not have to resort to a clearance price."
Let me relate a recent experience. On Monday I cross an increasingly costly Tacoma Narrows Bridge to make an Allergist appointment. Turns out my enemies are Scotchbroom and
Grass. I just happen to be wearing my most comfortable OFC T-shirt for the pin-poking-procedures. Afterward I go the the local GC and do my own poking around.
In there are the walls of everything shiny and electric - take a hard left to the acoustics. Enter room one with the odd assortment of mandos, banjos and O's. Mostly Celebs with thin bodies and a variety of tops. OK prices, nothing stellar or overly GAS inspiring. Asked to play the ME 12 from up on the wall.
My "mission" was to try as many 12 strings as I could to gage the 1615 coming in on tuesday. The ME had the oldest, dullest strings I had ever seen on a guitar! And I mean ever! Action was superb and the sound was OK - not bright - probably due to the strings being so bad. I sought out and played a higher end Taylor 12 ($1850 on sale) - action a lot higher, trebly and not lovely. Looked for more and couldn't find any.
I can fully appreciate the Pacemaker I now have at home. It has some cosmetic character but it has an action and sound that is wonderful.
My Point - I would like GC to slash all prices and liquidate all of their Ovation inventory if they are not going to take care of it and present a sellable inventory!
"I just wish they did not have to resort to a clearance price."
I asked for a Customer Feedback Form - none - and passed my concerns to the available Mid-Manager. Here's this guy in an OFC T-shirt telling the GC Manager his presentation of products really sucks. The sales dudes I was working with later agreed with me but they got their product line direction from an out-of-touch office.
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July 2003
Posts: 10
Location: Gaithersburg, MD | Tim:
Thanks. I am a relative newcomer to the guitar after years of playing piano/keyboards and more recently Chapman Stick.
I loved Ovations from afar when I was a non-player and now enjoy playing them up close (poorly for now but steadily improving). Both Ovations are a joy to play - very easy to fret and I love the sound. I was concerned that owning two Ovations would be redundant but the shallow bowl Legend has a different sound and feel from the Elite-T. I hope to move from the bad novice to novice category soon (any helpful hints are greatly appreciated).
Regarding the Chapman Stick, I don't have any pictures of my instrument yet, but you can find much better pictures than I can take at www.stick.com. The Chapman Stick is also a great instrument - especially for piano players since you play with both hands using a technique similar to playing a piano. I bought a capo and now use the Ovation for tapping in a style similar to the Chapman Stick. The action on the Elite-T is extremely good for tapping.
Emmett and Yuta Chapman (owners of Stick Enterprises) are also wonderful people. I met them when I brought my Stick in for some work when I was in the LA area. They run their business out of their house and they were very gracious and nice to me, my wife, and my son. I wonder if you can get a discount from Emmett Chapman given your name . . . .
Jeremy
1867 Legend
1787-T Elite
10-String Chapman Stick Graphite
Yamaha S80
Yamaha RGX820Z
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cubert |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Mike, curious what you think of your 1115 versus the ME 12, since I have a 1118 GC 12(same thing as the 1115 essentially) and an ME 12.
My opinion is that I prefer the GC 12. The sound is fuller and more robust. The ME 12 has a thinner, brighter sound. Both are good, but my taste runs more for the GC 12. In fact, the GC 12 has .010-.047s on it, the ME 12 has .011-.052s and the sound is fuller with the GC 12.
HOWEVER, if you ask me which one I would rather PLAY...the answer changes. The 12-fret-to-the-body neck on the GC 12 feels "short". I would rather play the ME 12.
Brad, I played an Elite T at Huber and Breese when I bought the ME 12, and it just left me cold. I don't care how much GC discounts them, they are staying there, as far as I am concerned!!!!
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1978 Ovation 1617-4 Legend 6-string
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Ovation 1777-NAT Legend 6-string |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Roger,
It's just that the Elite T is the best Ovation you can find in the Roseville GC.
Brad
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | That's very unfortunate. The GC out here in Canton has the Adamas CVT that has been here for a year, a 1671 Balladeer 12-string that has been here 4 months(last of 4 brought in for Christmas), a new S771 Balladeer that came in 3 weeks ago, and a used 5-10 year old Legend that they want way way too much for. And gobs and gobs of Celebrites. Nothing is on sale, though.
If anyone reading this is an Elite T fan, apologies. This is why Ovation makes several models, there is something for everyone.
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1978 Ovation 1617-4 Legend 6-string
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Ovation 1777-NAT Legend 6-string |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | OAO,
In all fairness the ME12 had extremely sucky strings on it. It felt wonderful and still had a defined 12 string chorus to it.
My 1615 (one-knobber)(correction, Woody's One-knobber) feels just as good on the neck and holds a more mixed tone. Also noted - I was in a GC and they insist on piping in "classic rock" to keep you in an excited state of spending readiness.
I have played other 12s before and I really like what I have. I would still like to wake up to an Elite 12 string LX this Christmas - better than a Red Rider compass Stock BB gun |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | I must have just missed you Brad. I was in GC and Huber Monday evening. I was hoping to find an Adamas or LX but no such luck. I couldnt believe the 1778 T Elite was marked down to $449! That's a great deal for a great guitar. I played a Martin HD28 and Gibson J-45 Rosewood, both could be really nice guitars but the strings were so bad I felt like I needed a Tetanus shot afterwords.
At Huber I played the Custom Legend 30th Anniversery model, very nice and nice to see a high end Ovation in a showroom. It played very well but was a little over the top for my tastes with all the cosmetics, made up like a Mardigras drag queen she was!
The best guitar I played all night was the Martin D-18 Andy Griffin signature model, it sang like a choir! Even better than the D-35s and the 810 Taylors. If you go back try it out.
I am close to pulling the trigger on a CVT. Why don't you do the American thing and put the LX on a Visa card and pay later? Your not getting any younger you know! |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Brian,
The Custom Legend must have just came in. I'll get a chance to play it next Monday if it is still there. I think I want my next guitar to be a little dressed up.
I'm trying not do do the Visa thing with the LX. I did the Visa thing to go skiing.
*Every* time I go to GC I think of what you said about young boys "torturing guitars with over powered amps".
Brad |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | JC,
Thanks for the Stick Link... check out this review:Kaki King's Review
she's truly awesome.... !
tim |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | 30TH ANNIVERSARY CUSTOM LEGEND???? HUBER AND BREESE???? Have to see if I can maybe make it over there Saturday..... :)
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1978 Ovation 1617-4 Legend 6-string
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Ovation 1777-NAT Legend 6-string |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | First off, I don't mean to offend my learned colleague MWoody. I happened to be in Seattle yesterday, cruising to several places, and the weather was abysmal. Reminded me of "nice place to visit......NOT!" I just have to recall other times when it is truly "The Emerald City". The presenter at the workshop, from Arizona, asked how people dealt with Seasonal Affective Disorder, with all the rain and overcast skies. Someone astutely responded, "That's why there's an espresso stand on every street corner!"
Anyrate, went to the Tukwila GC store. Granted, it was late in the day, and my nerve endings were a bit frayed. That cacophanous racket that they subject people to over the sound system was as bad as fingernails on a blackboard. One of the sales functionaries asked if I needed assistance, and I firmly replied, "Hell yeah, turn off that crap! I can't hear anything I'm playing on this guitar!!" He quickly disappeared. Some great customer service that is.
Sorry, I just wasn't having a good time. I will visit Ted Brown's Music here more often, I guess. They're keeping in a good stock of O's, and they keep the strings fresh. Smart move. |
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Guitar Center thins the heard
