|
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | So, the question is, if you had been an Adamas fan for decades but had never owned one and currently only had a 12-string Balladeer, which of these would be your first choice of a gift to receive as a good acoustic and ac/el 6-string to have:
1. 2005-ES Collector's
2. 2006-FKOA Collector's
3. Elite 1778LX or 2078LX
4. Adamas W597
The other question is, does anyone have input as to how "Adamasy" the W597 really is? I've played a couple older texture-tops, and my only concern with a new gloss-finish W597 is that it won't satisfy the Adamas flavor like the originals or reissues...am I looking the wrong direction?
Thanks in advance...let the reviews begin! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | adamasII is a favorite of mine personaly,ive never owned one but have played a few..jason |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Andrew, a question for you...
HOW DO I GET ON THE GIFT LIST???
That being said, how serious of a player is he/she? As far as a "players" guitar, I would think the LX's would be the choice as opposed to either collector's series. The Adamas you can send to me for the opinion. :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | The 05 and 06 collectors ARE LX's. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Thanks Muzza, I stand corrected. Actually I meant from a stand point of trying to keep one pristine from a collectors view as opposed to using one as a daily player and not having to worry about little scratches and such.
(you can still send the Adamas) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Andrew, I know you mentioned that your gift recipient was primarily interested in live plugged in work. Just curious ('cuz lordy knows I'm no gigging musician) is a multihole guitar like an elite less prone to feedack issues that a center hole like the '05 Collector? Also wondering about the VIP vs OP-Pro pre-amps. I understand the features/benefits of the VIP but are these primarily aimed at studio work and for live work is OP-Pro maybe the better choice? I don't know. This is a relm of use that I seldom get to experience (for obvious reasons). Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I would choose in order...
1)2006-FKOA Collector's
2)2005-ES Collector's
3)Elite 1778LX or 2078LX & Adamas W597 I would call a toss up.
Iv'e been lucky enough to spend a little time with all of these.
The '06 koa features the contour bowl, VIP pre-amp, LX features, and some killer looks.
The '05 offers a few less of the above.
Both of the collectors are great unplugged with the koa leaning a little more to a Martin-ish, wood box type sound.
It may be blasphamy to put an Adamas at the bottom of this particular list but after playing some textured top models, there is a difference.
IMO mind you... if I had to discribe the typical sound of the cross-weave, shiney top models I would say "piano-ish".
Views expressed by Slipkid are his own and to others may seem to ressemble a big pile of spoo. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Andrew,
I had the W597 (the one I am currently fighting the USPS over for a claim in another thread).
While I like the 2080 that replaced it a lot, the W597 was a sweet guitar. The action was like glass and the guitar played incredibly well. To my ears, it is louder than the 2080, and has a very sweet voice to it. More treble than the 2080 or the 1537, but it cuts through the mix like a knife (in a good way).
The sound always seemed more transparent than any wood box guitars I have played with each note and corresponding harmonic clear and precise.
I don't know about the others you mention, and I will be met with calls of blashpemy, but if I had to chose between my W597 and the 1537 as my only guitar, I would have been selling the 1537 (and nearly did so right after buying the 597).
The 2080 is a nice blend between the two (1537 and 597). In fact, I still think about selling the 1537 from time to time to move on to another toy since I am not a collector, but I will probably wait for the prices to rebound to their levels a couple years back, just from an investment perspective. (hows that for cold). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Andrew, I've played all of the above. My ranking:
1) 2005-ES
2) W597
3) 2078LX
4) 2006-FKOA
5) 1778LX
....and the W597 doesn't lose to the 2005-ES by a LOT. It does have the Adamas "sound", IMHO. maybe not as good as the older ones. But it's pretty good.
I'll admit, I'm not a fan of the 2006 Collectors. I don't care for koa, either in appearance or sound. My taste. What puts it above the 1778LX is having the deep contour bowl.
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | He's a pretty serious player, weekly plugged in at church, and plays fairly aggressively (like me!).
The question comes from a number of factors, which I am having trouble balancing out:
1. His CB 12-string is a mid-bowl cutaway, which I know he likes. NOT sure about the contour bowl instead.
2. 2005 marks his marriage to my stepmom, so there's a signifigance there.
3. Koa (to me at least) is just freakin' sweet!
4. He's always wanted an Adamas, just not sure if this is "the" one or not.
5. The Elite models (particularly the 1778LX) are a chunk less to get a hold of than the others, which my wife isn't opposed to...
I don't think he'd really get much advantage from the VIP preamp, either the Op-Pro's in most of these or the Op-50 in the Adamas would suit his needs perfectly...
...and of course all of this doesn't make it any easier. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Needs analysis:
1)wants adamas
2)plays aggressively (eliminates engleman spruce 2005)
3)lots of use and packing around: needs durability of CVT
4)we're not going to let you off the hook with the cheap one WWYD (What would you do--for you) :D
Conclusion: W597 with OP50 or VIP
As per this new one, W597 with VIP , are all the w597 shipping with VIPs? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 474
Location: Anchorage, Alaska | "2)plays aggressively (eliminates engleman spruce 2005)" ???
Isn't Koa wood very soft while spruce is harder and less prone to scratches and dings? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Alaskan Fly Guy:
Isn't Koa wood very soft while spruce is harder and less prone to scratches and dings? It's actually exactly the opposite. Koa is a hardwood. In terms of weight and density it's somewhere between mahogany and rosewood. Spruce and other traditional soundboard materials such as cedar are softwoods.
This is something of an over-simplification but what makes spruce such a common choice as a soundboard material is it's strength to weight ratio. Good spruce is stiff and light, and that makes for good sounding tops. Hardwoods have the rigidity but are a lot heavier, so are not driven as as efficiently by the string torque when used as a top material. That's not to say you can't make great sounding guitars with hardwood tops. There's a long tradition of mahogany and Koa topped guitars, but it takes skill to make them work and they sound very different to spruce or cedar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | I have had feedback with the elite more so than say a legend. But i have used an elite or a 92 collectors more live than other Ovations. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Originally posted by tdeej:
Needs analysis:
1)wants adamas
2)plays aggressively (eliminates engleman spruce 2005)
3)lots of use and packing around: needs durability of CVT
4)we're not going to let you off the hook with the cheap one WWYD (What would you do--for you) :D
Conclusion: W597 with OP50 or VIP
As per this new one, W597 with VIP , are all the w597 shipping with VIPs?
Sounds like that's probably a yes... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 474
Location: Anchorage, Alaska | Paul-You are absolutly right. I was thinking about Cedar but got it mixed up with the Koa... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 972
Location: PDX | Whay are your choices just limited to just these five guitars?
Just curious.
_____
gh1 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Price, style, options, setup, etc. I know more or less what he likes, and I'm trying to figure within those parameters.
Basics are:
Mid or possibly contour bowl, cutaway, 6-string standard neck, 14-fret, nice & eye-catching, awesome acoustic tone, and great electronics...
I know, sounds like an Ovation! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Go with the Op50. I had it on my W597 and the VIP on my 2080. I prefer the flexibility and lack of quirkiness of the OP50 and if I was buying new, would pick the OP50 over the VIP just for that reason. It is annoying to have to use a dummy plug (which I then forget is in the guitar and run my battery dead), and the sounds nuances are not that much better.
The mid bowl cutaway is more comfortable to play standing than the contour is also, and certainly moreso than any deep bowl. Sitting...I can take any of them (until I gain another 10 lbs, then I am back to the mid-bowl)
Quite frankly I have not played the other guitars, but if the 1537 is superior to the others, and I had to choose between the W597 and 1537 to play at church on Sundays plugged in, well I made my choice. It was the W597 and now the 2080. My 1537 is still a great guitar, but it is relegated to case filling duties and will probably be so until I sell it.
P.S. If I end up getting my W597 back and have it repaired, I may be able to cut you a great deal. The buyer has not decided whether to keep it or not yet. It has the Op50 and an action to die for. Some pick swirls is the only issue with it (and non-factory case) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by jpcannon:
Thanks Muzza, I stand corrected. Actually I meant from a stand point of trying to keep one pristine from a collectors view as opposed to using one as a daily player and not having to worry about little scratches and such. I'm not sure I agree. I bought the 05 collectors because it was the guitar that I wanted. The choice was an ADII or the new '05. My limited expertise told me that they were similar spec, but the new contour bowl was the selling point for me.
My '05 wasn't bought as an investment, it was bought as a player. If it gets a few dints 'n scratches, well - it'll give it character. From what I can tell, I don't think the collectors series are bringing in the big bucks in reselling. On eBay they seem comparable to an equivalent LX, or even cheaper.
I am interested to learn more about the comment made by tdeej about the Engleman spruce not being suited to an 'agressive' player. Luckily, I'm a soft pick flat picker or finger picker, so it doesn't really affect me.
Is the Engleman spruce fairly weak or brittle? Why isn't it good for a 'thrasher'? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
Hardwoods have the rigidity but are a lot heavier..... On the whole, correct, but not entirely. Balsa is also a hardwood.
If my woodworking understanding is correct, hardwood generally comes from deciduous trees (lose their leaves in winter) and softwood comes from conical needle leaf trees like pine and firs.
This is probably the last time I get to correct you Paul, coz you've forgotten more about guitars than I'll ever hope to know.
After all my pedantic ramblings, I don't think I've ever seen a balsa guitar, anyway. |
|
| |
Advice on choosing a gift, Adamas or Ovation...
