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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 59
| I am shopping for my first Adamas...
curious about why the big range of Adamas prices...
For instance...
This appears to be the lowest cost model on the net...
http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Used-USED-ADAMAS-1597-GRAPHITE...
Most used models seem to be advertised for a lot more than this one???
Yes - a new one from Lost Art will be considered too...
Carl |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7210
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Used prices on Adamas are like used prices on every Ovation. All over the map. A large majority of people own Ovations because it was all they could afford or what was available, or it looked cool, with no sense of the actual value. Have you seen the commercial on TV where a guy is playing catch with his dog using a rare signed baseball? It's the same spirit when someone sells a used guitar they know nothing about.
I think if you see an Adamas for under $1000 and it's still in excellent condition, buy it. If you don't like it, sell and make a few bucks off the deal.
However, if you don't want to mess around and you want a guitar with a warranty that you know is exactly what you are getting, than contact someone like Al at LostArtVintage.com
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Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Carl,
That Adamas is in Amarillo. I went in the other day and played it...very nice for the price...if you want to overlook the primitive glue job they used on the head stock. If you look closely you can see the crack on the back of the head, right side. Looks like it broke and and they just used a little elmers and slapped it on there...
The guitar plays great. If you would like, I could go in sometime this week and look at it again a little closer, if you are interested, for any other cosmetic blemishes. They have had it for a while. They don't even have it hanging on the wall...sits in the middle of the room as a grabber.
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | The SMT-topped Adamas guitars sound good. Of course, they play really well like all top Ovation products.
But a lot of other Adamas are flat out great guitars. That mostly explains why you see price differentials. In this case, a repaired broken headstock compounds the delta. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6992
Location: Jet City | Carl, talk to Lost Art about the reissue 1581. It's everything you could want in an Adamas when it comes to sound. It's the same as an Adamas 1 (1587), but without the carved stuff, and the huge price tag.
I've had a few Adamas guitars including the Adamas 1, and haven't heard a nicer sounding one (aside from the originals or maybe the OFC guitars)
He has them at a ridiculous price if you compare to other vendors... that's if you can find another one. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Carl, one big difference is shiny top v. textured top. The latter come at a price, but it's a price worth paying. I upgraded from a W597 (shiny top, medium bowl) to an 08C (textured top, deep contour bowl) and the difference is significant.
+2 on dealing with Al, I've bought three guitars from him. |
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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 59
| So many good tips - and so quickly.
Mr. Ovation - prices all over the map... I don't know.... appreciate the advice on where the entry-level would be for the market.
Jay - the internet is incredible... you have personal knowledge of the 1597 and explain why it is priced the way it is... Don't go back there on my behalf... But your tip to look at the picture and notice the headstock crack was great. I checked the headstock on my 257 and perhaps the grain does cross in a way that would let that corner break off somewhat easily - but that poor 1597 must have taken a pretty good drop and landed on it's head to break like that. Everybody in the room must have stood speechless when that happened. But you say it still plays great - good to know.
Stonebobbo - Buying a cheap guitar used - it has to be mint or in very good condition... buying an expensive guitar used for cheap - I may be able to overlook the crack - or other use-blemishes on another Adamas that comes along.
Damon67 - Re 1581... I looked at the Lost Art web page - out of my price range... looks like the 2080 would be the most I can stretch... still good to see another referral for Lost Art.
Tafkar - "it's a price worth paying." And another vote for Lost Art...
Appreciate the help... lot's to think about...
Carl |
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Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | amosmoses - 2012-03-31 1:26 PM Carl, That Adamas is in Amarillo. I went in the other day and played it...very nice for the price...if you want to overlook the primitive glue job they used on the head stock. If you look closely you can see the crack on the back of the head, right side. Looks like it broke and and they just used a little elmers and slapped it on there... The guitar plays great. If you would like, I could go in sometime this week and look at it again a little closer, if you are interested, for any other cosmetic blemishes. They have had it for a while. They don't even have it hanging on the wall...sits in the middle of the room as a grabber. I also noticed the finish is fractured at the neck joint so I suspect the guitar was knocked over. I wasn't impressed with the sound of the guitar, but then it's not a deep bowl. |
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February 2006
Posts: 75
Location: San Antonio, TX | I would recommend the 2080. Do not discount this guitar for the price it is offered. It became my daily player the moment it arrived, pushing my 02C out of the way.
I would not hesitate to buy one, the sound is of a instrument double the cost.
Other than my 1680 it is the best I have played.
Cheers! |
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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 59
| OK - It happened...
A Q597 turned-up on the Guitar Center used equipment page at a doable price so I went for it...
The guitar arrived yesterday.
After all that Adamas education I think the baby Q is a good fit... I wanted the version of an Adamas that advertised that it is a carbon fiber top so the unpainted CVT fit the bill... then - the Q597 with it's wavy sound holes shows more of the carbon fiber.
That it is a lesser Adamas and cost much less was appropriate for me too.
Here is a link to the picasa page with full-size pictures...
https://picasaweb.google.com/112515870494292426674/AdamasQ597?authus...
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Posts: 59
| I forgot to ask - did this previously belong to someone from OFC? |
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May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | That's a beautiful guitar Carl! Well-chosen! Congrats and enjoy! |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Good Grab, Carl.
Although I don't understand why you would refer to that as a "Lesser Adamas"...
Q-series are few and far between, if you got it at a discount price... That was just sheer luck.
Another autographed dog-toy?
That is an Awesome guitar... GC just didn't know what they had.
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September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | Neat guitar!
I've never seen one of those before.
I LOVE that blue carbon fiber.
I take my Cobalt W597 out just to look at it sometimes, even if I'm not in a playing mood  |
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December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | You did great, Carl! I like the looks of the Cobalt Q597/Q598 over the W's. I had a set and kept the Cobalt Q597. Tony talked me into passing the Q598 to Dan. I think the Cobalt looks great and plays/sounds like an Adamas. Here's a Q598 in natural. 
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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 59
| It just took a moment in the sunshine to see the color...
About the sound... I've got about three hours on it so far and I am really impressed. The low E tone is a voice I have never heard before. Deep and clear. The harmony of the remainder of strings just fantastic.
I am now officially spoiled.
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4025
Location: Utah |
About the sound...
I am now officially spoiled.
The great thing about O's and A's is that they each have their own personality and sound. As much as you love this Adamas, someday you'll pick up your regular O and will fall back in love with it again. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | FlySig - As much as you love this Adamas, someday you'll pick up your regular O and will fall back in love with it again.
Not me.....sold all my woodtop O's cause I much preferred the Adamas sound....... |
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Need Adamas Education
