|
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Well, my '05 collector showed up earlier today. Serial number 80. But Al totally screwed up. I ordered an FRG to save a few bucks, but he ships me a factory perfect guitar. Oh yeah, it says FRG inside and all that. But it's a totally perfect guitar! I inspecetd it with a magnifying glass and for the life of me I couldn't find anything cosmetically wrong with it. So I figured it must be the electronics that would be inferior to make it an FRG. Nope - tunes up just fine. No problems. So, bingo it must have a sound problem that's why it was discounted. One strum and my nuts almost fell off. How could this thing possibly be an FRG? OK, truth be told under FINE inspection I did find a few small areas of the binding that had a small amount of light orange adhesive showing. But give me a break - I could give you 10 minutes with the guitar and you would never find the issue. I could not be happier with the deal I got. Even if I paid full price I would be happy.
OK, so how's it play and sound. A lot's been written already on the '05 and all I can say is that everything is true. This thing really rocks. The sound is open and clean. Not the best Ovation in the house and certainly no match for vintage Adamas or Martin, but untouchable for the money and probably the best sounding Ovation since the FD14. Kudos to the factory on this one. The looks are subtle yet stunning. I really like it, except for the stupid TRC. That thing is as bad as it gets and will be history as soon as I'm done typing this note.
The setup is perfect and the playability is as good as anything you can buy - period. It does play "long". I mis-fretted some big jumps fret 3 to fret 7 for example, but you get used to it. Last but not least, the contour bowl is absolutely the freaking cats meow. Ten minutes with this thing and it makes it really hard to pick up an older roundback. I always play seated, and the contour bowl puts the guitar in exactly the same position as a wooden box guitar, which I think is perfect. I hate that layed back slouched look. You shouldn't be able to look inside your soundhole while playing! The contour bowl puts the face of the guitar perpendicular to the ground. And it even digs the top edge of the soundboard into your bicept muscle just like a wooden box guitar. Sorry but I love it. Long story short - I have seen the future and it is contoured. The traditional bowls will be history real soon when the public latches onto this baby. It's just THAT friggin good! It really makes me think twice about a #47 re-issue. The next generation contoured adamas will just blow it away.
Al, all I can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You have made me one really happy camper.
Note to everyone else - JUST GO BUY ONE. This guitar will definately not disappoint you.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | RE: Even if I paid full price I would be happy.
So, Al will send you an invoice for the balance...
:p :p :p :p :p :p
Welcome to the club...actually, I thought the trc was nice :rolleyes: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Congrats on the 05! Al does a great job for being 'the world's worst salesman' eh? :D
Guess it was a good day all the way around. /me goes off to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star again |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 396
| Is Al a non-profit agancy? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Way to go Dave!
Couple of points. First, mine is NOT an FRG but under close inspection when I got it, I had 2 very small orange spots on the top bowl binding. Probably will age nicely but if that is the worst you found, FANTASTIC!
Second, I was glad to hear someone else also think that the guitar played "long". It almost seemed when I first started playing it that I had my DS768 longneck in my hands. Subsequent playings have slowly made this feeling go away and it is without a doubt one of the most comfortable feeling Ovations I have ever played.
I have a feeling that the other FRG that Al has is gonna get snapped up real quick....if it hasn't already.
Can't wait to hear what our next couple of owners have to say as their 05's arrive this week. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2004
Posts: 180
Location: Chicagoland | How much are these going for, out of curiosity? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Sigh ... :( |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | New, non FRG's, are being listed for $1,399 - $1,499 on internet sellers but they don't have them in stock.
Not sure if Al wants us to post his prices but recommend you email or call him. Best way to save money and get one now. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Contact Al for pricing. If you paid full list $1899. you'd still be getting a bargin. Dave
PS - This is the first night in a LONG time that I haven't played the ukulele. Now THAT says something right there about the '05, doesn't it? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | list price is 1999
Dave
I am glad you are happy with your guitar.
enjoy!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2004
Posts: 180
Location: Chicagoland | I was just asking out of curiosity mainly, I don't have that much money. :( |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 146
Location: Germantown, MD | Sorry to hear that you almost dropped your nuts after one strum. There must be some sort of curse on the guitar, and this could be a terribly dangerous guitar for you. Quickly pack up the guitar securely and send it to my house. I'll figure out what kind of curse it is, assemble the necessary stuff to counter it and return it to you as soon as I've corrected the problem. But you need to understand that lifting a curse sometimes takes considerable time. . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | You haven't played the uke?!?! WTF?! Well, I'm making up for it...the palm tree gets out several times every day. :D
I'm up to 'Let Me Call you Sweetheart' (although it's in C and I don't sing in C...'nuff said) and working on 'On Top of Old Smokey' (the novelty lyrics, just like my grandfather used to sing...On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese...), but Sally isn't a fan of that one. :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 474
Location: Anchorage, Alaska | Well after all this talk, I went ahead and signed up for the three step program.... Call Al, Give Credit Card number, wait for delivery of a new 2005 collectors! My first experience dealing with Al, and will not be the last. Thanks Al. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | How about a picture of the repribate TRC in question. There are options you know! :rolleyes: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 474
Location: Anchorage, Alaska | TRC??? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 474
Location: Anchorage, Alaska | Oh yea. Truss Rod Cover. More coffee please... |
|
| |
'05 Collector - Al Screwed Up Again
