Any Ovation owners/players here?

[Mikeymac]

I know that some of you probably feel about Ovations the way I feel about Taylors (sorry, Taylor fans!), but I'm curious if anyone here plays (and likes) Ovations alongside their Larrivees?

I've been looking at a couple old USA lefties online, and have owned one in the past (a 1777 Legend lefty). There were things I liked about the tone, but I ended up selling it. The ones I'm looking at are older than the one I had - one is an early acoustic only one - probably a Balladeer (two piece hog neck rather than 5-piece upgrade neck). The price is a little high at $499 Buy-It-Now, but it is in very good shape and has the original hardshell case.

Was thinking of buying myself a birthday present, but want to see if I can get it for less.

Of course, Ovation USA is gone forever (probably) and technology has moved on, making Ovations a design that younger players today need not consider to get good plugged in tone. It's just some of us old guys who have some emotional or memory attachment to these things...

... I believe Glen Campbell is playing his on this tune with Tennessee Ernie Ford (I have this whole album on CD - rare and easy to listen to.

[GeeNorm]

Without really intending to, I now have as many Ovation guitars as I do Larrivees. It's a long story ...

I was able to buy an acoustic/electric Pacemaker 12-string in 1973, HEAVILY influenced by Glen Campbell's affiliation with the brand. This guitar has never needed adjustment, stays tuned, and has a remarkably easy action for a 12-string. I've written the majority of my songs using this guitar. A couple of them only sound right with the 12 strings. In short, a cherished heritage with a nice guitar.

During the last two years I purchased a very nice 6-string Custom Legend AX (Asian built) from a fellow forum member. I rounded out the collection with a budget, campfire guitar, Celebrity Elite (no traditional sound hole, inset epaulets) that I found on Craigslist. I carry in a backpack gig bag when I go to Kerrville Folk Music Festival or anywhere else that dings might lurk.

I think the Ovations complement, but would not replace my Larrivees. Acoustically, the Ovations are thin, as are their lyrachord bodies. But there is room in my heart and my closets to keep and appreciate them.

Norman

[Mikeymac]

So do all of yours have shallow bowls? The ones I'm looking at are either medium or deep bowls...

[GeeNorm]

I have one of each bowl depth.

The Custom Legend has the deepest bowl. The Pacemaker 12-string is a mid-depth bowl, and the Elite is the super-shallow bowl. When I said thin acoustic sound the Elite was the one I had in mind. The 12-string has ringing sustain acoustically but sounds best through a PA. The Custom Legend has a very pleasing acoustic sound but really shines through an amp or PA.

In an embarrassing admission, back in 1973 I wrote my signature on the lyrachord bowl of the 12-string. Another reason I will never sell it.

Norman

[ST]

Hi Mikeymac!

I know that some of you probably feel about Ovations the way I feel about Taylors (sorry, Taylor fans!), but I'm curious if anyone here plays (and likes) Ovations alongside their Larrivees?

Thanks for the reminder. I just spent an hour with this old friend.

mine



from the web

[Mikeymac]

Wow...that Thunderbolt is so shallow, Ovation should've called it the "no-bowl"... Did you play unplugged or plugged in (over the last hour or so)?

[unclrob]

My duo partner still use his Ovation when we play out.They were and are great tools with a sound all there own,sounds the same plugged and unplugged.

[Mikeymac]

Here's a pic of my lefty Legend (proof - it was real!) ... and a couple right-handed photos copped off the web because my only photo of mine is so low quality...

I really liked the soundhole rosette on these 1777 Legends - much better than the older, bulky plastic looking one they used in the past (and is on the guitar I'm now looking to buy).

[ST]

Hi Mikeymac,

Wow...that Thunderbolt is so shallow, Ovation should've called it the "no-bowl"... Did you play unplugged or plugged in (over the last hour or so)?

Unplugged first 30 min, then plugged in for the rest.

Probably the same depth as Norman's Elite. Back in the day, these had suggested retail prices similar to the annual Collector Series guitars.

Great neck, very comfortable to play and very directional. Great beach guitar. Come to think of it, it's been here for a very long time.

[ducktrapper]

I'm not  big fan of them for all the usual reasons but a friend had an Adamas and that was one damn fine guitar.

[Mikeymac]

I'm not  big fan of them for all the usual reasons but a friend had an Adamus and that was one damn fine guitar.

People are asking big bucks for Adamas models these days ... and just try to find a lefty - almost non-existent.

[SMan]

I currently have a Custom and a Standard Balladeer.  The Custom is about 30 years old and the Standard is about 20 years old.  Both great guitars with deep bowls.  I also had a Deacon that I sold and wish I had back.   In the pic the 2 on the left are mine but I am trying to buy the one on the right.  A friend owned it in high school and it is 40 years old.



This Deacon was sold to a guy in Ricky Martin's band.

[photodork]

love my '67 Josh white....those hand laid shiny bowls are just amazing...
http://i.imgur.com/tTz8bJc.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jimCn1j.jpg

here is the whole album
http://imgur.com/a/pri29

[Mikeymac]

SMan and photodork, thanks for sharing those pics! Those all look like great guitars in great shape!

I don't see electronics on any of them ... did (or do) any of them have electronics in 'em?

SMan - do you mean the one on the left as we're looking at the photo is the one you're trying to buy? That one looks just like the lefty I'm considering - only the one I'm gassing for was built in '82.

[photodork]

SMan and photodork, thanks for sharing those pics! Those all look like great guitars in great shape!

I don't see electronics on any of them ... did (or do) any of them have electronics in 'em?


some great guitars in this thread!

the owner before me had returned the josh to the mothership for repair of the top crack below the bridge. while it was there, they installed a passive ovation bridge pickup. it sounds good plugged in, but just shines acoustically.
the belly rumble hits you in the guts and volume it projects coupled with the amazing tone is unlike any other ovation i have heard short of an adamas.  i believe that ovation got the guitars right, right at the beginning, but once they went to the smc bodies a few years later, the acoustic sound went downhill.

[SMan]

SMan and photodork, thanks for sharing those pics! Those all look like great guitars in great shape!

I don't see electronics on any of them ... did (or do) any of them have electronics in 'em?

SMan - do you mean the one on the left as we're looking at the photo is the one you're trying to buy? That one looks just like the lefty I'm considering - only the one I'm gassing for was built in '82.

I am trying to get my friend to part with the one on the right (It is an early 70's Custom).  The one on the left is my 1612 Custom Balladeer made in 1983.

Look closely at the left guitar and you'll see a stock volume / tone knob at the top of the upper bout.  On the Cadillac Green Balladeer (1993) you'll see an on board EQ.  The one on the right has no electronics.

The 1968 Deacon has an active system with on board battery.

[Mikeymac]

I am trying to get my friend to part with the one on the right (It is an early 70's Custom).  The one on the left is my 1612 Custom Balladeer made in 1983.

Look closely at the left guitar and you'll see a stock volume / tone knob at the top of the upper bout.  On the Cadillac Green Balladeer (1993) you'll see an on board EQ.  The one on the right has no electronics.

Thanks for answering those questions; they lead to a couple more...

What makes a "Custom" Balladeer, Custom?

Does that stacked V/T knob get in the way of using a strap (or do you just have to tie the strap to the headstock on these)?

I'm assuming that the 1112 model I'm looking at is a Balladeer, but I don't know the numbering/naming system very well...the one I'm looking at is an '82, just a tad older than yours.

(Okay - I just did an internet search - 1111 and 1112 models are Balladeers...but there are 16xx Balladeers and 18xx Balladeers, too - looks like it mostly depends on year/s of production?)

[SMan]

These specs may help on your potential 1112. 

http://www.ovationguitars.com/guitars/archive/1112-balladeer/


My 1612

http://www.ovationguitars.com/guitars/archive/1612-customballadeer/

The Custom Balladeer has diamond fret markers.  I've never had strap issues but then again I've rarely used one.  The strap button is on the treble side about the same as the V/T knob.

[Mikeymac]

Thanks, SMan...

So, it looks like the only difference is on the 1612 the diamond fretmarkers are described as "pearl," because the 1112 also has diamond shaped fret markers. And the 1612 is electric acoustic; the 1112 is acoustic only.

Ovation's numbering system reminds me of Gretsch's system - both are mind-boggling! 

[C-10-4-me]

Way back in 1974 I had a deep bowl Ovation model 1111 in sunburst that I still regret letting go of. Traded it straight up for a LP knock off and amp combo,which both turned out to be junk.
I wouldn't mind having another one some day but I'm afraid the round back wouldn't be compatable with my belly!