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Posts: 38
Location: Hopkinton, MA | I'm usually really good at deciphering numbers and designations to figure out the order of things (chevy, pontiac, oldsmobile, buick, cadillac)....you know?
So I am completely stumped on the whole Ovation/Adamas lineup...also understanding that models are added and dropped.
Is there someplace where I can sort of figure out the merit of quality from one to another? All I know so far is that my S771 plays better than any Ovation I've found in music stores. But, of course....those are dominated by new Korean Celebrities......
thanks, jack |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | try the reference section |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Hi there Jack,
A starting order goes something like (from highest to lowest):
1) Original Slothead Adamas
2) A range of textured top Adamii, including 47RI, 08C, Adamas I
3) Adamas II (should sound the same as Adamas I but has less bling)
4) Shiny top Adamii, including 2080, w597, 1597 (Some will argue that some of these are better than the others).
5) Custom Legend/Custom Elite (hard to put one of these in front of the other)
6) "normal" Legend & Elites. Some of these are definitely ranked higher than each other, but others will fill that detail in.
7) Balladeer (here's where you come in)
8) Multi hole Celebrities
9) Centre hole Celebrities
10) Applause |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Of course in Australia the order is reversed. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Based on Richard's list above, I own 3 of only the 6th best(4th worst) Ovation's and 1 of the 7th best (3rd worst). ;)
And you know what? I think they're pretty damn good guitars!!!!! :D :D
Richard, I think you list is right on target. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15667
Location: SoCal | Questions:
1. Are carbon topped Adamii better sounding than wood topped Ovations? Depends.....
2. Are we talking current production models, or all models produced thru time? |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | 3. What's more appropriate for a 90 year old man, boxers or briefs? Depends... |
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March 2002
Posts: 15667
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
3. What's more appropriate for a 90 year old man, boxers or briefs? Depends... Words of experience? |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I think he goes "commando"... cause the sofa in the hotel lobby was wet when he got up . . . |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | It was a long walk to the bushes outside... |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Was that after the presentation? ;) |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Where does the "Academy" fit in?
The one I played at the jam had a killer sound.
Frets like speed bumps do a nice player.
Also there are some special editions that have merit, (Think FD-14). |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Where do the Collectors models fit in? |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | All over the place. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | On second thought I'll guess that a collector would rate better than most.
At least I would sure hope so. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Capo Guy:
Where does the "Academy" fit in?
Better than most of the wood tops. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | The Academy is a weird animal. In some respects it is a real cheap and nasty, made to a budget guitar (which is what it was). This is seen by the razor sharp frets and some other features. On the other hand it was a surprisingly good guitar for that money. It is the quintessential beach guitar, but if the choice was for my one and only never-to-be-replaced guitar, I would rate it below a multi-hole Celebrity and probably below the centre hole celebrity. If I was looking for a cheapo guitar to take to the beach and not worry about (and if they still sold them at a cheapo price) then I would buy one for that purpose if I wanted to take a guitar out into the elements. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Richard, which model academy did you play?
My opinion differs from yours 100%. Nothing wrong with disagreeing. But in side by side ownership I've jettisoned every balladeer, legend and elite that I've owned in part because they just couldn't stand up tonally to the KA-17. Maybe mine is unique but the fretwork and the rosewood fingerboard is on oar with any average ovation I've ever seen.
Oh well, nothing wrong with differing opinions. I suspect you may have played the model KA-14. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | That was my KA-14 Academy at the Smokey's Jam. Yepper, it was inexpensively built, has 'speed bump' frets and doesn't turn heads.
But there is a clip of the SJ with Karen playing a bass run during a strong jam and the Academy's bass booms through on the audio. Keep in mind she was finger picking!
The 'speed bump' frets actually taught me that I was trying to apply too much pressure to the strings. Once I started to try sliding notes I had to ease up due to the 'squared' fret tops. Lesson learned via the -14 and experimentation.
I've yet to hear a Celeb unplugged that even comes close to the Academy. So I would place it twix the Celebs and the wood tops. In fact it could easily nudge itself somewhere into the wood top line-up tonally.
Wow, I didn't mean to make this a long post, but Gallerinski has been advocating the Academy for a long time and I must agree with his observations. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Back before I knew any chords, a High School friend showed me her Academy. She'd gotten it for guitar lessons, and she told me that the top and bowl were Plastic.
"So? It's a Toy guitar?"
"Oh no," she says. And then she played it in 'the circle' and the tone carried... Outside.
I have not seen one in recent years, but I sure would love to find one in the local Thrift Store for $35! Or More! |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
but I sure would love to find one You and me both! I'm searching for the -17 slothead in at least the same condition as my -14. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | A Solid Top over 10 yrs. old is hard to beat... |
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Help with pecking order......