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May 2004
Posts: 9
Location: MA | Hi everyone. I frequent the HFC board, but I have a Ivation questions so I figured this would be the place to have it answered.
My friend just bought a 6778 LX. He has been complaining on how weak the preamp output was from this guitar, and even noticed it when he was auditioning several models, but decided on this one anyway. The store even called the rep to inquire about the preamp (I can't recall which one it is. I think it's the OP Pro?) some one can probably confirm.
Anyhoo, I played it last night thru the PA we use for practice (and live). With the faders on the board in the average spot we always use and the input trim at like 2 o'clock (this is high), the guitar is VERY low in volume until you turn up the volume on the guitar to about 3 oclock. It seems to my ear that the taper is moderate until about this point. Only with the volume at 3 is where I would consider a strong signal. It you max it out the guitar becomes tinny and a bit noisy, due to the cranked levels.
Has anyone played enough of these plugged in to notice a problem. He used to have a balladeer that kicked out a lot more output volume. I'm not sre if it's a preamp issue or a pickup issue? ANy known problems? Any suggestions?
Thanks |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Put in a call to Ovation customer service. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | A couple of days ago, John B. stated the following in a post:
". . I also like the way that the gain knob increases the volume at very slight intervals. . ."
Perhaps this was done as an intentional modification of the volume pot? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | I've got an OP Pro and that doesn't sound right. |
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April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | I'm with Moody. Call Ovation Customer Service They should be able to answer your questions. If you need to have it worked on it should be under warranty. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | I just checked the warranty info it states that plating and electronics are not covered by the warranty..but i'd still contact Ovation Customer Service to try and trouble shoot your problem. If you purchased locally.. you can also take it there for warranty evaluation..but I think I'd check with The Mothership First. |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ... this may sound stupid, but it happened to me on my Balladeer:
I was changing the strings and giving the guitar a good polishing when I turned it over and the pickup assembly fell loose from the bridge and out fell the shim.
Without paying attention I put the shim back, put new strings on and discovered that my output was next VERY low. After investigating, I discovered that I put the shim INSIDE the pickup assembly instead of UNDER it! :eek:
I put it back UNDER the pickup and it worked just fine.
Told you it would sound stupid! :rolleyes: |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Tim,
I act as an IT Guru (I did say act) for my office when it comes to getting machines and PCs to work. Littler things have caused bigger problems!
You have no idea how many "cup holder" problems have come up on PCs because if you don't jam the cup in there within 10 seconds the damn thing tries to close! |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ... I just hot-glued my PC's cup holder in the open position! ;)
When I do place my cup on my desk, I always use those round shiny/colorchanging coasters so that I won't mar the desk top surface :D |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 9
Location: Iowa | i noticed the same thing with my new 6778LX last night. i had to really crank up the PA compared to my friends washburn. i figured it was just how it's supposed to be...although i did just change string, and took out a shim, but it looked like the pickup was a unit, so i don't know how i would have put the shim IN the pickup assembly... |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 9
Location: MA | Thanks for the replies. My friend called ovation and they note no problems with the unit. He is going to ship a new preamp to see if it changes anything. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 266
Location: Tampa, Florida | I have the same issue when playing through my amp. Very low output compared to my Fishman on my Martin. It was that way right out of the box. I think I need to call Ovation. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I am suspicious also. If someone hears what the factory says, please post it.
Brad |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 265
Location: Warrenton, Virginia | I just recently played live; and after reading the posts remember that I had to turn up volume on guitar and PA quite high. I thought it was supposed to be this way too.
I would be interested in feedback from factory when you guys find out please post.
Thanks |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I am curious... when you say "lower output" from the guitar, do you mean you have the volume on the guitar maxed out and it is quieter than other guitars, or that you have to turn the control on the guitar up more than on others.
If it is the later I would say that is the way it's supposed to be. Ovation has been known (even on the solidbodies) to have very nice smooth volume and tone control. In other words, you have plenty of room to adjust not like most where 0-3 = nothing and 4 is already too loud.
I am currently rehearing with someone who is switching back and forth between a Legend 12 string and a Martin. We don't change the amp settings. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 9
Location: Iowa | in my case, if I have my guitar turned up all the way, and my friend has his washburn, or my dean, turned all the way up, my channel on the PA has to be set to ~ 1:00 whereas his is set to ~11:00. I should also note that both the washburn and the dean are ~$200 guitars with probably the same pickup/preamp system, so I'm not suprised they have similar output..... |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | If you are using a mixing board there is another factor at play. You must set the input gain on each channel to correctly match the output of whatever guitar you are using. The correct way to do this is with the guitar volume at around 7 and set the master & channel faders to "0 Db" (about 7.5 on a scale of 1 to 10) then adjust the channel gain (sometimes called trim) so the output meters peak at 3 or 4 dB above zero. Put simply; get all the green meter LEDs & a couple of amber LEDs lit, but stay out of the red. |
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6778 LX