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Joined: January 2004 Posts: 648
Location: Florida | When I recently set out to get my first acoustic guitar, I only had one pre-qualification. It must be a model made by Ovation.
My old aquaintance Jerry Carlucci used to play an Ovation down at the local church run coffee-house. She wasn't a virtuoso player, but had a nice fingerpicking style. She also played with a lot of heart n' soul. She played a Balladeer, and from what imagine, it must have been one of the first models. Its amazing how that sort of thing gets remembered.
Later I was very friendly with Angelo Meli. Before he became famous as a sessions player, he played at our church, with a Christian jazz combo. Angelo played a guitar made by some unknown guy in California named Taylor. Yes, he had a Taylor-built guitar made for himself, before there was "Taylor Guitar Company". Neat. Anyway, back in about 1981, I asked him what I ought to buy. He just looked at me for a second and said... "just go get an Ovation, you can go wrong". Heheeehe... only took me 23 years to follow his advice. |
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Joined: December 2001 Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Kim Keller said to me one day "you have to try an Adamas YOU would LOVE IT"
he was right
as usual. |
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 Joined: September 2003 Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Let's see.....about 30 years ago I was 19. At that time I was drawn to the science behind Ovations. The bowl acting as a parabolic transmitting device made so much sence.
Brad |
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 Joined: August 2003 Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Prior to 1981, played Martin D-18-12; Marty, owner of Marty's Guitar in Portland, OR asked me to come by and see what he had just brought up from NAMM. There was a dark sunburst CL 1658 acoustic slothead. Had never seen an O up close. I was taken aback from all of the abalone & ivory. Played it and left. Great sound and wonderful neck but too gaudy. Went back for the next two days, taking it home the 3rd day.
Never knew anyone else with an O, never played another O until I started buying on eBay last year.
I guess you can say that the only O's I have played are the ones I had to buy first.
Now with 2 Adamas-Millennium and soon to arrive 1687, MM68 Mando, (3) 1719-30th Anniv CL, 6759, 1658, 1659, 1619, 1763, FD-14, 1997-N, 1118, 4861, EAB68, Typhoon, Toronado, and GS - love them all. Rarely play the others. |
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 Joined: December 2003 Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | It was about 8th grade, 1974. I had a friend - Ken Barnes, he was an absolute freaking Ovation nut! He had a Balladeer and then a 12 string and I can't remember what else - but he always had an Ovation of some kind. We jammed a lot and had great summer get togethers. It wasn't until 1979 that he helped me find my 1112 that had spent 3 years in a closet. Then it's fast forward to 2003, finding this board and my new O's!
And a lot of G-A-S ;) |
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Joined: February 2002 Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Ouch!!! What a question.
I remember trying to learn guitar from PBS. Learned a couple of latin rhythms. Must be around 1970-71.
Somebody somewhere turned me on to a weekly newpaper article that had tabs of recent hits. This must be around '71-'72. I remember learning Bread's "if", "diary" & "baby im-a want you" Love the sounds of those guitars on record. To this day I don't know and don't want to know if they were Ovations; always assumed they were.
I remember loving Cat Steven's "Wild World" He played Ovation also.
1973 - Had a chance to buy an smooth-backed Ovation. Deal fell through at the last minute. I bought a J-200 instead.
1974 - Bought and still own my first Ovation - a Glen Campbell 12-string.
What lead me on this path???? As much as I love the Beatles, Paul Simon, Donovan, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, I realize after listening to a Bread song being played recently and buying the Best Of Bread CD last month, it was the sound of their guitar + cat stevens that first influenced me toward Ovations. |
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Joined: December 2002 Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | In 1971, I was in seventh grade, played football, basketball, ran track and took guitar lessons from a teacher that lived on Willian Penn Drive in San Antonio, Texas: Mark Moore. He lived one block over from where we lived on Prince George Drive. I walked to my guitar lessons. He played all Ovation guitars. I can't tell you now what models they were.
It resonated with me for so long, after years of only owning a Hamer electric, I bought a Celebrity from a a co-worker a few years ago when I got back into playing again, then bought my Legend....
The first song Mark taught me was "Ruby" as sung by Kris Kristoferson; of course written by Mel Tillis.
:cool: :D |
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Joined: May 2002 Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Interesting question
I became an Ovation owner in the 70's when I bought my Viper. I was playing in bluegrass bands acoustically but wanted an electric for my own entertainment when I wanted to play some Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, (especially Buck Owens), in my living room without my band. I never did establish myself as an electric player, but I spent some hours at home enjoying the thought of Bailey, the rocker, even though I was only hired as Bailey the mandolin player. But I still like my Viper and plug it in and wail like the "Long Black Veil" when "nobody knows and nobody sees, nobody knows but me".
Bailey |
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 Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | In the mid 60's that's all there was around the house so when I started playing guitar it wasn't a question of what guitar to play, it was which Ovation did I start on. It took years till I realized there was a choice. I bought my first nonOvation in 76, a Gurian S3R. |
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Joined: August 2003 Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | What hooked me on Ovation?
That's easy: I played one! :D That's all it took...
Now I have 3 and am dreaming about Al's Textured Adamas!... hmmmm maybe I should have re-phrased that! :rolleyes: |
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Joined: June 2002 Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | It was 1972... In Ohio ... 11th grade. I had a Martin D-35, a Guild, and an Epiphone. I saw a Legend at my local guitar shop, tried one... and was sold on 'em! |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Ackerman's Music shop.
Midland Park, NJ
1976.
As Arlo would put it:
". . . walked in, . . . sat down . . ."
That was "IT". |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | 1977... had been playing an epiphone acoustic and a yamaha acoustic.
A friend of mine had a legend,..played it and feel in love with the sound..I was HOOKED!!
I bought my GC12 about 30 days later and have love Ovations ever since.
I was already aware of the reputation of being a great guitar by Ovations Exposure on TV, In Print and by the number of popular musicians that were playing Ovations.
It was only a matter of time... I'm glad I made the choice. |
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Joined: March 2004 Posts: 201
Location: Vernon, CT | Growing up in CT in the 1960's my father and a lot of other folks I know or knew worked at Kaman Helicopters back in the days when they were still building and overhauling wooden framed helicopter rotary blades. When the Ovation factory was first founded many of the carpenter and helicopter blade engineers started building the first Ovation guitars even though they were not Luthiers by trade. I was fortuante enough to play (or fool around with) one of the first prototypes. My playing left a lot to be desired back then. Maybe it still does.
Anyway, back then Kaman employees could buy as many guitars as they wanted below at cost after the factory went into production. However, some low life employee took advantage of the situation and the practice halted to a grinding screech. However, I loved the shape and sound but got a Tornado in 1970. Took a brief 30 years sabbatical and am now back full force with three new Ovations which I think are great. Play on!
John L.
1970 Tornado
2004 Std. Balladeer
2004 Legend LX
2004 Celebrity C026
1975 Fender Precision
1982 Takamine 12 String |
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Joined: April 2004 Posts: 265
Location: Warrenton, Virginia | Noticed Campbell playing one. It had a good look and sound. It also smelled good. Traded my ephiphone 12 string and some $ in for a balladere in 67/68. |
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Joined: February 2004 Posts: 171
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma | While learning how to play Jim Croce music I noticed he played Ovation... I'd heard and seen the Wilson sisters of Heart play them also... During my high school years "Wings Over America" came out and McCartney and Co. were playing Ovations... Then in college a fraternity brother of mine had a Deluxe Balladeer that he worked up electric licks on... (he never like playing acoustics)... I played that guitar every chance I got and did used it on stage a few times... I knew I'd get one "one day"... Now I have three!..
The woodies still have their place but my favorite is my whiteface balladeer... |
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Joined: May 2003 Posts: 38
Location: Tucson, Arizona | Posted this before, but I'll reiterate:
Started playing in about 1972. Played for a year on a steel-string acoustic no-name guitar. The year I played convinced my parents I was committed to playing guitar. At that point my parents said, “Let’s get you something a little nicer”. We went to Beaver’s Band Box (now, now, be nice) in Tucson, Arizona and played almost every guitar in the store. I picked up, and played, the Ovation. I had never seen, or heard, anything like it. Traded in the Baritone horn and the old guitar and bought the O (1973 Custom Balladeer, 1112-4, steel string acoustic serial number 012664). I still have it, the OHSC, owner’s manual, etc. today, in mint condition. The guitar absolutely sings to me when I play it.
Paul V.
(Getting back into playing after an extended layoff) |
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 Joined: April 2004 Posts: 795
Location: Texas | Great question.
I think the first time I saw an artist with an Ovation was in an old Guitar Player magazine ad with Kenny Loggins playing the classic and then Al Di Meola playing a Legend. I was very intrigued by the bowl back and started looking for one.
The main thing was the new idea of, wow! an acoustic electric that you can plug in without having to use those old Barcus stick on pickups, outboard preamps and the big hassle that was amplifying an acoustic guitar! Ten rounds on stage!
So I got my first, a brand new 1976 Legend at a place called Mendoza's in South Bend, Indiana. I could not believe it when I had it in my hands, strummed it and plugged it in, and with a volume knob! I was hooked!
I had other wooden boxes but after a few years of having it and being my favorite guitar for my style, I saw the Super Trio with Al, John and Paco in 1981 and that changed my life completely. Al and John with Ovations! So I got my first nylon Country Artist. I wanted a sunburst ever since I saw one in the catalog "The Guitars of the Stars" which by the way, if someone has a spare one I would love to take it off your hands.
Then I saw 2 of my favorite artists, Jim Croce and Tony Rice, and they had Ovations sunburst, but it was rare in those days to go into a store and find any sunburst Ovation hanging on the wall. But I found mine.
After that the first cutaways were available and I had to sell the first Legend to get the cutaway version, no problem, then the 1984 Collectors edition came out and I had to get one, so there goes the Legend Cutaway.
After that I just had to get an Adamas, so the same pattern continued for many years having to sell one to get the next, but after owning most of the models I had to keep my 2 current favorite ones, the Country Artist and a Legend cutaway.
And of course if I had all the Ovations and Adamases that I have owned I could have the mini Ovation museum. Oh well, at least I was able to enjoyed them all very much.
Gracias Ovation!
Serge ;) |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I hope I'm not embarrassing him, but "CountryArtist" is Sergio Lara of Lara & Reyes (HigherOctave Records) fame.
Upon doing some research, I discovered that Serge's new CD "Con La Lluvia - With The Rain" (FusionAcoustica Records) comes out in stores TODAY! Lara & Reyes' "Exotico" CD has been the soundtrack for many of my long roadtrips/commutes, and I'll make it a point of stopping off on my way home tonight and picking up a copy of the new one!
btw(and I hope I'm not putting you "on the spot" here), I know you're a big proponent of Godin's, but are there any Ovations on the new CD, and if so, which ones??
Best of Luck with the CD!!! |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | I'd like to hear his stuff. I always love to hear great guitar music..Glad he's one of our board members.Being in radio thru the years i used to recieve Windham Hill guitar CD's among other companies. If I couldn't play it anywhere else-I'd use it for Instrumental fill on our Satellite Stations to get us to the top of the hour. Now a couple of our stations actually set aside some programming time for Jazz shows, Instrumental favorites -Old & New. Neat Idea and I'm glad they're doing it. |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | You don't by chance work for ClearChannel, do you? |
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | For me the first time I saw an Ovation was on television. I was around 15, and at that time Ovations were all over the TV. I'll never forget the first time I saw Ovations at a music store. The first one I played was a red Custom Balladeer. That was it, I was sold. Right after that I got a Legend, and have played only Ovations ever since. |
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 Joined: August 2003 Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Hmmm, I'm feeling a little old here - 7th grade or 11th grade in the 70's; I was a 2nd Lt. January of '69 (grad. from high school in 1966.)
Actually, I find it very interesting that how Ovation was able to bridge the wide gap of generations and music from the 60's, 70's, etc., with essentially an acoustic guitar. |
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 Joined: April 2004 Posts: 795
Location: Texas | Thanks for the plug Cliff.
Yes, my new CD Sergio Lara "Con la lluvia - With the rain" comes out today, so it should be available in your town in your favorite CD store. It is also available on line at all the popular CD sites.
It is all instrumental with many influences like flamenco, jazz, bluegrass and world music and I play many kinds of guitars.
Among them my beloved 2 Ovations, the Country Artist nylon for many rhythms, lead melodies and solos and my Legend is there too, mostly for textures and to fatten the rhythms and the mix.
I am very happy to be a part of the Ovation Fan Club and visit with you guys and gals?
Please check my website www.sergiolara.com for news and info about my musical career and feel free to email me anytime for questions or just to chat.
I recorded 6 CDs with my former band Lara & Reyes for Higher Octave Music from Malibu, Ca.
Our last CD "World Jazz" got a Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Pop Instrumental album of the year 2001.
The new CD is my first new solo project after Lara & Reyes. The guitar is the main protagonist but I also play mandolin and have many guests on bass, percussion, violin, piano and drums. And the whole album is very varied, from full ensemble pieces to duets and trios.
You can listen to samples on line at amazon.com
The reality is that I am just a fan of music, just like you and we also share our love for good, nice instruments like Ovation guitars which have been great tools for expression and inspiration throughout my career.
Kudos to Miles and Al for giving us this forum and thanks to all of you members for your enthusiasm and great vibe and stories.
Warm regards.
Serge ;) |
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Joined: May 2004 Posts: 89
Location: Brentwood,TN | 1987 Bon Jovi concert in Nashville,Tennessee. They came out playing a 1985 Collectors 12-string and a 6-string Sunburst Elite. The sound was something I had never heard from an acoustic? Bought one the next day. A black Balladeer. I have never owned anything beside an Ovation ever since...
P.S. I am sorry for the whole Bon Jovi thing...
Chris |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | . . . somehow "BonJovi" and "Nashville" just don't seem to . . . . . . |
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Joined: July 2003 Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I saw Glen Campbell play his Ovation on TV, of course, and that made it known to me. But I learned on an electric, and was an "electric" player until one night in April 1972 when I went to see the Ides Of March in concert.
They got to the "acoustic" part in the middle where Jim Peterik played and sang the songs "L.A. Goodbye" and "Freedom Suite", playing what I would guess was a 1611 Balladeer. I loved the clear, bright sound of the notes from that guitar, and decided then that my next guitar would be an acoustic, and an Ovation(well, it ended up being my Applause in 1976).
Unfortunately for Jim, someone else also thought that was a great guitar and ripped it off after the show.....
Roger |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Cliff,
No, I Don't Work for Clear(Monopoly)Channel.
The group of stations I work for are owned by beasley Broadcasting. so far about 39 Radio Stations and growing.Thanks for asking though. :D
Chris..Nothing wrong with Bonjovi. I remember their Ovation Days as well. Sambora Used to play an Ovation Doubleneck that the factory made for him. It was bee-ut-iful!! |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I may be wrong, but I think it was a triple-neck (6-12-mando). Some dealer (I think from Vegas) was hawking it here some time ago for some ungodly sum of money. Don't know if it ever sold or not.
Didn't mean to get personal with the "CC" question. Was just curious as to how far-reaching the cancer really is (okay Cliff, . . step AWAY from the "soapbox").
As cwk2 will attest, with a name like "Beasley" it's gotta be good. |
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Joined: February 2004 Posts: 14
Location: Brentwood, TN | Hey guys,
I tried out an Ovation in about 1971 or so at a MN music store, can't remember the one. It had the old brown bowl and slippery finish, before the leg pads I think. I just remember it sliding off my jeans and that it projected like mad.
I was sure aware of them, thanks to Glen Campbell, Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond etc. A Minnesota band called the Wright Brothers played them in the mid-70s and I thought they were so cool and they were the no-brainer choice to plug in an acoustic back then. I never cared for the DeArmond or Hot Spot or Buffalo or Barcus pickups back then...Tried 'em and sold 'em...
It wasn't until about 1978 when I went to James Burns Music in Minneapolis, which was actually a guy's house stocked to the bursting point with instruments of all kinds. I went through his basement and played over a dozen Ovations till I found the one that I liked best. It turned out to be an Electric Folklore, a slot-head 6 with steel strings, wide fingerboard and the warmest tone. I used that until the first few years I played with Glen Campbell and he gave me my 1987 Collectors. |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Jeff I've been kicking myself real hard for not buying your 87 Collectors. A most beautiful guitar with a great history. But it wouldn't have done me any good. Another member her, playadamas, has a supershallow bowl Adamas country artist that GC played in the early 80's. I played it but somehow, the magic didn't rub off. Damn. |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Cliff,
no Offense taken on the CC Question. Those guys seem to have their hands in Everything. From Concert Venues/Promotions, To Radio. I like to think of them like you do.(Though I do have a couple of Radio Friends that work for their Raliegh,NC Stations and Like it.) I just don't know if I would be comfortable working for Such a large company. Usually the larger the company, the more thay expect you to do for as little money as possible. Wait a minute... Isn't that Corporate America?? Perhaps!! :D |
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Joined: May 2004 Posts: 89
Location: Brentwood,TN | Steve- It was a good concert and did turn me on to Ovation but these days the BON JOVI boys have kinda turned traitor. That is all they use to use acoustically. Yes, Sambora had (2)Triplenecks-1 black and 1 white and he also had 3 double necks, 1 black with adamas inlays in the fingerboard, 1 black with star inlays, and 1 cherry cherryburst with star inlays.(thought I would clear this up, I see alot of going back and forth about how many,what color, etc.) I read were Jon Bon Jovi said that he didn'y want to use tupperware anymore? When I read that, it rubbed me wrong. I am glad he went overboard in U-571! Ha ha! |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Just for that I'll rent the DVD and play that scene over and over and over again-laughing each time it plays! :cool: |
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Joined: May 2004 Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Late to the thread, but better late than never, eh? Or is that, 'Better Nate than lever?' Who knows...
I saw my first Ovation many years ago. The unique construction intrigued me, for the sheer technical beauty if nothing else. Arches are so simple, yet so....so... Anyway, alas, it wasn't until my latest bout of 'I'm going to *really* learn how to play guitar' that I saw the one I bought hanging in the local shop. As I posted in my original thread, it just sounded and felt better than everything else they had. Don't know if that's a testament to Ovation engineering and build quality, or just my extremly biased, under-educated opinion. :) Simply playing it and comparing it to everything else they had, from cheap house brand dreads to the very expensive Taylors, Gibsons and Martins convinced me that I should, nay, *must* posess it! :D
Had my first 'real' guitar lesson last night. The instructor asked me, 'What you got in the case?' (Although it clearly says Ovation on it) . I opened it up to take out the guitar (I think it needs a name) and before I could even get the neck up out of it's rest he says, 'My God! That is *beautiful*!' Not knowing if it was proper guitar protocol or not, I offered it to him to try out. He played some amazing sounding stuff...I thought the guitar sounded good when I played my lame-a$$ chords and runs on it, but I've never heard it sound like *that*. After a couple of minutes (well, ok, about five) he stopped and declared that it was aboslutely stunning. He liked the Elixir strings, although he said that if it wasn't setup so perfectly he'd suggest a lighter gauge for me (I didn't tell him I had just mounted the strings the night before and that I thought the neck needed some relief), but as it is he thinks I should just leave it and play with what's on there. Interestingly enough, he played stuff that was so far beyond my level that I couldn't follow along, yet there was never any fret buzz. Feh, that must mean it's me. =(
Lately, I seem to have become afflicted with an Ovation obsession...scouring eBay and various internet sites, hoping to find another one...although I don't know why. :confused: |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | You search ebay and the sell/trade Section because
You must...Ovation Calls,...it calls your name out loud,...You will buy another, then another, then another,..only because You Must!! :eek:
There..Didn't that make you feeel better? :D |
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Joined: May 2004 Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by Stevechapman:
You search ebay and the sell/trade Section because
You must...Ovation Calls,...it calls your name out loud,...You will buy another, then another, then another,..only because You Must!! :eek:
There..Didn't that make you feeel better? :D
Seriously, let's think about this. There are thousands of Ovation owners/collectors on this forum alone. Figure that's not even 5% of the total number of people inflicted with Ovation Obsession. That's a lot of people with this driving need to acquire still more Ovations. It's scary.
Think about Mel Gibson's character in 'Conspiracy Theory.' He was compelled to buy copy after copy of 'The Catcher in the Rye,' but he never read them. Turned out it was CIA conditioning, thought control, that drove him to the brink of madness. Perhaps that's the same thing here! We're all being controlled by some TLA (three letter agency)!!! The Ovation Syndrome! Hey does anyone else here have vague memories of being abducted by shadowy aliens at an early age? I'll bet that's it! Yes! That must be it!
Excuse me for a second...I see a Custom Legend on eBay that I think I need to bid on...or maybe But It Now is a better choice...
:p |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Cruster, I can't recall... what model O do you have? |
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Joined: May 2004 Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Cruster, I can't recall... what model O do you have?
Paul-
I'm the proud owner of a 1989 Elite (1868) in natural, which lets the flavorful goodness of that AA Spruce top show through. :) Although, I think I need something with a more traditional soundhole. Yeah...one of each. To start. For now. Just one more... |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Moody,
He'll let you know after he buys the next one! :D |
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Joined: May 2004 Posts: 2
Location: Australia | Had a Fender F-75 that I really liked, then around '83/'84 my mate gave me his Model 1621 to try out. He didn't like it and neither did I, he had REAL heavy strings on it and had the action jacked up way too high, so changed to light strings, dropped the action and fell in love with it. Got rid of the Fender and have had it as my only guitar ever since. It's played in pub bands, bush bands, been trodden on, dropped, had drinks spilled in and on it and generally acquired scars and dings that have guitar purists wincing whenever they see it.
It gets played every day, and still earns me the odd dollar doing solo gigs in local pubs and restaurants. Mixer guys say it's the easiest guitar they've ever mixed and you couldn't buy it off me for under four times it's value. Still running the original single volume control electronics (although I occasionally have to resolder components on the circuit board in the preamp when they get shook loose).
I've never found a guitar I like better, so I guess I'll just have to keep it. |
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Joined: May 2004 Posts: 2
Location: Australia | Had a Fender F-75 that I really liked, then around '83/'84 my mate gave me his Model 1621 to try out. He didn't like it and neither did I, he had REAL heavy strings on it and had the action jacked up way too high, so changed to light strings, dropped the action and fell in love with it. Got rid of the Fender and have had it as my only guitar ever since. It's played in pub bands, bush bands, been trodden on, dropped, had drinks spilled in and on it and generally acquired scars and dings that have guitar purists wincing whenever they see it.
It gets played every day, and still earns me the odd dollar doing solo gigs in local pubs and restaurants. Mixer guys say it's the easiest guitar they've ever mixed and you couldn't buy it off me for under four times it's value. Still running the original single volume control electronics (although I occasionally have to resolder components on the circuit board in the preamp when they get shook loose).
I've never found a guitar I like better, so I guess I'll just have to keep it. |
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 Joined: December 2003 Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Welcome to you in down-under! I'm thinking you and Cliff need to compare stories. Great post! |
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Joined: February 2004 Posts: 9
Location: Salisbury, CT | This may qualify as the best story of the bunch.
I was first impressed by the Ovation sound when another kid from Connecticut in our Florida prep school had one across the hall in my dorm. The year was 1966. I had never seen or heard a guitar quite like it. I was far from musical but I vowed that if I ever bought a guitar it would be one like Bill's. (Bill later ended up being very involved with Ovation.)
Flash forward to February of this year and my 10 year old son wants to add to his flute and keyboard skills by playing guitar. Oh, that's easy, I think, buy an Ovation. A no brainer if there ever was one. After a few days research we found a 2003 Collector's for $720 and Scot has a guitar. We spend many hours in the car commuting for the sake of Scot's tennis so I do a little more research and bought a basic Trekker for knocking around.
Then there was the OFC Factory Tour in March and I was as impressed by the likes of you all as I was by the incredible tour. Then there was the playing during dinner and some of the folks had only been playing a few years or less. Maybe if they could do it I could do it. Heck, Scot could teach me! So I took the plunge and now proudly compare calluses from my Elite LX with my son.
Can I remember anything I learn on one day the next day... much to my son's amazement, no. While Scot plays bits of Hendrix that he has picked out (?) with his teacher in his guitar lesson I play scales and try to remember my chords. I must say that I love "playing" guitar with Scot as much as anything I can think of. I wish I was as talented, dexterous and memory-enabled as he is but I continue at my pace and think how incredibly unbelievable it all is. Two months ago I could only play an iPod...
Thanks Bill !
Skip McMillan
Salisbury, CT |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | So it was pretty obvious that I had only been playing for a couple of years or less? Rats, I was hoping to fake it better than that.
Skip, where are you in the group photo? Once I see your face, I'll remember you (I'm bad with names).
Glad you're here. Some people on this board are as good as Temp, and some play like me, but we all have a good time. |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ |  |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | And The bearded One over Scotts Right Shoulder Is Al in His Mauve shirt!! :D |
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Joined: June 2002 Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | And The bearded One over Scotts Right Shoulder Is Al in His Mauve shirt!!
I thought that was Brian Wilson?[ |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | My fault,..You're right. I looked again and noticed the Sand from the sandbox on his beard. :cool: |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Go ahead, Guys . . . just keep "yakkin' it up"!!!
Maybe you'll draw some of the "heat" away from me, as I've been getting the "cold, silent treatment" from Messrs. Pepiak and Moody since the whole "Michaelangelo Incident". ;) |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Yeah Cliff,
But it WAS Way Cool! wouldn't mind having a copy of it for myself. after all It was just in fun and wasn't bad at all! I'm just glad you didn't stick my face on anything! :D
( Oh God,I may be asking for it!) |
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Joined: June 2002 Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | I'm thinking about having that "Michaelangelo Incident" painted on the ceiling of our new city council chambers... |
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 Joined: December 2003 Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | If it was me in the picture I would want a 12 string and a bigger weenie! After all, it will be hung in Texas! |
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Joined: December 2002 Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | I was out in Arizona a few years ago, working for seven months at a job site in Buckeye. I lived in west Phoenix, didn't know a soul.
I went into this dive of a bar to knock back some cold beers and there was this drop dead gorgeous bartenderess smiling real pretty (this was before I got married...)
After talking for a litte bit, I let her know I was from Texas and of course said "...and everything's bigger in Texas."
Without batting an eye she replies, "Yeah, well I'm from Missouri...." :D |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Rimshot/Cymbal!
That's a great story Paul.Hizz, think they'll go for it?? You might just turn that into a tourist attraction! :D |
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Joined: June 2003 Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Hey Moody,
I see that Cliff showed you who Hugh, Gail and Scot are. Take another look at My OFC Tour 04 photos. There's a photo of my family and Hugh's taken by an ace photographer. Remember?
Phil |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | I do indeed. |
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Joined: February 2004 Posts: 2487
| I am not sure if hooked is the right term? For me it was like a hammer blow! somewhere around 1979 I stood there staring at all the guitar's hanging, and there it was; an Adamas 1687-7 Like a moth to the flame.
Never looked at a traditional Acoustic guitar the same way after that.
I asked but they wouldn't let me take it down I was young then and obviously didn't look as though I had the money to buy it. So I stood there for a while staring at it in a cloud of Ovation "GAS" Then I snapped out of it and bought a cheap set of Acoustic strings and blew the rest of the day I'd skipped from High school at the beach.
Took me 25 years to get the exact type Ovation I saw back then. Guess I never realy did get over the Ovation GAS they gave me that day? |
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Joined: June 2004 Posts: 4
Location: New Hampshire | Must have been late 60's, I saw Glenn Campbell on his tv show playing what looked like a guitar but it had a funny round back to it, i just had to find out what he was playing... well I found out it was an Ovation. It sounded great and looked cool.
So for this old guitar player, Glenn campbell sparked my interest in Ovations.
I have a Martin, a Tacoma, Strat.. Jaguar, and just recently walked into a guitar store and saw a 1975 GC 12 string, in beautiful condition, well needless to say I couldnt leave without it.
Once I got it home and really started playing it the Ovation bug started to bite . And it all started 30 years ago..... |
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Joined: January 2003 Posts: 146
Location: Ct./ USA | I played an Ovation in 74, got a job there in 77 I just really love the bold clean sound, ease of the action and it is best served wile jammin. |
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Joined: May 2004 Posts: 10
Location: reno | i remember walkin in to the store where i took lesson and whenever he wasnt done with a student i would fool around with the guitars at the store. if there was any guitar i played in there the most it must of been an ovaiton. at first i thought they were short of dumb back when i was a begininer, boy was i wrong. i loved the sweet soft sound on em. thats what hooked me. |
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Joined: August 2002 Posts: 110
| look, sound, feel~! |
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