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July 2003
Posts: 3
Location: Huntington Beach, CA | I've found one of these on sale for under $700. I've also found Elite Specials for around $500 (used, but I'm not afraid of used).
Is there anything compelling about the 2002 African cherry wood top/sound? I'm assuming it is a laminate top where the Elite would be a solid spruce top?
This will be my first Ovation and I could use some advice from folks who know.
Thanks...Millard |
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May 2003
Posts: 143
Location: High, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado | Hi Millard, I have an 1868 Elite and the 2002 Collectors.. I love them both.. My Elite has the super thin body and it's sound is wonderful. The 02 has the mid size bowl and does have a deeper sound. The 02 also has the electric type guitar neck, which I think I like a little better than the V shape neck.. I say I think, because I like them both.. I do play the 02 a little more than the Elite, but it's newer..So... Out side of the African Cherry front ( which I LOVE), and the OP-40 preamp, it's almost a toss up.. You will love either one you pick...
BTW, $700 bucks is not a bad price..
Dale |
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October 2002
Posts: 51
| Millard, this is no brainer.
Under $700 for new 2002AC (not the 2002 Korean limited series)? Excellent deal!! This is the lowest price I have ever heard. It's NEAR the top of the Ovation line. OP40 preamp is very good.
Elite Special ia almost the entry level USA made Ovation. $450-500 is just ok deal for used.
The laminated top on collector series is no ordinary laminated top. They all sound pretty much the same & quite good.
Grab the 2002 at that price before it is gone!!!
Let us know how it goes, ok? |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Personally I think putting plywood tops, regardless of how exotic the outer veneer is, on guitars which had a list price of around $2k, is unnacceptable. Laminated tops can sound OK, they are more resistant to climate change & may have better feedback resistance when plugged-in, but ply is ply whatever it's made of, and does not sound like, or mature like a solid top. Try both & let your ears decide. |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | killer price
go for it |
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July 2003
Posts: 3
Location: Huntington Beach, CA | Originally posted by sunny:
Millard, this is no brainer.
Under $700 for new 2002AC (not the 2002 Korean limited series)? Excellent deal!!
How can I tell if it is the Korean limited series? Did they also do a Cherry top? I wouldn't put it past this store to pass one off as the other if they could get away with it.
Thanks for all your help...Millard |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Dead giveaway is that the USA collectors guitars have a five-piece neck, the imports are 2-piece so you won't see the contrasting strips. There's lots of other differences, but this is probably the easiest, at a glance indicator. There was a 2002 Celeb collectors on the ebay UK site a while ago with a fake made in USA transfer on the headstock & the label removed. It was the 2-piece neck that stuck out like a sore thumb. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Check the label. It will say "Made is USA" or "Made in Korea". You can also tell by the neck. The USA model has a 5 piece laminated neck, I think the Korean one is 2 piece. Also the USA model fretboard extends quite a bit farther towards the bridge on the treble strings than the Korean. If I'm not mistaken the USA model does not have a bound fretboard but does have a wooden truss rod cover (even though I think there is no truss rod). Dave |
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July 2003
Posts: 3
Location: Huntington Beach, CA | I think the laminated top did it in (for me).
:-(
I played with the 2002CE and a Pinnacle I didn't even want and the Pinnacle was just brighter and louder. I'll just have to keep watching the used boards for an Elite or Elite Special.
Thanks all for your comments...Millard |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Do not all USA Elites have a five piece neck? Just wondering about this one, as my brother is thinking about bidding on it. Also, is this a solid top?
Wayne
Elite Standard |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | "Look for, the union label, when you are buying...."
Actually I hate unions. Not all USA built guitars have 5 piece necks. The Balladeers and Elite Standards do not. The full Elites, Legends, etc. do. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Current Elite specials & Balladeers have solid tops & 2-piece necks |
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2002 Collector's Edition