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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I am new to this group and I have enjoyed reading your posts. I love ovations, I currently have an 85 Legend that plays like a dream. I am going to be buying a Adamas CVT or SMT, but I am stuggling to decide which one. I played a CVT at GC and loved the feel and sound. Unfortunatly no one has a SMT in my area that I can demo. I can problably get the CVTW597 for about $1100. I see lots of places on the web selling SMTs for $1399. What are your thoughts about the different top types?
Also I ve noticed different types of preamps styles, the new OP50 and the older (OPTIMA?) I think, the recessed black rectangle-style. The CVT I demo'd had the older black rectangle recessed style, the tuner did not seem to work very well. I tried another Ovation with the OP40
style preamp (the modern rounded silver color) and the tuner seemed to work very well. Please let me know your thoughts on this;
Thanks |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I prefer the cvt. but you really need to play them.
the textured top is the ultimate IMHO |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I prefer the cvt. but you really need to play them.
the textured top is the ultimate IMHO |
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Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Is there an echo in here? :D
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Mike :cool: |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The SMT looks more traditional, the CVT sounds more like the original Adamas. It seems there have been 2 versions of the CVT, one with a very thin matt finish & one with a gloss finish, I'd guess the thinner finish may be a better bet. Side by side the difference between a recent CVT & SMT I tried was down to taste, they were both great. The SMT struck me as having a little more balls in the midrange, which suits me as a fingerstyle player. I have an SMT & a '78 Adamas, the SMT is the one that earns it's living.
I haven't had a problem with the Optima tuner. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 55
Location: Frozen Tundra | i now own 1 of each and say it's a toss up...
the cross weave pattern on the CVT is very hypnotic. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I don't own either one, so I can not comment on which plays or sounds better. But I do definately like the looks of the CVT better. The SMT looks like badly stained wood to me. I do have guitars with the Optima pre-amp and I can tell you first hand that this is a great system, especially when using the XLR output directly to a board. I've never had any trouble with the tuner. As far as the newer OP-40 and 50, I imagine they work very well, but I do not at all care for the looks. Too space aged for my taste.
Dave |
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Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 63
Location: Dallas, GA, USA | I haven't played an SMT, but my CVT sounds great. I was kind of anxious about it reading the descriptions of the two on www.adamasguitars.com, because the focal point of the CVT write up was a powerful midrange to "cut through" other amplified instruments. I didn't expect the tonal balance that it has. I haven't seen an SMT in person either, but I have a hunch that the top looks much better in person than on a computer monitor. |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 25
Location: UK | I think it depends on the model - I have an SMT roundhole ad I absolutely love the undestated finish, I also think the roundholes play a tad better than the epaulette model (I used to have a 1990 collectors) in acoustic mode.
But that's me - play them, the looks are secondary to the sound! |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | That's an interesting suggestion. I always thought playability was down to the set-up. Can you explain how the soundhole configuration affects the way the guitars play? |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 69
Location: UK | I know this post has gone or for some time but I would not mind asking the supplementary question: why both?
I've tried both the CVT and SMT and I found it hard to distinguish an audible difference between the two - although perhaps my hearing is diminishing with age.
They also appear to be priced about the same here in the UK - and this also appears to be the case in the US.
So if it is not a marketing ploy and the audible differences are imho small, why both types?
I could understand the difference between say the Original Adamas and Adamas II models but not this. As I must be missing something obvious can someone point it out to me? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | They sound different but it's pretty subtle and it's mostly in the character of the midrange. I think the SMT may appeal to those who don't like the high-tech woven appearance of the original Adamas or CVT tops as the SMT could be mistaken for a wood top. Personally I evaluate guitars with my ears first. |
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Adamas CVT or SMT? Help me decide