|
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | After 2 months of playing my Elite and Adamas I pulled out my Gibson J-200 to give it a play.
WOW!!! King of the Flat Tops? The King is dead!
The first thing that struck me was how QUIET it was. I've become use to the way my Ovations really are "out there". The Ovations really sing, my Gibson kinda whispers.
Next was play-a-bility. That darn Gibson neck is just toooooooo narrow to play. I could never play a G chord without the A string being muted due to "can't fit my fingers in that close" syndrome.
The sound was nice enough, but nowhere near as nice as my Ovations.
I can't understand why anyone would want to make a guitar entirely of wood :D
Bradley |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | They make them out of wood because there ain't enough Lyramoid to go around. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7248
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Bradley I know how you feel. From the first time I saw an Ovation, it made sence and I figured EVERYONE would start making roundback guitars. Wood sounds nice, sure, but wood guitars have corners, and the sound bounces around in the corners. Why would anyone want that. Also, the consistancy that can be achieved with a synthetic is just amazing.
I have wonder why someone hasn't come up with a better soundboard for the Piano. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 38
Location: Denver, Colorado | First time I ever saw an Ovation was when Glen Campbell was playing them on his "Goodtime Hour" and I knew I had to have one. I do have several "all wood guitars" and they do have their place in my world, but my favorite guitar after all these years is still my 1617. I take it everywhere and still record with it. I sing country with a bit of folk and always get those nasty looks from the "Gibson" crowd, but who cares? When I'm singing "folk" music, I get the "oh my God" look from the "Martin" crowd but I gotta be me and that's with an Ovation in my hands! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 3
Location: Ilinois | Ever since my brother bought his Custom Legend in 78, I've always been hooked. It was the loudest acoustic I ever played. Many times I was told to turn it down which was good for a laugh. My wife says the same thing about my 82 Balladeer. When I bought the Balladeer 5 years ago i brought it to work to show the guys. As soon as I started playing the first words out of there mouths is it doesn't sound like an acoustic but it sounds good. Being that it does not sound like an all wood acoustic. The Ovations have a sound of there own which is what I enjoy about them and they play a lot better than some of the higher priced acoustics out there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Dan
I've been playing folk and bluegrass for many years. Those people who sneer at your choice of guitar I think you will find if you stick with it, aren't the players they are snobs who think that if they just get the right guitar they will be seen as "pickers". Before you become intimidated by their boorishness, listen to their playing and I doubt that they will know more than one or two songs that they will play interminally. Real pickers have no feelings about the name on the headstock, it's what comes out of the soundhole (or holes) that counts.
Don't let some idiot make you uncomfortable, play what you like and the world will smile with you. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7248
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Bailey,
Do you remember a Bluegrass Band in the 70's called Kentucky Wind? I just did a search and there is a NEW Bluegrass band of the same name that formed in 1998. The 70's group was great. They were actually from Lyme CT. Most of the guys were in a Rock band at the time, but their family was big into the Bluegrass scene. The "rock" band played at a Bluegrass festival (playing bluegrass cause they could) just for fun and ended up getting signed. They had to pick a more "Bluegrass" name (Crossroads was the rock band name) so they came up with Kentucky Wind. It was a great cause folks thought they were from Kentucky or Tennessee but all their tunes were from around my home town. Down by the River (Connecticut River), Village Burial Ground (Millington Cemetary) etc... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Miles
The Crossroads rings a bell, but Kentucky Wind does not. But thanks to your guidance, I'll check them out as they seem to be a super band as the "Comstock Cowboys" as you have pointed out, they have a long history judging by their web site. I think you should share it on the web site as it is a great site and many here would like it.
Thanks
Bailey :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7248
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | At Bailey's suggestion...
Comstock Cowboys Back when bands could be "discovered" some of the members were in a top 40 group called Crossroads. As I remember as musicians, they all played Bluegrass, and as a lark they played at a Bluegrass festival with other members of their family. They got "discovered", but needed to change to a better name so came up with Kentucky Wind. What was cool for us that knew them was all of the songs on their first album "Indian Summer" were about places around my hometown of Moodus or East Haddam Connecticut although folks always thought they were all old, southern, down-home tunes from Tennessee or Kentucky. Nope, good'ol YANKEE!!! tunes "Village Burial Ground" was the Millington Cemetary, "Where the Dogwood's Blooming" refers to the Connecticut state flower etc...... I guess it's been a succsessful spoof as Dave and Rich Liska are still making music. (I think Dave Liska is now Dave Johns, and in the 70's I believe it was Dave Jones) Anyway, nothing particularly Ovation about them, but Bailey seemed to think a few folks here might just enjoy the jams. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 30
| Awesome..thanks for the line MR. O |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | I remember when I first played an Ovation guitar. I walked into a music store and saw them hanging on the wall. At the time I was playing a Conn (yes Conn) acoustic guitar that my mother had got for me because I joined the church youth group. Hey I was a young kid and really thought the Conn was cool.(hahaaha) Anyway I just fell in love with Ovations and saved enough money to buy a Legend. That was an excellent guitar, but it did not have a pickup in it. I was starting to play alot at churches, and needed to play through the sound system. I got one of those crappy pickups that attaches to the top of the guitar with some kind on sticky putty. Well that did not last long because when thay pickup would fall off and hit the ground, it would scare the hell out of those old people in church. So I decided to go all the way and shoot for an Adamas. I sold my Legend and a Gibson Firebird electric guitar and headed for the Adamas. I was going to get an Adamas 2, but after bugging my dad for a bit more money, I ordered my black 1687 Adamas 1. When that guitar came in, I was the happiest 18 year old on the planet. I had never played an Adamas before I got mine. I just knew Ovation was for me, and the Adamas was the ultimate Ovation. That guitar has served me well. I have played it in every condition possible. I still get that great feeling that I got back in 1981 when I play it. Truly it is an awesome guitar....Paul Hebert |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 125
Location: Dallas | Paulie - (AdamasDude) - My best musical experiences, as far as performing, were Church related (I sang...only dabbled in guitar). Those old folks you frightened with the silly putty pickup....they owe you...you scared whatever hell they had left in 'em....right outta there :eek: After all...they were cramming for the final exam ;) Good job, buddy.
KD |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Hey KD, that old pickup was something. When it hit the ground the whole church would jump! I use to worry about that thing all the time. When I got my Adamas and plugged it in, I was like WOW! And I am sure the old folks were happy I got rid of that darn pickup!...Paul Hebert |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Paul H.
I've got one of those BB Jr's stuck on a mandolin, I never had it fall off, but after what you describe I think I will try to work that into a song or two for a little excitement. Sorta like a cymble crash. (I just realized I can't spell cymble)
Bailey :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Bailey, I think my pickup was a Dimarzio. It didn't sound all that bad, but when it hit the ground, it made the sound system sound like a bomb just blew up! I was always so scared of that thing falling off!....Paul Hebert |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 32
Location: Warsaw, Indiana | Back in 79 I was playing a Harmony and walked into this music store and there in a glass case was a blue 78 Adamas. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Went home and told my wife, she just looked at me. The list price was $2300 and I was playing a cheap ( if there are grades ) Harmony. I worked in a motorcycle shop part time and the music store guy rode motor cycle, so I swung him a deal on parts and he sold me the Adamas for $1000. Best $1000 I ever spent. I still have it and appreciate it as much today as the day I bought it. I still ride motorcycle today and have owned many of them, but I have never wanted a different guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Hmmm . . .from bike parts to orthopedic engineer.
I can SEE the correlation!! |
|
| |
Ah, so THAT'S why I play Ovation