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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | I took a rare trip to Guitar Center today for cords and strings, and decided to check out the acoustic room. The $2000 Martins and Gibsons still sound like they're smothered or something. Like there's a blanket over 'em.
I saw a Celebrity with an extraordinarily deep bowl. It was a major tonal improvement over my shallow bowl Celeb. But the real kicker was the 2006 FKOA that was WAYYYYYYY up at the top, near the ceiling. Without asking assistance, I took it upon myself to bring that sucker down (and I almost lost it too). The first thing that I noticed was the EXTREMELY worn out strings. MUCH worse than any of the other acoustics that I played. The other thing that I immediately noticed was the EXTREME tonal improvement over the deep bowl Celebrity that I had just played. It made the Celeb sound like a piece of plastic.
If I had any criticisms about the FKOA, it would be that it seemed to be very tonally dark sounding, but again that may be due to the corroded strings.
I also had the pleasure of playing a contoured bowled LX Balladeer, which was very nice, despite it's dead strings as well. I really liked the contoured bowl. Nice and comfy. But the star of the show today was indeed the FKOA. Very nice! |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Contour bowl has found it's way down to the Baladeer! Anyone got the inside scoop on weather the contour bowl will eventually be THE bowl on USA ovations? Sortof like the push-button phone replacing the rotary? |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I still really like that guitar. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by bauerhillboy:
Anyone got the inside scoop on weather the contour bowl will eventually be THE bowl on USA ovations? I don't know anything about inside or outside scoops, but I know this ... the very day I first set eyes on a contour bowl, I posted right here in these pages that it would take over the Ovation line and someday be THE bowl. I still believe that it'll happen.
Dave |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | They'll have to tool up a non-cutaway version. |
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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | I don't know anything about inside or outside scoops, but I know this ... the very day I first set eyes on a contour bowl, I posted right here in these pages that it would take over the Ovation line and someday be THE bowl. I still believe that it'll happen.
Dave What's the chance that it'll replace the Super Shallow? They sure seem to push that idea on the players. Maybe to the detriment of their own reputation. If there were more deep bowl US made guitars on the showroom floor, instead of up near the ceiling, with fresh strings BTW, maybe there wouldn't be such Ovation-hatred out there. :rolleyes:
Y'think? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13988
Location: Upper Left USA | In about 5 years it will be replaced by the "Air-Pump Bowl" which will allow the Player to go from Super Shallow to Adamas Dreadnaught with a few pumps!
In the mean time, Contour rules! |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Personally, I love the contour on my 12-string, but I'd have to put my vote against making it "THE" bowl for all Ovations. As one of the few vocal supporters of the SSB, I would hate to see that fazed out completely. Ovation would miss a market with crossover electric/acoustic players. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | Well I reckon there are those out there who are concerned about pluggin' in, and couldn't give two shits less about their unplugged tone.... that's the Super Shallow customers....
I also have to leave myself room to think that the US made super shallows are probably tonally superior to the MIK ones (never tried a US SS). I mean the deep bowl Celebrity sounded MUCH better than my SS Celebrity, but next to a US made deep bowl, it still sounded like a crackerbox. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | If I was 100% totally deaf I still would not like the SS. I play seated and can not keep the damn thing on my knee. There's just not enough bowl there to make it sit right. probably standing up it's really good, but that ain't me. The deep bowl is OK becuase it sits very nicely on my leg and the position of the guitar is pretty "normal". But, sorry I still think that the old wooden box guitars feel best and as far as Ovations go, the Contour Bowl is the closest thing to it. Dave |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | As they say, "each to his own." I'm not sure why, but I've just never had the trouble with slippage on the SSB...just wierd I guess.
As far as the USA vs Korea SSB's, I won't touch a Celebrity shallow bowl. They sound flat, dull, and thin. I've owned three SSB US Ovations, and loved all of them. Obviously the unplugged sound isn't as full as the deeper bowl, but it's still an Ovation and has that distinctive sound to me. Something about the MIK ones just, well, sucks to be completely honest. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by edensharvest:
I'm not sure why, but I've just never had the trouble with slippage on the SSB... I must just have greasy theighs ... |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Tupperware:
I must just have greasy theighs ... Man....I'm not touching that one.... |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | Originally posted by stephent28:
Originally posted by Tupperware:
I must just have greasy theighs ... Man....I'm not touching that one.... |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | my ssb legend sounds pretty damn good unplugged for a shallow bowl,maybe its just this model?? jason |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | My one and only Ovation balladeer is a shallow bowl. Prior to making the purchase, I never knew mid and deep bowls existed, until I discovered the OFC. I'm with Andrew on this one, as I too support the shallow bowl Ovations, provided that they're made in the U.S. It's been over three years, and so far, I'm pretty happy with what I have...
I had tried the 2006 FKOA as well at the local SA, and I'm very impressed by it. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I've got a celebrity that I picked up at a garage sale (2 actually) basically for the purpose of reselling it. I needed a guitar in a pinch at church, so I cleaned it up and restrung it. I have to say that it sounds great plugged in and pretty decent unplugged. I would still like to upgrade at some point if a good deal comes along, but am not really in a rush anymore. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | hey crimson,nexttime your down this way stop in and check out this ssb legend i got...might beable to work something out with you..jason |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Jason - it's a deal.
Mike |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | lets hope i get the electronics back in before then.lol..jason |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I have a super-shallow bowl, and it isn't because I don't care how I sound unplugged, as has been suggested. Believe me, after 25+ years with an older Balladeer, I can hear the difference. But a bad shoulder has necessitated the move to the thinner bowl, and sometimes comfort is more important than sound. I am noticing that Jewel's sound is slowly opening up unplugged, and I do like her more and more each day. What she lacks in power, she more than makes up for in looks. :) When she's plugged in, there's not much difference, and at least I can still play.
--Karen |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I loaned my 1881 to our worship leader the other day to try instead of his 20-year-old Yamaha. Even without looking, I could pick out the sound through the house mix, over two other guitars, drums, bass, keys, conga, and four vocalists. For playing, particularly when cutting loose a bit, the shallow is just the most comfortable to me of anything I've ever played.
One thing that doesn't come up very often, but I'd take UNPLUGGED any SSB US Ovation over most wood-bodied guitars, with a few select exceptions. To me, the Ovations just have the fullest, brightest, most articulate sounds, and never sound dull or muddy. One more reason to go round! |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | my 1567 legend ssb has a big sound for a shallow bowl,i have a new found respect for them..jason |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 659
Location: Hiram, Georgia | ssb"s are not to be denied!!! I've owned two, the first a 1984, I had an '89 Ultra for 15 yrs, played it in church worship with bout 60 /70 people, unplugged, all by it's lonesome. People continuously said what a great sounding guitar. played it hard, but got the job done! |
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Tried the 2006 FKOA today