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Location: PDX | I found this to be an interesting story.
I recently started lessons with a new guitar teacher. I brought my 1547 and that sparked a bit of a discussion about Ovations, in which he relayed the following anecdote. He said Tony Rice played an Ovation and had used it on some album along with his legendary pre-war D-28. My teacher said that Tony could no longer remember which songs were played on the Ovation and which were played on the D-28. Curious I thought.
So, I did a bit of web crawling to sort this out. First Tony’s D-28 was previously owned by Clarence White. You can read about it here . I thought that was interesting in it’s own right. I then found Tony’s web site and crawled through his guest book archive, which can be found here .
Well, I did not find confirmation of the anecdote, but I did find that Tony’s fans couldn’t agree on which album the O was used on and which the D-28 was used on. Nor could they agree on which songs were played with which instrument.
There was a post by Tony’s wife, who maintains the communications there, intimating that sometime it would be revealed, and in October of 2003 she posted, “.......only one cut on the album Back Waters, Tony uses the D-28...All other cuts, he used the Ovation..........”. Anyway, the first relevant posts were in the July-December 2002 archive. You can do a search for Ovation on the page and read them if you’re interested. There is also confusion as to what model Ovation is used. It is stated to be a Sunburst Balladeer, then a Custom Legend.
I thought it interesting so I figured I’d share.
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gh1 |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | GASP.......you took the 1547 out of the house :eek:
Next thing you'll tell me is that you play it regularly ;)
Great playing and sounding guitar. Did your teacher like it? |
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Location: PDX | Stephen:
Regularly is an understatement -- i sleep with the damn thing! This is, bar none the finest sounding guitar i've ever played, and it plays like butter.
Interestingly my father was here last week for a visit. I played the 1547 for him and he was floored at the tone. He asked if i would play some of the other guitars i had sitting around. I played the 1681, the 1597, the 1537, and my Martin 000-EC. He said, "get rid of those you don't need them". As he was leavining he said, "damn plastic guitar, who'd ever think it could sound so damn good."
My teacher was rather impressed as well. He loved how easily it played.
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gh1 |
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Location: SoCal | What strings are on you 1547? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Tony had a Custom Legend I think. Back when everybody played them. |
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Location: PDX | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
What strings are on your 1547? D'Addario EJ16's (.012-.053)
Thanks for the info cwk2.
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gh1 |
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Location: SoCal | I'm having a problem in that I've had on D'Addario's, EXP's, Adamas 1818's, all lights, and all sound heavy and dead. |
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Location: PDX | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I'm having a problem in that I've had on D'Addario's, EXP's, Adamas 1818's, all lights, and all sound heavy and dead. Curious -- how's your break angle?
I put a small chip from a credit card under the bridge shims to raise the treble end up a bit because the high E sounded flat to me, brightened right up. Perhaps you could raise the bridge a bit and see if that helps?
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gh1 |
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Location: SoCal | Break angle's good on all.
This is what I get for experimenting with strings. Now nothing sounds good. I went thru this a while back with picks, trying different ones. It took me a year to get back to what I had started with. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Yeah , strings & plectra..I know what you mean,the only pics I have n`t tried are the metal ones,I wonder if copper pics will keep arthritis away,and C F M trebles are coated with bronze ,I know,looks ain`t everythin`,however, it is a barrier between skin/nickel,and they give me a "controlled " treble,still,has n`t stopped me from trying others :)
Vico |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by gh1:
Stephen:
Regularly is an understatement -- i sleep with the damn thing! This is, bar none the finest sounding guitar i've ever played, and it plays like butter.
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gh1 Do you say these crazy things just to make me regret sending it off to you :D . I think it is fantastic that it went to a good home and gets played regularly. It was definately one of my favorites! :cool: |
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Location: CT | Didn't he play for the 49ers? ...and have a deep tan? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by brainslag:
Didn't he play for the 49ers? ...and have a deep tan? And didn't he dance with stars ???
Dave |
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Location: Nîmes, south of France | Originally posted by gh1:
I found this to be an interesting story.
... He said Tony Rice played an Ovation and had used it on some album along with his legendary pre-war D-28. My teacher said that Tony could no longer remember which songs were played on the Ovation and which were played on the D-28. Curious I thought.
...So, I did a bit of web crawling to sort this out. First Tony’s D-28 was previously owned by Clarence White.
...I thought it interesting so I figured I’d share.
gh1 gh1, that is amazing, i always thought Tony Rice's guitar from Clarence White was a D-35 with a 3 pieces back, not a D-28. :D |
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Location: New Hampsha | Ok - So can someone define a "1547" what is it?
Must be an Adamas? Cutaway? Slothead? what?
So I can add it to my decoder Spreadsheet.
Thanks! |
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Location: South of most, North of few | "This is what I get for experimenting with strings. Now nothing sounds good"
That happened to me for about two weeks....then I remembered I had a head cold. :eek: |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by Mitzdawg:
Ok - So can someone define a "1547" what is it?
Must be an Adamas? Cutaway? Slothead? what?
So I can add it to my decoder Spreadsheet.
Thanks! 1547 is a 1537 with a cutaway. One of the first Ovation Elites. |
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Location: Utah | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Break angle's good on all.
This is what I get for experimenting with strings. Now nothing sounds good. I went thru this a while back with picks, trying different ones. It took me a year to get back to what I had started with. Have you tried Martin Marquis Phos-Bronze? I find the same thing you do with those other brands sounding a bit dead, but the Marquis sound great. My second choice is the Martin SP 80/20, but they are a bit too brassy. I do like the clear sound they have further up the fretboard. The new Martin Eric Clapton strings have been on for only 3 days, and they sound just like the Marquis phos-bronze to me. |
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Location: SoCal | I've been thinking of trying the Martin Marquis on the GC reissue. I've got Elixir nano lights on the 1537 and 87C and feel satisfied with both. |
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Location: south east Michigan | I have tried Elixers for the first time.
I put nano lights on the UTE.
We'll see out they hold up.
I'm a big fan if the Martin Marquis. They are worth a test at least. A bargin compared to the Elixers. |
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Tony Rice and an Ovation