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Location: Flushing, MI | I met the parents of my daughters school friend the other day, and the dad is the proud owner of a new Larrivee. At our next meeting I had my old beat up Legend with me and had the pleasure of doing a side by side comparison.
For starters, the Larrivee is a really nice guitar. It had one of those wide, flatish necks that reminded me of an old SG, only wider. I thought that it was comfortable, but not necessarily my cup o'tea. The tone was nice overall, but just had that "pinched" sound that I find in a lot of upper end guitars now days. I can't really explain it, but it's a sound that's made me run for the elcheapo Yamaha more than once (some of those sound better than a $2000 Martin sometimes).
When I picked my Legend back up, I was almost embarrassed by the tone that just gushes out of this thing! The difference between it and the Larrivee is like someone taking the blanket off. The Legend just breathes where the Larrivee seemed choked.
When folks ask about buying a nice acoustic for little money, I always get the rolling eyes when I bring up Ovations. It's as if they just don't want to even hear about it. Whatever. But I know for a fact that I've played several upscale Martins, Taylors, etc. etc. that just seemed to be so mediocre for the prices they're asking for them, and I got this Legend off of ebay for $300. It's all beat up, but plays fine, and sounds unbeatable.
Proving once again that most people listen with their eyes and not their ears. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | That pretty well sums it up Tragocaster.
That same scenerio seems to repeat itself over and over
And over and over again. |
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November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Originally posted by tragocaster:
When folks ask about buying a nice acoustic for little money, I always get the rolling eyes when I bring up Ovations. It's as if they just don't want to even hear about it. Whatever. But I know for a fact that I've played several upscale Martins, Taylors, etc. etc. that just seemed to be so mediocre for the prices they're asking for them... Well stated. I meet with the same blind response often. IMO, our country is in the midst of an overpriced wood box fad perpetuated by a trend addicted society fueled with aggressive marketing. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | It's the same twisted logic why people spend $4. at Suckbucks for a crappy cup of coffee and anybody who knows jack-shit about it (me) will tell you that the 99 cent Circle-K coffee just blows it away every time. Dave
PS - PLUS while you're at it you can get a 44oz. Big Gulp, a Scratcher and a bag of Fun-ions. |
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Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | See, if you had just gone to Starbucks, you would have only spent $4 for crappy coffee. |
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Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | but when I go to fourbucks, they always have multiple cute gils that know my name and think my Ovation is kewl. Too bad I'm older than their mothers... |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | No wonder why Dave has to pee in his pool. I do suspect the Larivee will open up over time. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "The tone was nice overall, but just had that "pinched" sound"
I think in this phrase you will find the reason for
" I always get the rolling eyes when I bring up Ovations"
I have had lots of discussions with artists about "acoustic tone" and that "pinched" sound is what a lot of people are looking for. Basically there is a LARGE contingent of people who think that any sounds coming out of a guitar that aren't that nasal, punchy, midrange are just wrong.
Basically they are looking for the sound of an old wooden box, but they want to play a guitar that's easy to play, feels good etc... Say what you will about Taylor, but they have all but locked up this category. If you want to sound like an old bluesman, Ovation is just going to be too full and pretty sounding for these people. At least the few that I've run across willing to listen with an open mind. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Miles is absolutely right. There are certain "sounds" that some players are going after. And some times the "Ovation" sound isn't it. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the Ovation sound, or that the other sound is better or worse. Kind of like CSN playing "Suite Judy Blue Eyes" on Ovations. It just wouldn't sound right. Dave |
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December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | Originally posted by Slipkid:
That pretty well sums it up Tragocaster.
That same scenerio seems to repeat itself over and over
And over and over again. Don't you just hate it when people are redundant. They just keep saying the same thing. They just keep repeating themselves. They're redundant. Don't you just hate that! |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | What? Would you repeat that over again once more? |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | "hello....this is the Department of redundancy department...may I help you? |
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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | Hey Slipkid! You're from Algonac? I once got ripped off while playing a gig in Algonac. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Was it by a bald guy in a grass skirt and a coconut bra?? :D
What bar were you playing at?
Being a summer / tourist / boat town type of place one thing Algonac has is plenty of bars. |
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Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | ...but not many guys man enough to wear that outfit at one of them :p :D :p :D |
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Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Well, there's just not that many guys can carry off a look like that. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Was it by a bald guy in a grass skirt and a coconut bra?? :D
What bar were you playing at?
Being a summer / tourist / boat town type of place one thing Algonac has is plenty of bars. I don't remember the name of the place. I seem to remember it being right on a lake. I was ripped off by our beloved bandleader, who paid the drummer and I $120 for two nights when he was paid $1000 for the whole band for both nights (I found out later). Nice eh? |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Not the first time, won't be the last. That's why ya play by contract. |
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Legend eats Larrivee for lunch...