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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Missouri | I want to upgrade the sound of my guitar. It has the OP30 and thinline pickup in it now. I was thinking of going to the OP50 or OP-Pro. I assume this would be a drop in replacement with the exception of adding an XLR jack (and maybe the cage that hold the electonics would have to be changed, but that is a easy job). Comments, suggestions???
Also, I have heard lots of people say the wide "original" wide pickup is much better than the thinline, your thoughts???? Is a different pickup mandatory for the OP50 or OP-Pro??? I don't mind routing the guitar if it is a huge difference in sound.
Thanks!!! |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | What kind of guitar are do you have? |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Yes, you'll have to change the can out as well. The XLR is optional. And the OPP is better than the Thinline.
But Paul asks a good question... what model is it? |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Missouri | Thanks for the replies!!
Moody: My guitar is a 1861 Balladeer.
Waskel: You say "the OPP is better than the Thinline", does that mean that the OP-Pro has to be used with the wide pickup??
Thanks!! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | My ears are good enough to tell the difference between the XLR and the 1/4 plug, but not the thinline vs. wide or the distinctions between any of the preamps. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I don't know for sure that the thinline can't be used with the OP-Pro. I mean, it's just a signal source, if they both have the 1/8" plug, then it shouldn't matter. (OPP is Original Patented Pickup, btw)
I've got an 1861 as well, and while the thinline's pretty good, to me the OPP has better volume and tonal balance across all 6 strings.
When I say the XLR is optional, I mean there's an option for it on the OP-Pro can. It takes a special 1/4"-XLR card which has both jacks mounted on it, and plugs in a different jack on the can. If you're serious about this upgrade, definitely add this option. Customer service (Kim Keller) will make you a good deal for the parts you need, I'm sure.
BUT you when get the price from CS, decide whether it's worth it. It may be you can find a better guitar with newer electronics for not that much more. Don't get me wrong, the 1861 is a decent Ovation. But there are so many better ones out there... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Also a good excuse to get another guitar. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Missouri | Waskel: Thanks for the clarification. I thought the OPP was short for OP-Pro, I didn't realize it meant Original Patented Pickup, that makes since now.
So I am assuming you think the OPP and XLR option, is the best way to go. To have the XLR option (and still fit in the OP-30 hole, I would need to use either the OP-50, OP-Pro, or VIP-5. Which pre would you use?? In your opinion, is it great enough sound improvement to justify cost/labor over the original OP-30/thinline combination??
Mark in Boise: You say in your opinion the XLR is the most important change. I would still have to change to the OP-50 or OP-Pro or VIP-5 pre to get that option. Which one do you (or any one else) think would be the best one to use?? I assume you would just us the thinline pickup with one of these pre's and the XLR since you say you can't tell the difference in the pickup???
Thanks again!! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | My 99 Collector's has the Thinline with the Optima preamp and XLR. I don't do any performing, so my use is limited. There is so much difference between my guitars that I have never noticed a difference in the preamps, other than their features. All the Ovation preamps sound excellent to me and I have most varieties over the last 30 years, including an OP30 on my daughter's guitar, which I thought was excellent.
The XLR, however, I can tell the difference because it is on the same guitar. With the 99 the XLR is louder with almost no noise at any volume. The 1/4 jack has some noise that increases with the volume. I would think that for a performer with fairly high volumes the XLR would be a big advantage because it would keep the unwanted noise down. |
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