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Location: Phoenix AZ | Vote For Your Favorite Year Collector Series Guitar |
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Location: Wooster, Ohio | I think to pick the best you have to own it. I would like to hear from anyone who owns the 87 and doesn't think it is the best collectors. I have the 97,93,84. The 87 blows any guitar I have away in sound and appearance. Being a deep bowl and with 0P24 electronics it is still very competative 19 year later.
Steve |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | There's one on ebay again. |
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Location: south east Michigan | I've been told that the will be at least one '87 at the tour.
I've never had the good fortune to play one.I'm anxious to see if it lives up to it's reputation. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Moody and I have had this discussion before - What is the difference between the 87 and the book elite that would account for any difference in unplugged sound. As near as we can figure the only differences are cosmetic (epaulets, bridge, headstock inlays) and electronics. But yet the 87 seems to get the nod for better sound. I'd like to understand why. Dave |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Brad, it is essentially a 1537/1547 with lots and lots of bling! |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Dave, '87 is a deep bowl and the book elite was a mid-bowl. That would explain the better unplugged sound of the '87 |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by stephent28:
Brad, it is essentially a 1537/1547 with lots and lots of bling! I don't think the 87 has the ply reinforcement on the soundboard like the 1537 does. Dave |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by stephent28:
Dave, '87 is a deep bowl and the book elite was a mid-bowl. That would explain the better unplugged sound of the '87 That's what I thought, but not true. Book elite is DEEP bowl. I questioned it myself, but someone in the factory even pulled the build spec and verified that the book elite is DEEP. I rechecked measurements and yes, at least mine does measure as a deep bowl. That's why I'm stumped. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hmmm, I just pulled out my handy dandy guitar interior mirror and it looked like it had the ply reinforcement but since I don't really know what I am looking for, I can't really contribute anything intelligent as way of a reliable response. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | That's what I thought, but not true. Book elite is DEEP bowl. I questioned it myself, but someone in the factory even pulled the build spec and verified that the book elite is DEEP. I rechecked measurements and yes, at least mine does measure as a deep bowl. That's why I'm stumped. Well, mine is now with Dano in Toronto so no way to check, but I swear it did not feel or look or sound like a deep bowl. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | T28, The 87 may have the ply but it does not mention it in the spec list. But you may very well be right. The book elite only has ply in the epaulet hole areas, not the entire upper bout like the 1537.
As far as bowl depth I had for the longest time thought the book elite was a mid and I think a lot of others did as well (or maybe they just assumed I was always right, as usual, ha ha). But in fact the damn thing is deep. I questioned the factory about it and someone checked the build specs and sure as shit it's a deep.
So that's why I'm a little puzzled why the 87 and the book are not the same sound. My new theory is that the 87 sounds better because it came from a red year and the book elite was a blue year.
Dave |
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Location: Wooster, Ohio | My theory is the cwk2 kicked more sound it in with those great boots. I can still see that ad, made me want one 19 year ago. Took me 19 years to get one.
Seriously it could be that the wood if more aged.
Steve |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | tdeej says his book is a deep bowl. Since he has several others to compare it to, he might be right. It's very easy to tell the difference between my deep, mid, shallow and super shallow because they hang on the wall in a row. As soon as Tim lets me borrow it, I'll let you know. |
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Location: New Orleans | OMG, Dave.
I had a peek at your gargantuous (sp) poll...and realized that I definitely can NOT play, no voting for Moi.
Even though there's no correct answer, if I hadda answer this one to get past Heavens Gate, I'd go to hell.
My point is that I've played a whopping total of SEVEN different Ovations in my entire life and it absolutely blows me away that there are people here that can vote on this monster list!
Nevertheless, The results would be very interesting. When all is said and done, please post the results!!! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | This country proves that you don't have to know anything to vote. The first time I played most model Ovations was after I bought one, including my 99 Collector's. The only other one I remember playing is a 90. It was a very pretty guitar with a 16 fret neck and shallow bowl. Paul Blanchard has it last I knew. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | LeStrange - you don't need to have actually played all the collectors guitars to have an opinion (vote) which one you like best. Hey, it's america. I based my vote on pure bigotry. I refused to vote on any shallow bowl or any elite top. They're just trash, throw them in the garbage, I hate them. How's that? As one who proudly admits he voted for Ross Perot, if someone doesn't like my vote - TOUGH.
The ones I have played are the 82, 83, 87, 96, 97, 2003, 04 and 05. The only ones I have actually owned is the 97 and the 05. I voted for the 97 just because it was a really cool idea to build such a guitar.
Dave |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Originally posted by Standingovation:
As one who proudly admits he voted for Ross Perot, if someone doesn't like my vote - TOUGH.
Dave For all of you looking to disagree with Dave - here's your bone. |
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Location: closely held secret | Bone? Sounds like the whole friggin' skeleton to me... |
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Location: Wooster, Ohio | My 87 and 93 both have the ply under the holes like the 1537. It is sanded at an angle so that it tapers to no thickness as it ends into the soundboard. Could it be that this sanding actually reduced the overall thickness of the ply and the ply that is just around the sound holes is not sanded thinner?
Steve |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I haven't heard that giant sucking sound since Perot was running. Maybe the giant sucking sound just comes from a different direction. I think I can say that I've never voted for a Presidential candidate who won. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | One point of order; To see if it sounds the "best" you should have someone else play it, preferably at a gig. It may sound good when you play it, but it should be what the audience thinks.
I don't know why, but the '87 collectors has the mojo. I wish I owned one. Problem is, I'd never play it anywhere outside of my house, so its just as well. I'm beginning to feel that way about my MEWP. Thank goodness I have my electric papoose, every ding is character as opposed to a wound. I think I'll bring that up to the tour along with the computer speaker.
Edit: As to appearance, to me, it's not the bomb, I'm just judging it by the sound. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I think I can say that I've never voted for a Presidential candidate who won. Which is another way of saying your vote really doesn't matter!
I go through this debate all the time wiht friends and co-workers. I am a complete non-voter. I have voted for president twice (Perot in '90 and Bush in '02). And I've never voted once on anything else local, state, fed, whatever. My theory is that I don't know or care jack shit about any of this stuff and I couldn't care less. There are millions and millions of people out there far more qualified than I to cast a meaningful vote and I am more than happy to leave the decision making up to them. Dave |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | You should see the people we have voting in Brooklyn. Good lord. When Dinkins was around they'd round up the homeless and give 'em a pack of smokes and put 'em on bus to the voting booth. I'd like to think that everyone on this board is a highly evolved human. |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Standingovation:
I have voted for president twice (Perot in '90 and Bush in '02). Dave, I think I've figured out why your vote doesn't matter. Neither of those were presidential election years... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Waskel:
Dave, I think I've figured out why your vote doesn't matter. Neither of those were presidential election years...
GOOD ONE !!!! OK, whenever the hell year it was ... SEE, I don't even give a crap what's the year. I'm still laughing my ass off at your response. Dave |
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| ....who says the book Elite has a mid bowl ?? I am the lucky owner of a book Elite and I can tell you it's a deep bowl !!! But the sound of an Ovation guitar with a deep bowl is not always the better sound. My '93 Collectors with a mid-bowl and cutaway had a much better and deeper sound as the deep bowl Custom Legend without cutaway from a friend of mine.
My sons '89 Celebrity deep bowl sounds much better than a Std. Balladeer which I've sold a few month ago. The right strings, a handmade bone-saddle and a well adjusted guitar can be the secret of the better sound - just try it. I made some guitars sound better with some unusual modifications, my Ibanez AC 900 has a saddle made of plain silver and brass brigde pins, it sounds great.
Best wishes from Germany !! helmut-pl |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The OFC has evolved to the level of South Park.That´s about where I fit in. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Now that is funny. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Dave, you're still more qualified than most Americans. Most don't know the year of the election or who is running. I just vote against somebody, not for him/her. Pretty much a guarantee that if somebody is running for something, I won't like him. |
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Location: North Idaho | My book elite is the same size bowl as the 1547. I very much enjoy both guitars as they do have different voicing. The 1547 has more bass, the book has stronger mids and highs. In addition to the previously mentioned underside top reinforcement, the mothership tells me the bowls are constructed of different materials. The 1537/47s have a heavier material than the fiber type on the book. The book bowl sounds thinner when tapping the two. This could account for the major sound variance.
To 1987 owners: 1) How do the 1987 and 1537/47 bowls compare in construction?
2) Is the 1987 fretboard glued to the top or free like the 1537/47?
To other 1537/47 owners: don't let go of those gems--the same factory person told me Ovation could still make the 1537/47s, but the street (Al's selling) price would be in the $3K range. |
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Location: Keller, TX | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I just vote against somebody, not for him/her. Pretty much a guarantee that if somebody is running for something, I won't like him. I usually end up voting for the evil of two lessers, too. :( |
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Location: Wooster, Ohio | The 87 has the fretboard glued to the body and the body seems like all my other elites. I really wonder if the way the ply backing is done on these early elite does make a difference. Someone in this tread mentioned the 84 as the best shallow bowl. I have one and the ply is the same style as the 1537 and 87. I disagree with the post that says he won't buy an 87 cause he wouldn't play it. These guitars have enough age that you probably will find them not mint. Mine has two dings, in some ways thats great, it give me the freedom to play it and enjoy it. Thats whats they are made for.
Steve |
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Location: North Idaho | Steve, thanks for the info on the fretboard. Now I am interested in knowing why or how does that ply top make a difference? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | We used titanium bolts to put on the necks of the 87. The rest, including the book guitar just used the regular steel bolts. Also they were mil-spec washers on the 87 but they got all used up so the book had to go without. |
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Location: East Tennessee | 87 in the lead. :cool:
97 a distant second. :(
Looks like every 10 years they put out a really great Collectors Edition. :D
Can't wait to see the 07. :) |
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Location: North Idaho | Originally posted by cwk2:
We used titanium bolts to put on the necks of the 87. The rest, including the book guitar just used the regular steel bolts. Also they were mil-spec washers on the 87 but they got all used up so the book had to go without. MWoody, now's your chance to auction off your titanium bolt supply. |
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Location: Wooster, Ohio | Couple of thoughts on the 87. The ply backing was discussed before in a post 10/16/05 "1537 Has a Plywood Top" Execellent pictures of the types of backing on that post. In that post it was someone who appears to have be in manufacturing that said the following:
"We used to do the eppie backers that way,now we use the two cut to size backers that dont go under the bracing. The reason the backer is tapered on the older styles, was to make the bracing sit flat on the top.Hope that answers it."
The sanded taper was done so the bracing would make solid contact its full length. Thus the ply is totally integrated into the sound board. The newer elite put a backing that is not tied to the bracing, but just adds thickness, only in that one area. That thickness is not sanded thinner as is the old ply. I am sure that the old ply was more costly to produce and the new ply makes manufacturing sense. Bottom line, I think this difference is the one that makes the most sense as to affecting the sound of the older guitars in a positive way. Many of those older models 1537, 84, 87, 93. are know for their good sound and they all have this in common. They also have older wood which could help. Thanks to cwk2 for the titanium and washer info. I am glad to see that we may now have bolt envy among our group. Seriously however. the other part of the 87 I love is the neck and neck angle are absolutely perfect, best of any guitar I own period. Maybe that comes down to bolts and washers.
By the length of this post I think I need to get a life.
Steve |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Now that I have the 87, I'm giving it my vote, too. Huge bass. More than the 1537. I'll have to compare the 1537/87 with tdeej's 1547/Book. I suspect the difference in the bass is that the 1537 has light, old strings and the 87 came with fairly new mid strings. |
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Vote For Your Favorite Year Collector