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Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | The reason I'm selling my 1674 Country Artist is that I had this built by Ovation
Last June, at the OFC gathering in CT, Ovation had one of these out on a stand. It's got a Country Artist width neck with 12 frets to the body. Cedar top, LX bracing, bowl, and neck system. I felt like Ovation was building a guitar for me. With the LX bracing, lighter bowl, and 12 frets to the body (moving the bridge back into the fat part of the sound board where it should be), I felt that the guitar had to have a better unplugged sound than my Country Artist. I play acoustically probably 80% of the time and wanted more sound unplugged.
It was a crap shoot ordering it, because I had only heard it in a room full of other people. But it was worth trying.
I sold my Deluxe Balladeer to Karl in Germany (I've still got my GC DB) and am selling my Country Artist. That will cover most of the cost.
I had Ovation add abalone around the body (damn Noah and Tony for introducing me to the joys of abalone with the 87 C), had the neck glossed (personal preference), had an XLR output installed (lots more power than the 1/4"), and had side fret dots installed at the 5th, 9th, and 12th frets (only comes with a dot at the 7th -- damned if I know why).
Beautiful top on this thing (there are more photos in my gallery) and beautiful workmanship thru and thru. Not a flaw on it. Al was great (to the extent that he can be better than mediorce) to work with in the purchase. And the factory did a great job.
The guitar is light, very responsive, and has the depth of a deep bowl classical (I used to own a 1763). It's just a great guitar.
I don't want to put down my 1674 that I want to sell (I'm fortunate in that I want to sell it, I don't need to sell it). But the 1773 LX meets my needs much better. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | This is Moody's own private '06 collectors.
Good choices Paul. You know your stuff! |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Beautiful Paul. But a pick? Man that spoils the picture. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Vice nice, Paul. Love the ebony tuners ... ties the whole package together. You done good. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Bobbo, interesting how great minds do NOT always think alike. When Moody showed me the photos the first thing I said was "Ditch the ugly black tuners". To each their own ... but this one darn nice guitar. The only thing I would do is remove the label. I hate that they stick it right in the center of the sound hole. Dave |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Shro', I've played so long with a pick that I can't play w/o one... oughta hear me do The Claw, with flat pick and fingers. Of course, right now, I'm working on Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring, for church on Xmas Eve -- with a flatpick and fingers of course. |
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Posts: 4413
| ;) - you're in good company. John McLaughlin, our own Serge (I think), Jose Feliciano - the list of guitarists who play nylon strings with a pick is a long one. It really is a beautiful guitar. I was looking at my 6773 the other day and thinking that some abalone wouldn't go amiss. Now I know I was right. Good choice. I like the ebony tuners. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | picks and nylon, yes
fingers and steel, yes
the world is full of wonderful inconsistencies.
(the only thing that stays the same is my inability to spell) |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | and to stay out of the sandy bunkers :D |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Willie Nelson uses a pick on his Nylon string and look what it's done to his guitar. :D |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Very, very nice.
A steel string with the same specs would be killahhh!! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Did you have them build more than 3 chords in it, Paul? |
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November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: Idaho | Is this a long scale like the 1763? |
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Posts: 10581
Location: NJ |
Al was great (to the extent that he can be better than mediorce) to work with in the purchase. And the factory did a great job.
[/QB] he called or e mailed every other day until it got done.
btw it has an XLR |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | FABULOUS guitar. And, yes, a steel string version of this would be on my list for sure!!!!
Roger |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Very pretty, Paul. I'm sure it sings for you.
I'm glad to see your dream came true! Are you bringing it in May? |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | BEAUTIFUL guitar, Paul!!
I hope you get many years of enjoyment out of it (tho, I'm sure you will . . . )
I'm a bit pissed that couldn't swing buying that CA from you (THNX for the offer, btw) . . .
. . . ONE o'These Days . . .
EnJOY yer New Toy! . . ;-) |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Paul,
You should call MWOODY and have him make you a TRC with your name on it. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Uh, Phil, why do you think Woodrow's been asking on the board about lettering? |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | Very nice, Paul. That's a beaut! Glad to see you got it a little sooner than you'd expected... Congratulations and enjoy! |
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Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Oh!! :rolleyes: |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | You know, the comments made here about a steel string version of my 1773LX got me thinking. It wouldn't be that difficult to do. The guitar is basically an LX, which means the new neck bracing system, and the scalloped X bracing. Reinforce the bridge area, put on a steel string bridge, and it should be good to go. Anybody see anything I'm missing?
Also, has anybody noticed that the new Adamii have the scalloped X bracing as opposed to the original Quintad / A bracing? |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Don't steels have different winding posts? |
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June 2002
Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Install new nut, new tuners, radius the fingerboard and refret it. In other words, be happy with what ya got and don't f&&& with it. Dave |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | I wasn't gonna mess with my guitar. I was thinking that a steel string version of it would be very cool. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Moody's got LX Gas!!!
Bwuh-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Welcome to da tub! |
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March 2002
Posts: 389
Location: RI. That small State out East | Way to go!
Very nice guitar. Smiles all around.
Woz |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | You know Woodrow, when you say I've got LX GAS, there's some truth in that statement.
The last new Ovation I bought was in '96 (Big Blue). I believe in what Ovation is building these days and think they're building some of the best guitars they've built in a long time. When they built the 1773LX, it was like they were talking to me and I was jazzed to buy something with all the new technology it it.
Of course, they still haven't built a wood topped guitar better than my '87 C (thank you T&B). |
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Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | You are preaching to the chior. I was one of the idiots that blindly threw more money than SWMBO knew I had at a newly released LX when I couldn't even find one in a store to play!
There's something right about them for me. I am looking forward to getting an Elite LX 12, especially after playing the Legend LX12 in the Tacoma Ted Brown.
While I have played the FD14 I haven't played the 1537 or 87 Collectors (I do ask my Boss for that 2 weeks in San Diego to watch other people working) I would still grab the 1778LX off the wall if I had a job to do!
So many guitars and so little money... |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | "So many guitars and so little money..."
and in my case, even less talent.
Let me know when you're going to be in San Diego. I'll grab a couple of guitars and come on down. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Woody,You wanna try out my 1537 for a while? Call it, thanks for taking such good care of the wooden roundback.... |
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December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Jeff,
I am in no place right now to feel another kind of GAS. Hard enough to pay for Christmas and my little guitar exchanges! I was focusing on playing 1537's, et al, at the Factory Tour, May 19, 2006 to be specific!!!
Then, my friend, we shall dance the fretboards and make comparisons long into the night! |
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July 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | Gorgeous guitar...I want one like it, only in lefty with a black (spruce) top, and mid-depth bowl (1773). Of course, there are NO lefty LX's yet... |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Mike - the world is cruel to the handicapped. :D |
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July 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | Handicapped??!! HANDICAPPED!!!??
Before I was just disoriented, then I was born with a birth defect...now I'm HANDICAPPED??
*Sigh*
:rolleyes: |
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July 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | You have to admit, one of those in nylon with a black top "wood" be gorgeous, even if it is "handicapped."
:) |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Okay.... 'dextrously challenged'. Is that better? Haven't you noticed that every time we have lunch together, I make sure I sit on your right if I can't be across from you? :rolleyes:
(The truth be known, I might accept being lefthanded if that would let me play fingerstyle as well as Mike, whom I have known for 25 years.) |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Just a couple of observations on my new 1773 LX. First, compared with the shallow bowl of my 1674 Country Artist, the mid depth bowl of the 1773 LX feels almost like a deep bowl. There's only about 1/4" difference, but it feels much deeper.
Second, I like the shorter scale (12 frets to the body vs. 14). People like Sergio want more frets, but I rarely play anywhere above the 12th fret. This guitar is great for me.
Last, the sound reminds me of my old deep bowl classic. It's that good. |
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January 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Bangkok, Thailand | So envy you , moody !
I just found this website. Damn! I should search and found this site for a long time.....at least....when I lived there at 7th St. Santa Monica.
Now I move back to my hometown, Bangkok,
Thailand and really want one nylon guitar from ovation.
None ! here in Bangkok.....because it's expensive and most guitarists here prefer nylon guitar from spain.
1773LX is super attractive, so did 6773LX and Viper EA63.
envy envy envy ! |
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July 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | Sigh...it's a cruel world...the only thing that could be worse would be to be left-handed AND live in Bangkok... |
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January 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Bangkok, Thailand | i'm left-handed person but play right AND live in Bangkok... |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Can't find one at Chatuchak? Huh, thought you could get anything there...
Love Thailand. |
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January 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Bangkok, Thailand | Ha ha ha . . .
I wish I can get one from Chatuchak or we, Thai people call JJ market.
I wish i could join OFC Factory tour 06.
I will definitely get one from the trip. |
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My 1773 LX