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Joined:
July 2008
Posts: 10
Location: NE Ohio | Hello all,
Just purchased my first Ovation Adamas W597 this afternoon and am extremely happy with it! What great sound even without an amp!
I've been mainly an acoustic player for a very long time and wanted an Ovation for probably the last 25 - 30 years, just never got around to it until now.
The one I bought is in like-new condition, as is the OHSC with nary a scratch or nick.
Only thing missing is instructions, and not being an electric player I must admit I'm a bit lost with all the controls. My serial # is 16XXX so I'm guessing it is early production.
Can anyone tell me if this can be strung with nylon strings? If not, what strings are recommended as I'm fairly sure the ones on my guitar are a bit 'dead'.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
All the best,
Mike |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | MikeA,
The xperts will be by shortly. In the interim, welcome to the family!  |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Welcome aboard. I had a 597 for a couple of years and loved it. Great guitars.
I doubt the guitar is set up to do well with nylon strings. I typically used Adamas lights, but now am using both Elixir and Martin bulk strings on my 2080 and they all do okay. STrings are a personal thing, so go buy a couple of brands or search on the board and you will get a huge variety of opinions.
As for the control, mine had the Op50 electronics package. If you describe which model yours has it might be easier to help you with the "controls".
You can go to the Ovationguitars.com web site and on the left side click on "Electronics" then find your unit to get some info. Under support you will find a current manual that is probably accurate for your guitar. The Adamas site doesn't appear to have the same info, but it may be there and I just haven't found it. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Hello fellow @597er. I used Adamas phosphor bronze lights for years on my legend 1117 and then on the 597. They sounded wonderful on the legend, but too brassy, particularly when new, on the 597.
The other day I put a set of Adamas silk and steel strings on and it just purrs. Try a set of these, softer on the fingers too! |
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Joined:
July 2008
Posts: 10
Location: NE Ohio | Hello All!
Wow! Nice reception - thanks to all for the responses.
I found the info on the preamp per JeffreyDs' instructions - it is an Optima - and the info there is extremely helpful.
I'm like a kid with a new toy and can hardly wait to hook this guitar up to an amp (just ordered one) and hear how it sounds.
All the best,
Mike |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Mike,
Sounds like yours is a clone of mine, I have the Optima too. Don't worry about the notch filter button instructions unless you get feed back ('cos that's what its for). Also (as you're not that familiar with ovations) if you have an amp with an XLR input and the right* type of XLR cord, you can plug in your guitar without draining the battery. This is handier than you think, particularly if you forget to unplug the 1/4" plug and then go to bed.
(*Al Pepiak who is on this list sells them) |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Hi Mike...
Try looking here for pointers...
http://www.ovationtribute.com/Owner\'s%20Manual.html
:mad: Sorry, I couldn't get the link to work.
OH! NOW it works... sorta.
This is the Ovation Tribute web site's collection of assorted manuals.
You may not find Exactly your model, but you'll get a few tips.
And Welcome. |
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Joined:
July 2008
Posts: 10
Location: NE Ohio | Hello Richard and O M Arthur,
Thanks for the information - I was able to grab a manual on the Optima from the site listed by Arthur so I think I'm covered there. BTW - great site with all those manuals, he deserves to get lots of credit for that effort.
Richard - any other little peculiarities I need to be aware of? I assume the 'official' model is CVT W597, with the CVT standing to smooth top - at least that's what I've picked up so far.
Any idea as to when these were made? I'm guessing mine is somewhere around 2000, but that's pure hypothesis fueled by my inability to find anything firm to the contrary.
Once again, thanks to all for the help, without it I'd be lost!
All the best,
Mike |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Originally posted by MikeA:
Hello Richard and O M Arthur,
Thanks for the information - I was able to grab a manual on the Optima from the site listed by Arthur so I think I'm covered there. BTW - great site with all those manuals, he deserves to get lots of credit for that effort.
Richard - any other little peculiarities I need to be aware of? I assume the 'official' model is CVT W597, with the CVT standing to smooth top - at least that's what I've picked up so far.
Any idea as to when these were made? I'm guessing mine is somewhere around 2000, but that's pure hypothesis fueled by my inability to find anything firm to the contrary.
Once again, thanks to all for the help, without it I'd be lost!
All the best,
Mike I may be wrong, but I think the CVT means woven carbon fiber, not necessarily smooth top. My 2080 is a CVT I think and woven, but not smooth. The SMTs are the 1597 et al and have the straight laid carbon fiber...kinda resembles wood grain.
I am sure the experts will correct on this. |
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Joined:
July 2008
Posts: 10
Location: NE Ohio | Hello Jeffrey,
As I said, I know just enough to be dangerous!
Sure would like to know the correct terminology as well as the age and am hopeful one of the experts will get back to me.
All the best,
Mike |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | The CVT refers to woven carbon fibre and the SMT is parallel carbon fibre. Not sure what the initials actually stand for. Carbon fibre starts out life literally as a fibre (think of cotton). It can be woven into a fabric which will have texture similar to a shirt or laid out in straight lines.
After you have laid it out in the shape and format you want a resin of some type is added which makes it rigid and firm (a friend of mine designs things out of composite materials). Technically Adamas tops are carbon fibre composite, because carbon fibre itself (as previously mentioned) is a soft pliable material like fabric.
The carbon fibre makes the composite highly resistant to cracking, where as the resin provides rigidity - rigid materials (e.g. glass) have a tendency to crack or smash, but pliable materials tend to bend out of shape. By combining the two, you get the best of both worlds.
As evidence, look through the posts here for someone asking what to do about a crack in their Adamas and then search for the similar issue in wood tops. I've seen lots of the latter and none of the former, although it is possible if you hit it hard enough as any fan of Formula 1 will attest.
In short the SMT and CVTs should have slightly different characteristics. As the SMT has a parallel structure it may sound more like traditional wood tops, but still with the Adamas sound because of the lighter overall structure. However, it is possible the SMT could develop a crack along the grain, but I think I read somewhere that the wood grain was not parallel with the carbon fibre grain (willing to be corrected there).
Does anyone know whether the carbon fibre under the textured top Adamii are woven or parallel? Or is it something different again.
If you click on the reference section of this site, you can look up your serial number and find out what year your guitar is. Mine is a 2002, so you're going to be in that sort of ball park |
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Joined:
July 2008
Posts: 10
Location: NE Ohio | Hello Richard,
Thanks again for the info - I checked and according to the reference section it is vintage 2000.
You're correct re the strength of oriented carbon fiber - I think someone commented this is the stuff they use in the latest generation fighter aircraft due to it's strength and light weight.
The immediate evidence for me is there isn't so much as a scratch visible anywhere on the guitar - don't know if it's a consequence of not being used or just the durability of the construction, but either way, I'm a happy camper as I paid less than 1/3 what a new one is going for.
Still trying to get an exact model determination.
All the best,
Mike |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by MikeA:
Still trying to get an exact model determination.
I think "W597" is all the model determination you're going to get. The newer 597s have different pre-amps, but they haven't changed the model number for something that minor. The colour is the only variable and, as far as I know, there are only two colours the 597 comes in cobalt blue and natural (grey). Should be pretty clear which one you've got. |
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Joined:
July 2008
Posts: 10
Location: NE Ohio | Hello Richard,
If that's the case, I can accept it without demur. Mine is the natural, and frankly, if it was the cobalt blue I'd be just as happy - they are both gorgeous!
I have a W597 with Optima preamp dated 2000 - life is good.
All the best,
Mike |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Not enough oomph in nylon strings for the adamas top. That's a no-go. |
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New W597 owner looking for manual