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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Missouri | Hi to all Ovations lovers out there.
Im a new member, and I have been looking for a Balladeer, used, 12 string.
However there are so many models that Im not sure which would be the best for the full sound plugged in or not plugged in.
I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Dont want to empty the bank on one, but would ont he right one.
Thanks for all advice,
Joyce |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Just bought a 1751. Deep bowl, nice top, good sound. $299. I think it's a 1997. It does not sound much different from the Applause 12 I replaced. Go for the deep bowl. |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | Welcome to the board, Joyce :)
You will find that the responses on which bowl will run all over the place. Some want swear by the deep bowl, some say no difference or not enough to tell with a mid depth....all say the same about the shallow...and then there is the contour bowl....
I play a mid depth for the most part. I have an Adamas with a contour, and also have a couple of deep bowls. A side by side comparision, done just now with my offce staff, tells me that these girls, who hear me play a LOT, could tell no difference in the sound between my 1777LX mid depth bowl and the deep bowl on the Glen Campbell re-issue. They are both loud when you want or need...and plugged in was the same report.
Go figure... |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Stay away from shallow bowls.
The mid-depth bowl is fine, but most models are the newer LX and may be over your budget.
Mark is correct. A 1751 Balladeer is a great choice and can be found for a very reasoable price. I have a 1755 Custom Balladeer which is the same, but fancier. There's also the older 1615 model which is a 12 fret, slot head guitar. Many here swear that those features make it sound much better due to bridge placement on the body and break angle at the nut. I've never done an A/B comparison so I don't know. I do know that it's a whole lot easier to find a nice 1715 or 1755 than a 1615 and the 17xx guitars have better electronics.
There's also the 1756 Legend and 1758 Elite models to consider, but those usually sell for more than the Balladeers. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I replaced my mid bowl with a deep bowl custom legend over a year ago, and I personally felt it made a big difference. Since 12s have so much on the high end you'll want to squeeze any more of that full sound out as you can. I vote with going deep. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | If at all possible.....go deep.
If you have to wait a while for one to come up...so be it. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | What bvince said makes a lot of sense. The 12 strings have so many more strings with higher pitches that they tend to sound unbalanced toward the high end. If you want to hear the bass end, you need the boom of a deep bowl. I played a 12 string Legend with a shallow bowl and wasn't impressed. It was a higher end guitar than the Balladeer I bought instead, but the deep bowl of the Balladeer sounded better. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13988
Location: Upper Left USA | Get a Pacemaker.
If you start banging your hand up against the 12th fret to body then go and find a deep bowl cutaway.
If you don't play past the tenth you have found one of the best bargains in guitardom. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by MWoody:
Get a Pacemaker.
If you start banging your hand up against the 12th fret to body then go and find a deep bowl cutaway.
If you don't play past the tenth you have found one of the best bargains in guitardom. Did Ovation EVER make any deep bowl cutaway 12 string? Even on a six string, I thought a cutaway 12 fret is available only by custom order.
FYI, Joyce, the Pacemaker is model 1115 and is the same as the 1615 but acoustic only. It's a super guitar, but most that you will find are rather beat up. They can be fixed up though. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13988
Location: Upper Left USA | You are correct Sir. I meant "deepish" on the inside.
If there was a way to carve the cutaway into a Pacemaker that would be a swell fella! |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Missouri | Thanks to all of you who responded to my question. Im still as confused as ever concerning the model. Greg is correct that everyone will have a different opinion about models,, it's all about the EARS. What sounds great to some may hurt others ear drums, lol
I play several instruments,all by ear, so naturally I want the best sound,full thunderous,and mighty, and not just when it is plugged in.
1751, might be the way that I go.I dont care about collectors editions, just a good ovation, for a reasonable price.
Ebay sells them pretty reasonable, just have to really check them out.
Again thanks to all who have responded thus far,, I welcome all advice from you pros.
Joyce |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I have 3 full size acoustics....all of them are deep bowls.
Hang in there and one will find you. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | You're only limited by how much you are willing to pay. I waited for quite some time and ended up with a choice between a deep bowl Elite and a Custom Legend Deep bowl. I dont know how much, if any difference, there would have been between the sounds of the two. I went with the Custom Legend, because it had one of the best tops I have ever seen on an instrument. I paid more than I had expected to, but that was a decision I was willing to make to get what I really wanted. |
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