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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I was wondering if anyone has a good knowledge of Ovation or Adamas Classical guitar models? I am considering looking for a replacement for an old cheaper classical I have sold. I'd also like to know about sound quality in comparison to othe GOOD classical guitars. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm no expert, but I think my 1713 sounds great. It has a cedar top. Nice warm sound. The 1613 has a Spanish pine top. I haven't heard one of those. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Oh boy,
These do not compare to "GOOD classical guitars" anymore than other Ovations compare to any of the Mar-tay-avee's. I love my 1763. The earlier ones are good too. Check the specs. IMHO a classical should have a 2" nut width, 26 3/16" scale length (for proper intonation), soft wood (spanish pine, redwood or cedar) top, as little bracing as possible, and a deep bowl. cut away or non, and A/E or accoustic only don't make much difference. If you get one of these and put decent strings on it, you will really enjoy the voice. They can sound like a mid to high end english-style guitar. What they cannot do, is sound like a 2lb Spanish guitar. what an "english guitar" cannot do is sound like anything else... I played around with allot of different strings (a whole other topic), and found that these guitars are very versatile, and of course are very good plugged in. The sound guy at my church said my guitar was the best sounding ovaion AND classical he had run through his board. Very natural. he ran it "flat" (relative to what he has to do to everything on the board to sound right) with just a touch of reverb. Try that with a mic'd nylon string guitar. Heck, try it with any other brand of A/E.... |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Believe it or not, I once had an old 70's Yamaha 240C classical that had aged very nicely. As a matter-of-fact, I even went as far as to strip all the finish off it and put a light oil-based finish on it. It resonated so nicely I was amazed at how good it sounded. That was the guitar that was always near the bed, that I played at night in the dark. You could play so quietly it was like a whisper, but you could also feel the sound pour right through you. I don't know how many times I fell asleep with that guitar laying across me. I regret getting rid of it, but now my quest is to find something that sounds as good or better. I am sure it will have to be something as old to get that kind of sound. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Where there any Adamas classicals ever made? Or are the ones you've mentioned from the same place? |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | No production adanas classicals were made. There was at least one prototype for Glen Campbell (now owned by an OFC member). Maybe there are others. There has always been speculation how well the adamas top would work with nylon strings. Dave |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | There were a few nylons made. The best was a double neck for Pat Martino, lefty top and righty bottom, both 6 strings. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Well ... I said I would give my opinion on the differences of a traditional classical guitar and the Ovation Classical when I received my 1616-4. After doing the normal cleaning up and having to re-mount the OP24 (it was mounted on the bowl surface and not cut/recessed into the bowl), I put a new set of strings on her and made a sound and playability comparison with an intermediate level classical. Due to it's slightly smaller size, and solid, aged top and back, the traditional classical had a slightly better tone and sustain and stayed on the knee better of course. The Ovation however was very well designed, more sturdy, played and sounded very well, better tuners. I'd say the difference in tone was like the difference between my textured-top Adamas and my old Elite. In this case the Ovation Classical had a little quieter and warmer sound in comparison to the other. Not better or worse, just different. I WILL say that I will now be giving the non-Ovation away to my daughter. Something I wouldn't have considered earlier. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Nice comparison. Glad you like the new guitar. DAve |
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OVATION/ADAMAS CLASSICALS?