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August 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Illinois | Guys, I put out a couple of videos that compare my Ovation 1127-4 (1970) Glen Campbell guitar with my Martin 000-16SGT. I think both guitars sound great. The VT-8 bracing doesn't appear to be a problem with my 1970 1127-4 model--I guess it's just that old wood. Have a listen...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZVL4grU1Zw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8dLPMsd9jY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-sS_2MZGEM
Personally, I think the Ovation plays easier than the Martin, particularly for open note runs and lead work. The Martin is a little easier to finger pick because it has a 1 3/4 inch neck. Your thoughts? |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | All i can say is that you need to pick up and do some laundry....
Both sound good. The Martin is a 12 fret slothead and will sound a little deeper, but both sounded good.
And while I was never a fan of the VT bracing, the guitars that came out in 1969-1970 with that bracing tended to sound pretty good. |
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March 2005
Posts: 2793
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
All i can say is that you need to pick up and do some laundry.... :D |
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August 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Illinois | Thanks for listening. I'm really amazed at the full sound of this 1127-4. This guitar has one of the fastest necks I've played on and chords are extremely easy to play. The frets on the Ovation look like they are double the size of my Martin. Not sure if that has anything to do with the playability.
Stay tuned, I'm going to do a comparison of a recently purchased A-braced Custom Legend from 1978.
Well, I guess I should have done my laundry! LOL. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | You're comparing apples with oranges.
You should try to get a hold of a Josh White, or early Folklore as the Ovation candidate to compare to this particular Martin. 12 fret wide neck... |
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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 494
Location: Location Location Location | That was a great comparison. The triple O Martin body style compared with the shallower 1127 makes the most sense. Both guitars feature prominent mid range. The 1127 stands up to the Martin more than I thought it would. |
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April 2010
Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | I have a 95 6868 Elite. My cousin has a Martin, can't remember the model number. My elite sounds better, plays easier and looks better too. I finger pick and love my Ovation, no problems there, strumming is awesome, I don't play lead, but I had a lead player use it on my cd and he loved it. I know my Elite is not the high end kind or a real old Ovation but love is love. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I thought I had posted this already, but I guess not. Great comparison but as was previously stated, apples and hammers.
Both great guitars. If you want or like the sound of a wood guitar... Martin will get you there. If you like hearing a full musical range, Ovation is the way to go. The definition of the Ovation is just stunning. You can hear every single note clearly. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Illinois | Guys, thanks for your comments. Here is what I found interesting about this comparison. First, my Ovation 1127-4 was up against stiff competition. My Martin 000-16SGT can take on D series Martins without any trouble at all. I know that because I've compared this guitar directly against my Martin HD-16R Adirondack. Each Martin has it's own voice but the 000-16SGT is brighter perhaps because of the solid mahogany wood. Having said that, I was completed surprised with the way my VT-8 braced 1127-4 performed. I know some folks don't like the VT-8 bracing but this particular guitar is well-balanced and is one of the easiest guitars I've ever played. For dollar value and fun factor, the Ovation is hard beat. |
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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 494
Location: Location Location Location | It's a valid comparison. You can say 'apples and oranges' about any two guitars, even guitars of the same model. It's a valid comparison because of what is being compared. It's not tone. It's 2 guitars that feature projected mids. |
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January 2009
Posts: 4536
Location: Flahdaw | Maybe if I was sitting directly across from two equally talented players, and they took turns playing the same song on each guitar back and forth, I might be able to say which sounds better to my ear. But due to this test's recording quality and the limitations of youtube, I certainly couldn't discern much difference, sameness, or better-ness.
Good playing, though. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | You want to see which comes off better; have a friend take one of them by the neck, you take the other, and swing at each other as hard as you can.
Whoever gets up first had the strongest guitar. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Every time I start to look at a Martin in earnest, and the OM-42 model in particular, I end up buying a Takamine. |
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November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | lol yeah go garth brooks on them...
To each is there own...I have played many guitars and personally nothing has yet impressed me like Ovation...
I have played high priced Martins, HIgh priced Gibsons etc...and nothing grabs my ear and gives me that "yeah thats how its supposed to sound, Guitar" like the O's |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I thought the hat trick goes to the O
but both sound good |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Illinois | Guys, just a quick note of thanks. (No pun intended with Thanksgiving approaching tomorrow). I really appreciate your comments. Yes...there is something very special about the Ovation guitar. Keep the faith...wish you all the best over this Thanksgiving holiday. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 120
Location: Miami | I have a custom 12-fret slothead Martin 000-18GE. It's a wonderful guitar, but that'll do me, as far as Martin is concerned. But Ovations? I would happily buy 6 of them if I could justify it! Aside from their great sound and feel, they are examples of guitar art, and so many of them look fantastic to me. No other company touches them for combining great feel and sound with an amazing and varied visual aesthetic. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | In 1981 my father bought a new Martin M-38. He gave it to me in '94. It came with the old 30s style bar frets for some reason. They were horrible. In 2005 I sent it to Johnny Rushing who reset the neck and installed a new fingerboard with 'normal' frets (and abalone snowflakes at the same time). Out of all my guitars, it's probably the King of Tone. Just phenomenal, the sound that comes out of that thing. But even with the reset neck it's just too stiff and miserable to play. If all I did was cowboy chords I'd toughen up to it but I like noodling around. I've found the run of the mill Ovation to be just wonderful to play 'as found' and they can rival a Les Paul if you tweak the nut, etc. |
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Ovation versus Martin Guitar