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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Los Angeles | Hi everyone. I'm new here and have already found so much information on this site, it's incredible. I have a question for you though.
I currently have a 1778-TX and was thinking about upgrading to the US made 1778-T. I love my TX, but have heard the american made model has a nicer tone. Plus I've had some intonation issues on my TX.
First, do you think this upgrade is worth it? After selling my TX, it would prob cost me a couple hundred for the upgrade. Seems reasonable to me if the tone really is improved. The previous reviews I've read on this site lead me to believe people really love their american T.
Also, I'm thinking about buying the 1778-T used as I've seen a couple on sale for a very good price. Are there any major differences between the 1778-T built before 2008 and one that would ship from the factory today? I've heard they have a different pre-amp and pick-ups post 08.
Thanks a lot for any info. |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | First, Welcome JakeScan. Stick around and learn not just about Ovations but get to know some of the unique personalities here. Most are fun loving & quick witted. Some may come across as a smart a..., but are really about having a good time. No harm.
2nd: I've only played 2 "T"'s. both unplugged. I was not impressed. Others here swear by them saying they are "the best bang for your buck."
It's all about what sounds/feels/looks good to you. As far as the TX models (made in asia) go,
I have heard some good and some bad reviews. Personally if you want to upgrade. Contact Alpep one of our moderators and one of the top Ovation/Adamas dealers in the world OR, buy a quality used Ovation off the F/S section here. Most are honorable and trustworty. You won't be disapointed. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Welcome Jake! There are a coupla dedicated T Lovers here. They are Great Guitars!
(ignore the man behind the curtain)
To answer some of your questions...
First, You are not gonna buy a New Elite T from the factory. They don't make them anymore.
As to differences, The Elite TX has X-bracing and Rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
The Elite T has Quintad bracing and Ebony fingerboard and bridge.
The Bracing, in combination with the Textured Top is why T's sound Great.
In the ole daze Elite T's had the OP-30 and the later models have the OP-Pro.
I have one of each. Same guitar, different Preamp.
If possible you should buy an Elite T Before you sell your TX.
Every so often you see a Real Elite T go for under $300, but it is rare.
I have never played a TX, so I have no opinion. But Jukebox Joe has played them both side-by-side.
He should be along soon. :cool: |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Hi jake and welcome to the asylum.
I have a 2008 Elite-t 1868T (last year made)and I love the way it sounds, plays and looks. Mine has the super shallow bowl and an OP-Pro Studio preamp (swapped out from a OP-Pro). The Studio makes a huge difference plugged in.
I have never played a TX, but supposedly the texture paint layer is thinner on the T than the imported TX, along with different bracing and bridge woods, you get a very different sound.
I agree with OMA, play a T before giving up your TX... just in case its not your cup of T. |
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Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Oops.. double post. :o |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | So I'm sitting outside on a bench, enjoying the cool breeze by a lake when I heard the sound of a T post beckoning...
The TX is not a bad guitar. I would say it has 90% of the tone of an American T. The difference is in the brightness.
Of course, the thing that makes the T (and TX) so unique is its thin textured paint, which allows the wood to vibrate more freely. The good news is, sometimes you get a tone that you really bond with. The flip side is, sometimes you get a tone that you don't bond with (but someone else will!). Anyone who's owned more than one will tell you they all sound different. I have yet to hear a bad one, but some feel better to me with my picking and singing style, so I keep those and I sell the others.
But back to the T / TX question. When I played both TX's in the store I thought "hmm... sounds like a T". Then I took one home, gave it new strings and played it next to all of my other T's and the difference was immediately apparent. It wasn't one tone versus another tone like when comparing American T's. It was more like hearing a slightly "muted" T versus a "clear" one. I'm not saying you'll never find a TX that sounds as good as or better than a T. But neither of the two that I've played were as clear as the 8 T's I've owned.
If you're looking for an American T, I should have a couple for sale in time for the holidays. The going rate these days is $500 including the case. (If you see anything under $500, buy it - IF you can beat me to it ;-) |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | During the 2007 factory tour, a number of us were blown away by the projection and clarity of Phil Wong's 1778T-RF (the red flame, fullly painted bowl version) in the hands of Stonebobbo, who refused to let go of it one evening. Even in the presence of numerous other models costing thousands more, this red flamer stood out. I made up my mind right then and there to find one of these some day, and I did the following year. It isn't exactly the same as the 1778T with the textured paint that you are considering, but it is the same basic body/bracing/OP-PRO/other materials model. SWMBO is a professional singer and long-time opera and musical theater performer, and has a very good ear for music. Of all the acoustic-based guitars in my bandroom (there are several), she reports that the red flamer sounds best to her ears. Her opinion tells me a lot about these very good, value-oriented U.S. models. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | It isn't exactly the same as the 1778T with the textured paint that you are considering... The reason the flamers don't quite have the same tone is because they do not have the textured top. In fact, this further explains the difference between a T and a TX. Look at the soundholes of a T and TX and you will notice that the TX's top is visibly thicker than the T. The TX top is AA Spruce, which may be better on some guitars than regular spruce, but not in this case. The innovation of the textured T is its use of textured paint that is actually thinner than the layers of gloss on a glossy top, allowing the wood to vibrate more freely. Having the the wood and the paint thicker on the TX than the T inevitably dampens the overall tone, explaining the difference that you can see and hear. |
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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Los Angeles | Haha, that sounds like a challenge Joe. Can't wait to do battle with you in the T marketplace.
One more question. Is there an easy way to tell which neck a T has? I read that some have a thicker neck due to a different truss rods (a k-bar vs the standard double action?). I am almost possitive my TX has the thin neck, which I really enjoy playing. I don't want to end up with a thicker neck if I end up buying online without holding it first. Did all of one type get a different neck (the pewter maybe?), or is it model to model? |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | It's not even model to model, but guitar to guitar. The k-bar ones tend to have the thicker necks and the newer ones tend to have the slimmer necks, but I've seen exceptions to both so unfortunately there's no guarantee.
Getting one online is a risk, so you'll want an honest owner who has had both and knows the difference. If they can't tell, chances are it's not slimmed down.
(In case you didn't already know, they're all the same nut width - 1 11/16") It's the curvature and the size of the back of the neck that is different from guitar to guitar. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | On the Oldest T's, they have the K-bar neck which is thick.
The newer USA T's have a Truss Rod Cover, and a thinner neck than the K-bar.
I have no idea what the TX has...
and unless the dude at Apple Music gets one in stock, I will never know. :p |
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 253
Location: Seattle | T's do sound better.... but the TX is still a pretty good $500 guitar. Un-asked for suggestion:
Get one of the t's (and keep the tx adding a idea preamp)....If the T has a op30 preamp you can swap to the better TX preamp.... leaving you with a writing guitar and a performing guitar |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Yup.. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Jakescan, there are 2 right now on eBay. They both have the OP-30 without a truss rod cover, which means there's a 99% likelihood that both of them have the thicker neck.
here\'s one
here\'s another one
The two Pewter OP-30 ones I have seen both came with the thicker neck. The Lusty Reds that I have (one with OP-30 and one with OP-PRO), on the other hand, both come with the slimmed down neck. And all but one of the OP-PRO black ones that I have come with the slimmer necks. |
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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 325
Location: Utica, NY | Have guitar prices taken some really wierd downturn the past couple months? From the dealings I have had both here and with some electrics it seems that right now pricing has gotten extra soft. I am looking at guitars on this forum alone that are exceptional values and yet won't sell. That flamey T is a great deal and I thought they were selling for a lot more just a couple months ago. There are things I would snatch up if I allowed myself. The 1866 I just bought was (I thought) a great deal and there was one a week later on E-Bay for even less! These Elite-T's are becoming a commodity. What's the deal? How low can things go? |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | You bet they have. And I hate to see it. I won't sell a T for under $500 (nor a lusty for under $600), I don't care how low they go. If someone gets one for less, good for them. Chances are they're not one of mine. That's too much guitar for that kind of money. |
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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | I played a Korean T at Jim's Music in Irvine the other day and have mixed feelings about it. It had the lowest deepest punchiest bass of ANY acoustic guitar I have ever played. The playability was pretty good - I have a '78 1617 purchased new, took out 2 shims and action is super low - the T should be the same. Compared to pricier Gibsons, Taks, Martins and Taylors it was a contender. But compared to an older Elite or Legend I think they do not play as well or sound as balanced. For the same money I think you are better off with a 70's Legend that can be had in descent to prisitine from several hundred to $500. Buy several and sell off the ones that you don't bond with. |
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Elite T vs TX