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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Since I can't play mine yet, It's driving me nuts! ... So who has one, or has played one, and what is your opinion? Comparisons??? |
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Location: Munich, Germany | As you know, Vince - I have one.
And I never got warm with it's sound. To percussive, to thin in my ears.
Best regards,
Kurt |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I didn't like it the first time I played it, partly because of what Kurt just said, but also because I didn't like the contour bowl. I played one later and liked it and the LAV Koa is similar. I never notice the contour bowl anymore and it does sound like a deep bowl, but the Koa does sound much more "percussive". I wouldn't call it thin, but it is crisp, as opposed to the warmer, softer sound of spruce, or even more mellow sound of cedar. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Wow, my experience is a bit different from Kurt and Mark.
I find the sound less projective than other models which gives it a warm (slightly subdued) but even tone across the strings. Note that I normally do not use a pick. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Wow ... quite a different take by 3 different people. I'm wondering if string choice is an issue here also. Anybody try using mediums?? I do both fingerstyle and rhythm, so I have no idea what to expect. I guess there's no use in trying to compare it with the 47RI. I wonder what makes the two so different?
Sometimes I wish this forum was a conference call, so I wouldn't have to wait for everyone to post. I guess that's why they have(had) the Factory Tour Gatherings. Too bad I can't just up and take off to one of those. Hey!... I just had a great idea! ... an Ovation Marketing Road Tour, where a couple guys from Ovation toured music stores around the country, even the Guitar Centers, and showed off their top-line models, and let people play 'em. (I know ...Fantasy Land huh?) |
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Posts: 4065
Location: Utah | Originally posted by bvince:
an Ovation Marketing Road Tour, where a couple guys from Ovation toured music stores around the country, even the Guitar Centers, and showed off their top-line models, and let people play 'em. (I know ...Fantasy Land huh?) How about a contest where they select several OFC members to do the tour. Load up a bus full of O and A guitars and a handful of volunteers. Maybe pull in an endorsee or two, say Matt Smith and Kaki King, to ride along.
Heck, I'd even pay money to volunteer for that tour. A new twist on the theme cruise. The "Theme Tour". |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Hold on there ...
Are you asking about the 2006 or the 2008 ??? |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm betting "06" was a typo, because I sure can't see any reason to compare a Koa guitar to a graphite 47RI. Maybe iffy was thinking 08. If not, he just needs to fix his hearing aid.
I'd like to compare the 06 Collector, the LAV Koa and the 09 Collector someday. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I'm betting "06" was a typo I think you're right, in that Bryan is waiting for his \'08 COLLECTOR.
If not, he just needs to fix his hearing aid...
... or get one!  Although I did have BRAD agree with me. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Colorado | I'll bet with that "damage" on the binding it'll sound like absolute garbage. Send it to me and I'll gladly give you what you paid for it... :D
Let us know how you like it!! |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | If he wants a comment on the 08C, well now I'm qualified to give an opinion (having never touched an 06C). The 08C is a magnificent beast. The 1 3/4" neck is a delight, that extra space gives me extra ability to clean fret chords for finger picking. Tone is really super crisp. Any time I pick up another guitar, they sound muddy by comparison. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | 06 you couldn't pay me to own
08 you couldn't pay me to give up |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | The '06C was very 'tight' when I first got it...hasn't got a lot of play but has 'opened up' well. My experience with Koa is it needs to be played. A very nice guitar, an excellent guitar for the price range. |
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Location: Munich, Germany | Yep, maybe that's the problem. The 06C needs to be played - but why should you grab it to play, when there are so many different others - that sound brilliant out of the box?
That's my 06C's dilemma.
Best regards,
Kurt |
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Location: SoCal | Didn't some wise sage once say "many flavors of ice cream"?
I believe the '06C got a bum rap when it came out as some of the OFC'ers had a chance to see and play a couple of great Koa prototypes at the factory tour. They didn't go into production. However, IMHO, the special order of Koa's by Al (12 and 14-fret) were close to the prototypes. I heard a number of times that the prototypes should have been the '06C.
Personally, I like the single inlaid epaulet and center hole.
If I had put mediums on it from the beginning, it probably would have opened up in the first couple of weeks.
Heck, it took a couple of months for my all Koa Martin that I got in 1980 to open up. Koa is a unique wood...as an acoustic, it has a different 'voice' than spruce...sweet, mellow.
I just bought two of the '09C with the Studio pre-amp. Another great Ovation.
Some love it, some walk away from it... |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | SORRY! I didn't meant to refer to the 06 Collectors. (although I'd like one of those also) I DID mean the 08 Collectors.
That CLEARLY explains why there was a lot of differences in the reviews.
Anyways ... Mine is supposed to be on a delivery truck today!, so I guess I'm gonna be pretty much worthless around work for the whole day. I hope to get back with my own review today also.
Another related question ... It was stated in the original ad for the 08C that there is a thin birch ply running at 60 degrees, sandwiched between the carbonfiber top. Is that true of ALL Adamas Is and IIs ???? |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by bvince:
Another related question ... It was stated in the original ad for the 08C that there is a thin birch ply running at 60 degrees, sandwiched between the carbonfiber top. Is that true of ALL Adamas Is and IIs ???? YES |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Cool. Thanks |
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Location: California | "The 08C is a magnificent beast." Good to hear that. It must be the new technology for type of sound board, etc. Look forward knowing your opinion as well Vince. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | OK ... I just spent the last hour going back and forth with the 08C and the 1587. First, I did notice a problem with the 08C, as the top buzzed when I played an open B. sometimes even when I fretted up to B on other strings (must be the frequency) anyhow ... I had to remove the pickup to look inside since there was no access hole in the rear. I suspected one of the wires agaist the top or a loose nut somewhere, but it was neither. I also checked every one of the braces and the bridge for loose glue joints, but nothing. Then after playing it I realized it went away when I put rear tension on the neck, so I'll have to research that later. The "blem" was nothing at all but a bit of finish chipped off.(that will be fixed tonight) The gold leaf in the fretboard seemed like it could have been done a little better (brighter) also. Anyway, back to the comparison ... The 1587 was actually a slight bit louder (unplugged) and both sound FANTASTIC and clear accross the whole range. Both played comparatively and wonderfully easy, with the 08C being a bit different due to the wider nut. I DO like the contour bowl as I have put a couple inches on the waist this year. Well I like em' both. period. I did run the 1581 agaist them both also, and the bottom end is still louder than both of them. Also since I installed the OpPro Studio in the 1581 it projects plugged in like the sound of a dinosaur approaching (BOOM). If I end up keeping that one (and I probably will), I can double as a bass player with that one. (: |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Vince,
Check that the fretboard is not touching the soundboard (slide a piece of paper in or something). The 08C has a floating fretboard. Might be fixed with a slight tweak of the truss rod. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Thanks, I'll try that. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | OK ... I FINALLY tried the paper "wedgie" idea, but the buzz is still there. Actually I discovered that when I press down on the high side of the bridge the buzz goes away (until I remove the pressure)
This is the only thing about the countour bowl I don't like, is the absence of an access hole. The only way to get inside is by removing the Pickup and trying to look/reach inside. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | One thing you may want to check. I had a buzz on my UTE when I was playing it a couple of weeks ago. It was fine, put it down for an hour or so and picked it back up and then the buzz. Like yours it seemed to be at a certain frequency. I opened up the back, checked the bracing, wires etc to see if anything was loose or hitting and it all seemed clean. And then it seem to go away for some reason. Never had the problem again. I did just notice today though that my truss rod cover was loose at the end near the nut. The screw was snug but for some reason it springs up and touches the strings so I am thinking maybe that was my problem. Might be worth a look at the cover as it seems any little thing could cause a buzz. |
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Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I emailed Kim at the factory and he also suggested that I carefully inspect hardware like machine screws and wires. I actually did that once with an inspection mirror through the pickup hole. I also taped the wires with electrical tape so there would be no way for them to buzz. I MAY have went through her too quickly, so I'm going to go through it again tonight. He also suggested that I use my thumb and "tap" the top, to see if there was any snare drum type buzzing sound in the top that would indicate a separated brace. I'll inspect the truss rod also as you suggested. |
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06 Collectors - Any Reviews???