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Location: Bellevue, Washington | Hey everyone!
I need to ask the experts because I am still fairly new to the Ovation game. I posted this kinda in the For Sale forum already but thought maybe I should do a bit of research first and get some things straight.
My first question is what models did Ovation make with a Walnut Top? I really like the look of these guitars and have heard mixed things about the sound but would like to know what they made in that top so i can try to track one down.
My second question is, Woody posted a picture of a guitar he was holding awhile back... what is this model and what kind of top does it have? Here's the pic pulled from the aforementioned post:
Thanks everyone for helping a newbie get his stuff together!! |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | The walnut top scores high on looks but lower on tone IMHO. I had a Elite 5868 (SSB walnut top), looked great but tonally 'inferior' (to my ears) than others so sold it.
That guitar is customised 2001 Collector, one of a kind as it has inlaid epi's, it has a redwood top.
FYI, both the 5868 walnut and 01C are laminated tops. |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | bzzzzt. The 01C is not laminated, it's solid redwood. Otherwise, carry on.. :p |
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Location: SoCal | The redwood top (2001) is a warm, responsive top; the 2001 is an outstanding guitar, one of my favorites.
It is more sensative to humidity and sharp temperature changes than spruce. I haven't had any problems with it but I live in San Diego, don't drag it around with me, and also have a humidifier. |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | That would explain why it is prone to cracking - ta. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by dweezil:
FYI, both the 5868 walnut and 01C are laminated tops. Actually, the 01C is a solid top. And though Dweezil and I have agreed to disagree, I think the 01C is one of Ovations best-sounding guitars. (Of course, Dweez always disagrees tactfully with me because he wants something I have. ;) )
You will find quite a few members here who genuinely LIKE the sound of Ovation's laminate tops (at least the New Hartford built ones), and I count myself among them as both my Custom Elite and 02 Collector's are panel-masters. (A little Beal-slang there I believe.)
I would love to give one (or more) of the walnut tops a test drive. Maybe someday. and that 01C of Woody's routinely causes groans of envy on the OFC. He's considered selling it before, but he wants what it's worth, and I don't blame him a bit! :cool:
I don't suppose you'd be interested in a quilted African Cherry top would you? It's listed in the For Sale section.
And to mollify Dweezil for the above digs, a variation of the his patented sky shot...
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | :) More sky than guitar, a new trend is emerging!
Patch certainly knows his onions and if he recommends/sells a guitar listen up.
I think this is a question of exposure/taste/opinion etc. I drooled over a 01c and whilst it was lovely I realised there were others I wanted to try and so it had to go. For some it is THE guitar, it IS a KILLER afterall.
The 99c is a REALLY top drawer guitar but again there are others so....
...the same for the 03c, that remains one of those 'the ones that got away' but hey I can always get another.
Life is short, buy/try them all. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by dweezil:
Life is short, buy/try them all. Is this guy a member of the OFC or what?  |
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Location: Bellevue, Washington | Saw your post in the for sale forums Patch, I'd love to pick that up but I need to figure a way to pickup some cash for it. Noticed you mentioned you were selling to fund a new custom, don't suppose that's Woody's from the top of the post eh?
I definitely want to buy/try as many of these as I can, but unfortunately gotta pay for other stuff like my first kid on the way too. I'll see what I can come up with Patch and I'll PM ya. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | "Buy 'em all, let SWMBO sort it out!"
Gen. George S. Strapon
(quoted while hiding in the garage) |
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Location: South of most, North of few | woosies... |
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Location: Right now? | She sure is pretty, Patch. |
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Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | From my perspective, walnut, although very beautiful, is an inferior tone wood. The sitka spruce and sometimes cedar, tops produce the better sounds. The hard wood tops seem dull in comparison. |
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Location: Bellevue, Washington | I managed to find a little bit more info on some of the walnut topped guitars. It seems the 5858 Elite and 5868 Elite are really the only "official" production models that featured the Walnut Top that I can find anyway.
What I also found though is something a bit more rare... (apologies to the folks over at OvationTribute.com for stealing their pics but I couldn't find any others!)
Ovation Walnut 2000 LTD-MR
Letter explaining this
It seems as though less than 50 of these were made and it was hard enough to find just a website with a picture of one, let alone trying to find any information about who currently owns them. |
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Location: Bellevue, Washington | And actually its looks as though Nibblegribitz has one... |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Why do you want a walnut top? |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by RNickels:
Noticed you mentioned you were selling to fund a new custom, don't suppose that's Woody's from the top of the post eh? I needed to pay for this Custom Elite. ;)
I also need to replenish the guitar fund after four figures worth of car repairs. :rolleyes:
Originally posted by RNickels:
I'll see what I can come up with Patch and I'll PM ya. Regrettably, someone already beat you to it. It's going to another OFC'er who lives nearby. (They called last night to make arrangements.) Hopefully, I'll run another one down someday. 
I BADLY want one of those Millenium Walnut guitars, in fact, I'd REALLY like the pair! |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Patch - how's about here |
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Regrettably, someone already beat you to it. It's going to another OFC'er who lives nearby. (They called last night to make arrangements.) Yep, I'll definitely have to be changing my signature line soon! :D
Michelle |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | MICHELLE! Nice score and congrats!! I can see the inspiration building from here! |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Ok, I'm up now...
The Redwood 01C resides at my house until DVD hits the Lottery of writes the universal operating code and is bought out by Microsoft.
It has a solid top and is the only 01C with the inlaid epaulets. Lovely mellow tone and finish.
It sits in good company:
I have this Saturday open for playing guitar all day, anyone want to come over and play? |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by dweezil:
Patch - how's about here
But I'd rather score a Millenium. :cool: |
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Location: Bellevue, Washington | This is shallow a bit but it's mostly for looks that I'd like to own a Walnut. I like unique sound which is what I had originally heard about these guitars but more and more I'm starting to hear that the sound isn't unique... just dull in comparison.
I'd really be interested in taking a closer look at that 01c over at Woody's this weekend but I'm afraid my playing skills would be put to shame by that guitar. :( |
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| Originally posted by Weaser P:
MICHELLE! Nice score and congrats!! I can see the inspiration building from here! Yep! I'm already thinking about where this guitar is going to take me.
I asked my teacher about this guitar last night and he was very excited about me getting this guitar. He thinks it is a bigger bang for the buck than a low end Martin or Taylor.
He still uses a standard Balladeer that he will not part with.
He also said that since I seem to like to learn techniques such as pull on and hammer offs and string bending, it makes sense to go with something that has an electric style neck.
Since I've told my friends that I'm getting a new guitar, they're expecting a nice mini concert by Christmastime.
Michelle |
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Location: Reisterstown, Maryland | Michelle, congratulations!!!!!
It won't be your last ovation, that's for sure.
Have fun.
Anita |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Woody, everytime I see that KOA I think ****!
I wonder how it sounds? |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Originally posted by RNickels:
I'd really be interested in taking a closer look at that 01c over at Woody's this weekend but I'm afraid my playing skills would be put to shame by that guitar. :( Go play it, and all the rest of his toys. The more exposure you get to all the different variations out there, the better you'll know what you want going forward.
Usually there's a PNW OFC gathering sometime over the summer but I think all efforts to get us together this year have fallen through. They are great opportunities to meet some fun people and play a lot of different instruments. |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by dweezil:
Woody, everytime I see that KOA I think ****!
I wonder how it sounds? Sweet. |
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Location: Bellevue, Washington | Originally posted by dvd:
Go play it, and all the rest of his toys. The more exposure you get to all the different variations out there, the better you'll know what you want going forward.
Usually there's a PNW OFC gathering sometime over the summer but I think all efforts to get us together this year have fallen through. They are great opportunities to meet some fun people and play a lot of different instruments. A PNW gathering would be a lot of fun! I'd love to come meet you guys and get to know you a little better. |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by RNickels:
I'd love to come meet you guys and get to know you a little better. A common error of new members... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | How big is your yard? Do you have beer? (Canadian metric 10 packs preferred, but not required.) When do you want us to come over?
You might want to post a departure time. |
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Location: Bellevue, Washington | Hmm let's see... yard is about the size of a tennis court, so kinda smallish. I wouldn't mind hosting a get together at some point but how many members do we have in the PNW who would be interested in coming?
Maybe we should move this to a different thread... |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | I bumped the existing thread, maybe something will come together afterall. |
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| Originally posted by ladylaw:
Michelle, congratulations!!!!!
It won't be your last ovation, that's for sure.
Have fun.
Anita Thanks! I usually don't look forward to Mondays, but for this guitar, I'll happily make an exception!
Michelle |
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Question about different tops...