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Location: Derry, UK | Okay, I hope this question wasn't asked 20 times already (otherwise my apologies).
What is in your opinion the best ovation acoustic of all times (both current and discontinued products) in terms of value for money?
P.S. classical guitars do not count. |
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Location: closely held secret | That's hard to say, I haven't played them all. Yet.
I'm sure there will be many more educated opinions, but of what I have played, 1537/87C seem right up there, can be found for under $1k. The FD14 might be at the top, but it seems their rarity pushes the price up.
Are we only talking woodtops here? If not, any Adamas II.
And why don't classicals count? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | It's been asked 200 times and the answer is always the same...
In terms of BANG FOR THE BUCK, the ELITE-T is hard to beat.
Dave |
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Location: closely held secret | Oh, yeah. Forgot about the EliteT. It's just that the only ones I've played were at GC and were beat to death. |
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Location: south east Michigan | What Dave said.... again. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Elite-T, +1. I became a believer after I heard Phil's RF model at the '07 tour. There may very well be better sounding models, but they cost a lot more. This is the best "bang for the buck" model in my opinion, which is what the question is all about. |
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Location: SoCal | In new guitars, Elite T, hands down. For a used guitar, look for a mid 80's Legend. Full body or cutaway, it doesn't matter. It will have an A braced top and a K-bar in the neck. Solid with great tone. And you can get one for the price of a new Elite T, or less.... |
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Location: closely held secret | I guess my brain stopped at "the best ovation acoustic of all times" and didn't absorb the "in terms of value for money". |
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Location: Derry, UK | Thanks for the feedback folks, always happy to see people replying promptly and being interested:)
The idea is that I am so happy with my 1861 balladeer that I recommended ovation to another friend as well. I told him this is one of the best value for money, but then I realized I played only 3 different ovations in my whole life (one of which for about 40 seconds only) :D
Obviously my advice was overzealous at best.
I excluded classical because he won't buy one anyway, neither electric or hollow body.
Oh, and one more thing... if you say your brain stopped there, then I suppose you would have said "Al Di Meola signature" (or any of those with prices in the stratosphere), right? |
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Location: closely held secret | No, strangely I was thinking in terms of value for the money, which the guitars I mentioned certainly are. It's just that I was weighting it towards the best sounding models I was familiar with.
The EliteT is a GREAT guitar for the price, without a doubt the most O for the buck. |
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Location: Jet City | OB, I just picked up an old 1117 Legend that sounds WONDERFUL! Pics are up in a previous post. It was VERY reasonable price wise. Less than a new Celebrity.
There's no electronics tho...
For new ones I sure like the sound of my EliteLX over the EliteT, but it may just be preference. The LX is more costly though. |
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Location: Derry, UK | Btw which elite-t are you referring to? The official website has about 7 different models under Elite T, is it 1778T-RF? |
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| +1 for an Elite T brand new, or a 1617 Legend for an older model. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | You guys talking about the elite t are going to push OMA over the brink. :D |
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Location: closely held secret | ovationballadeer, the plain EliteT is the 1778T. The RF denotes Red Flame. (PF-Purple Flame, ect). The flames are extra.
This is Phil Wong's 1778TRF... very cool.
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Location: SoCal | Boy am I ever glad I didn't post my definition of "R.F".... |
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Location: closely held secret | real funny? |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | I gotta ask, what does OMA stand for? |
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Location: closely held secret | Old Man Arthur.
...are you new here? :) |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | No, just burned out... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Define value. Most here equate value with the best sound and I don't disagree.
If a Folklore doesn't count as a classical, mine is the best bang for the buck that I have. 1977, $305 for a near mint and sweet Ovation sound. |
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Location: Derry, UK | A definition of value? Hmmm.. a very balanced sound (all pitches equally clear & loud), no distortion or as little as possible (or should I say, pitch drift? dunno the proper english word for it), easy action... that's about it.
Wabbit, thanks for posting that ugly, bad sounding guitar ! :D |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | That pretty much matches my definition, but it just depends on what you can get on the used market. For a new guitar, the Elite T was a great value and now may be even better. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Just my 2 cents, but I still marvel at the sound of my Patriot. Basically a Custom Legend deep bowl but with 30 year old spruce. No electronics though. On the other hand, being #76 makes it a little more fun to talk about and in about 68 years might make it worth something to one of my grandkids. :D There's one on eBay that closes tonight and it's still under $500. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Q |
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Location: Lakewood, Ohio | Another factor is value retention. Certain limited models, ie the Patriot, probably would hold its value. Would the Elite Ts will hold value as well? For that matter which superior sounding Ovation/Adamas models have actually gone up in value i.e. 47 reissue, U 687 T. With the right guitar, assuming you dont alter its condition, you could play one for years and then sell it for more down the road. Thats bang for the buck. |
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Location: Colorado | I dunno boys...the one Matt Smith is playing at any given moment is the best sounding one. |
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Location: SoCal | It's an interesting question but one that I don't really consider. If I don't want a guitar permanently in my collection, I don't buy it in the first place. I'm not thinking of it's value down the road..... |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | My brother picked up a 1537 for me in CO just this morning that I paid $600 for. VFM doesn't get any better than that! :D :cool: |
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Location: CA | I second (third? fourth?) EliteT, the 1778T to be exact. When I was looking to move up Ovation-wise, I played maybe 8-10 different models and the 1778T sounded the best and had the best neck of all of them. Now if I could only get used to the look of the damn thing, I'd be a happy guy. Never could reconcile the flamed T models (largely because, IMHO, the flames go the wrong way), but man, I sure like that new T with the single epaulet noted here a few days ago. (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EliteCK/). But yeah, bang for buck: Elite T all the way. |
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The best acoustic ovation in terms of VFM