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April 2009
Posts: 8
Location: France | Hello,
I'm a 6 years guitar player and I want to buy a new (great) guitar. An Ovation. But I'm a bit lost between all the different models. I spotted three interesting guitars:
2771AX Standard Balladeer
2778AX Standard Elite
Ovation CDX24 Celebrity DX
These are all around 600 euros ($800) on thomann.de. This is my budget.
What model do you think is the more interesting? Is there so much differences?
Here some notes:
- I want to buy it new.
- I want an easy to play neck.
- I prefer the center hole design but I'm OK with the multi-hole, with well choose color.
- I read that the celebrity is less good than other models, but I love the head of this celebrity, compared to the two others.
Thanks a lot for your answers, and forgive me for my not so good english. |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Welcome Bloodshed!! (interesting Name ;) )
As far as "Models" go, a Standard Elite s/b a better guitar then a Std Balladeer which S/b better then the Celeb model. Now after saying that, the Elite and the Balladeer you are showing above are made overseas as opposed to a USA model which up until a little over a year ago is where they were made. I honestly don't know what they play like. I personnally will ALLWAYS chose a Used USA model over any new guitar.
One thing you should consider is the type of playing you do. Strictly Acoustic or plugged in or combo of both? If you play mostly Acoustically you would want a "deeper bowl" if plugged in you could get away with a "Shallow bowl " guitar. Others will be by shortly to throw their 2 cents in. Good Luck!!! |
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Posts: 8
Location: France | Thanks for the welcoming ;)
I play mostly acoustically but I want a good plugged in sound (to recording). These models have either deep contour or mid-depth, I suppose it's ok. I don't want too much volume when I play acoustically (I think about neighbours). So the electro-acoustic choice (beside plain acoustic + mic). These guitars have all the OP-PRO so I think they are all good plugged-in, am I right?
I know that used USA-made are better but I want to buy the guitar through thomann.de (30 days satisfied or refund, good services, etc.) and as I am in France, I don't want to buy a guitar from someone who lives in the other side of the world. ;)
The thing is that with these 3 guitars, they are all built in korea. So what is the real difference? The celebrity looks better to me but is the sound ok beside the elite and balladeer?
Thanks |
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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Standard Balladeer AX & Standard Elite AX are roughly equal. The Celb is a little less.All three are now made in the Far East.
If you can stretch it to Legend Then you'll
One made with the hands of people with 40 plus years of expirence. I too perfer the USA models.
I have not personally played Standard Balladeer AX & Standard Elite AX, I have heard they are close to the USA LX Models they replaced. |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by BT717:
As far as "Models" go, a Standard Elite s/b a better guitar then a Std Balladeer Why? |
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April 2009
Posts: 8
Location: France | I'm curious, why if the celebrity is less good than the Balladeer AX and the Elite AX, it costs much?
The GBP:
celeb: 796,11 euros
balladeer: 724,71 euros
elite: 760,41 euros |
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February 2009
Posts: 262
Location: VENISE-EN-QUEBEC CANADA | well I own an Elite 1778lx U.S.A. made not to expensive and it sound's awsome un-plug and more awsome plug-in so this would be a good choice
Daniel ;) |
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Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I'd go for the Balladeer. You'll probably like the contour deep bowl for both comfort and sound better than the mid-depth bowl of the Celebrity. Buying new on-line is the way to do it particularly with the 30 day satisfaction guarantee. |
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Joined:
April 2009
Posts: 8
Location: France | Okay, okay, I was in love with the pearl colored buttons of the celeb's head. But if everyone is against this guitar... :)
Mitchrx: The elite is deep contour too. So I think I must choose between the style center-hole/red vs multi holes/brown. |
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Posts: 1555
Location: Indiana | Tuner buttons are easily switched and there are numerous aftermarket choices. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Originally posted by BT717:
As far as "Models" go, a Standard Elite s/b a better guitar then a Std Balladeer Why? |
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Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | BS, shopping at Thomann.de is a good choice. Very reliable, fast, accurate and competitive price wise. I do shop with them sometime ;) .
However, there is nothing wrong in buying a guitar from the US and specially from an OFCer. It's a good things. I did it several time. Never been dissapointed !!
Coming to your point, I would go for the Balladeer or the Elite. As Jonmark said, tuner bottons can be easily replaced with the one you like soon after.
Good luck with your purchase.
Riccardo |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | I vote for the Elite... |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Bloodshed:
I'm curious, why if the celebrity is less good than the Balladeer AX and the Elite AX, it costs much?
The GBP:
celeb: 796,11 euros
balladeer: 724,71 euros
elite: 760,41 euros First... Welcome! :cool:
Second... This is the Old Farts Club. All these people who are recommending the Elite & Balladeer over the Celebrity are thinking of the Elite or Balladeer that They own. And a USA-made Ovation has better quality and materials than the Celebrity. Now that all three of the models mention are made in Asia, that difference may not apply. The CDX24 has a Solid Top and an OP-Pro just like the other two, so all those differences of the 'old days' may be gone now.
Things to think about... Elites look COOL!
Center-holes often sound better to the person playing the guitar. (but that is subjective)
If it comes down to the CDX or the Balladeer, do you like the Contour Bowl?
If you like the center-hole Contour Bowl, it's the Balladeer. And it is cheaper.
Do any of these prices include a case?
Oh, did I mention that Elites look Cool. |
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Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by Bloodshed:
Mitchrx: The elite is deep contour too. So I think I must choose between the style center-hole/red vs multi holes/brown. Your original post stated that you preferred the center hole design so I advised the Balladeer. There's not a really big difference between the Elites and Balladeers now that both have the same scalloped X bracing. One thing that you can do with the Elite that you can't with the Balladder is block the four lower epaulet holes with air-locks. It adds some punch/thump to the bass. Personally, I like the Elite style better simply because it is uniquely "Ovation." |
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Joined:
April 2009
Posts: 8
Location: France | Thanks you all for your answers.
Well, I think I go for the balladeer :
- center hole (I can't stand with the multi-hole design. I mustn't be enough cool ;) )
- contour bowl
- cheaper
No the hard decision, red or black?
Do you know if the red is the same as this one :
http://www.ovationtribute.com/Acoustic%20Series/Balladeer/Balladeer...
or darker?
Hard to choose ;) |
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Location: GA USA | Red!
And if you stick around for a while, I guarantee that the multi-hole look will grow on you. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Get the Red... You will avoid cleaning fingerprints, lint, and all that other stuff off of the Black.
And yeah, that is probably the same red... Cherry Cherry Burst.
It is just the light. |
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| Red sounds worse when you hit a wrong not or flub a chord change though - I'd go with black myself. |
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Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Abalone can compensate for that though!
Welcome Bloodshed!
RE: "I'm surprised you asked that or are you testing me??"
Not testing, more like baiting! The Multi vs. Center hole debate goes on and on. One of our more vintage members would just "buy all three".
Truth is, they're all good. |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I'd go for the red. I've got a black celebrity 12 string and it shows the slightest mark. It's easy to clean the marks off, but as soon as you touch it again ... |
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Posts: 3969
| Welcome, and nice choice on the Balladeer. Definitely go for the red, for all the reasons already given.
Side note - I never liked the multi-soundhole design when I first started getting back into Ovations. Now out of the six Os and As I have only one has the traditional soundhole. |
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Location: NW Washington State | The center soundhole Balladeer is cool. Even more so because everyone else likes the epaulets. :) |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Welcome BLOODSHED ,
My youngest son owns a celebrity mod. CC047 which is Korean build ,
I own a :
Mod. Elite 1537 ..US-made
Mod. Legend 1617 ..US-made
Mod. Legend 1618..US-made
On a Daily Basis : Compared to my US-made guitars , his Celebrity ( it is now five years old ) is VERY GOOD !!
Finish is FLAWLESS , as good as my US-made Ovations !
For the price that you mention , that Celeb. has probably a Solid Top...which is Very Important!!
( it gets better the older it gets )
If ya can not try it out before purchase , then I suppose ye can allways send it back , and try something else .
One thing : ya will need to adjust the guitar , which is EASY to do and makes a BIG Difference when ya play it. ( that goes for any guitar )
When ya have the guitar , I`m sure someone here will tell ya how.
Vic
...courage mon cher.. |
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Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by BT717:
As far as "Models" go, a Standard Elite s/b a better guitar then a Std Balladeer Just to fan the flames of the ongoing debate, I would (will) say the exact opposite.
I prefer a standard Balladeer to a standard Elite.
I wouldn't bother with a Celibacy purely on snob factor. |
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Location: closely held secret | The red Balladeer would be my choice. I've given up on black guitars, too hard to keep clean. |
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Location: south east Michigan | True...unless they're a textured top like the Adamas or EliteT. |
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Location: closely held secret | Yep, the shiny one's show every speck, print and sweat drop... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Black guitars are like cars, a little tougher to keep clean. But when clean and shiny they DO look great. |
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Location: Whitecourt, Ab | they say black makes you look slimmer...
doesn't work for me |
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Posts: 8
Location: France | I know the problems of black guitar 'cause I have one but I think it looks great.
Anyway I changed my mind, I just ordered the Ovation 2778AX-NEB Standard Elite ! I decided to give a luck to the multi-hole design. Plus it looks really great with the new england burst color. And if I can't stand anymore with this, I just have to return the guitar to get refunded.
So here my new guitar!
Thanks you all for your precious advices. ;) |
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Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Congrats and Enjoy!!! :) |
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Posts: 130
Location: London, UK | The look and finish on a far eastern model could well be 'better'. But the SOUND, the SOUND... |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Black guitars are like cars, a little tougher to keep clean. But when clean and shiny they DO look great. Absolutely true.
But I don't have time to keep my car (or my bike, for that matter) clean, either... |
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Posts: 8
Location: France | Originally posted by FlicKreno aka Solid Top:
One thing : ya will need to adjust the guitar , which is EASY to do and makes a BIG Difference when ya play it. ( that goes for any guitar )
When ya have the guitar , I`m sure someone here will tell ya how.
How do I adjust the guitar? I have to bring it to a specialized shop or can I do it myself? You are talking about the tuning of the neck, right? |
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Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Congrats for your new guitar.
I guess you have to control the action first. In case it does not suit you just remove one or both shims (under the saddle) to lower it. Normaly I do this at the first string change. Neck should be Ok as setted by the factory, but check for straightness and act carefully with the trus rod to correct it (just in case....). It's an easy operation you can do by yourself. Otherwise go to your local music shop and ask them to do the job, if in need of.
Riccardo |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | When I was in Hong Kong in February I got to play some east asian ovations, and I didn't compare the celebs to the ovations. This would be an interesting comparison. |
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Posts: 4042
Location: Utah | Originally posted by Bloodshed:
How do I adjust the guitar? I have to bring it to a specialized shop or can I do it myself? You are talking about the tuning of the neck, right? Congrats on a great guitar. You will love it.
The action is very easy to adjust. There are numerous websites that show you how.
Basically, you want to get the strings properly positioned over the neck.
So, the first thing to do is just play your guitar for a week and let the wood adjust to your climate. The humidity will affect the wood, so it has to get used to your house. If you are in a very dry place you should get a humidifier.
After a week, check the setup. It is easy.
Hold the thickest string down at the first fret and also between the 13th and 14th frets. The string will now be a straight line. Look under the string at the 6th fret. There should be a very very small space that you almost cannot even see. If the gap is large, you should tighten the truss rod. Only make a very small adjustment and then wait for a day to see how it settles. Then make another adjustment if needed.
If the string is touching at the 6th fret, you have to loosen the truss rod.
When the truss rod is adjusted correctly, you can then remove or add shims under the bridge. If the strings are too low, they will buzz or sound choked when you play up at the highest frets. Add a shim if that happens. If the strings are too high, it makes it harder to play. Remove a shim.
Most people find that removing one shim from a new Ovation makes it play easier. It is a simple thing to try. |
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April 2009
Posts: 8
Location: France | Hello,
I just received the Ovation 2778 AX NEB, it is really beautiful! And the sound... clear, full. This is really the greatest guitar I have ever played.
But I meet some difficulty with the case I bought, the 8158 ( http://www.thomann.de/fr/ovation_ssb_case.htm ). On the article page it is written "for Ovation Deep & Midth Bowl". So I supposed the 2778 AX (Deep Contour) is ok? But It seems to be more difficult too close it than it should, when the guitar is into. I have to force a bit on it. Is it normal or should I get another case?
Thanks |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | 8158 is the correct case.
Glad you like the guitar. |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I really like the 'burst on that guitar. Post some pics of the actual guitar.... |
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Lost in all these models. What to buy?