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Location: Canada | Nice Viper on ebay-black:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-Ovation-EA-68-Viper-Really-Nice-Photos... |
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Sooo....what's the deal with the Vipers? I'm not clear when you'd want one of these over a super shallow body Ovation. Are they an electric guitar? An acoustic? I'm not clear. I currently have a gorgeous red VXT that I love. Is the Viper similar?
Bottom Line: Could someone help me out with what the Viper is all about?
Thanks. |
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Location: Texas | Yes...the viper is a solid body electric that produces an acoustic sound. I am assuming that the weight is offset by the no worry of feedback aspect. Nothing acoustic about it, until it is plugged in.
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Location: sitting at my computer | some confusion might be due to different model guitars being called Viper... Ovation Viper(s) eg. model 1271 solid body electrics http://www.ovationguitars.com/archive/guitar/viper_1271 and... Ovation Viper(s) eg. model EA 68 and EA 63 nylon string with multi-soundhole epaulets. http://www.ovationguitars.com/archive/guitar/ea68 http://www.ovationguitars.com/archive/guitar/ea63
Edited by SOBeach 2012-05-13 11:37 AM
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Location: sitting at my computer | and... Ovation Viper CV68 http://www.ovationguitars.com/archive/guitar/viper_cv68
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Location: Texas | Upon close inspection...there really isn't much of anything shared by the CV and the EA. Maybe the nut and the epaulet. |
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Location: Flahdaw | The ebay ad states "solid body", but at best it's a semi-hollowbody, as it has sound ports, right? I've never seen or played one, but they look pretty cool. |
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Location: Texas | I have owned an EA63 and I am sure they are the same. No sound ports. They are a solid body....although they are carved out for this and that...it has nothing to do with natural sound. Battery. Pre-amp electronics and asthetics. |
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Location: Flahdaw | The epaulet holes seem to go through to the back of the guitar (looking at the ebay photos) ,so that part is hollow anyway. It certainly ain't as "solid" as the electric viper. I'm guessing it has a tone all it's own, unless the peizo's are soooo dominant it cancels out the other features of the guitar. |
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Location: Texas | The nylon version is like a nylon les paul. The epaulet holes are hollow enough for the Ovation sticker. Here is e fairly good pic... http://www.jayk.net/ebay/ea63/ea6.jpg I play a Chet CE and unplugged or plugged, they both sound the same. And the Gibson does not have the carve outs on the upper bout. You can tell the weight difference. |
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Location: Colorado | The vipers do not pretend to put out an unplugged acoustic sound - gotta plug them in. An SSB is an acoustic guitar.....- and almost all are acoustic electrics. The EA 68 and EA 63 - are truly the weight and hanging feel of an electric guitar - but your fingers tell you it is an acoustic - and so does the amplified sound. The 63 is nylon, so has a tie-down bridge - and a much wider neck, acoustic sound is minimal until plugged in - then you get classical nylon sound....it is every bit the guitar of the Gibson Chet Atkins Nylon (I've had both both great guitars) - pure mellow tone - holds tune - and can compete with a band. |
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Location: SoCal | EA68, 63, 58, B68... tapping around on their tops and probing around inside, all of mine seem to be significantly carved out. Maybe not as much as Ovation's ad copy, but far from solid. 
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Location: Flahdaw | If that is really a picture of an EA-68 carved out, then it's about the most un-solid solid body guitar I've ever seen....
Still cool tho. I'd love to fool around with one for a month. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I agree that the term "solid body" is a little misleading. I believe Ovation generally refers to it as "chambered" body. The Viper name as I understand it comes from it's resemblance in profile to the original Viper solid body of the 80's. |
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Location: Texas | OK OK ... it's chambered, not solid. Who knew?  http://www.ovationtribute.com/Ovation%20Promo/Viper_EA_Ovation_Ad.html
Edited by jay 2012-05-14 7:15 AM
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Location: Flahdaw | About time you admitted it. |
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Location: Texas | This is a tough crowd.
Nixon would have never hung out here. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | We don't get to beat up Politicians around here... unless they play guitar.
There's plenty of arguments over whither or not anything but the strings and pickup systems matter on a guitar. I believe the whole package is the test rather than the individual parts and science. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I have a lot of experience with the chambered EA Vipers, SSBs, and the VXT. They're really different. I think of the EA Vipers as providing an acoustic tone with significantly more sustain than an SSB which, as Elginacres points out, is an acoustic guitar. The VXT is a solid-bodied humbucking electric first and foremost, with an added piezo under the bridge that can be blended/mixed with the humbuckers. The most I mix these days is about half, where the midpoint indent resides, and the rest of the time I'm running the VXT at full electric. As others have pointed out elsewhere on these boards, they represent different flavors of ice cream, with maybe a frozen yogurt thrown in. |
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Location: sitting at my computer | boltonb - 2012-05-14 9:10 AM ... they represent different flavors of ice cream, with maybe a frozen yogurt thrown in. yup! and some with sprinkles too!! 
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Location: Orlando, FL | So, if I understand the professor correctly, one should really own at least one of each: Viper, VXT and SSB!
Sound advice! |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Designzilla - 2012-05-14 12:08 PM
So, if I understand the professor correctly, one should really own at least one of each: Viper, VXT and SSB!
Sound advice!
Why just one?!
This is the OFC for Pete's sake! |
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | OK.....so we are saying this Viper is an Acoustic sounding, chambered body electric. But....does it have the super low action and low string tension of an electric? |
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Location: Flahdaw | I don't buy stuff on ebay so forgive a stupid question, but if you look at the bid history on this guitar you will see where g***9 bid 10 times in a row, upping the bid from $210 to $300.
Why would he up the price when no one is bidding against him? |
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Location: MA | Click the little box that says "See Automatic Bids" and you'll probably see that there were bids in between his.
Edited by mcthumber 2012-05-14 12:55 PM
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | stellarjim - 2012-05-14 12:33 PM OK.....so we are saying this Viper is an Acoustic sounding, chambered body electric. But....does it have the super low action and low string tension of an electric? You can set the action wherever you prefer. I keep mine at about medium height. String tension is based on string size, and I run 12-53 acoustic lights on the EA models, same as I do on the SSBs. The fretboard and neck feel like a typical Ovation/Adamas acoustic, but handling and holding it in a standing position with a strap is much more akin to an electric. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | noah - 2012-05-13 11:06 PM EA68, 63, 58, B68... tapping around on their tops and probing around inside, all of mine seem to be significantly carved out. Maybe not as much as Ovation's ad copy, but far from solid.
Here are two photos of an EA Viper in the production stage. I snapped these during Rick Hall's explanation of the EA68 build process during one of the factory tours. The extent of the body routing is very similar to the ad copy photo. 
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Location: Texas | Officer Obie just arrived with his 8x10 color glossy photos...which I have to say are very cool. Prof, had they routed out the back yet? If you consider that aspect, then it is almost completely chambered. Crow is usually in season, most of the year, for me. 
Edited by jay 2012-05-14 1:55 PM
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | OK....I'm convinced these are rather cool guitars. A 24 fret acoustic?...very nice. I'm going to watch this auction closely. Anyone know the street price on the new Yngwie Vipers recently shown on the Ovation web site? The retail price is something like $4700!!!...ouch. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | amosmoses - 2012-05-13 2:47 PM I play a Chet CE and unplugged or plugged, they both sound the same. And the Gibson does not have the carve outs on the upper bout. You can tell the weight difference. I own a Gibson Chet Atkins SST, too, and I agree with you on the weight. My EA6 Vipers weight 6 pounds 13 ounces, the EA12 Viper weighs 7 pounds 4 ounces (probably less body cavity routing to provide more internal structural support for the bigger bridge), while the SST weighs about 7 pounds 9-1/2 ounces. I don't know if the SST is chambered or not, but if so, probably not to the extent of the EA6 models. The SST also has wonderful sustain, maybe even more than the EA6. Add some heavy delay to the signal and these chambered models work well for rockabilly, with a heavy acoustic tone. If you want a lighter, snappier, electric tone, go with a Tele. |
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Location: SoCal | Instead of sound chambers, the SST's body has a 10" disk of balsa wood inside. |
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Location: Colorado | I am biased - but I like them more when they are finished - and I really like this one....http://timashley.tripod.com/pix/viper%20gallery/GreenGut/full_front.jpg
long before Yngwie.... |
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Location: sitting at my computer | amosmoses - 2012-05-14 2:53 PM Crow is usually in season... LOL - BTDT I've found that spicy barbeque sauce or a lemon-garlic marinate helps. |
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Location: Everett, Wa | Now that this unit is heading my way (thanks to whoever stopped bidding when they hit my max of $601.99) I was wondering about strings.
I saw where one person mentions using light acoustic strings. Anyone else have any suggestions or pro/con reccomendations?
Will only be used in a private setting. No performance related issues would pertain to string choices.
I use a Fender acousta-sonic pro amplifier. Anyone used this kind of guitar in this or another type of amp?
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Location: Flahdaw | Wow...I would LOVE to play around with this guitar for a week or two. If you send it to me I will install your new strings and test them out. |
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Location: Texas | I actually went out to Youtube to see if I could find a McBride concert that the guitar was in and couldn't. Doesn't mean a thing, other than it would have been cool. Congrats on your new addition. My last EA63 played like silk. I will be interested to hear your evaluation.
Edited by jay 2012-05-18 10:55 AM
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I use the same strings on my EA Vipers as I do on the SSBs: 12-53s, either EJ16s or 1818s. |
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Location: Tennessee | I've tried a lot of different strings and it's simply a matter of your own taste. Standard acoustic lights seem to work best, but since the EA-68 plays and feels like an electric, I've found that 10-46 can give you that same string feel that you'd get on your electric guitar (remember, these are 16 frets clear so they do play kinda "slinky").
Regarding the amp, I've played it through a number of different amps ... I generally go direct to the PA most times, but I also have a GB Shen 60. Your Fender should be just fine. I do find that I like to warm up the sound of it a bit, usually with chorus and a little reverb or delay depending. I also find it's very fun to play through regular electric guitar amps for a change of pace. |
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Location: Everett, Wa | Thanks for the feedback gentlemen.
I will take all of your suggestions under consideration and use them as an excuse to buy more stuff.
Bob, I have yet to sneak it in past SWMBO. I can't even think about sending it out for evaluations yet.
Your offer is very much appreciated however. |
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Location: Ohio | Just, tell her if she doesn't like it you'll buy 2 more |
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Does the blue (with heavy wood grain) Viper EA 68 currently on Ebay belong to anyone here? |
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Location: Texas | I assume it is Patch's. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Hi Jim,
It's mine. I've got it listed here as well, and have lowered my asking price to $999 shipped to an OFC'er. I would love to keep this in the OFC! Here's a link to the ad HERE. If you want it, give me a call. I'll PM you with my phone number. As it happens, I am going to New Hartford today to pick up a repair. The timing would be absolutely awesome!
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Patrick's asking price would be a darn good deal for a Tamo Ash Viper. The typical production models were finished with spruce tops in natural or gloss black, but a limited number had the blue/green Tamo Ash or Vintage Sycamore (orange burst) flame maple tops. There's a few customs out there as well. I paid $1400 for my Tamo Ash Viper four or five years ago and thought I was getting a bargain. |
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Sooo...is Tamo a specific type of Ash wood or is Tamo an Ovation Customer that wanted a special run? |
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Location: Texas | Hey Prof...
Do you feel they used the Tamo for the look? (Personally...I loved that orange burst)....Since the guitar really isn't an acoustic, would the type of wood really play into the way the guitar sounds?
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Tamo ash is a wildly grained exotic wood from Japan, not necessarily rare, but reportedly very expensive. I have no idea why it was selected, but my guess would certainly be for its exotic look. Ash is often used for solid bodies, but I haven't heard it referenced as a particularly good tonewood for acoustic guitar tops such as spruce or cedar. I have all three EA versions and personally can't tell any difference in sound between the three, at least not that would be attributable to the type of wood used on its top. Set-up and string selection make a bigger difference. |
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