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Posts: 134
Location: Lakewood, Ohio | Acoustically (unplugged)what is considered the best sounding, tradtional, (6 string round sound hole)Ovation? Basically Balladeer sound vs. Legend sound; old (70s-80s) vs. new ie LX. |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm guessing you don't consider the Folklore to be traditional, but I like it best. I only have 2 deep bowl 70s Ovations to compare though, and the Matrix is the other one. |
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Posts: 1900
| That's a serious can of worms there, Todd! :) There are so many models and bracings to consider.. |
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October 2003
Posts: 134
Location: Lakewood, Ohio | I have an elite and a Celebrity dx both have the admas styling. Im now pondering a traditional Ovation, probably a deep bowl model, and given the vast array of models and bracings, etc. Im somewhat perplexed, hence my question. |
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Posts: 1900
| Early deep bowl then, as the tops have cured and vibrate much more... |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I'm guessing you don't consider the Folklore to be traditional, but I like it best. I only have 2 deep bowl 70s Ovations to compare though, and the Matrix is the other one. I agree with Mark. :confused: |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | FD14 and GCRI. I just love those two.
Dave |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | For my money, it's hard to beat the sound of a deep bowl, non-cutaway A braced Legend or Custom Legend. To me, those guitars epitomize "THE" Ovation sound. |
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Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Jeff and Tup nail it. Deep A braced Legend, FD14, GC RI, and close on their heels, 1537 (and 87C).
Please note, all A braced guitars...... |
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October 2003
Posts: 134
Location: Lakewood, Ohio | Great answers. I have read here before that deep bowl A brace Ovations have a nice sound. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Best sounding ... there are two that stick in my mind:
Baritone 2080
RI47 |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Traditional 6-string round hole? No question there. A-braced, deep bowl Legend/Custom Legend from the late '70s or early 80's. Of course I'm biased since that's what I own ;) . I think the 1537 beats them, 'tho. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | an4340,I think he's asking about the O's not A's. I am assuming he's referring to the wood tops, in which case I would have to go with the 1114/1614/FD/JW series... |
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Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Mine, and you can't have it! :p |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | 6 string Single , ....1617..!!...but I am biased..
Vic |
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Posts: 318
Location: Slightly northwest of Trader Jim | I have a 1661 balladeer (my first O)that I think sounds really good unplugged.I think it sounds as good as or better than my ADII. |
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Posts: 318
Location: Slightly northwest of Trader Jim | I almost forgot the FD1614 Mutt, Not bad sounding, but needs years of care and conditioning. Right Trader? :D |
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November 2003
Posts: 231
| Any of the Deep Bowl, Non Cutaway, A-Braced Legend Models, preferably from the seventies and early eighties. This would include the Custom Legend and Anniversary, as well. They have the sound that hooked me up with Ovation, and that is the models that I own, exclusively. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Todd, are you asking just out of curiosity or are you thinking about getting one? If you want to buy one that is representative of the best traditional sounding Ovation, I'd agree with a Legend or Custom Legend. I don't know about the bracing, but the 30th CL that I have and a 70s CL that I've played have great Ovation sound. Dave also had a Balladeer and a John Lennon RI that sounded great, even when I played them. The Anniversary models should be similar. If the LXs are all mid bowls, I'd prefer an old one with a deep bowl over those. People here have also raved about the 2005 Collector's with a contour bowl. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Jeff:
For my money, it's hard to beat the sound of a deep bowl, non-cutaway A braced Legend or Custom Legend. To me, those guitars epitomize "THE" Ovation sound. Ditto that
I love the 1719 I got in Nov.
Its sounds better than My Martin D-28 DOES.
Looks better too |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | JL3. |
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April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
JL3. Agreed 100%.
If you are looking for a brandnew guitar with that old sound, check out the Traditional series: 1717 Legend and 1719 Custom Legend.
Kurt |
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October 2003
Posts: 134
Location: Lakewood, Ohio | Ive narrowed it down to either a 70-80s legend or the newest legend I can find the a deep bowl. The dilemma now is, the older ones have thicker finishes and tend to crack, but have more Ovation "vibe", and the old sunbursts are exquisite. The new ones have fancier electronics and I lke the cherry-cherryburst. Ill probably end up with one of each, now its merely which one first. Apart form the abelone bling, are the Custom Legeds any different/better? I think Martin uses more selct woodon its 41,42 and 45 series over the 28s and 35s.. |
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November 2003
Posts: 231
| The wood grade on the CL will be slightly higher, but not necessarily better sounding. Bling is the main difference in the two models. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| According to Ovation's site, the older Legends (1117/1617 and CL 1119/1619) are described as having either AAA-grade or "Hand selected" top woods. I'd say "Hand selected" were probably also AAA, and "selected" for cosmetic appeal.
The more recent models differ, with the 1717 listed as AA-grade and the CL 1719 as AAA-grade.
As has been noted by others here more knowledgeable than I, tonewood grading is often more a matter of cosmetic issues than actual tone, with some wood being downgraded for some cosmetic "flaw" while actually having better tonal properties than another piece with poorer tonal qualities but better looks. |
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November 2003
Posts: 231
| Some guitar manufacturers do grade their tops acoustically, (Santa Cruz, Bourgeois) but most are graded cosmetically, including Martin. The prettier tops don't always produce the best tone. They just look better. I guess the ideal situation would be a great sounding one that's also nice to look at. |
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February 2008
Posts: 40
Location: AKRON, OHIO | HI!
"beauty is in the eye of the beholder,or the EAR"
What sounds GOOD to YOU might not sound GOOD to others.
I LOVE the sound of my LATE 70s LEGEND LTD.
THANKS
Gary |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | Originally posted by gglide:
HI!
"beauty is in the eye of the beholder,or the EAR"
What sounds GOOD to YOU might not sound GOOD to others.
I LOVE the sound of my LATE 70s LEGEND LTD.
THANKS
Gary Legend Ltd = Deep bowl, A braced, non-cutaway. :) |
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November 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Eaton, Indiana | I like the non cutaway elites. Full, rich sound plugged or unplugged. I have had 2 and still have a 1997 6718 orange sunburst.
Scott |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Todd:
Ive narrowed it down to either a 70-80s legend or the newest legend I can find the a deep bowl. The dilemma now is, the older ones have thicker finishes and tend to crack, but have more Ovation "vibe", and the old sunbursts are exquisite. The new ones have fancier electronics and I lke the cherry-cherryburst. Ill probably end up with one of each, now its merely which one first. Apart form the abelone bling, are the Custom Legeds any different/better? I think Martin uses more selct woodon its 41,42 and 45 series over the 28s and 35s.. The Custom Legend is visually stunning.
Its has great stage precence.
You get better electronics with CL.
Some older ones have stereo output.
Others Optima, OP-24 or FET3.
New ones have OP-50 the tuner and XLR
output are great features.
If you want a Legend sunburst they avaiable new right now.
The problem with older ones is they can become real can of worms repair wise.
Neck reset eventually are needed.
Frets dressed
etc.
etc
etc
If ya buy a new one you get 20 years of trouble free use.
Just my 2 cents |
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October 2003
Posts: 134
Location: Lakewood, Ohio | How do the new custom legends compare to the Al DeMiola? Also I see there is a new mdel of the Al, the Al-II. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I just came upstairs from playing the 04 30th Anniversary CL. What a beautiful, traditional Ovation sound. |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | 82C, 87C and my Elites: The 82C reminds me of my Legend Cutaway from the early 80's that I gigged with...wonderful guitar and wish I still had it. 
Back in the Day: 1983/4 |
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November 2003
Posts: 231
| Well, I think that my 1978 Anniversary is the best sounding Ovation, and very possibly the best sounding guitar that I have ever played. It's like your playing through a mike, even when your not. And I almost sold this one a while back. Glad I didn't now. |
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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | My A braced Legend is the best sounding O that I've ever played. It just gushes out the low end.
I've still yet to play an Adamas. |
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October 2003
Posts: 134
Location: Lakewood, Ohio | Tragocaster, What year and model is your Legend? |
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Best sounding tradtional Ovation