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Joined:
May 2014
Posts: 16
| Howdy folks!
So I recently acquired a 1972 1122-4 (which is now resting securely in a fine case provided by Patch), and am absolutely in love with it. Whoever the previous owner was put just the right amount of love into it, as the wood has aged supremely. The bass on this guitar is unreal for a guitar of its kind... fantastic response all around.
The reason I wanted this guitar (aside from wanting a nice US Ovation) was that fingerstyle is my preferred method of playing, and I find that nylon strings are most amenable to that style. (Not to say it doesn't work on steel... Will Stratton is one of my favorite pickers, after all.) I know some day down the road I'll want to acquire another Ovation, and I'm wondering what y'all have found to be good for fingerstyle.
I know Ovation made a couple of parlor models (probably what I'd want to buy down the road), and lord knows there are plenty of classicals to the company's name.
Thanks in advance! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | Are you asking about fingerstyle with steel strings? Assuming so, try a Folklore, 1114 or 1614. If you want to try to find something much more rare, go with an Adamas U681t ("Ute" around here), or a Folklore Deluxe. Not so rare are the more modern versions of the Folklores, but I can't remember the model numbers of those. All have a little wider neck. The Ute is 1/6 narrower than the Folklore with a bit more curve (smaller radius) to the fretboard.
If you want a nylon without the flat 2 inch neck of the Classic, try a Country Artist 1624. It's got a shallower bowl, so it doesn't put out too much sound acoustically, but is fine with an amp.
The only parlors I know of were the 97 collectors. Those came with a standard width fretboard, but there were a very limited number of wider fretboards made. If you can find a wideneck 97, grab it, but you'll probably pay a handsome premium. There were also similar parlor models made for the Japanese market. The models were N___ for "Nakio"?? I don't remember if they made any of those in the wideneck models. |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 205
Location: seattle, wa | The bulk of the responses will probably say the Country Artist is what you're looking for and if they had a deep bowl, I'd be one of them. They're great guitars, for sure but, I like the deep bowl classicals for their huge volume and tone. The Ovation classical and the country artist have the fastest necks I had ever found. I find I prefer the 2" nut and it's string spacing over the 1 7/8 CA...couldn't go wrong with either |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Folklore...
or it's nylon siblings...
I need to get myself a 1 7/8" nylon... with a radius fingerboard. 
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Joined:
May 2014
Posts: 16
| I find the neck on mine just comfortable, and it's a big 'un. But easy to move around. Although awkward when I switch from mandolin to guitar...
Thanks for the recommendations. The '97 collectors was what I had in mind, and good Lord would I love to own that guitar. The Folklores sure look pretty..
There is also this one, which is decently close to me.
http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/ovation-1773x-classica... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | They have the description all wrong on the 1773, plus they don't say whether it's an AX or an LX |
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Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887
Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | I fingerpick my Adamas all the time both with and without fingerpicks on. And it sounds great. Also my Elite. Which also sounds way better than superb. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | MWoody had a nice Country Artist LX for sale not long ago. I don't know if it's still available or not. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Let's not forget the EA63... 
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Noah, Most definitley a contender. If you are on stage a good part of the time, this nylon is the one to have. Easy to play, GREAT neck, produces a great nylon sound...and no worries about feedback...I just wished they would have not sprayed the back black...ugh. I understand the Ovation look...but I think had they just polished up the wood, it would have been such a beautiful instrument. Not too many of them around. I believe they were built upon order. I was told that if you wanted, when you ordered, you could have had the full woody (little w). |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | I'll put a vote in for the 1 3/4 nut Country Artist LX |
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Joined:
May 2012
Posts: 55
| Definately a pure acoustic Folklore 1114 from the 70's - 80's. I've used them with steel, silk & steel and nylon. Great sound. Saw one on Mansfield Ohio Craig's list awhile back. Not cheap but quite rare. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | And Damon, the Country Artist 6773 is a great compromise between the 2" and the 1 3/4, with the 1 7/8. Ovation certainly made sure there were enough nylons to fit every hand. |
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Best Ovation for Fingerstyle/Nylon String?