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Location: Fort Worth, TX | I can't seem to find any info on this particular model, such as years it was made? The neck on the one I'm considering isn't the same Ovation neck I'm accustomed to either, it's noticeably thicker and made from only one wood. The cedar top is completely flawless and there isn't a single mark or pick swirl anywhere on it. The seller said it didn't come with a case. I can pick it up for $300... maybe even less than that. I always liked the sound of the cedar top Elite I had briefly. Can't really assess the sound of this one with the ancient strings on it, but it is very responsive to touch. Lightly played fingerstyle really jumps out at you. Would you buy it at this price? |
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Location: Muenster/Germany | If this guitar has an A-braced top like the other special models...did you have a look inside? If so you should ask the seller if you could try your favourite strings on it. (If you don´t like the guitar it will sell better with new strings then...). I love the sound of the A-brace, these are the best center-soundhole-Ovations. |
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Location: Texas | Dave, We had a range master that pushed Glocks, but there was always grumbling from the guys, that when he qualified, it was with a Sig. #gotconant?
Edited by jay 2014-08-20 10:50 AM
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Location: Canada | DaveKell - 2014-08-20 7:06 AM I always liked the sound of the cedar top Elite I had briefly. What happened to the Elite - is that not the one in your Avatar that an OFC member helped you purchase? |
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Location: Bristol England | Hi Dave,
There is one of these (but no 'C' after the S771) for sale by a retailer on ebay UK.
It is listed as 'New' for a few pence under £1000 with no mention of a case.
There is a description of the guitar which may answer some of your questions.
Cheers James.
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Dave... Yes, it is definitely worth $300.
The neck is a Kaman Bar neck, so they are thicker. Nice, baseball bat feel.
There are later S771's that have a TRC, but...
Do I have to say that any USA Ovation in good condition with no scratches is worth more than $300?
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Location: Flahdaw | arthurseery - 2014-08-20 3:32 PM
The neck is a Kaman Bar neck, so they are thicker. Nice, baseball bat feel.
Dave....just close your eyes and remember Duane Allman... |
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Location: Canada | arthurseery - 2014-08-20 1:32 PM. The neck is a Kaman Bar neck, so they are thicker. What do you mean ... thicker than what? I have a 6751 with K-bar neck and a 6756 with LX neck and the LX neck is way thicker than the K-bar neck. K-bar neck is easier to play for me. |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | My LX has a thick neck too. But the K-bar has more of a V shaped neck and the LX is more of a C shape. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Thicker than an Elite T neck with TRC.
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Location: Canada | CanterburyStrings - 2014-08-20 4:20 PM My LX has a thick neck too. But the K-bar has more of a V shaped neck and the LX is more of a C shape. Yes that too. How do older necks compare to that, e.g. a 12 fretter like a GC from the 70s? |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Yes they do! |
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Location: Utah | amosmoses - 2014-08-20 9:49 AM
Dave, We had a range master that pushed Glocks, but there was always grumbling from the guys, that when he qualified, it was with a Sig. #gotconant?
Those Glocks are made out of plastic, thus they totally cannot be taken seriously. Grips should always be made out of fine checkered hardwood. The plastic ones slip slide and are impossible to hold onto! You could put a piece of rubber on the grips which might work to stop the plastic from sliding around.... 
(one guess where the Sig in my username comes from) |
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Location: Texas | Fly, you make me laugh. Maybe all that plastic rubbing on my belly made my hip crave for the same thing. Hey...bring that puppy down here and go out to the range with me Friday morning. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | CanterburyStrings - 2014-08-20 5:20 PM
My LX has a thick neck too. But the K-bar has more of a V shaped neck and the LX is more of a C shape.
I played a slothead Adamas with a Kbar and this guitar is nowhere even remotely as fretboard end heavy as that guitar was. Would a Kbar have a TRC? This one does. The neck is definitely a C shape and thicker than any ot the other three O's I've owned. It's not an issue tho since my remaining guitars have the same profile. Being a graphic artist, the first thing I noticed was the very cheaply reproduced Ovation logo on the headstock. It's a black screened on outline letter that immediately made me think the guitar was a cheaper vintage to begin with. The thing that intrigues me is the potential of the sound played fingerstyle with that aged cedar top that is in flawless condition, just like the cedar top Elite that arrived with a long crack down the top that wasn't in the seller's photos before he shipped it to me. I am going back today to see if it has A bracing... that's the "fan" shape that spreads out into a cone shape overall right? There are not even any marks on the bowl or neck, like the thing never got played. I wish I could find the years it was made? |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | darkbarguitar - 2014-08-20 3:51 PM
arthurseery - 2014-08-20 3:32 PM
The neck is a Kaman Bar neck, so they are thicker. Nice, baseball bat feel.
Dave....just close your eyes and remember Duane Allman...
Upon doing so, the only impression that comes to mind is a thick brass cannon... or a huge anaconda. |
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Location: Canada | DaveKell - 2014-08-21 5:33 AM just like the cedar top Elite that arrived with a long crack down the top that wasn't in the seller's photos before he shipped it to me. What happened to that Elite, is that not your main guitar? |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | DaveKell - 2014-08-21 4:33 AM
Would a Kbar have a TRC? This one does.
If it has a Truss Rod Cover it is NOT a K-bar neck.
So disregard any statement that I may have made about Kaman Bar necks.
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | A google search for GSC771LX-C turns up "no matching documents". It's in my hands now so I know it exists. It is by far the best sounding O I've owned out of five now. Love O's with cedar tops! Serial number dates it to 2006 so it's not very old as I originally thought it was.
Edited by DaveKell 2014-08-22 12:26 PM
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | No Dave, but a search for GCS771LX-C produces THIS 
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Dave, OMA is trying to tell you to switch the letters around. GCS stands for Guitar Center Standard. GSC stands for...??? |
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Location: NH | Boy, we could have a lot of fun with that one... |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | arthurseery - 2014-08-22 1:50 PM
No Dave, but a search for GCS771LX-C produces THIS
Cheeses H. Kee-Rist! On top of all my other problems I can add dyslexia to the list! Thank you sir! I read the threads commented on and it is indeed the guitar I have, except for the picture in one is not of a cutaway which mine is. The abalone rosette is killer as well. I think I already mentioned this, but my wife of 35 years has NEVER commented on the sound of a guitar I've owned until I was sitting here playing this one. She said "I love the tone of that guitar"! That speaks virtual volumes about this one. The cool part is I got to buy it without selling the last 12 fret slothead slope shoulder dred I have from Dr. Conant. Might still have to let it go to buy parts for the diesel beast pickup though. Oh well. Thanks OMA for setting my feet on the right path!
Edited by DaveKell 2014-08-22 7:18 PM
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Great deal on the USA O! Congrats! I think I would have taken Noah up on his offer for the Koa, though. |
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Location: Canada | How does it compare side by side to your cedar top Elite? |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | merlin666 - 2014-08-22 8:56 PM
How does it compare side by side to your cedar top Elite?
You definitely have an obsession about the fact that I owned a cedar top Elite! LOL. I was never able to fully get used to the idea of the cracked top, even though I successfully repaired it. It was still faintly visible and constantly fueled my OCD about having pristine guitars. I sold it for a small profit to an awesome picker who got his first Ovation and became a convert. My OFC benefactor who paid for a fourth of it was aware I was selling it and was cool with it. As for how this cedar top Balladeer compares to it, this one blows it away, as it does the other guitars I own. My fingerstyle learning has coma a long way but never sounded better than on this guitar. Here's a question for anyone who might know. Since his guitar has a bolt on neck, is it within the realm of possibility to swap out the neck for the five piece one I've had on all other O's? This one is one piece mahogany and while easy enough to play, doesn't have the aesthetics of the five piece. |
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Location: Texas | "fueled my OCD about having pristine guitars." "swap out the neck for the five piece one I've had on all other O's?" I don't think you give your"OCD"enough credit |
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Location: Utah | DaveKell - 2014-08-22 6:16 PM
it is indeed the guitar I have, except for the picture in one is not of a cutaway which mine is.
Guitar Center commissioned numerous custom models based on standard Ovation production models. The specs and details changed on the GC models even when the model number didn't change. I've seen a GC178LX which is the same as a 1778LX except it has the maple T neck rather than the 5 piece LX neck. BTW that specific guitar has been the best sounding mid bowl LX guitar when plugged into a professional venue PA. So the GC guitars are not inferior, just slightly different. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | FlySig - 2014-08-23 4:11 PM
DaveKell - 2014-08-22 6:16 PM
it is indeed the guitar I have, except for the picture in one is not of a cutaway which mine is.
Guitar Center commissioned numerous custom models based on standard Ovation production models. The specs and details changed on the GC models even when the model number didn't change. I've seen a GC178LX which is the same as a 1778LX except it has the maple T neck rather than the 5 piece LX neck. BTW that specific guitar has been the best sounding mid bowl LX guitar when plugged into a professional venue PA. So the GC guitars are not inferior, just slightly different.
We plugged it into a top line Crate acoustic amp at the place I got it and I couldn't believe the sound it made. Totally superior to the sound of the last Elite I had plugged in. It definitely is in no way inferior... the sound is incredible. Of course I've always been biased towards cedar tops.
Edited by DaveKell 2014-08-23 8:26 PM
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | A couple days into having a new (to me) Ovation and I have a few observations as I sit here awakened far too early from the pain I am disabled with. The thrill I get from having an O within easy reach hasn't dissipated a bit since getting my first one in 1975. It was the too long in coming realization of finally owning the model named after my long time hero Glen Campbell. I remember well how LONG it took to find out what that guitar was Glen played in way pre-internet days! It fascinated me and did not disappoint when I finally got one. Of course I weighed a good 70 pounds less then and had no issues with it sliding off my lap! (since remedied with simple addition of a strap). My latest acquisition, the GCS771LXC seems to have a factory installed non slip patch. I liken having received another O to the feeling I get when after a long road trip crossing back over the border into Texas... a special feeling envelopes you that you are back home in a legendary place that lives up to its hype. There is a movement afoot in Tejas to secede that I would like to see with Ovation, resurrected into an employee owned enterprise to carry on the tradition of uniqueness and innovation. Sure seems to me like a group of them should visit an investment banker with that proposal and rub Bender's face in their eventual success! Seems like it would be doable. Owning an Ovation is a different emotional aspect than any other guitar. Its glory days never faded for us in any measure. Preserving the ones that are left is easy since they were so well built and I'm sure thousands of the USA made ones are still out there under beds and in closets waiting to see the lights of a stage once again. I'm still blown away that after 35 years of marriage my wife commented for the first time on the sound of one of my guitars when she said "I love the tone of that guitar" when I was playing the new Balladeer special. I m planning to upgrade the black outline logo on the headstock by gilding it with 23 karat gold leaf to give it more class. Heck, since I have acquired the tools for pearl inlay work (transferring sign painting skills) I just might inlay a pearl logo into it! I have an expensive gigbag for it but will eventually track down the proper hard case. The strap, embroidered with a black and white tribal design my daughter got me for Christmas looks great on it. My wife said I need to expand my repertoire on it and am learning songs from the decade this guitar was immensely popular out of a 70's (predominantly) book you can download here: http://files.meetup.com/812439/Knuckledown.pdf . It's a 187 page compilation including lots of Cat Stevens and is guaranteed to be in the chords of the original recording. I printed it all out and have them in a ring binder now. I feel complete now with another Ovation but still have a goal of owning the new prototype eventually. I'll be ready to go to my grave happy when that day comes. So nice to be part of the fold again!
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Location: Texas | "There is a movement afoot in Tejas to secede " From Mexico or the US? |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | Can't believe this. One of the Conant guitars I sold went to a moneyed guy who felt he got an incredible deal from me. I told him about the Ovation I bought and how great it sounded played thru an amp where I bought it. He asked me if I had an amp..."no". This week a brand new Acoustic brand amp will be arriving at my door as a gift from him. I looked it up and it's more than I would have needed. I never cease to be amazed by the awesome people I meet online. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | amosmoses - 2014-08-24 8:51 AM
"There is a movement afoot in Tejas to secede " From Mexico or the US?
I refer to this state as "Tejas" because of what happened during my wife's 35 year teaching career here. Her first several years she taught classes full of white kids. Gradually, a few Hispanics showed up. Her last few years she was lucky to have any more white kids and had to take extensive training to teach English as a second language classrooms full of Hispanic children. It was fine by us though. Mexicans are industrious hard working people with an admirable family ethic and legendary work ethic. Last week my youngest brother married my wife's Hispanic teacher's aid of 22 years. Two of my kid's prom dates were Mexican. Personally I can't wait for the day the whole human race melts into a pleasing shade of light brown.
Oh yeah, and I'd like to see us secede from the U.S. We are currently the 26th largest economy in the world and have the defense plants that produce Lockheed Martin fighter jets and every military helicopter in use. Plus we're a very gun friendly state and we speedily execute our murderers and rapists as well. We'd make a great country all on our own. |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Speedily execute murderers and rapists. How bout people who bad talk Ovations and call them plastic trash?? Is that not an equal offense?? |
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Location: Texas | LOL Dave. You are a trip. You obviously didn't do well in Texas History. Sorry, to put a dent in your racial profiling, that you have spent 35 years building but... The word Tejas, came from the Indians, a long time before the Spanish ever inhabited this land (errr, Texas). Maybe you can share your Indian views with us. How about their pleasing skin shade?
Edited by jay 2014-08-24 7:48 PM
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Location: Flahdaw | Incidentally, Dr Conant was a Texas history professor |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | amosmoses - 2014-08-24 7:46 PM
LOL Dave. You are a trip. You obviously didn't do well in Texas History. Sorry, to put a dent in your racial profiling, that you have spent 35 years building but... The word Tejas, came from the Indians, a long time before the Spanish ever inhabited this land (errr, Texas). Maybe you can share your Indian views with us. How about their pleasing skin shade?
Being from Indiana originally I'm better versed in that state's history. Gee, would it be the first time one culture appropriated a word from another? Tejas is the word used for period appropriate historical references in TEXAS. As for Indians, or Native Americans, I am related to the Kiowa tribe through a brother in law who is full blood. He had a hard time assimilating into our family at holiday meals. He said in his culture the women served the men plates of food first, then the old people, then the children and finally themselves. I liked that idea and told my wife to consider how much more us men would appreciate them if they did that for us. I barely ducked the plate in time. As for their skin shade, my bro in law and nephew are constantly pissed when Hispanics come up to them and speak spanish. Do you want to know about my black relatives too? (it sure is strange how far afield a thread can get at times?) |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | DaveKell - 2014-08-24 4:43 PM
Can't believe this. One of the Conant guitars I sold went to a moneyed guy who felt he got an incredible deal from me. I told him about the Ovation I bought and how great it sounded played thru an amp where I bought it. He asked me if I had an amp..."no". This week a brand new Acoustic brand amp will be arriving at my door as a gift from him. I looked it up and it's more than I would have needed. I never cease to be amazed by the awesome people I meet online.
The Acoustic amp arrived yesterday and has already changed my life. I know I'll be playing at least twice as long every day now. The cedar top Ovation sounds marvelous through this amp that was a gift from a happy buyer of one of the Conant guitars I had. It has four inputs and 16 built in effects that add a new dimension to my sound. I haven't been amped since i was 19 before I switched to acoustic guitars. This is waaay more amp than I would have bought for myself and is adding a whole new dimension to my playing. I had never before experienced an O plugged in. The pickup/preamp system produces a very faithful acoustic sound. Once I get a mic I can begin a new career as a singer/songwriter! I'm loving the recent change of events with guitars in my life. |
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Location: Flahdaw | DaveKell - 2014-08-28 5:25 AM
Once I get a mic I can begin a new career as a singer/songwriter!
Well, you got the diesel pickup, an RV, and a major disability. You could be the next country superstar! |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | darkbarguitar - 2014-08-28 6:23 AM
DaveKell - 2014-08-28 5:25 AM
Once I get a mic I can begin a new career as a singer/songwriter!
Well, you got the diesel pickup, an RV, and a major disability. You could be the next country superstar!
Cowboy Dave and the Beer Drinking Rodeo Band. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | She made her debut as a camping guitar this weekend. Sitting in my screen room playing attracted the attention of a nearby camper who came over to listen. He said he played guitar "a little when I have the time, which is mostly never". Apparently he had never seen an Ovation up close but was intrigued over something about it. He asked a lot of questions including "why would someone make a guitar from plastic / is it hard to hold onto / do you think it sounds better than a 'regular' guitar?". I invited him in to hold and play it but he sheepishly declined. He asked me to play again something I played earlier when he first listened to me from his campsite. "Could ya be more specific?". I finally figure out he was referring to the complicated chord progression of House at Pooh Corner. I asked him if he would sing and he swore he would if he could remember the words. I could have hit him with "I have a songbook inside with the words" but let it pass. His final comments were started with "I think I'd like to get one of those, I might play it more". I gave him the Reader's Digest version of the Ovation closing story and how only imports that often fall short are all that's left unless you get lucky. He left after assuring me he would be making an effort to track down a USA Ovation and said he wished they were still made in the US. Don't we all bro. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Sounds like you missed the perfect chance to sell him a Conant!!! |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | darkbarguitar - 2014-09-07 7:18 AM
Sounds like you missed the perfect chance to sell him a Conant!!!
Unfortunately they are all gone, that is until Dr. C decides what he will build next. I made a decent pile of money from them as well as receiving an Acoustic amp from a grateful buyer. I also had two comments about the pricing being waaaay too low. Both said they should cost well over two grand. I forwarded the comments to Dr. C and he said he is content with his material cost but said nothing would make him happier than for me to get those prices for them. Looks like soon I will have a decent budget with which to seek a cedar top Elite or an elusive 1537. |
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S771C Balladeer Special...