I've always been drawn back to Ovations...for keeps , now, it seems. My question is, how do the Adamas guitars sound without being plugged in. This may be a stupid question but, I have never played one...never considered one...never even held one.
I am done playing in a band and now, only play in living rooms and in front of campfires.
Posted 2014-09-30 1:03 PM (#494569 - in reply to #494568) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: March 2008 Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D.
Oh yes, they project! They are LOUD! The ones with the holes on the bass side only are very bassy. The ones with the holes on both sides are well balanced (lots of bass but bright trebles too.) The ones with a cutaway and holes on both sides are particularly great sounding. The sound is different from a wood top. With a wood top you generally don't get as much volume but you do get that wood "ring". An Adamas might be said to have a drier sound.
Plugged in they are just what you would expect. Of course it depends on the amp you use, but they sound fantastic.
Posted 2014-09-30 2:57 PM (#494571 - in reply to #494568) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: June 2002 Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ
The only Adamas analogy I think of would be to stand next to a grand piano and listen to someplay play. Then OPEN THE TOP of the piano. THAT's how much better an Adamas sounds than your average wood top Ovation.
Posted 2014-10-01 3:38 AM (#494584 - in reply to #494568) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: November 2011 Posts: 44
Location: Mexico City
"how do the Adamas guitars sound without being plugged in"
Dawn good. I have a 1598 merb 12 string. Great volume, fantastic vibration, like if you have an amp with reverb effect plugged in, but without plugged. If you play rock, you´ll enjoy it. Depending on the strings you use, it may sound muddy. Listen to some you tube videos. However the Thomastik infeld spectrum strings beautifies the sound.
"Do they project out of those little sound holes? "
Yes, they project more than a standard guitar with center hole.
Posted 2014-10-01 9:30 AM (#494590 - in reply to #494568) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: October 2005 Posts: 4044
Location: Utah
The top to my Adamas 2080 is very responsive to differences in right hand technique. My daughter's Ute is the same, so I presume it is a characteristic of the material itself. For someone with decent right hand technique (not me!) the Adamas would bring much more to the party than a wood top.
Posted 2014-10-01 1:10 PM (#494593 - in reply to #494591) Subject: RE: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho
john bange - 2014-10-01 9:29 AM
Is anyone just using fingernails? Would I need to use a flat pick?
I primarily fingerpick and the Adamas guitars are louder than the wood tops. Even moreso with a pick. To paraphrase Mark Knopfler, "a plectrum is a mini-amplifier".
Posted 2014-10-01 3:07 PM (#494594 - in reply to #494568) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: March 2008 Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D.
I only use my nails and I play very softly. That's why if I'm playing with other people I ALWAYS use an Adamas because it's the only one loud enough for me to be heard.
Posted 2014-10-01 3:39 PM (#494596 - in reply to #494568) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho
Incidentally, even the same model guitars could have a difference in volume. The #47 RI and the OFC I, for example, were the subject of a thread a few years ago. People claimed that the #47RI sounded louder, even though they were both reissues of the original Adamas slotheads, the only significant difference was the OFC guitars have electronics. I didn't believe it until I had both and they both were on the wall next to each other. I could strum both with my finger and notice a distinct volume difference in the 47RI. They were both louder than the Ovation wood tops. The Ute may be the loudest of all.
Posted 2014-10-01 5:25 PM (#494599 - in reply to #494592) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: September 2003 Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan
How so?
What do they sound like to you?
I have a W597 but I've always coveted a 1687
A good friend always says that trying to describe a guitar's sound is like "dancing about architecture". But you asked. IMHO and within the scope of my experience, the smooth woven tops have a more.... geesh... gonna say brittle and shimmery sound when compare to the textured tops. Don't get me wrong... I don't those terms to disparage, but to try and make a point.
Either way I'll probable be put on someone's poo poo list.
Posted 2014-10-02 11:14 AM (#494612 - in reply to #494568) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: December 2003 Posts: 848
Location: Canada
I think I want one too though I have never seen one in person. Will keep my eyes peeled on the for sale section, missed a few nice ones as I was only interested in 12-string. But now I think I need a 6-string in my life ...
Posted 2014-10-02 11:34 AM (#494613 - in reply to #494568) Subject: Re: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho
I had never played an Adamas and probably wouldn't have recognized one before I joined this forum. I bought the Ute just based on rave reviews here. It took a bit of getting used to, because I was hooked on the Ovation sound and it was different. We've grown close over the years and if I want a light guitar that really projects for fingerstyle, that's the one I'd take. I should have bought one of the 6 12 string Utes that Al commissioned, but I just never play a 12. I still haven't heard one of those 6 Utes. I imagine they are the best sounding 12 strings out there.
Posted 2014-10-06 5:35 PM (#494733 - in reply to #494602) Subject: RE: Adamas ignoramous
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 152
arthurseery - 2014-10-01 7:31 PM
I don't know if this will be helpful... There is not a regular Ovation in this video. But here are two Adamii played without amplification.
Hey thanks a lot for putting that video up. You're Adamas are the opposite in color and texture of what I'll probably end up with.
I like the W597 smooth top that I have but I really want a deep bowl 1687. My W597 is black and I'd like to get a Blue 1687 with a textured top. Was thinking about selling the W597 to fund it but... It's hard to part with a nice guitar you know.
Adamas ignoramous
