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Joined:
October 2014
Posts: 12
Location: Ft Collins, CO | I recently picked up a 1975 Custom Balladeer with a gorgeous tobacco sunburst finish. It bookends with my 1982 Glen Campbell nicely and the Ovation Mandolin looks great in the middle. I don't know if that makes me a collector or not. Probably should keep my eyes open for another one just to be sure. 
I have D'Addario strings on both guitars right now (actually the mando has D'Addario as well, only ones I can find with ball ends). One set is a medium gauge and the other is a "Bluegrass Gauge" (lighter unwound). I've had various Silk&Steel and they feel great but, in my opinion, don't sound that great. I'm going to try some Elixir 80/20 Nanoweb next but I'm wondering if there is a preferred string choice list among roundback owners??
That actually brings me to a second question . . . . is there a "glossary of terms" or anything for Ovation fans?? What do you call them (us) ??? Roundbackers? O-People? D'Ovates'? Ovationaires?
Thanks. . . . . Mike
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 137
Location: Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire | I used Martin Bronze , Acoustic SP Phosphor Bronze light (012-054) and loved them. But once in a while its good to try something different so I went to D'Addario' (012-053) and suddenly liked them better than the Martin strings I had used for quite a while. Sometimes its good to try a different set of strings just because......... I read an article in Acoustic Guitar by Jane Miller who suggested that every so often change something, strings, gauge sizes, etc and you'll discover some pleasant differences you probably didn't think about. I did that on my Tele electric and my Ovation and wound up liking the new set up so much better! |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Strings are cheap and fun to play with. Experiment with different strings to see what they bring out in your guitar. D'Addario and Kaman are always the fallback strings for Ovation products, but there are some others you should try. Go to a place like juststrings.com and order a few sets. Change strings often; maybe every couple/three weeks and enjoy your new guitar. There is a certain zen to changing strings and maintaining g your guitar. Two brands I recommend you try are DR Sunbeams and the Lawrence Juber GHS (Bonus: they are a cool gold color that will look good with your sunburst). StephenT28 has the Adamas guitar Juber played in Wings. I also like the Pyramid PB. Strings are a fun thing to mess around with.
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848
Location: Canada | I currently have John Pearse PB on my 12 string Legend, which are fine. Before that I had Adamas branded ones which I think sounded better and lasted longer. Next in line will be d'Addario EXP coated. I don't have plans to try any 80/20s in the near future but stick with PB which I find bright enough. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4042
Location: Utah | For the '75 Custom Balladeer I would recommend staying away from coated strings. But, string choice is the pinnacle of personal opinion!
I love the Adamas 1818 strings on my Patriot, which is a very similar guitar as yours, from 1976. A "light" gauge seems best, something with a .012 high E string. Phosphor Bronze seem better than the Bronze versions regardless of brand. Martin SP have been very good on all my O's and A's. Thomastik-Infeld Plectrum are a very very nice string. I've only recently put them on 2 of my guitars and love them. Reportedly they last a long time, so the high initial price is justified.
I've tried the DR, John Pearse, and D'Addario. All are good strings, just slight differences. As is said on this forum frequently, different flavors of ice cream. All good, just different.
Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze have gotten a lot of positive comments on this forum. I've bought a couple sets but haven't put them on yet. |
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Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | 5-String Horn - 2015-03-07 3:02 PM
… What do you call them (us) ??? Roundbackers? O-People? D'Ovates'? Ovationaires?
Thanks. . . . . Mike
Orphans
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 44
Location: Mexico City | If you play bluegrass with a pick, as I can tell, get the Jubers stonebobbo suggests. The trebles bring you a twangy, but not overpowering sound. And the bass strings are very warm. That six string is very deep. If you plan 80/20 is because you maybe like slighty bright trebles, isn´t? The Jubers are for you.
To me, during the first days these strings are very similar to the Adamas 1818, slighty brighter. However, after few hours of playing, they open up in a very nice midrange and that twangy treble sound. So give them time to settle in, and will love for that brighter sound.
I played a low end Taylor guitar with Elixir 80/20 Nanoweb in a shop. Worst sound ever. Too bright strings, no beautiful midrange, no mellowness, no deep bottom. I hated that sound.
Edited by Leo 2015-03-09 4:02 AM
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | I do like Elixirs very much on Ovations, although I am not to fond of coated strings anymore. But they suit them quite well.
My favorite strings at the moment are Martin's Retro strings, nickel wounds. They bring the best out of my wooden boxes, you really think to hear "more wood than string". So I tried them on a CVT-Adamas, and they do sound very good on it as well. Plus they look cool and live long.
But, to my ears, strings do not make such a big difference on plastic bowls like they do on wooden guitars.
Best regards,
Kurt |
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Joined:
January 2015
Posts: 17
| I have tried D'addarios, Elixirs, Martin Silk and Steels and Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze. From a pure sound standpoint I like the Ernie Ball Aluminums the best. I have Martin S&S on now because I am trying to learn barre chords and they are so much easier to play. Good luck trying out different strings. |
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Joined:
September 2010
Posts: 59
Location: Michigan | FWIW - I use d'Adarios on each of my Ovations (.010's on the Legend, .011's on the Elite and .012's on the Celebrity Deluxe SS) and my Hagstrom semi-hollow body (.010's nickle wound). My Guild 12 string uses Elixir .010's. My G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy semi-hollow uses the new d'Addario exp's (.010's) and that really is my favorite guitar to play at the moment - but I'm smack dab in the middle of bettering my lead runs. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | I's been some time since I've done a string comparison and I have a couple sets of those Aluminums sitting here I've been wanting to try.
But, for the most part I have EJ16s on all the acoustics, I buy them in bulk and change them often. Dean Markley Blue Steel custom lights are what gets used on the electrics. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Craigb - 2015-03-10 4:28 AM I have tried D'addarios, Elixirs, Martin Silk and Steels and Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze. From a pure sound standpoint I like the Ernie Ball Aluminums the best. I have Martin S&S on now because I am trying to learn barre chords and they are so much easier to play. Good luck trying out different strings. Try Martin FX strings, 80/20, PB, S&S, anyway, they are easier on the hands at the same guage as others, even with barre chords. Great for benders and beginners! Or Newtone Masterclass, they are easy to play as well. Best regards, Kurt |
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new "collector" needs string theory input