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| Hey guys,
Just wondering if you guys face people looking down on you for playing Ovations.
As I said in another thread, I'm waiting on my new black 1778T, my first Ovation, but I already got a bunch of people kind of thinking I'm stupid for going with Ovation. They aren't explicitly telling me that, but I can feel it. None of them have very expensive instruments, but they all have some lower end Taylors and Martins. Hopefully my 1778T will be able to prove them wrong, but just wondering if you guys that already own a bunch of Ovations face similar problems.
-j |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Well, a couple of the taller guys.
Most of 'em are surprised when my acoustic lead noodling cuts through seven guys strumming the same chord at the song circle.
Actually, no I don't. But I'm an arrogant bastard who looks down his nose at wood boxes so what some ignorant guitarhomo (no, not our guitarhomo) thinks is beneath my consideration. Ignorant, rhythm challenged, hacker that he is....
Do not seek your sense of worth in the eyes of others grasshopper. |
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Location: ranson,wva | i just tell em to piss off and crank my volume knob open..lol
ive only had one person sayany thing bad to me about the playing of ovations that was a drummer...so go figure..what does a drummer know anyhow??? jason |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | the guitar world is a clicky place at times. For some unknown reason many guitar players get really hung up on what it says on the headstock of an instrument. They tend to close down their senses if a guitar isn't wearing their "correct" logo. Perhaps it's just human nature to align ones self with "something".
Not sure how to get through to this type of person, but, I tend to just play what "I" like and feel sorry for those who just refuse to open their mind to the fact that ice cream (sorry lanaki :) ) comes in many different flavours and it's alright to like more than one.
I've always enjoyed my Custom Balladeer and I play it for my enjoyment first and foremost. I can only hope that those listening are enjoying the music (well that's what I call it) coming out of it as much as I am enjoying the sound from their guitars.
I think it comes down to liking the sound of your instrument. If you do, hold onto it. If you don't, then you should keep looking for the one that speaks to you. It doesn't matter if the headstock says Martin, Taylor, or Ovation, or any one of the hundred others available.
I refuse to be intimidated into playing something just because some other player professes it to be "The Grail". "I" determine "My Grail", and will not hang my head because of it.
In another thread stephenT28 made something close to this staement; if it looks good, feels good, sounds good, and speaks to me, it's a winner. That pretty much sums it up and is a good motto to go by when assessing guitars.
Dave |
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Location: SoCal | "stephenT28 made something close to this statement; if it looks good, feels good, sounds good, and speaks to me..."
wasn't he describing dates back in college? |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | if I misunderstood...me bad. ooops |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I think there is a human nature element that people sometimes tend to validate their own preferences by "looking down" a little on other peoples different choices. I mean, heck this has spurned a whole industry of pissing Calvin window decals. As a Ford F-150 driver what he thinks of a Chevy truck. Sure, some people look down on Ovations. Usually they hate the idea of the plastic bowl. Sometimes they even call them names like "tupperware". But so what. It's all just personal opinions. People on this board do the same and make rude comments about Taylors and Martins. It's all just an ego game. Play what works best for you and makes you happy. I think your Elite T will surprise a lot of people.
Dave
PS - For the record Martin is so much better than Taylor that it's not even funny. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | No Dave, Takamines are so much better than Martins and Taylors and ...oh, oh , here we go again. And yes, it is funny.
Dave |
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Location: New South Wales, Australia | The world is big enough for all the different flavours and I enjoy them all.
I was playing in a folk club for a while with lots of different guitars but I don't think brand names were ever discussed. We were having too good a time to worry about things like that.
I'm sure the snobs who might look down their nose at me are out there, I just haven't met them yet. |
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Location: Isle of Man, UK | It's not my choice of brand that make people think worse of me, just my ability...
;)
I've never come across this. The closest I got to experiencing this was a former bandmate who just didn't like playing mine. It wasn't that he was anti-O, just that he didn't bond with mine.
He played a Tak, so I'd have thrown any brand comments right back at him though! He's a Taylor boy now, and that's fine for him.
JB |
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Location: New South Wales, Australia | Originally posted by jb:
It's not my choice of brand that make people think worse of me, just my ability...
;)
JB I can relate to this jb :) |
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| I don't know any other people. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by juniodude:
Do people look down on you for playing Ovations Only until they hear them. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Jason_S:
ive only had one person sayany thing bad to me about the playing of ovations that was a drummer...so go figure..what does a drummer know anyhow??? jason Jason!!! :mad: |
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Location: CT | No one's ever actually said anything, but sometimes I feel a vibe. The only times people have said something, it was a compliment on the sound. |
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Location: East Tennessee | I've had a few. look down at me for playing Ovations.
But.... "You can't fix stupid." |
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Location: Omaha, NE | FWIW, I always had members of the public come up and say "cool guitar" after a gig when I was playing my Adamas. When I play my Taylor, I usually have one or two guitar players come up and admire it. |
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Location: Waurika OK | One thing about a T is that you are not comparing the looks. An Elite T is "stealthy" "different" "cool looking", etc.
I have jammed with guys playing Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, Taks and never had a bad word spoken. You will be able to be heard.
The neck on mine has a really nice flame grain in the wood.
If I was a really good player I would have one of the flamed painted ones.
Every once in a while I get gas from the glowing reports on this board. Then I realize I would have to sell every other guitar I have to afford it and would only have one guitar. The T does the job and lets me keep my meager herd. |
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Location: SoCal | I don't spend any time worrying about what other people are thinking.... |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | Same here. If people aren't going to be nice, it's probably more related to my ability than the guitar I'm playing. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The t is considered a good gigging guitar in NYC. The people who look down on you sadly don't know what they're talking about.
Where are from and what kind of music do you play?
When people hear you play your T they'll ask, "how cool, what kind of guitar is that? Can I try it?" |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I haven't had anyone look down on me but I have run into a lot of ignorance about Ovations.
So I just get my new Longneck LX and I come to church practice. I'm feeling all cool and snobby-like, really special and all. There is a new electric guitar player and the first thing out of his mouth is "I had an Ovation just like that and I didn't like it. You should get a Taylor".
So instead of kick'in hizzazz right there I decide to listen and get to know this guy. He's covered in tats, sports a Faux-hawk and plays a lot of U2 despite what everyone else is playing. He just wants to be noticed and had a bad experience with an Ovation that wasn't right for him.
It's not what the other guitarist think. They'll end up playing your O at some time (usually when the others aren't looking) and will have to see for themselves. The big test is with the the Sound-Dude(or Dudette)! I have never received a bad response from a Soundboard Operator when I have plugged in.
I usually have to hide my smirk when the "box" players have to work hard to cover their feedback though... |
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Location: NJ | It you buy into fashion don't buy an O if you buy into sound buy one. |
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Location: south east Michigan | au-contrair...(I'm brushing up on my French for the Tour).
I think Ovations are very fashionable. Lot's of very different styles & looks up & down the entire line. |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | I've had two recent experiences in Sam Ash - the 1st was some little snot teenager sitting on the couch singing to his girlfriend. When I picked up an O to play he sings something derogatory about O's - I don't remember exactly what he said. The 2nd time was last week when a young couple were looking to buy a guitar - he looks at the O's and says to his significant other "the plastic bowls really make them look cheap".
I'm on a mission to get the music store where my son takes lessons to start carry more O's and A's. They have one used Applesauce. |
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| Good to hear all the comments guys.
As to answer an4340 (man, I've got to learn people's names), I live in NJ and mainly I just lead worship at my church. I think this plays a big role into people judging O's because we all started off with $100-$200 guitars. Some of my friends started with Aupplase and it just wasnt as good as other guitars in the $100-200 range..just so shallow and quiet
"But.... "You can't fix stupid."" ..Very true=)
And Alpep, I hope your right=P I never was really into fashion anyways. But I really like the stealth look of the black Ovation 1778T..it looks really sweet. |
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Location: Central Oregon | Originally posted by Jason_S:
ive only had one person sayany thing bad to me about the playing of ovations that was a drummer...so go figure..what does a drummer know anyhow??? jason Hmm, ask him this one-
What do you call a person that is always hanging around with musicians?
A drummer. |
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Location: NJ | On the contrary.
I OFTEN have guys at gigs come up and comment positively on my Ovations, especially when they three (sometimes four) of 'em gathered t'gether on stands . . .
Now, it very well could be that they see the roundbacks, equate them as Ovations, and just want to appear "knowledgeable" either to myself, or their cohorts, but I'll often get a "wow! . . those are some nice Ovations!" comment.
I played at an OpenMic at a local place a while ago.
When it was my turn, the guy running it offered up his Taylor SomethingOrOther. I declined and pulled the LongNeck out of it's case.
"Oh, . . it's one of THOSE" he said disparagingly (assuming it was a Celebrity).
He hands me his auxiliary guitar cord, and I plug in. Sounded like sh!t. The notes were distorted, and it was laden with static and hum.
I asked him for another cord.
His response was that it wasn't the cord, but that ". . Ovation pre-amps never WERE any good . . use Taylor . ."
When he walked over t'get the guitar, I yanked out the cord, switched off the 2nd microphone, plugged that cord into my XLR jack and hit an open E (really "D") chord.
". . Whoa!! . . . whadd'ya DO??? . ."
I just shrugged and played stupid (which isn't hard t'do). |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | The worst I've got is "I don't like them because they slide off my leg." I tell them they should raise their leg.
A friend of mine bought a Taylor because it was the best sounding guitar to him and his wife. That's fine for them. At the time I probably had 6 very different sounding Ovations for the same price as his one Taylor and I'll bet he'd have a tough time picking his Taylor over my 1537 in a blind test. Ovations are great guitars for the money. Learn to play it like a madman and you'll never worry about it. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | That's the beauty of a ukulele. Most people assume you play it 'cuz you can't afford a whole guitar and they have too much sympathy to pick on a poor kid.
Dave |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I don't recall anybody ever saying anything derogatory about an Ovation I was playing. That's one of the advantages of hanging out with non-musicians who know nothing about guitars. I'm playing a three hour pubic solo gig next Friday and plan to use the Tak EF75J exclusively. I wonder if anybody will comment on it? |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I don't spend any time worrying about what other people are thinking.... So how do you find the skips? Ouija board? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Ovations were fashionable in the 70s, when I got my first one, but "traditionalists" didn't like "plastic" backs. Bell bottoms and miniskirts were fashionable, too. Ovation has increased its presence dramatically since then, and bell bottoms have come back. The other day I saw the shortest miniskirt ever. Good things never go out of fashion. |
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| I just shrugged and played stupid (which isn't hard t'do).----the story of my life |
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Location: Sun City, California | When they give me the money to buy the guitar, then I'll listen to them! :p
There are a bunch of people that do look at the logo on the headstock which is really silly. I own Larrivees, Seagulls, Epiphones and Ovation and each guitar brings its own flavor to the mix. |
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Location: Tampa, FL | I started playing about 4 years ago. I have a neighbor who downgraded my Ovation Collectors. I sold it because I didn't know better. Now I'm looking for one.
I don't know very much about Ovations, but I do know that I miss the 2003 Collectors I bought from Musicians Friend for $675. Only may have been beaten by the Martin JC-16GTE I repaced it with for the same price.
But, I'd take either of them back in a heartbeat. And, I own one of the best bargains in the history of guitars: Tak EF75S.
There's usually some ignorant fool who displays their limited knowledge when they talk negatively about a guitar.
I don't care what type of guitar it is as long as any of the guitarists I respect can pick it up and make it sound good. If they can do it, it ain't the guitar's fault someone else can't.
Regards,
Mark |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | My son's musician friends used to come by my house and make fun of my O's when they were in a group. But, when they come by themselves they can't wait to play them plugged in (since that's all they know).
Just let the critics play one, most of them probably haven't. They may change their minds, if not, they won't change mine. |
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Location: Up North | BegginJM hit it on the head. Most of the O critics haven't even picked one up, let alone played one. But they'll tell you "yeah Ovations sound thin or muffled" or some other crap that some other lemming told them.
"Let the Music Do the Talkin" |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by noah:
"stephenT28 made something close to this statement; if it looks good, feels good, sounds good, and speaks to me..."
wasn't he describing dates back in college? WOW....miss a couple days on the board because I am actually working and look at the abuse I get! :rolleyes: |
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Location: Stratford, Connecticut | I hate people that play Carlo Robelli guitars. The guitars are FINE.. it's the people I despise... they get all cocky. Hahahahahahaa!
Sorry.. had to goof! God bless us all....
Everyone....
MJK |
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Location: Reno, NV | Hey... That kinda sounds like your average BMW driver. :-) |
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| I do a Solo thing now along with a Duo when it is requested and am working on a Trio where I play Bass. The few solo gigs, that I take to help my Partner who does this stuff for a living and needs me to help cover some gigs for him, are a lot of fun. I bring the three Adamas Cannons with me and play music from Zep, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Young, CSN, Dire Straits, Supertramp, Petty, Kenny Loggins, America and even a Yes medley I am enlarging all the time and a Who medley. I have only played out so far "solo" 5 times. Each time I have had more than one conversation about my guitars. Always pleasant and always the comments are along the lines of total amazement! I am pretty sure I have sold at least one or two Ovations now...... These guitars are so beautiful and still so completely different than anything else out there they get attention. The sound is second to none for me. Never had one bad comment yet. Now for the Duo that I have done now about 30 times or so I am always getting the same kind of people talking to me about the Ovations. Aaron (my partner) has two beautiful and fairly expensive Taylor 815's I personally love the way they sound and play but he very rarely gets comments on his guitars but he makes up for it by being the best dam guitarist I have ever worked with anywhere. His comments are usually from people signing up for guitar lessons. But his guitars are just guitars to the audience. Everyone likes my singing and the appreciate my being able to fill out Aaron's guitar work but it is the Ovations themselves that get the most attention for me. Now Aaron attracts a lot of local musicians as well because of his talents and I have been told by a few guys who play that the ovations sound better than they were told they did. Here it is 2007 and people who are musicians are still listening to the "Ovations are bad sounding Crappy Plastic Guitars Bullshit" insted of trying them out. They obviously do not want to deal with the opinions of other musicians........Whimps......! I am totally amazed that the multihole design of these guitars that has been a round since the 70's is still something a lot of people have never seen. ?? I don't get it. By the way Aaron used to be a real traditionalist about acoustic guitars but these Adamas's have brought him around. He now respects, at least, the Higher end Ovations for what they are.........great great american made guitars!
Enjoy
Randy
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Posts: 382
Location: USA | Nope...not at all.
In fact its always a topic of conversation.
I am very surprised to see how many know and dont know what kind of guitars they are. :cool:
I get quite the respone on how sweet they sound live. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | NORTHCOUNTRY Could n`t be more Right about this,overhere ,many Illiterates have never seen a multi-hole before,and at times they are " amazed" that they sound "like real guitars"...NORTH ,I could not have put it better myself...
( quoting NORTH ).." Here it is 2007 and people who are musicians are still listening to the "Ovations are bad sounding Crappy Plastic Guitars Bullshit" insted of trying them out." ..
Go Figure....
Vic :cool: |
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Location: Australia | I years past I must say it used to annoy and perhaps even intimidate me a little when people would look down their nose at my Ovations.
....I have since learned that most people don't know what they're talking about when it comes to Ovations. Most have never played more than one or two and the rest approach playing one with the preconception that it couldn't possibly sound good anyway.
Now days I couldn't care less. I'll stack my 47RI up against most anything. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | When you live down under, Richard, everyone looks down on you no matter what guitar you play.
Stephen, that will teach you to work. |
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| I did a presentation on how music relates to math for an easy grade on a math project this year. It was extremely confusing and I'm pretty sure it just went by their heads.
Then I played Bramfatura by Joey Eppard, since I had my 1778t and they would've asked me to play something. It's a crazy song and I can play it all but a couple parts I play sort of wrong.
Anyway, after all that, one girl raised her hand and I thought she was going to ask a question or tell me that I suck at playing, but she said "I like your guitar." |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
I'm playing a three hour pubic solo gig next Friday ... "pubic"!! Try and keep it on topic, Prof. :D |
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Location: Budd Lake, NJ | My occasional times of playing out is bluegrass, with a group my husband helped start. Since I can't play lead on guitar, I don't get much attention. But, since Jewel is blingy (she's a Custom Elite LX) she gets a bit of attention just based on her looks; so, I always offer a chance to play her, and the main comments she gets are, "I can't believe how easy it is to play," "This has such great action," "How much did you pay for it?" (And while they're noodling around on her, I'm trying out theirs--and I hardly ever find one that plays as easily as she does.) I don't know if anyone's bought an O because of it, but Jewel has changed some perceptions.
--Karen |
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Location: SoCal | I was kinda surprised that last week. I walked into my local GC (in Lake Forest for you local folk) and ended up talking with a sales guy named Simon. The 1627 RI had sold and we were talking about what a good guitar it is. He's owned Ovations in the past. I was telling him about the OFC guitar. He actually requested that when I get it, I bring it in so he can play it! We're going to a/b it against the rest of the store.....
Somebody in a GC who had an appreciation for Ovations. Can the end of the world be far behind? |
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Location: Madison, WI | I've done countless studio sessions . . . and more than once the engineer has come up to me and said "hey, I've got a martin/taylor/etc in the back room, it just needs new strings . . . waddiya say, if you got a spare set of strings you can play a real guitar!"
Nope, sorry, dont have any. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | A few times I've been looked down on for NOT playing an Ovation.
Funny how that works. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | :) interesting twist |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It's true. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by cwk2:
for NOT playing an Ovation.... Cliffs opinion doesn't count. |
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Do people look down on you for playing Ovations?