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Location: Phoenix AZ | I'll post photos later today, but I just couldnot wait to tell everyone about this guitar. Model K1111-4 Balladeer reissue. I was really luke-warm to the whole idea of the shiny bowl reissues. Glad that they were doing it, but since I own the originals I really didn't have a lot of interest in the reissues. As luck would have it last week a few things fell into place and all of a sudden I had a shiny bowl Balldeer reissue on my hands. Short summary - I can not believe how friggin nice this guitar is. WOW. What a piece of workmanship.
This is as good a reproduction as you could ever imagine. Believe me, I'm comparing it side by side with the original and I just can't believe how they did this. OK, let me say up front that there are 2 discrepencies. The peghead angle is the modern 11degress, not the original 14 degrees. This was necessary because the 14 degree pegheads break off if you look at them funny. The other thing is that the peghead face is light wood tone, not the almost-black of the originals. Not sure why they did this, I guess the light wood actually does look better but it's just not original. But that's IT. Every other aspect of this guitar is dead nuts like the original. Even little details. The 5 ply body binding isn't white, it's an aged yellow-ish white just like a 40 year old guitar should be. The inlaid chainlink and grapes rosette is beautiful. Shiny bowl of course perfect. Kluson box tuners just like the original. Even the neck is the wide skunk stripes like the old ones, not the newer narrow plys. The 5 point rosewood bridge is especially nice, they even did the little ramp steps like the old ones not just a straight plane. Very very nice. The three piece top is beautifully matched. In future I would definately order 3-piece tops on my guitars, it just looks so cool. Even little details like the angle of the fretboard edge at the soundhole is exactly like the original. I just can't even out in words what a nice, nice job they did on this guitar.
The sad thing is, I doubt they will really sell many of these. Who wants an acoustic only, no-bling guitar with a shiny bowl that slips off your knee? Well, of course ME and a few other ovation homos around here. But so what. So how does it SOUND? Freaking-mother-of-abalone WONDERFUL. Better than the original. I don't know how they do it, but it just freaking sings. I honestly only bought this because it was a smokin' deal and I figured it would be cool to compare it to the originals, play around with it for a few months, and then sell it for close to what I paid. But, this will be HARD to part with. I may need to install another permanent guitar hanger for this one. Guitars that I once thought were the "standard", just keep getting knocked down a notch. Huge compliments to Ovation for 1) having the balls to even TRY such a reissue, and 2) for pulling off an absolute WONDER with the execution. This is definately one of their shining achievements.
Dave |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Dave
Excellent review. It's posts like this that really set this site apart. Looking forward to the pics.
Dave |
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Location: Paris/France | Dave,
Congrats and thanks for this complete review.
Not sure to buy one but after your words, I will think about it... ;)
J :) |
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Location: ranson,wva | i love the looks of a shiny bowl....jason |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Hmmm, I find this VERY interesting. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I spent some real quality time with this last night. WOW. I didn't even notice that the headstock has the fat lip and slightly different taper that was used back in the those days. What an amazing re-creation. Dave |
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Location: Flushing, MI | Hey Dave, thanks so much for that great review! I can't wait to try one for myself. It's probably no coincidence that the best sounding Ovations (or any acoustic for that matter) have no electronics on them (IMO). Just plain and simple acoustics. I wonder how they mic up?
I finally got fed up with the sound of my CS257, with the OP24+ electronics, and I've gone back to using my ricketty old Legend and Matrix with no electronics, with the trashy Dean Markley Pro Mag Grand soundhole pickup on gigs. It's not better or worse - just different.
Huge compliments to Ovation for 1) having the balls to even TRY such a reissue, and 2) for pulling off an absolute WONDER with the execution. Here here! |
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Location: Las Vegas, Nevada | What Dave said. He's right and really understated how cool the guitar is. I played one at NAMM in January and was amazed. I am going to buy one sometime soon as acoustics without the electronics are what I like most. This one has tone, tone, tone. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Finally got around to taking some photos.
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Location: France | Wow, the guitar looks amazing. Thanks for sharing Dave.
What about the josh white reissue Dave?
Tom |
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Location: SoCal | I wonder whether Ovation used the original truss rod system in the neck or did they put in the new ANS system? It's something I've been wondering with my 1627 reissue.....
One of the very neat things about these reissues (and newer Ovations in general) is how light they are compared to the guitars with the K-Bar in them. I'm finding that I really like that lightness... |
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Location: Paris/France | Dave,
It's a wonderful guitar!!!
Thanks for these pics.
J :) |
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| Beautiful - and a great review. How does it sound miked up? |
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| And which neck profile is it? |
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Location: SoCal | My GC reissue has a V profile, and there's a modern lump back where the headstock and neck meet. I've got no problem with it as it adds strength where it's needed.... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | The balladeer is the same profile as the original. Some call it a soft C. Everything about the neck is a perfect reproduction. I've to take some more photos. Event the headstock lip is a fat profile just like the orig. shiny bowls. The only descernable difference anywhere on the guitar is the peghead angle and the lighter finish on the headstock face. Mic'ed up or to your naked ears she sounds WONDERFUL. Dave |
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Location: Orange County, California | Originally posted by Tupperware:
The sad thing is, I doubt they will really sell many of these. Who wants an acoustic only, no-bling guitar with a shiny bowl that slips off your knee? Well, of course ME and a few other ovation homos around here....
Dave To whom sir, are you referring?! :mad: |
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November 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Canada | That's one beautiful guitar. Ovations are great plugged in but I can personally attest to the beautiful acoustic sound of an old-style deep bowl guitar. Cool that Ovation themselves obviously concur 100%. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by mtnbikerfred:
Originally posted by Tupperware:
The sad thing is, I doubt they will really sell many of these. Who wants an acoustic only, no-bling guitar with a shiny bowl that slips off your knee? Well, of course ME and a few other ovation homos around here....
Dave To whom sir, are you referring?! :mad:
This is a VERY appealing guitar to me... if I didn't already have the FD14, I'd have one of these. I'd have a JW reissue too. |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Dave;
Throw a bone bridge saddle on there and it will go toe to toe with almost anything you have. I did that to my original '67 and it's now a little cannon.
I also love the somewhat beefy neck profile of the shiny-bowl O's...I am glad they reproduced that feature as well. Is your guitar the one that was on EBay?
Wayne |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Yup, it was the one on ebay. Dave |
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Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | What's a good going rate for one of these new?
Thanks,
BB/Goob |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Dave, on the originals the walnut darkens and mahogony gets lighter over time. Glad to hear they got it so right. Maybe you could get your review in Acoustic Guitar? |
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K-1111-4 Balladeer Shiny Bowl Reissue