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January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Ok, I know there have been a lot of posts about this guitar, but I just have to shout it from the roof tops - THIS IS THE BEST OVATION I'VE EVER PLAYED. I now am the happy owner of number 254. And the best thing is I was able to buy it from a local music store (Huber Breese), plus they beat the price of the big chain stores!
It had just arrived and was a virgin, never on display. The sales person brought the case out of the store-room, as we opened the case I was all teary-eyed at the beauty of the thing, that and the auto-body shop scent of fresh plastic resins. Reminds me of the smell of my first Ovation 1111 that I bought when I was 15.
Admittedly the looks are a bit understated, but classy. I love the high-grade Ebony finger board and bridge. The Englemann top on mine has a couple of darker grain streaks near the outer edges that I am not crazy about, but most tops I see these days have such lines. Mine also has a bit of the mystery orange – yellow stain on the binding, I am sure it will clean up easily.
But the sound!! Like I found religion! Rings like a bell, unlike any other Ovation I have strummed. Hard to describe, but clear and sparkling, while also commanding a solid powerful bass. I was also looking at a Martin 000-16CE Aura, and the 2005 C made the Martin sound like a cigar box banjo. (The Martin was killer plugged in, but so was the 2005C).
The frets were all perfectly dressed and rounded. The neck and binding are finished smooth like glass. Beautiful action right out of the box, no buzzes or flat spots.
I don’t know if it’s the Englemann or the contoured bowl, or what, but the sound is just incredible. I couldn’t risk letting it slip by, a great guitar for a great price from a local merchant. The VISA card never knew what hit it. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I was waiting for BrianT to arrive at the Now & Zen Cafe for our open mic outing. In he strolls carrying his OHSC. He sets it on the coffee table and we exchange greetings. With his best poker face he opens the case. I expect to see his Adamas but NO!!! Out comes this thing of beauty!
And best of all... he let me play it!!
The new bowl feels great. You can reeeeally feel the vibration on your ribcage. I love the gloss neck. And this guitar looks and sounds great. Next to the 2005, my AD-II looks a little overdressed but wow...when they are both strummin'...lookout. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | BrianT - Glad you found your "thing". You may want to call it something other than "Relegion". Thrust me on this ...
Whatever you call it, 2005 is a VERY darn nice guitar. I bought mine with the full intention of keeping it until the end of the year and then re-selling it. I dunno anymore ... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | "Thrust me on this?" |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 234
Location: Phoenix, AZ | Originally posted by BrianT:
... I don’t know if it’s the Englemann or the contoured bowl, or what, but the sound is just incredible. As there's more and more 2005 Collectors out there, I'm hoping someone can A - B with a Custom Legend LX. Diffs seem to be Englemann vs. AAA and the contour bowl vs. "new" Lyrachord bowl.
Altho, we may have to wait until there's more Custom Legend LX's out there. I've only heard of a few in peoples' hands. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | I've never seen a Custom Legend LX, but I've played a few 1777 Legend LX's. If the formula holds true, the only non-cosmetic differance between a Legend and a CL is the grade of the top. Even then many will agree that an AAA top looks better but may not sound any better.
Anyway as much as I like the new 1777 LX, to my ears this new 05C is significantly better sounding than the LX's I've played. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | As mentioned in another thread, "soft scrub" should remove the yellow/orange on the binding. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | WOW.....BrianT and both I "FIND RELIGION"!!!!! (LOL!!!!) I am now the happy owner of number 388 from our local GC. GC beat the price of the chain stores for me, also, but this is the third O I have bought there, and they know me there(I sure am there enough).
Mine does NOT have any discoloration on the binding as others have mentioned. I checked it for intonation and pre-amp function before buying it, no twisted neck on this one.
The good news is that BrianT can now compare with Brad's Al DiMeola (which IMHO, is very very close in sound quality).
I can't believe that the Custom Legend LX would sound better than the 2005 C with new strings and equal setup. Just my opinion. I've played several Legend LXs.
Roger
"The Toybox":
1976 Applause AA-14-4 6-string
1978 Ovation Legend 1617-4 6-string
1981 Ovation Glen Campbell 1118-1 12-string
2001 Adamas Melissa Etheridge MERB 1598 12-string
2002 Ovation Collectors Edition no. 120 6-string
2003 Ovation Legend 1777-4 6-string
2004 Ovation Balladeer S771C 6-string
2005 Martin 000-16RGT 6-string
2005 Ovation Collectors Edition no. 388 6-string |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Here is a pic of BrianT's 2005 on it's first night out.
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 266
Location: Tampa, Florida | Love my 2005. It really is a great sounding, feeling, and playing guitar. It's interesting in the pic above to see the 05 sitting perp. to the floor while the ADII is "rollin up". Kind of shows how the 05 just settles in so nicely. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Here is one more.
Notice the color of the tops. My AD-II is one year old and already shows some slight darkening of the top.
Almost off topic but not quite. Our light oak dining table is 2 years old. When I added an extension leaf I was surprised just how much the table had darkened. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 110
Location: Peoria, Illinois | The photo of the 2 players in this post is very interesting. The position of the guitars, as noted by zchord, says a lot about the contour bowl. I have been looking for a 12 string s-shallow bowl, but perhaps I should wait for a contour bowl 12-er. |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| You guys could be twins. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Here you go, Jim...
Let us know how it plays! |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Jim:
Wait for a contoured bowl LX 12. You'll be glad you did. If you can't wait, get a regular LX 12 now. Excellent guitar acoustically, great plugged in. Very comfortable. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Anyone know if there are any immediate plans for a contour bowl 12 string, or is this something we'll have to wait a while for?
I STILL have yet to see/hear an LX 12 string.
Johnny |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | They are few and far between. The best description I can think of regarding the LX 12's, unplugged, is smooth. They sound and play like buttah. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I really liked the 12-string LX that I played, exept for the pumpkin color (gag!). But played and sounded very nice. No official plans for contour bowl 12-string. But everyine who has played the 05 Collector has conme to the same conclusion - The Standard Bowk Is Dead! |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | What's a "Bowk"? And you described it a a standard. Does that mean that there's a deluxe "bowk"? And is the deluxe "bowk" dead or alive? Do they make good pets? |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 110
Location: Peoria, Illinois | I have an LX 12-string (the pumpkin color referred to above!), that was made for Guitar Center. I can tell you that it is a winner. Very rich tone (unplugged), wonderful construction, great action and playability. If they do this with the contour bowl, it will be an even better instrument.
By the way, I like the color (Orange Burst). Has a nice vintage vibe to it. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | "I am making a concerted effort to address the complexity of the "bowk" phenomenon from a socio-behavioral and psychological point of view. My overarching objective is to find solutions to bowk in a traditionally conservative environment that usually does not encourage dialogue and exploration with politically charged and sexually related topics."
Leakhena Nou, PhD, - University of Cambodia
any help? |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
What's a "Bowk"? And you described it a a standard. Does that mean that there's a deluxe "bowk"? Here's a "deluxe" 1 finger salute! You know its bad when even your friends start turning on you. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 234
Location: Phoenix, AZ | Originally posted by Waskel:
"..... My overarching objective .... Not to change the subject, but, what is an "overarching objective"? Can such an objective be cured with arch supports? Or, is the "h" silent so it would be pronounced "overarcing"? Damn; I feel so inadequate when the subject of bowks comes up. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Heck if I know - he's Cambodian...
might mean he's trying to get to the bowks by reaching over the top of the 'deep bowel' Ovations. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Paul Moody...Private investigator by night, frustrated, proof-reading English teacher by day. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | In both capacities, I look for the truth..... |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | The Legend LX 12-string is absolutely wonderful....my local GC has one (in the "pumpkin color") right now. The only OFCer I know that has one is Folklore....he got his there. I know he is very happy with it.
I played the one at GC for my wife last Sunday and she thought it sounded very much like my Glen Campbell 1118 12-string and not so much like my Melissa Etheridge 12-string.
Roger |
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My turn to rave - 2005 Collectors - Found Religion