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| Does anyone know when this changed from cedar to spruce and why?
Does anyone know the actual radius of the fingerboard? |
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| That should of course read 6773. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Didn't know the 6773 was ever cedar. Mine is spruce. Fingerbord is flat (no radius). Dave |
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| This is a bit worrying - I had already emailed al to check and he said that it does have a radius. I just thought I would ask here if anybody knew the exact figure. I can't play flat boards no matter how hard I try. Al's getting me a quote on one (they are now only made to order).
Up to 2000 (and maybe a while after) they were listed as S773-4W and had a solid AA cedar top. Even among serious classical players cedar is becoming increasingly common - I just wondered why the big O went in the other direction. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Hi Schroeder, I hate to disagree with Al but I have NEVER seen an Ovation nylon string guitar with anything other than a flat fretboard. And as sure as I can see, feel and measure my 6773 has a flat fretboard. Someone here will know for sure or have a catalog with specs. |
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| standingO - thanks. you may ahve saved me a pile of money. I owe you beer. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | And Al will be emailing me any minute now - "Dave, you cost me a sale!" I know Al well enough that he for sure would not want you buy it if it was not going to meet your expectations. I could be wrong about the flat fingerboard, others here far more expert than I will chime in, but based on all I know and see, the 6773 is flat as a pancake. In fact at one time I entertained the idea of converting a 6774 steel string with 14" radius fingerboard to nylons and was told that I was crazy because a nylon with radiused fingerboard would be an orphaned bastard of a guitar. |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | There was a Country Artist Special that basically was a balladeer version of the country artist. It at one time did have a cedar top.then they supposedly switched to spruce then back to cedar. They now call it a nylon string balladeer. S773-4. |
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| thanks guys. I don't see anything wrong with converting a folklore - seems sensible to me. I think the big O is missing something here - Martin, Wechter and Lakewood (fantastic German guitars) all offer a nylon wider-than-standard-narrower-than-classical radiused board. All in the same price range as the Country Artist. Given that O offer the nylon Balladeer, the classic legend and the classic with 2" flat boards I just assumed that the 1 7/8" board would be radiused. Gl;ad I asked. The other makers all offer theirs as a stock line as well - no special orders and long waits. I found 2 Martins last night with no effort, both with $500 off the list.
I don't know what to do. Suggestions? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | If it was me I would absoltely buy the Martin.
Back to the radiused fretboard - I also considered at one time conversion of a steel stringed folklore (actually a FD14 version) to nylon. What I was told was that the top on the steel stringed guitar is braced in such a way (heavier than a real nylon guitar) that it would not sound very good with the lower tension of nylon strings on it. I'm no expert so I just took the advice as true. Others here would know for sure. |
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Location: SoCal | It's interesting that Ovation started the nylon, slightly wider fretboard, 14 fret to the body, thing, and now don't really even compete in that market any more except with a special order product. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Ovation isn't stupid. Marketing 101 = go where the money is. There's no market in Country Artists, no matter how much some of us may love the guitars. I love ukuleles, but I certainly don't blame Ovation for not aggressively going after the uke market. Dispite the fact that it's only available on special order (limited supply of indian blankets, I guess) the 6773 is a wonderful instrument. |
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Location: SoCal | I'm not arguing your point. I agree with it. I was pointing out the ironey of the situation. |
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Location: Texas | Paul and Dave are right, it is very rare to see Country Artists or any Ovation nylon string guitars in the hands of Pro players out there.
It used to be different years ago, when Ovation was the only way to plug in a nylon string guitar and many top players like McLaughlin, Metheney, and many others played them on tour as their main nylon string guitars for years.
But I know the traditional classical player will always prefer a traditional Spanish style instrument, and will rather use a microphone or attach a pickup to it to amplify it.
I have owned many Country Artist models since the mid 70s, and love them, but have also used many other nylon string instruments live and on record.
The concept of what I call a "hybrid" acoustic guitar; a nylon string with 14 frets and a 1 7/8 neck width was started by Ovation and then a few other Japanese makers who still make them.
Martin makes a 12 fret cutaway nylon, not a 14 fret. Abe Wechter and others make a great nylon/jazz model with 14 frets and narrow nut, but also special order.
Then others like Godin, have taken the concept of a slim body nylon and have really pushed the marketing and now you see them all the time in the hands of many jazz and pop players.
I would say that these are the most popular a/e nylon string guitars, the Godin.
I love the old style 1624 and 1674 Country Artists, they are my favorite Ovation guitars and I play them all the time, and the fact that you seldom see them played, the better for me, but the traditional classical string player and nylon jazz player seems to always prefer a more traditional "look".
But marketing is everything and I do think that there is a market for "hybrid" guitars.
All you need is a very well known player of any style to start playing a Country Artist.
Putting nylon strings on a guitar that is braced for steel strings does not work, I have tried it and not worth it, mainly because of the top bracing.
The radioused fretboard is not a problem, I have 2 nylon string guitars by other makers with radioused boards and play fine, is just a matter of getting used to it.
Blind Lemon Parker :cool:
www.sergiolara.com |
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| al says he got his info from the factory - so it is radiussed. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Schroeder, I'm not trying to be a "know-it-all" and maybe I'm wrong or maybe my 6773 is different than all the rest. But I checked and rechecked and damn it, the fretboard on my 6773 is flat. I took a metal straightedge to it and it's perfectly flat. Here's some photos. Again, Maybe mine is different than all the rest. Although since the very beginning the catalogs have always listed the country artists as flat fretboards. Anyway, here are some comparison photos. All of the flat photos came from my 6773. Dave
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Location: SoCal | I'll double check, but I've probably got one of the more extensive (read that as "anal") catalog collections (can't afford the guitars, can barely afford the catalogs to read about the guitars), and I can't recall anywhere in them where an Ovation nylon string had anything but a flat fingerboard. Regardless of what the factory says. |
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| standingO - again a whole heap of thanks for all your trouble. I'm going to have to ask al to double check this - he emailed me a fantastic quote on Friday and I was about to say yes, but if the board is flat I just don't want it. I'm a jazzer and I play real fast runs top to bottom strings high up the neck. I've tried a trillion times and I just cannot hack a flat board. I know it can be done - I just can't do it. Looks like I'm going to have to try and convince She-who-must-be-obeyed that the guitar I can't live without is a different guitar I can't live without to the one I've been telling her about.
paul.
any info gratefully recieved |
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Location: SoCal | Schroeder, if it is made to order, why can't you specify the board you want? |
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| They make a point on the website about the difference between special order and custom order. Special order is a range of gutars with set specifications which they don't hold in stock but will make within 3 months at a price published in the regular price list. Custom guitars take 6 months and prices are by quote only and I seriously doubt I can afford to go there. Also I'm one of those old fashioned people who saves the money first and orders second - which means once I've saved the cash I want the guitar NOW. I was amazed that I was willing to wait 3 months!
I would also like to say I appreciated serge's input. Perhaps serge could write me a correspondence course on how to play flat boards. My 9 year old son is learning classical and flamenco guitar (he has already won one open competition) and he thinks its hilarious that the old man can't do half of the things he can do on his guitar. Such is the price of fatherhood - it wasn't long ago he thought I was the best guitar player in the world. I was hoping for a couple more years at the top. |
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| al is seriously pissed with me. I may be gone some time. |
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Location: NJ | that is NOT the case.
facts just got confused and I will get the straight answer for you. |
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Location: SoCal | See Schroeder, Now if you disappear, we know Al had nothing to do with it.
You and Al are on the same page working toward the same goal. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | If the 6773 as is does not quite fit your requirements it may be worth finding out what the up-charge would be for the alterations. It may be more reasonable than you think. I mean, it's not a full out custom guitar. Pretty much stock with just a different fretboard and nut. Just a suggestion. I can tell you, the 6773 is a damn nice guitar and waiting 3-6 months isn't the end of the world. It takes time to make those indian blankets, you know. Dave |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Gee whiz,
I haven't seen a good old fashion whacking since I moved from south Jersey...
Al don't you live in... :cool: |
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Location: Midland, MI | (Al is still my favorite Kaman-family dealer!)
Editted for attitude. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Here's an Ovation nylon strung guitar with a radiused fretboard. Dave
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33029&item=7... |
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| That's an interesting bridge and headstock for a classical......
The one thing I have decided is that I am going to get the guitar I want and it's going to have Ovation on the headstock. I may just have to wait until I've got more money.
I don't know how much cash might be involved - anybody know a good dealer I could ask? ;) :p |
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| I just re-read that and I'm not sure I put the right smiley things on the end - it was meant as a gesture of friendship. |
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| A happy ending. I just ordered the guitar of my dreams from al who, needless to say, did me a lot of favours so I could get it.
Now I just have to wait............. :D :D :D :D |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Dude!! Yer getttin' a custom machine! Very cool. I see lot's of inlay, gold leaf, fuzzy dice and some shag carpet.
Glad you got it worked out and you're getting the guitar you really want. This still counts as the axe your wife already approved...right? |
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Location: SoCal | What did you end up ordering? |
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| It's a Country Artist with the oiled neck (Ispecified that just in case any of this new-fangled gloss should accidentally get sprayed my way). It's got a radiussed board and matching saddle (otherwise the middle 2 strings buzz all the way up) and - yes I'm ashamed - it's got marker dots all the way up. I knew that if I didn't order the dots I'd end up using stick-ons or dragging it off to a luthier to get dots put in.
By the way - I ordered it this morning and it's not here yet.
The upcharges were reasonable and then al looked after me like I was his favourite dog and I ended up being able to slide the whole thing past the wife by calling it shipping and insurance. When she gets back from Paris tomorrow I shall confess all and take it like a man.
It still hasn't arrived. You've no idea how bored you guys are going to get with this.
I may stop speaking to people who only have stock machines. ;) |
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Location: SoCal | Very cool. We expect periodic updates, and when it arrives, photos. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Sounds like a happy ending. Dave |
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Location: UK - Canterbury Kent | Schroeder
It is tough having to wait for your new toy to arrive after all the excitment of placing the order.
I ordered my 1778-LX-BCB from the UK importer and it was 12 weeks before I received it. I did'nt know about the OFC or about Al at that time.
Piers
Kent |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | The waiting is the hardest part. Who wrote that? Tom Petty? I just ordered a bit of a custom myself and I'm trying to just put it out of my mind until it arrives. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | 12 fret wide neck Adamas? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | We'll find out in a few months. |
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Location: SoCal | Schroeder:
Let me make one suggestion on your custom order. Ovation is now making a nylon string with a mid depth bowl. My suggestion is not to order that, but in the new Ovation catalog, not what's online at the Ovation webpage, you can see in the picture of it, that it has the same headstock as the 12 fret Adamas. It looks very very cool. Later today, I'll scan a photo of it and email it to you. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Paul,
How did you come by the catalog you are refering to? At a Dealer? I want one |
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Location: SoCal | NAMM. Call Ovation and ask for one. It's the traditional series catalog. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Gracias. |
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Location: The Shop | 6773= flat
6774=radius |
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Location: SoCal | 6773= nylon string
6774= steel string |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | na na na na na na. Sorry man, I COULD NOT resist, I swear. Dave |
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Country Artist 6337