|
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Massachusetts | I apologize for the length, I'm in trouble and depresed....
My 2000 1779 Custom Legend with Optima preamp arrived today. I ONLY HAVE TILL FRIDAY TO RETURN IT. Elderly Music. I needed a mid depth and always wanted a CL.
I have a 2001 S771 Balladeer with the OP24+ and thinline pickup.
I have NEVER been unhappy with the sound of this guitar plugged in and love the versatility of the preamp. I have a stick on Sabine tuner and I'm good to go.
It has been sounding crappy lately plugged and unplugged and 3 brands of strings, 2 guages and different composition don't help.
So I bought a Custom Legend and its new light strings sounds insanely bright uneq'd. I have to severly eq it to get anywhere near the warmth of my S771 UNEQ'd. Eq'd the S771 is still warmer, doesn't overdrive as fast but it the low end is not clear and string seperation is not that clear.
The CL has very clear string seperation has a tad more bass response but the bass is at 90%.
Visually the CL is a stunner, the neck feels a little more finished but smaller and not as comfortable as my S771. I may send it back.
One variable you should know is it is Mediums on the S771 and lights on the CL while I think it is making some difference obviously I think the CL Optima preamp-probably the pup.. is just brighter.
Head to head last years shallow body CL with an optima vs an Adamas with a optima but a different pup...same problem..I could barely eq out the brightness yet the Adamas was warm.
Is it the preamp..I doubt it based on my Adamas test...or is it the pup? Will the new Op 40/50 preamps sound warmer? Those volume knobs look tiny in the pictures do they pop out for use?
This sucks, I always wanted a CL but with less than 2 days to return it I have no options. Music stores were closed by the time I got home and nobody has a middepth CL..hence my Elderly purchase.
Thank you, I apoligize for the wind but I'm depressed. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | You mentioned a shallow bowl CL that you checked out - assume the S771 and the 1779 you are referring to are mid as they are for current models. I have the yr 2000 6759 CL mid-bowl w/Optima which has become my favorite 12-str. Not sure what the problem is - only feedback I can give is that the Optima and the mid-bowl works well on the one 12-str that I have. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I feel your pain bro'. I don't have a solution, though only two suggestions. 1)Is it possible to get a guitar buddy to come over and give you a second opinion? 2)Otherwise escape from work and bring your guitar to a place where you can swap out the pre amp. I see your up against a deadline, though. Tell mr elderly what you're doing, and if he'll give you an extra week, otherwise, ship it back. These things happen. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Corvairfan, I would suggest that you might be bothered by the difference in sound between a S771 Balladeer and a Custom Legend. They DO sound different. I have a cedar-top S771 and a 1777 Legend, and the sound, both acoustically and plugged-in, is VERY different, as is the neck feel.
I played your guitar at Elderly on two occasions when I've been there, there is nothing wrong or different about its acoustic sound, it sounds "normal" for a Legend. Changing to heavier strings will beef up the sound, but it won't change the difference I've heard---it won't make it sound like a Balladeer.
It sounds as though there may be something wrong with your S771. You might want to consider sending the CL back to Elderly, and then using the money to have a luthier look at your S771. Just a thought.
Another thought....last I looked, Elderly had a used spruce-top S771....much cheaper than the CL....maybe swap for that???? Good luck.
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | If I bought a guitar that made me feel "in trouble and depressed" I'd get rid of it immediately while I still could & do some more shopping. Do a little more research before you commit. Easy choice.
/\/\/ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Massachusetts | Thanks for the replies. I will put brand new lights on my s771 tonight and do a real comparison with the same strings.
It is interesting to know that they are supposed to sound different plugged in.
I'm hoping my friend I play with is free tonight for us to play and then I can really put it through its paces feel wise and tone wise and get another opinion.
I definetly need to send my S771 to the factory though.
Thank you all. It is a sweet guitar looks wise, the neck has a great finished feel to it but my Balladeer feels fatter and even a tad wider(it isn't). I've only played one other Balladeer that has this same feel...strange and I have tiny hands..go figure. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Having had an optima and an op50, I definitely prefer the op50. The mid-shift button that the optima doesn't have, gets rid of the "thin-ness" and creates a warmer sound closer to that in my head.Perhaps some would argue, just my .02. If I can help it, I'm staying away from future optima purchases-nothing wrong with them, just not my flavor.
J |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | There does seem to be some mixed emotions toward the Optmima. I do personally Like my OP-40 on my 1858 Elite 12 String, and I like the fact that you have the Mid shift and notch filter in it.
What I do Like about The OP-Pro is the large knob Control. But I do wish that it had just a little more EQ Dynamic to it. i understand that the reason they designed it the way they did was to make a pre-amp easier to operate with less EQ Dynamic to mess with. If you are going into a PA The EQ can be fine tuned at the board. But I think I still Prefer the OP-40 to it.
Just my Opinion. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 396
| If you don't like it, send it back! Based on what you have stated, it doesn't sound like you're going to warm up to it. Take advantage of the return policy and begin shopping again. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Massachusetts | Sadly, I'm sending the Custom Legend back.
I put medium strings on it to beef it up and it helped a little unplugged but still a tad tinnier than the balladeer with lights.
Plugged in the medium gauge helped but I still could not eq in any warmth.
Scary thing is, Ovation also promotes this pup/preamp as being hotter than others. This preamp on full was as loud as my 0p24+ on half. I swapped batteries too.
The Optima is more naturally acoustic sounding though for strumming but for leads, I want more depth.
I was thinking of having Ovation put a new gloss top on my Balladeer to dress up my dinged satin top. Now I'm freaking out figuring it could change the tone for the worse. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 116
Location: Freeport, IL | Hey,
Check out a Viper EA68 - seriously. It will make you smile and sound better than you deserve to sound.
Jon Van Gilder
Vipered in Illinois |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | corvairfan, I wouldn't do ANYTHING to the top of your S771 if you like the sound. You do run a risk of changing the sound such that you won't like it. I personally prefer the sound of a matte-top guitar over gloss. Maybe you do, too.
I'd 1) get your S771 looked at for repair, and/or 2) look for another guitar, such as suggested above.
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 795
Location: Texas | Find an old Adamas textured top and buy it.
Serge
www.sergiolara.com ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I heard there was one on ebay..... |
|
| |
Urgent Help...Don't like Optima preamp
