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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 95
Location: Monroe, Ohio (Cincinnati) | Hi All,
I have read some previous posts about the Tangent series and know I am at risk here, but before pelting me with wrath keep in mind I am an uneducated Applause owner.
Went to the big Sam Ash store in Cincinnati over the weekend and looked at Ovations. Here is the inventory; 1-Adamas 6 string, 1-Adamas 12 string, 1-S771, 2-Tangents, 8-10 various Applause and Celebrity models.
Played pretty much 1 of each type. Of course the Adamas guitars were the best of this lot, but out of my price range. (BTW One sadly had a broken battery cover)
Liked the S771 both acoustically and plugged in.
(Plugged all into a Guitar Research AC-30R Acoustic Combo Amp) It is also my style aesthetically.
The rest were less than impressive.
Here is why I am asking about the Tangent:
1. I have two Seagulls which have a similar warm sound, and aesthetically look similar to the S771, so I thought I might like something different.
2. I would almost exclusively play this guitar plugged in with our P&W band, which leans toward a Rock style, and plugged in, although a different sound than the S771, I thought it sounded pretty good.
3. My 8 yr old daughter has recently said she would like to learn guitar and I thought the shallow bowl would be easier for her to play and to her would look cool(gnarly?, rad?, whatever word they use now).
4. Our P&W band has played for quite a few Youth Retreats in the last year and I thought it might be more visually attractive to the Youth.
5. I also liked the OP30 Preamp.
Questions,
1. What is the difference between the T257 and the T357?
2. I believe I saw that the Tangent has a solid spruce top, am I mistaken?
3. Is the Tangent looked down upon mostly because,
a. It isn't manufactured in the U.S.
b. It doesn't look like wood.
c. It is manufactured poorly.
d. It is found by most to be ugly.
e. It's sound is poor when plugged in.
(I know it doesn't sound great
acoustically, but I can't say I have
personally really liked the sound of any
shallow bowl guitar acoustically.)
f. All of the above.
4. Is it possible that my Applause 14-4 with the aluminum neck has a solid top? (Because I can't tell for sure, but to me it looks like it is solid wood and I thought it sounded better acoustically than any of the Ovation guitars I tried this weekend except for the Adamas models.)
5. Am I crazy? (or is it just late!)
Just thought of a good guitar buyer warning,
"Don't bid on Ebay after your bed time"
OK, let me have it. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15684
Location: SoCal | I honestly don't know if you're going to get any real answers to your questions. There's never been any real discussions of Tangents here aside from some personal opinions on their looks.
If I were you, I'd take a look at Ovation's website and also get one of their catalogs.
Take a look at Harmony Central's review area
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Ovation/
There are several Tangent reviews there. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The Tangents and your old Applause all have laminated tops. If you can deal with the appearance they sound about the same and are constructed as well as the rest of the laminated top imports. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | You seem like your setting yourself up for a scolding and a firm talkin' to about your choice. I think you stated some good reasons why the Tangent might work well for you. I think an LX gives much more bang for the buck. And the Elite LX has an eye catching (rad?) look to it. But...if a shallow bowl is a must...there you go.
Brad |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | In some ways the Tagament is just the Thunderbolt of today (only it IS made overseas for a much better pricepoint). You gotta decide if you want one. There isn't really a wrong choice. Now as far as opinions go about this guitar, well you don't want to hear mine. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | at the risk of sounding like a guitar pimp, I can sell you a demo USA elite T for the same money as a tangent.
But buy whatever will make your daughter happy. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15684
Location: SoCal | Buy Al's Elite T. It's a much better guitar. And while Al is a guitar pimp, he's an honest pimp. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I Owned a Tangent, and I liked the plugged in sound. I really liked the whole motif, but alas, I'm not a surfer. I went and bought an Elite T because it fit me better by how I play which is more UN-plugged.
Like several have said... get the one your daughter likes. the sound will be very similar and quite good I might add, plugged in. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Mark - you seem to have captured the major want/need/feel points rather well. What I see missing is the hands on variety needed to get the big picture. You need to touch and play a legend and an Elite LX, An Elite T and some more vintage O's if you can.
The USA Ovations will deliver:
- a warranty
- Better quality
- a top that will improve with age
Played in and around the "Youths" and they loved all of my O's. They can be nuts too! |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Hey Bill,
I don't know about anyone else, But I'd love to hear your opinion on the Tangent. Go ahead and Fire away..Everyones waiting! :D |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by alpep:
at the risk of sounding like a guitar pimp, I can sell you a demo USA elite T for the same money as a tangent.
But buy whatever will make your daughter happy.
For some reason when I read Al's post, the theme song from 'Shaft' started playing in my head. I'll bet Al even has a purple fur hat with a big white plume in the band!
Can you dig it?
Who's the man that won't cop out when there's Ovations all about
(Al!)
Right on! You can see this cat Al is a bad mother--
(Shut your mouth!)
But I'm talkin' 'bout Al!
(Then we can dig it!)
He's a complicated man, but no one understands him but his guitars
(Al Pep!)
OK, back to the meds...
:cool: |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | You're Damn Right!!
Sorry I was in the theme From Al Pep Mode! :D |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I've stated my opinion here before. Look in the archives. Basically the Tagament is half a step better than My Other aBortion (MOB) which is like fresh runny dog spoo on your new carpet. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I'm in the middle of a UK tour right now & I'm trying to travel as light as possible to save space in the rental car. So rather than take my old deepbowl Legend I pulled a supershallow MOB out of stock, dropped in an Op50 & set it up for slide. So I have my one-of-a-kind Custom Folklore, "book" Mando & the fresh runny MOB with me and it's the MOB which has created the biggest (positive) reaction amongst players in the audiences. Go figure. I may even keep it. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Bill,
I remembered you saying that before, I just liked reading it again! :D |
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Tangent Questions-Danger
