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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 11
Location: Israel | I just came across a '70 USA made Applause (I think it's an AA14 but not sure) which sounds great (though I couldn't really check it out seriously as all strings were very old), and have the chance to get it for about 200$.
Any info about this guitar will be appreciated,
is it as good as the other Ovations of that era ?
I currently play a '84-'85 Korean made Ultra 1517 which is more than great but I wonder how better is that applause...
Looks exactly like these ones:
http://www.l-wise.co.jp/MP/applause-aa14-4.jpeg
http://home.cogeco.ca/~gear/cg/appl_1.jpg |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Hi, gilwe, I own a AA14 EXACTLY like the ones pictured....I bought it new in 1977 for $150. It is considered a cheap guitar, not as good as the Ovations of that vintage, although there was a Ovation-brand equivalent, the Matrix.
Now, the sound....it sounds pretty darn good for the money(they are only worth $100 to $150 in the U.S.). I would not be afraid to put mine up against any new guitar worth up to $500 sound-wise. I played a used one at a shop this afternoon with cracks in the top and it still sounded very good.
It probably is NOT better than your Ultra, though. Good luck deciding. If YOU think it's worth $200, I'd go for it.
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Ovation 1777-NAT Legend 6-string |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 11
Location: Israel | Thanks,
Yah, that one has crack on the rear of the headstock as well... and it looks well used but feels just great, even better than my Ultra !
a real vintage. I wonder how it sounds amplified, couldn't see any active circuit is that a passive pickup ?... I think 100$ will be a very good price to have it. The guy who owns it does not play it at all and actually claims he doesn't like it too much so it's a good chance to have it !
... and look what I find here ... 20$ ??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3708876612&category=2385#ebayph otohosting |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | gilwe, the auction isn't over yet!!! :D It will probably go for around $100.
That bothers me about the crack in the rear of the headstock. The headstock and rear of the neck is made of a foam material and I don't know what that would do to the structural integrity. I'd check how firm it seems before buying it.
The AA14 has NO electronics....NOTHING! Pure acoustic.
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Ovation 1777-NAT Legend 6-string |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 11
Location: Israel | The one I saw has a jack. I guess it's an amplified AA14 style applause. The cracks are in the finish and don't seem to effect tuning and such. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I forgot, they did make them...I have a friend who has one!!!!
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Ovation 1777-NAT Legend 6-string |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 11
Location: Israel | So is it a passive pickup in there and how does your friend's sound ? |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Don't know anything about the pickup, never looked at it. I presume it is the same as other Ovations products from the early 80s(when he bought it). Also never heard him play it plugged in, so I don't know how it sounds.
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Ovation 1777-NAT Legend 6-string |
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How good are the Applause AA14's ?
