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Posts: 22
Location: Minnesota | New member here.
I was all set to buy a Taylor 814CE. Loved the tone while playing fingerstyle. I missed the low end when playing with a pick however, which accounts for 90% of my acoustic playing. Decided to rethink it.
As it turns out, my aunt owns an ovation that I played quite a bit when I was younger. Synchronicity was such that she happened to bring up the O when I spoke with her a few weeks back and I happened to pull out the Unledded DVD and watched Pagey play his black Elites. Ok, time to look at Os.
Did all the research and was leaning towards the C2078LX. Went to GC over the weekend and played one. Sounded quite good until I played a DiMeola. It sounded so much better. Back to the page here and most seem to think the new 2079 is even better than the ADII. Now I'm confused.
Thinking back, I'm wondering if the DiMeola (salesman said it was a custom order that the customer passed on. What???) had new strings while the 2078 had old ones. Saw a post here saying that the new contour bowls lose tone FAST with old strings.
I have e-mailed and asked Al to give me a quote for a C2078LX-RTD as well as a C2079LX-5.
Since I cannot play the two of them back to back, help me choose. I should also note that I play unplugged 99.9% of the time. Thanks. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by aikido777:
I play unplugged 99.9% of the time. Thanks. Depending on available funds, I would try to grab a #47 ReIssue. |
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October 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Minnesota | Unfortunately, that particular guitar has two strikes against it: 1) Price. The Taylor at just under $3k was the upper end of the budget; and 2) no cutaway. A couple of my absolute favorite acoustic tunes to play go up to the 17th fret during the solos. A cutaway is one thing I'd really like in my nexy acoustic.
I did get to play an Adamas this weekend though. I'm not sure which model. It was amazing with a pick. I didn't like it quite as much fingerstyle though. Outstanding guitar overall. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I was just about to suggest the 1687 reissue when I saw your next post. Best fingerstyle guitar I have is the old 1537, but no cutaway unless you get the 1547. Our GC doesn't ever carry any higher end Ovations, so I haven't compared any with the Taylors they have there. I think the 1537s will stand up to the 814s just fine. I'm sure the AD will too. |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | if the non cutaway wasnt a problme i think a 1114 folklore would be the way to go..jason |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Since to me, either is great, I'd go with the cheapest. |
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Posts: 22
Location: Minnesota | Based on what I've seen so far, there is only about $90 difference between the C2078LX and the C2079LX, with the 2079 being a bit less. One of the things I liked about the Os was what I'll call "tone per dollar spent. In other words, the Os seemd to have more bottem than the Taylors and more highs than the Martins. I just felt it was a better balanced sound at half the price of either the Taylor 814 or Martin DC Auras I was looking at. |
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Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | If you are truly serious, you shouldn't have any problem getting the store to put fresh strings on both guitars. I've done this a couple of times. If you have things narrowed down, ask the store to freshen up the guitars. They are usually happy to do so, and the difference between a gunky wall hanger and a fresh clean guitar can be substantial.
Isn't the ADII a deep bowl, while the 2078 is a contour? If it was me, that would make the decision for me: Contour every time. Whatever subjective differences in tone there might be (which would probably vary from example to example) would be insignificant compared to the comfort of the contour bowl.
My $0.02... |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Minnesota | Omaha,
Yep, the ADII is a deep bowl while the 2078 is a contour. That is why I was surprised at the difference. I am planning on going back and asking them to put new strings on the 2078. Just trying to figure out whether it will be the Custom Elite or the Custom Legend based on hearing the ADII which is basically a Legend.
Also waiting to get my quote from Al. Like I said, "price per tone" I can afford two different Os for the price of one of the others. I can buy the highend O and still have cash left over for a nice amp to go along with it and then bank the rest for another O or Adamas purchase next year. |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | There was a post a while back comp'ing the 2078 and 2079...use the search function and you'll find it pretty quick.
For the most part, you just have to try both and pick which sounds better to you. They're both awesome instruments. Personally, I'd go with the CL, but I'm a fan of the center-hole Ovations a bit (a small bit) over the multi's. On the other hand, if you could get an Adamas instead, that's always a great choice. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Check out the post for the 6773 it the sell/trade section. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Saw a post here saying that the new contour bowls lose tone FAST with old strings . ."
Who the hell said THAT?? |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by cliff:
". . Saw a post here saying that the new contour bowls lose tone FAST with old strings . ."
Who the hell said THAT?? Thats only if you don't keep them in an air tight case. I think I read something to that effect in a previous post. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4071
Location: Utah | aikido, one of my pet peeves is that Guitar Center doesn't keep the strings somewhat fresh on the Ovations. I've gone in and played several very nice O's that have badly corroded strings on them, and they certainly sound like dog$#!^.
Honestly, I would make the choice based on the appearance. Which do you like the looks of best, the traditional round hole or the multi-hole? Which color scheme do you prefer?
They are so close to identical otherwise that it is insignificant really, IMO. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | There should be a small sink installed at the entry turnstiles, and you should be required to wash you hands upon entering the store . . . |
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October 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Minnesota | Not sure where I read about the strings. I spent 2 days on here searching old posts and studying before becoming a member and posting my question. Both Os were hanging in the first acoustic room at GC (high end stuff in the next room). The Elite was hanging way up. The sales guy had to get a ladder to get it down. It certainly was not in its case and I dubt very much it had had anything done with it in a while. The action was still good though.
This is the first USA made Elite I was able to find locally. The Schmitt music store close to where I live had one US made, a 30th Anniversary, great sounding.
I have been unable to play a Custom Legend. The DiMeola they had was as close as I've gotten and I was surprised by how much better it sounded. Even the sales guy said it sounded markedly better than the Elite. As a side not, he also thought it put the Taylor 814 and 914 as well as a rather expensive Martin to shame. The only guitar he thought that was better was the used Petros they had in - which did sound fabulous. Hence my question here.
I have a VERY strong suspicion that the strings on that Elite were toast from being left out on the well for a while whereas the DiMeola's were much fresher only having come into the store more recently.
I think I prefer the multi-hole look over the center hole for not other reason than it is different than most and will probably go with the C2078LX in red tear drop.
Thanks to all for your input! |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | If you liked the idea of a #47 RI but with the cutaway, you could go the route that Jeff W did and special order a near version with a cutaway. It think it was based on a U681 with a #47RI top and a cutaway body. I believe he told me the price he paid and it was well within your range.
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | That IS a sweet guitar!!!
We had LOTSsa fun with it at my house the night before the OFC/NorEaster . . . |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I love free press....
I just moved to lighter strings, Cliff and it has a much more delicate tone. The bass isn't as booming. Still not as ethereal as your slot, however.... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | What strings j'ya go with? . . |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Elixir PhosBronze light. Sounds great. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Sounds great.
Less filling... |
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September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | The decision as to what you buy should be yours alone.
We can all recommend our favourites but you are the one footing the bill and playing the thing.
This has always worked for me. |
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October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Yeah but then when you don't like it there's nobody to blame but...oh, I don't like where this is going... |
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Help Me Choose My New O
