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November 2011
Posts: 205
Location: seattle, wa | I bought an Ovation 1113-4 in the late 70's. I kept it for a long time, selling it in 2003 when, I bought a Martin nylon string crossover I just had to have. Now, I liked the Martin and I kept it for 10 years and sold it for the same price that I paid new. I can't complain about the value since I doing about a gig a week or more and it showed on the guitar.
I sold the Martin because I was fortunate to obtain a mint Ovation 1116-4 from a fellow member on trade. To be honest, I really didn't know what I was going to do with it and for a while, I tried to sell it. All the while, I found I was playing it more and more.
I do not play classical music but I do play just about anything else. I use my long thumb nail to generate a heavy, alternating bass and 2 or 3 fingernails on the trebles. I hit them pretty hard.
My 1116 was joined by a 1613 a few months later and have become my main giging guitars. The playability is fantastic. They punch out a tone and volume that is getting compliments from our audiences and even my fellow band members who , at first, were mortified.
I removed the scratchy electronics from the 1613. I didn't like the weight and I prefer to play in front of a Sure Beta mic.
These are deep bowl guitars and as such, they are louder than mid bowl Country Artist crossover Ovations, I've had over the years. They have a flat fret board and a 2" nut. There is a inch difference in the scale length on my 2 guitars but, it has little effect on the playability and I would recommend either one.
These nylon string Ovation guitars can be had for very reasonable prices and I would urge anyone looking for a nylon or classical guitar to give them your consideration. The pair I have do not have any top finish cracking and the necks and action are perfect. The action can be lowered without any buzzing to very comfortable heights and they have the quickest, most playable necks I have ever found.
If I was to stumble on another one, I'd buy it.
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Posts: 4227
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I've always liked the Ovation nylons. So much so that eventually, I had a custom one built for me. I tend to prefer the narrower neck of the crossovers, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at the classicals either. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I rarely play my 1713, but got it out the other night, tuned it up, (it's about the only one of my Ovations that doesn't stay in tune) and played it for a few minutes. Long enough for me to fall in love with it again. Someone who likes the sound of a classical or flamenco guitar might not like the Ovation Classic sound, but I like the extra bass and fuller sound. |
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November 2011
Posts: 205
Location: seattle, wa | my new 1763 arrived this week. I call it new because it looks like it was made yesterday. this guitar has the newer matte finish neck and is a beautiful, loud guitar. the op24 p/u sounds better than the one on my 1613(this was not too hard). to be fair, the 1613 is quite a bit older and I eventually removed the p/u because it was scratchy and it pop'd when I adjusted it.
there are no cracks in the finishes of my 3 classicals. I wonder if this is a problem only with the steel string models.
Edited by john bange 2014-04-12 10:42 AM
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 DSC_0253_zpsd1fdd339[1].jpg (84KB - 1 downloads)
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 205
Location: seattle, wa |
Edited by john bange 2014-04-12 10:42 AM
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Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 187
Location: Florence,SC | If you ever get a chance to play an early 1113 with a shiny bowl, I think you'll fall in love with it. Aside from the shiny bowl, it has a rounded ends bridge (referred to as a "tootsie roll" bridge" and no curly-Q at the end of the fret board. The sound is much brighter and clearer than its standard back brothers. Just my opinion of course.
https://picasaweb.google.com/104438985841197287375/Ovations#57243832...
https://picasaweb.google.com/104438985841197287375/Ovations#57243833... |
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November 2011
Posts: 205
Location: seattle, wa | that's a beauty |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 205
Location: seattle, wa | Pine, cedar, and spruce tops...different scale lengths...all three have very different voices |
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March 2002
Posts: 15665
Location: SoCal | john bange - 2014-04-12 8:20 AM
there are no cracks in the finishes of my 3 classicals. I wonder if this is a problem only with the steel string models.
It' a problem with people who don't take care of their guitars....... |
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Joined:
May 2011
Posts: 758
Location: Muenster/Germany | I had a 1613 and a 1624, both great sounding guitars with incredibly low action, the only thing I had to criticize that they had no radiused fingerboard for the steelstring-player. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | John,
Look up "Spanish Pine". I think it's just another type of cedar, so the 1613s and 1713s were really close. It really is amazing how many different versions of Ovations they made. |
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Ovation classical guitars
