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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Closest bracing illustration that I can find is quintad which is north/south bracing with an east/west brace found on Adamas and Ovation Elite. This quitar has no east/west cross brace. 9 braces north/south.
Appears to be AA spruce top but plays like an AAA. Similar to a 1537 but not as 'woody' (slightly brighter).
The quitar was a test for the thin line saddle. Illustrations of bracing do not show it.
Why? Was this bracing used in a production model?
Edited by Tony Calman 2014-10-29 1:49 AM
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Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2320
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Did a brief Google search. Answer appears to be right here on OFC.
See: http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=34824&... |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I went to the link to review the post again...yes, a surprise that there were more than the one Garris 1991 prototypes made. Appears that the poster and my guitar were platforms for the thin line. Unknown is the pre-amp for the other guitar (Bill said he believed my guitar had a Fishman and it definately does not appear to be an Ovation). Doubt it if was unusual to use more than one 'basic' Elite or Center hole model to test certain changes. For comparison, very possible that more than one guitar was used.
However, what we do not know of the other guitar is the bracing...mine definitely does not have any cross bars/support that is seen in the Elite models. Just north/south braces. Again, was this ever used in any production models?
All I can say is that visually the top on mine is probably AA. It does not have a floating fretboard yet stands tall against the 1537 I have now or the other one that I sold. They sound a little different, only way I can describe it is the 1537 is the tenor and the 1718-X is the alto. 1537 sounding like we have discussed as 'woody' with the 1718 just a little brighter. I project that my guitar's bracing made up for the quality difference in the tops and the lack of a floating fretboard. Yet, thirteen years later, no problem.
Possible that the bracing on my guitar didn't go into production due to concerns that the cross bracing was needed for support of the top.
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Joined:
August 2013
Posts: 4
| Hi! I'm one of the other people with this guitar. I can't tell you much more than is already here. I will tell you that trying to price this guitar has been a nightmare. No one wants to price it. No one. So, it's tough to get insured. They seem confused and can't find that much information on it. But, if you call Corner Music, you might be able to get a bit more information. Larry Garris should be able to dig up more info on the guitar for you. I'm in the LA area myself and getting ready to really, truly, finally sell the guitar. It's really wasting away in my hands presently. It needs a new home.
Edited by JL Fields 2016-01-16 5:05 PM
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Price it like an elite from the same time frame. Maybe a touch less. It was supposed to be the same as an elite, but the episode were made from fewer pieces. Why it doesn't have a cross brace, I don't know. The whole thing about the Garris was the thin line pickup to get a more acoustic sound acoustically. In the end it never took off but that was probably cause it was so close to an elite and there were other things going on. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Whatever, my 'Garris' is strong, subtle, balanced...more like a sister to my 1537 (both guitars that I got from Beal).
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | They were a bit "better" sounding. A little more lively than the standard elite but I attribute that to the big pickup/saddle that always seems to soak up some of the brightness which is why I went to the the line for that guitar. |
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1718-X 'Garris' bracing
