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Location: South of most, North of few | of a classical. What is your preference between a 1613 and an 1116? I know the 1613 has a spainish pine (cedar?) top and a slightly longer scale with double fan bracing, whatever that is, plus it's e/a. The 1116 has sitka spruce top and vt bracing. Any thoughts? |
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Location: NJ | I currently have a (old)1613 visiting w/me, and I absolutely LOVE it!!! |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Cliff, is that indeed a cedar top? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I looked up Spanish pine and it is a cedar. My 1713 looks like a red cedar, but I've never compared it with a 1613. When I asked this board a similar question a couple years ago, I was advised that I'd like the tone of the cedar with the nylon strings. That was good advice. Bill knows what he's talking about. |
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Location: SoCal | Ovation nylon strings are a trade off no matter how you look at them. They will never have the great tone of a true, expensive, all wood classical. But the old deep bowls and newer mid depth bowl LX models do sound reasonable good when played acoustically. They really are stage instruments meant to be plugged in.
When you ask what's better, XYZ or ZYX, first you have to ask the question, what are you looking for and how will the guitar be used. Is it just going to be played at home, or primarily on stage? Do you like a full wide neck or do you want something a little more narrow? Do you need a cutaway? Do you want 14 frets to the body or just 12? Answer these questions, and the guitar you need will become more apparent.
Most of the Ovation nylon strings have cedar tops. The only exception that I can think of would be the old Country Artists which had spruce tops. I'm sure that there were others with spruce tops as well.
For me, I've got a 1773LX. Mid depth bowl, X bracing, 1 7/8" nut, 12 frets to the body, cutaway. It gives me a good acoustic tone, is easy to play, comfortable with a strap, and sounds great plugged in. It meets my needs perfectly. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I am currently in adoption of a 1773LX for one of our UK brothers and I must say that I am very impressed with it. Moody is correct, it does not have the sound of a true classical (I personally like some of the Takamine Hirade guitars) but when you factor in the more playable nutwidth of 1-7/8 and the electronics, this guitar is a real winner. I previously owned a 1613 which was also very nice but not in the same league as the 1773LX in my opinion. But it TOTALLY depends what your expectations are and what you want to do with the guitar. Dave |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Moody, the two I mentioned are both full body, 12 fret, 2" nut, with the only tonal difference being (as far as I can tell) the top material and the brace pattern. (plus the fact that the 1613 is an a/e with the different saddle) I will be playing it mostly at home, but it could see some stage work. I really like the 12 fretters, but I noticed on the O site, that the 1613 has a slightly longer scale. 26 3/16" vs 25 1/4" |
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Location: NJ | I believe the 1613 is cedar.
It smells like cedar
("musty" cedar, but cedar nonetheless;-) |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | My only reference point for brace type is steel string guitars (VT bracing vs. A, X, fan, etc.) and as blunt as I can put it, I think the VT braced guitars sucked big time in comparison to A, X, etc. So, rule of thumb in my book is to avoid VT braced models. BUT - I don't know if that same thing holds true in nylon string models. The other thing I have noticed more so in nylon string guitars is that the skill of the player really makes or breaks the sound. What I mean is, a lot of hackers like myself can play steel strings and strum big old cowboy chords and make them sound "good". On nylon strings, the limitations of the player are magnified significantly. Dave |
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Location: SoCal | Go with the 1613, with the fan bracing. All other factors being equal, it should sound significantly better. |
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Location: SoCal | Depends on your style of playing...I haven't been able to try the LX upgrades but, IMHO, the deep bowl a/e 1763 is an excellent choice. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Thanks one and all for the input. I knew I could find good information here fast. I am currently looking at a couple for sale, and really don't know if I want to bite the Nylon bullet yet. Dave, you confirmed my thoughts on the vt bracing, but as you said, on a nylon string instrument, it might be a different world. I'l mull this over, and if I do get a new addition, you guys will be the first to know. (hopefully my wife will be the last to know) |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . don't know if I want to bite the Nylon bullet yet . ."
Get one. They're great t'have around.
Personally, I like the feel of the wide, flat Classical neck . . . |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | TJ, how many guitars does a (ex)drummer need? :D |
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Location: South of most, North of few | all of em... |
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Toying with the idea...
