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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | So ... I was on the phone with our ertswhile p.i. the other day, and he was telling me that he was playing one of his stable a lot lately and raving about how great it was. I thought he was lukewarm about this particular guitar based on a conversation a few months back. And it started me thinking how those of us lucky enough to have several different Ovations seem to migrate from one to the next, and each one of them becomes our "main squeeze" for a while. It's as though every Ovation has it's own unique sound and feel, and we love it more than all the others ... until we rotate along to the next one. And the love affair starts all over again.
Well, for me, I've been playing my 1651 "Lennon Reissue" a bunch lately and it is a terrific guitar. As of this moment, it is my favorite Ovation. What a great neck ... classic older style with truss rod, wide stripe, ebony fretboard, beautiful inlays, genuine shallers, and just a bit less chunky than the K-Bar necks. The bowl is made from the new micro-bubble Lyrachord, and it's noticeably lighter and the textured bowl paint is nearly untextured. The top is amazing, an incredible piece of AAA Spruce, and of course, the Nutmeg finish is strikingly beautiful and is my favorite color for an Ovation top. Even the stacked tone/volume stereo pickup is terrific ... it records a lot better than the 1537.
This guitar sounds as good as any Ovation I've ever heard or played. Thanks Al for having the foresight to snag the six guitars when you had the chance. I'm a lucky dog to have one of these.
It's my favorite Ovation of the moment. Maybe of all time. It sure feels like that right now.
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | That may have been my favorite of Witko's guitars, but he sold his and I bought a 30th CL instead. I also love the Nutmeg color. I just picked up my Custom Balladeer tonight that I hadn't played in months. A few nights ago it was the Classic. We are very fortunate to have the variety. They are all wonderful guitars with unique differences. |
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January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | Count your blessings guys. My O collection comes to..........1 :) ...my 1860, but I do hope to add to it one day. In the meantime it remains my current favourite Ovation. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | those guitars are great |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | That guitar is one that I very much regret selling. What a wonderful instrument. Dave |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | For the past couple months My AD-II has become the "living room" guitar and the UTE has been the "take out of the house" guitar. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Having been referenced in Stonebobbo's missive, I should say what I've been playing. First, the OFC slothead is just head and shoulders above everything else in sound and even to a certain degree, playability. It's just a great guitar. Playing it last Friday at the jam, the 2 guitars players there who really know guitars both made the "wow" comment about it when we were packing up. I don't think they were talking about my playing.
But my other guitars get played as well. For a while, I wasn't playing my 87C very much (the one I mentioned to Bobbo). It's a gorgeous instrument and in almost mint condition. Lately, I've been picking it up and enjoying it very much. I'd have no problem playing that in any setting. Same with my 1537. Right now it doesn't sound that good to my ears. But it will. Same with the GC RI and the FD14.
Just because my Adamas 12 is so good, it doesn't mean that I don't pick up my GC 12 and play it.
It's great to have choices and I know that I've been blessed way beyond my talents..... |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | This will astound some of you, but I swear to god the guitar that gets the most play (by a wide margin) is the Academy 12 fret wideneck. No it does not sound like a slothead, martin or collings. But it sounds damn nice and it is really fun to play it. Isn't that what really matters? Dave |
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September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | moody p.i. posted "the "wow" comment about it when we were packing up. I don't think they were talking about my playing."
When you play 3 chords with passion all one can say is WOW!
Pauly |
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March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Looking at the pic of Bobbo's guitar, I wonder how much he really plays it? Is that the tag still hanging on it? |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | For me, I am constantly going back and forth: for example I had a funeral and was doing one of Bebo Norman's songs "Borrow Mine"...I wasn't sure what guitar to play; I had planned to play the 1687 but it really needs a string change...my daughter suggested "her" 1982C and it did sound good: then she suggested a twelve string, so I got the W-65 Taylor; tuned it up and it too sounded great; but then she said "Daddy, its the white twelve string I was talking about" speaking of my 1758-6p...well, I pulled it out of the case (in tune BTW) and played the song again...WOW, does she ever have an ear...it was the perfect guitar for the song and that was the conscientious of those in attendance...it sounded awesome. Bravo to my daughter and I can hear Witco laughing that she too favored Ovation over Taylor (lol). I have to say, it’s been my favorite guitar year after year (even though this is 1758-6p number 2)! It is a wonderful, powerful and strikingly beautiful guitar! 
Blessings... |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | i thoroughly enjoyed playing this guitar at the southern jam, mike. (one string is slightly outta tune on the clip where i am playing this and singing with my wife but i did not hear that while playing it.) it is a gorgeous guitar and classically elegant. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Hadn't played the Lennon for awhile, started again about two weeks ago...not only one of my best but probably the best value/cost.
Shifting the subject...
I have never figured out why but the nutmeg finish guitars that I have (84C, the two Patriots, and the Lennon) - they have a deeper, more mellow voice than the same bracing, depth of bowl, and grading of wood than a dsb or natural spruce.
The Anniversary 6-str (now with Norseman) and the 1658 CL slothead 12-str with the brown/orange finish also sound different than the dsb or natural...about halfway between the nutmeg and natural.
Yet, same depth bowl (except for the 84C) and AAA spruce. It is only a finish difference, still catalyzed polyester...granted the factory went with a thinner finish a few years ago but I'm comparing guitars with similar finish application. Lennon has the thinner finish but I can compare with similar.
To me, not subtle difference...similar to the difference of my Martin D25K2 (all Koa) and a Martin spruce.
Ah, different flavors...life is so good
:) |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Looking at the pic of Bobbo's guitar, I wonder how much he really plays it? Is that the tag still hanging on it? Hehehe. That's the tag hanging from the Hercules stand. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Yeah... sure it is.... |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | That just reminded me to take the tag off my Hercules stand. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I almost always play the LX, because it's shallow and my shoulder doesn't complain as much. In my heart, though, if I were able to play her everyday, it would be Gertrude, the old lady 1111-4. I play Jewel out of necessity--but I will still occastionally play Gertrude out of love.
--Karen
Gertrude (1111-4); Jewel (CE868LX-4); Blanca (the Viper); Jazzey (the Tornado); Gilda (Guild acoustic); Jacquita (Guild classical); Sugar (Steinberger Spirit 5-string bass); Twang (Vega banjo); Plink (Galiano mando) and Shriek (fiddle of uncertain antecedents) |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I think I'm going to put the tag back on my Hercules stand now. :D I have been going between the UTE and the 1614 lately. Like my wife said. "you can only play one at a time". (I'm still working on that tho...) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | She can only take one step at a time. I bet she has more than one shoe. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | That logic is hard to beat. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Logic is supposed to be a staple of my profession. Doesn't seem so most of the time. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | ... that logic might get you beat. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Lately, my fave has been an old 1613 Classical that I have on loan from Uncah Beal's BasementBatch.
I've been playing a lot of fingerstyle lately, and I'm finding the classical neck and nylon strings becoming really comfortable.
Unplugged, it sounds "okay", . . .
it's loud, has some booming bass and real bright high notes, but it doesn't have all the classical "nuances" that would have your average StoveKnitter "pooh-poohing" it. The little Tak classical is head & shoulders above it in this avenue and is THE guitar in my MusicRoom that I pick up first . . .
At gigs though, the 1613 is just brilliant!!
It only has the single volume-knob pre-amp in it, but since getting the new P.A. system, I have one channel reserved just for this guitar, so I can tailor the eq and the amount of compression so that this guitar sounds great no matter the size/shape/noise level of the room. It's just so responsive that when you lightly fingerpick it, it has amazing clarity & presence. When you "dig in" to it (at the same volume setting), it just smacks you in the face and demands attention.
LotsaBawls. |
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My Current Favorite Ovation
