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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Well, we will soon see...gonna lend my 2005 Collector's to Paul to try out. Will be interesting to see his evaluation after he has had it awhile. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | I have played two of the "05" Collectors so far, TB and GC in Tacoma.
I'd compare it to my 1778LX for sound. I like the rosette inlay and the feel of the bowl a lot.
I left the GC one sitting in the M, T & G Room! |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Mike, I compared the one I bought to a 1778LX (back-to-back, both with new strings) and there was no comparison, IMHO. The 1778LX wasn't bad at all, the 2005-ES was just THAT GOOD.
The 2005-ES I bought at our local GC was put in the Martin/Taylor/Gibson room when it came in and was NEVER put with the other Ovations!!!! Perhaps it never got the Ovation "inferiority complex"(or maybe it HAS the M/T/G "superiority complex")????? :D
Roger |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 100
Location: Warren, OH | I found my 2005-ES at the Cleveland (Mayfield Hts) Sam Ash. It was in the High-end room too, in a Plexiglas case. Stickers of the guitars o the wall were $1500, $2500, and worse... They only had it two weeks! Strings were still brand new! |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 17
Location: USA | I think I have a keeper. The Serial number is 430
Precher_Dan |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I have a keeper, too. It's going with me to Indiana next weekend, to a folk music festival on Saturday (participating workshops, not concerts), and to a music club's meeting that I've been invited to later in the week. We'll see how it compares with some other guitars; my friend that invited me to the club meeting has a Martin OM-40 Rory Block....that will be an interesting comparison.
My 2005-ES was only at the GC for less than 10 days before I bought it, so the strings on it were new, too. Most guitars around it at GC were more expensive, only the X-, 1- and 16-series Martins were cheaper.
Roger |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | You guys should get them from Al... |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | currently I have one available, ordered it for a guy and he got one someplace else. if interested contact me. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Ordering didn't enter into it....I wouldn't have bought a 2005-ES if I hadn't been able to play it first. I wasn't PLANNING to get one. It is simply THAT GOOD a guitar. When I played the one I have, I quickly realized that it was among the best guitars I had ever played.
I encourage anyone who thinks they want one from listening to the discussion here to contact Al and purchase the one he has available.
Roger |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | OAO: NORMALLY... I like to play a guitar before I buy it as well. But I didn't do that for the 2005-ES, and I haven't regretted it. I think it was Moody who played it at the LA show, and after reading what he and others had to say about it, I bought it. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 7
Location: France | #018 |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 651
Location: Australia | Can anyone compare the 2005 with the Al Di Meola?
I'd be interested in any comments.
Anyone own both ? |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I've played both....in fact, TWO different ADIIs (one being Slipkid's)....and TWO different 2005-ESs....the 2005-ES is better. I was saving for an ADII, when the 2005-ES came in and blew that idea away.
This is NOT to say that the Al Di Meola is BAD...on the contrary, it is one of the best Ovations ever made, IMHO!!! But the 2005 Collectors is THAT good....
Roger |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 651
Location: Australia | "the 2005-ES is better"
Can you elaborate. Is it better acoustically or as far as playability or how ?
Thanks. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Playability is the same....GREAT....on all new Ovations, there is little to choose, that comes down to a particular guitar against a particular guitar, not model to model. Acoustic sound is all I am describing. Plugged in....I haven't a clue. I only plugged my 2005-ES in before buying to make sure the pickup and preamp worked. I rarely play plugged in.
Roger |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 651
Location: Australia | Thanks OAO.
I may soon get a chance to play a 2005.I believe the first shipment of these is finally arriving here. |
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Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 3
| I've got #309 |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 651
Location: Australia | Today I finally got to compare a 2005 with a Di Meola.
I can see why so many are taken with the '05. Huge tone, very impressive bottom end and subtle but beautiful asthetics.
The contour bowl, well I'm not sure about that one. Very comfortable while sitting but when standing it forces the guitar into a very square on postion preventing the Ovation tilt. Probably not for me.
I think the 05 is perhaps squarely aimed at the non O player.
As for the Di Meola, I love this guitar. Great (although different) acoustic tone (very traditional O) beautiful to look at and plays great. I like the solo switch idea too and the abalone on the natural top is stunning.
If I had the money it would've come home with me. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 25
Location: Kirkland, WA | 2005 Collector #487, checking in.
I was looking for a LX Balladeer but the 2005 Collector came home. I did not want a deep guitar but the Collector felt comfortable and had more tone and volume than the Balladeer. I also liked the pre-amp, but wish it would go silent when the tuner is on. Sounds great through my SWR California and Strawberry Blondes.
It's a keeper and will be with me a long time. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Massachusetts | Well I just bought one. I really like the contoured bowl and the deep cutaway for the leg that locks it on the leg. My one concern is that it is 1" fatter than a dread. making my arm stick out further for strumming. Not a problem sitting down.
Plugged in it sounds much more like an acoustic than other O's I've played.
Acoustically it too sounds more natural.
I did a quick recording vs my Gibson Songwriter Deluxe and naturally the Gibson is more woody and richer sounding but with a tad bit of eq I could get the Ovation to sound very close to the Gibson...hey I prefer the Gibson tone but the Ovation feel.
One final concern, it does NOT sustain as well as my rosewood Gibson. Same notes, in tune doesn't do it. I had new EXP's that came on the O and very very old D'addario PB on the Gibson and it still outsustained the O. I put on the exact same new test set of Elixer PB and Gibson still sustains longer.
Ok, it's probably irrelevent cause who is gonna hold a note for 5 seconds till it dies out on the O and worry that it doesn't last 7 seconds like the Gibson.
Oh, the new Elixer PB nanowebs I'm trying for Elixer...very very very bright on BOTH guitars. And, much less musical and rich vs Daddario PB strings I usually use fresh out of the box.
Just a heads up.
Oh, it is #65...my birth year...how could I resist? |
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Calling all 2005 Collectors
