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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 396
| I see players using the Ovation mandolin all the time. On TV, concerts, etc... Earlier this summer I saw one used several times at a Hootie and the Blowfish Concert, just last week I saw Stevie using one at the Springsteen concert. What makes this such a popular choice with performers? Playability, lack of feedback, materials, electronics? Anyone? |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | all of the above.
If you want one let me know I have several in stock.
they play well and have a great plugged in sound and acoustic sound. |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 35
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska | More than you ever wanted to know on my website!
Click here: Ted's Adamas Mandolin |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7231
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I recently had a client that recorded using my Ovation Mando. Besides the great acoustic sound, the pre-amp output provided the best "mic'd" sound I had ever heard. All of the character and nuances that are normally only picked up by use of microphones were all there, but not the normal unwanted noises. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | I'm basically a mandolin player, and I've tried an Ovation mandolin. As has been said, they are great when plugged in, their design as very guitar like where the Gibson style mandolins are closer to violin in construction. Mandolins are hard to fit into a band mix with normal microphones and tend to be either too loud when miked acoustically or too quiet if pushed away from the mikes. The Ovation mandolins tend to sound good when plugged in and are controllable. They tend to do great in country, rock etc., but don't have the bluegrass sound that not many people care about today until they happen to hear it somewhere, and marvel at it's beauty.
Bailey
Always glad to start a controversy |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Bailey's right, the Ovation mandolin does not have the classic F-style bluegrass tone. To me they sound like a Gibson Army-navy style mando but with a lot more testicular attitude. The big selling point is the pickup & preamp, and the fact that plugged-in they can compete with electric intruments, miked-drums & loud monitors without feeding back & still sound like a mandolin. The USA models are killer acoustically. Not exactly a traditional mandolin sound, but then it's not exactly a traditional mandolin. Several other manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon including Tacoma, Breedlove & Godin, but give me the Ovation every time.
I've played an Ovation mando since they were introduced, though my old faithful has just been sold to make way for the "book" model I'm picking up in a week or so.
Incidentally, I have a Celeb mando in for a set-up at the moment & I can't believe how good it is. |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | I've got an Applause mandolin that is actually decent, picked it up used to learn a new instrument (which I'm still pretty much a novice, mainly strumming and some cross-picking). Played it just last night at our gig and when I talked to some co-workers (day job and all) that came out, they thought it was a "little" guitar or a ukelele, the shape gets 'em every time.
to make way for the "book" model I'm picking up in a week or so
What's a "book" model :confused:
There are several mando's on ebay right now....... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15674
Location: SoCal | The book mando was one of about 50 or so made in 1996, with the same appointments as the "book" Elite, ie, the Elite that is on the cover of the History of Ovation book. There were about 50 guitars made, some Vipers, and some mandolins.
I'm in possession of Paul T.'s book mando for about another 2 weeks. It is easily one of the most beautiful insturments I have ever seen. The problem I have is now I want to learn to play a mando, but any other mando that I buy for myself is going to be a step down.
I could post a pic, but it's Temp's to say if he wants a pic posted or not. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Paul, feel free to post a pic |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Paul, I went even one step cheaper - I've got an Applause mando with OP24 that I got for less than $100. It's a little weak acoustically, but plugged in this thing sounds awesome. The only thing that seemed really cheap about it was the tuners, but it was easy to upgrade those.
Btw, speaking of mandos (I'm not really a player) but I made a "jig" that allows me to use loop end strings. I took a 3/16" diameter aluminum rod and cut it to about 1-7/5" long. I then carefully filed 4 grooves and smoothed then. The grooves line up with the hole spacing in the bridge stop. I insert this little rod through the loops of all 4 strings and then the rod is pulled against the bridge and everything locks up nice and tight. I'll try to post a photo.
Dave |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Dave The guy I got my new mando from had a similar idea, & I'd considered something similar myself. The only downside is that if you break a string on a gig it becomes a nightmare to replace it quickly.
Adamas ball-end Mando strings are no longer imported into the UK so I usually stock up whenever I'm in the US. When I was over at the NAMM show in January I picked up a little doo-hickey from John Pearse called a "string-wizard".
http://www.jpstrings.com/brnew.htm#Wizard
They had a bunch with some cosmetic flaws in the brass for $20. It's a little brass vice & crank which you can use to put ball-ends onto loop-end strings, or put a loop into a plain string. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15674
Location: SoCal | Here's a link to the pic
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/gallery/moodypi_IMG_0965.JPG |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 35
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska | I fiddled around with a lot of different ball end single guitar strings for my MM68 over the years, with varying degrees of success. I used the Elixirs, Martin SP+, and the D'addario ESP. These are available in custom gauges.
However, the answer to a maiden's prayer has been the discovery of my current personal favorite, the ball end Thomastik 154K. You won't BELIEVE how good these sound recorded and/or live.
You can get them in the US here;
Thomastik Mando
(If the above link doesn't work for you, email me offline.) |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Cool gizmo
Great looking "book" mando!!!
Dave,
When I first got my mando I went to restring it and realized I got loop-end strings - I looked it over and looped the strings around the bridge -MISTAKE!
There are now grooves in my bridge :(
I found where I can get ball-end strings (local Ovation dealer, allthough I've only seen one mando on there) in town.
I know I'll eventually move up to a USA made one, and I'll hand the mandolin off to a daughter (or some other student)if they are interested......
The "ruby redburst" option is an interesting finish on the MCS148 as seen here:ebay
But the black is reeeeaaaaallllyyy nice on the MM68
Are the MC models "Celebrity" mandolins? And the MM the only USA one? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Paul, there's 2 Korean models, the Applause MAE148 & Celebrity MCS148. The USA model is model number MM68. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Well 2 Pauls
That is a beautiful mandolin. I will volunteer to help in transferring it to Mr. Templeman, please ship it to Las Cruces for a quality check before it is sent out of country. This may take some time, but it is REALLY necessary. |
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Ovation Mandolin
