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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | I have a question for all you contour bowl players. Ovation says ". . .Big sound with the feel of a smaller guitar . . . " It looks to me like the contour just pushes the top of the guitar out a little to more simulate the way a flat backed guitar rests on your body when wearing a strap (so it's not pointing at the sky). The other day I thought to myself how comfortable my arm is on the guitar when it angles that way. My old flat guitars used to leave a painful mark in my arm where the edge digs itself in. With the pre-amps today, the soundhole no longer needs to point at a mic., so what's the harm in a comforatble guitar that points up a little? Anyone have some insight? |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | It's all just a matter of what feel best to you. If the roundback pointing at the sky feels good, then why change it. You're right for plugged in playing who cares where the face of the guitar points.
The Contour Bowl (see disclaimer below) does make the guitar both standing and seated, sit more like a traditional shaped wooden box guitar. To you (and others on this board) that feels unnatural and the edge digs in to your arm, etc. But the other 99% of the guitar buying public, this is exactly how a guitar is supposed to feel. It all depends what you are used to.
Disclaimer: I am a HUGE fan of the contour bowl and in my sentences above I had to try REALLY hard to not come out and say that all roundbacks are crap and the contour bowl is the wave of the future. But seriously, that's how I feel. I am completely in love with the feel, comfort and sound of the contour bowl. The last 4 new Ovations that I bought all had contour bowls and other than the reissues, I can say with high probability that I would not buy any more new roundbacks. Out with the old, in with the new.
Dave |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | I'd better not try a contour bowl guitar. I might just like it and if I bring another guitar into the house I will be in BIG trouble! |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I have to agree with Tup and BS. I am between 5'10" and 6'2", depending on which Seven-eleven I was last seen exiting. I lean my guitars up and play using a strap.
I just plant that new-fangled edge in one rib up from the bottom and go for it.
If I'd ever had lessons I guess you could tell me I'm wrong but since I spent the money elsewhere I must be OK!
It's good to move ahead! Wait till you see what's coming in next year! |
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Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 604
Location: Tampa, FL | To temper Tup's tirade...
I find I'm leaning the other way. I have a couple of deep bowl O's and the 2005-ES. I find I prefer the unplugged sound of the Deep Bowl O's (could be just that I like old brittle tops). I find the Contour Collector to be less comfortable to play seated but I also recognize that when played standing, the contour bowl does tend to orient the guitar more to what I think of as a natural position. In all cases I tend to keep my gitars more or less vertical.
So in this instance I find I have to disagree with the Tupster. Tragically I tend to agree with a lot of his other content. His invention of the string tube must be counted as oone the most important inventions of our time, cementing his place in amongst the great inventors of the world. Thomas Edison has nothing on Tup...
unless you count success. |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | Come on Dave...I HATE it when you hold back like that....tell us how you REALLY feel!
I happen to like the deep contour...and I like the mid depth...and I like the super shallow...and I like the original deep bowl...hell, I just like Ovations, and once they are in my hands and the mushc starts pouring out of them, WHO CARES what kinda back it has????
I must go back out on the beaches of Key West now and play some more...think I will take the Legend this time, just to play the mid bowl some...
:cool: |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I had a 2005 ES with the contour bowl and I sold it. I also liked being able to "tip" the guitar up towards me, especially when playing leads. This was kind of hard to do with the contour bowl.
But I also noticed that the contour bowl had the bigger unplugged tone that the mid-depth bowl seemed to lack. Now I am second guessing myself and I am even looking at the Adamas 2080 which has the contour bowl. Like Tup said, I think I can adjust, and I did appreciate the extra unplugged tone. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I play sitting down and have no problems with the 2005-ES. If I had to pick ONE Ovation and get rid of all the rest, it would be the keeper. The sound is top-notch and the playing comfort is perfectly acceptable.
Roger |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by ChatMan:
To temper Tup's tirade ... His invention of the string tube must be counted as one the most important inventions of our time I can only take credit where credit is due...
String Tubes were invented by StandingOvation. He left a lot to this community to remember (and forget) him by. String Tubes certainly rank right up there.
Dave |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I have been mostly playing my mid-bowl W597. I really liked it over the Deep bowl on the 1537 when standing, but sitting, didn't really notice a lot of difference in how I held the guitar. I have had 10 minutes sitting with the Contour Bowl on the 2080 (see first impressions under sell/trade) and quite frankly....forgot about it being a Contour Bowl, so I had to get it out again and sure enough....it sits pretty nicely. I guess sitting, I can use any of the three I mentioned. Tonight, I will try it standing and see what my impressions are. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | They're making a contoured bowl now? |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Yup!
It's even got horseshoe-shaped seat that won't hit you in the back of the neck if it falls whilst praying to Ralph, the God of Porcelain . . . |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Personally, I'm spoiled to playing plugged in with electrics and shallows, though I don't have any real trouble with my deep bowl 1718. It does tend to point up when I'm standing, even though my gut has gone down...
Seriously, though, I've tried a couple types, and tend to agree with Gregory - if it's an O, then it's OK with me! I have a custom 12 coming with the contour bowl, and love my deep and shallows both equally. I did try out one of the 2005 Collectors alongside an Adamas 1680, and have to say that (obviously) the 1680 blew the 05 out of the water and then some. Granted, it's not even close to the same instrument, but I do have to say that I think that the mid-bowl 1778's project acoustically better than the 2005 does, even with only the mid bowl.
BrianT, if you want someone to convince you that you NEED a 2080, talk to Greg - he's seriously in love with his! |
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Contour Bowl Question
