|
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I test drove the VIP in the 06K for about an hour. I think it's great. It really opens Ovation up to many different sounds. We are no longer limited, for better or worse, to that piezo / Ovation standard. With the ability to mix the selected image with the piezo you should be able to dial in anything you could want. I still don't understand why they made it so you had to plug in to use the tuner. That's a good question for the tour.
While I was doing that the main guitar tech for Huber-Breese came in and asked "Hey..whatcha doin'?". I said was getting familiar with an imaging pre-amp. He explained some of the features. Some of it I already knew but I just kept my mouth shut and listened. (like the old 2 ears one mouth saying) This guy was about my age and I gleaned that his entire career as been around guitars. He worked at Fender for a time. Anyway...We got around to Ovations. He bought a shiney bowl Glen Campbell, brand new, and still has it. And to this day he regrets selling his Breadwinner.
In his opinion, Ovations are over-built. This makes for a sturdy, durable guitar that stays in tune and can handle some harsher enviroments but at the cost of of some sound quality. One comment I was surprised to hear him make was that Ovations do "open-up" like wood guitars. His GC is a case in point. He said that because the bond between the top and bowl is so tight, it prevents the bowl from being part of the sound. I put my two cents worth in saying that the bowls on my 36 year old Balladeer and my 2 year old AD-II are very active. I can feel it in my ribs or if I press my chin against the side. In an attempt to disprove his point, I put my chin down on the 06Koa.....nothing...no vibes.. the bowl did not act anything like my other two Ovations. I thought this kind of odd. You would thing that if the bond between the top and bowl was so strong, it would assist in the transfer of vibration. This will be another good topic of discussion with Darren at the factory. Like I asked in another thread...did they ever use the laser-vibrometer to test the bowl???
In the end I learned a few things and had a nice chat. He asked if I would bring in my Breadwinner some time to have a look at it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Brad,
You're having too much fun! Would you recommend the VIP over the Pro-Studio? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Slipkid:
He said that because the bond between the top and bowl is so tight, it prevents the bowl from being part of the sound. So, by definition the bond between the top of a Martin D28 and the rosewood sides must be "Not As Tight"
What the hell is he talking about? Basic physics would indicate that a "tight bond" would IMPROVE transference of vibration. It's total hogwash spouted by someone who thinks they know something about the constuction of one of the most uniquely constructed guitars in the entire history of guitar making, but is actually just taking a wild flight of fantasy in the vain hope of appearing knowlegable. Guitar stores are populated by these types, ignore them.
In fairness to one of his comments , some Ovations have in the past been "over built" but they nailed that a while ago |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Would you recommend the VIP over the Pro-Studio?
From my limited time with it the VIP has whatever the Pro has plus the imager. Looks like a win /win to me. I just don't understand the reason for the tuner thing.
Paul...the guy seemed humble enough. It's hard to get the flavor of the conversation boiled down to a paragraph. I won't take his words as the gospel truth but his opinions caused me to concider a few things. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | Actually, it has to do with flux capacitation and the co-efficient expansion/retraction caused by the expanding and contracting of the top in relation to the sides and back, or the bowl, which also equates into areonautic sound drag caused by the LACK of flux capacitation in the sides of a wooden guitar...if they just had flaps INSIDE the thing we could all sleep better.
i know, it sounds ver complicated, but it really isn't hard once you understand that if you use big enough words and carry a clipboard people will believe anything.
Thank you for letting me share all of this...my head now hurts and I am going to go lay down now... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Dual slope delta sigma pulse modulation! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | I won't take his words as the gospel truth but his opinions caused me to concider a few things. [/QB]
There is a huge amount of wisdom in this statement. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Paul, we used to call them SAEs. Self Appointed Experts. It is nice when they are in your favor, they usually are not. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If I put on my acoustic player hat, I don't care about the VIP. If I put on my electric player hat, I say, hot dog! It's kind of like a version of the Variax guitar.
As for the expert, what paul said. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | On the VIP, is the "voice" dial somewhat like a modeling processor on an amp or effects pedal? And, how much difference does it make as far as overall sound altering between one setting and the next?
BTW, "ex-pert" is a combination of a "has-been" and a "drip under pressure." :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I thought the differences between the 5 image settings were kind of subtle. In fact, very subtle. Don't even think it's like a Vari-axe. No banjos and mandolines here. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | The VIP only models differnt types of mic amplification for that specific guitar. It doesn't model differnt types of guitars. Each VIP preamp is set up for the specific model of guitar to which it's mated. You can't or shouldn't swap VIP's among different types of Ovations.
Of course, this brings up the questions, if you put the proper VIP can into a Celeb or Applause, and then dropped in a VIP set up for an Adamas, would the plugged in sound, sound like an Adamas?
I think this is the kind of question that got me in trouble on the tour last year...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2006
Posts: 140
| That would probably make sense, since a fishman piezo sounds similar in a martin or a takamine |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | It's the question of where the line between acoustics and electronics gets blurred. On the other hand, I like my guitars plugged in to still sound like the same instrument, only louder. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I'm just saying, that from the viewpoint of an electric player, I like sonic options at the turn of a switch and miking options are cool. It's a natural progression. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I think Paul M.'s question is a good one. Bet the answer is closer to "yes" than anyone wants to admit.
I suppose the eventual end point to this will be solid-body electric guitars made out of industrial wood pallets, with electronics to emulate whatever guitar sound profile you want..... :D
(don't tell Taylor.....there'll be a new "pallet guitar")
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | OAO is probably right on. This all reminds me of my previous "hobby". From about 1980 to 1990 I was a serious audiophile and worked part time in a high end boutique. I invested heavily in all kinds of crap. Strain-gauge MC pickups, Litz wire, Fidelty Research, Apt Holman, etc. the whole she-bang. I still have it all and love it. But what do I listen to? A freaking iPod through my PC with some DSP. And you know what? I can make it sound like anything I damn well want to. Dave |
|
| |
Of VIPs and Bowls
