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January 2006
Posts: 6
Location: Upper Holland, PA | Other brands of guitar have a series or model that many consider to be that brand's value leader. For example, Martin has the 15 or 16 series and Larrivee has the 03 series.
What Ovation model or series offers the most value for the dollar?
Put another way, if someone wanted a good quality Ovation for as low a cost as possible, what model would you advise them to get?
I am thinking only of new guitars.
Jim |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Adamas is the "flagship" with evidence of more detail and material craftsmanship. Then the USA models with various levels of trim and bling.
Special Issues are hard to place.
Celebrity and then Applause.
"Value Leader" is a tough term. The Applause is a great guitar with little features and not as much scrutiny in construction.
My personal idea of the best deal for a new guitar is the newer (LX) Elite T series. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | "Value" usually has different measnings depending how much cash is in your wallet.
The entire USA Ovation line is a tremendous value. There's not a guitar in there that you could touch in terms of features, sound, versatility and playability for the same money. That doesn't mean that you can't buy better if you're willing to pay the price. But USA Ovation is certainly a VALUE.
But if you don't have the $800-$2000. for a USA model, there are cheaper alternatives in teh Celeb and Applause lines. But here the competition is pretty tough. In the under $500. range there are some nice C's and A's, but also Ibanez, Taylor and others have some nice stuff. At the very bottom end of the Applause line there are some great deals. If you want a guitar to bang around, take to the beach and not be too worried if you knock it over or leave it out on the deck at night then for a few hundred bucks I woulds definately consider one of these.
I'm sure if you name your price range, almost everyone here will find some O or import O that meets your requirements. Buying used is often a very good option.
Dave |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Dave is correct. Ovation is a value at whatever level.
Having said that, I think the EliteT offers the most bang for the buck. USA quality without all the abalone and exposed woodgrain. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Elite t |
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October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | ...anything in the Martin series...?
OK, ALRIGHT, already...I was just kidding!! |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | As far as "BangForTheBuck" factor goes, I'd hafta' say EliteT as well . . . |
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June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | I like the s771 balladeer.....especially the cedar top for Guitar Center... |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| I wouldn't argue about the elite t - I've never played one. But bang for the buck doesn't HAVE to mean cheap/medium cheap. Where could you find anything to compete with the ute for the same money? At some point the price of those hundred guitars is going to skyrocket. |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | When you say you're only talking "new" guitars...do you mean "current models" or NOT used? |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The '05 Collectors is a pretty good value for the money...whether new or used! |
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January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | I vote for the 1771 LX Balladeer or the 6778 LX Elite. If you can still find them the Pre-LX Balladeers and Legends are tremendous bargains.
I really like the Elite T as well....Except, if you play that thing while wearing a short-sleeve shirt the textured surface will take the skin off of your arm after playing it for awile. But they look really cool and play and sound nice, just wear long sleeves. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 474
Location: Anchorage, Alaska | The Elite T would be a great deal for the lower Elite models, but I paid as much for my Elite T Red Flame as I paid for ANY of my other Ovations except the UT of course. |
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November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | sound values are AA or AAA wood tops with ebony fretboards |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I'm with BrianT, 1771LX Standard Balladeer or 6778LX Standard Elite. I bought a 1771LX myself for that reason, it is my "gig" guitar. It's a nice light guitar for playing standing up, has really good sound, and I wouldn't cry for too gosh-awful long if something happened to it.
Elite T is good, but the non-flame ones are a little too stark for most people.
Roger |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | Originally posted by Old Applause Owner:
... Elite T is good, but the non-flame ones are a little too stark for most people.
Roger Yeah, but man, they really PLAY ...
I prefer to think of it as simple elegance! |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Form&Functionality. |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | I'd never paid much attention to the Elite T's, but a buddy of mine just bought one (a black one), and I gotta say that thing sounds really swwweeeet. |
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November 2005
Posts: 123
Location: Braman, OK | I absolutely love my SMT 1597 -- a "pretty good value" for $950 on the 'Bay.
As an aside, I took it over to a "Martian" friend's house, and I could literally see the Green Monster of Envy growing after the first hour or so (and a couple of beers). His Martin has a nice mellow tone and is extremely playable, but the Adamas made a believer outta him.
Graphite, baby! :D |
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What's the Ovation Value Leader
