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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Between the members of this board, there are owners of 2006 Collector's, 2009 Collector's, and both incarnations of the Lost Art Vintage Koas, (Maybe even a 90's Koa Elite or two.) I've never been around any of them, though not for a lack of wanting.
I am seriously curious about trading my way into a koa turtleback, and am understandably curious about their sound. So for those of you with a koa Ovation, does your instrument have more of a bassy (maybe even mellow) tone or more clear/bright tone? I'm perfectly aware that both tones can be excellent in their own ways; I'm just looking for some input as I've never has the opportunity to play a Koa Ovation of any type. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | From my experience the koa Ovations sound a little more Martin-y. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Slipkid:
From my experience the koa Ovations sound a little more Martin-y. But is that good or bad? |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | That's not for me to say. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | This is a tough one. I wouldn't describe it as mellow or bassey compared to a deep bowl spruce top Ovation. The LAV Koa sounds like the top is harder than a spruce top, so the sound is crisper. A friend described the sound of his Koa Yairi as "glassey". It might be a function of the newness. A new guitar sounds "tighter" than an old one made of the same wood and I'm not sure if I'll ever get the LAV to loosen up. It could also be just the density of the wood, like the difference between cedar and spruce.
I'd like to compare a LAV Koa to the 09? Collector with the center soundhole Koa top. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 20
Location: Erlinsbach | I own a 2009 KOA Collector and a C2079LX Custom Legend, which are nearly identical in construction. It is hard to describe the difference. To my ears the CL is louder and boomy, the sound is more focused. The KOA Collector produces more harmonics, I would describe the sound as ‘shimmering’ – I love it! |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I've had mine for a while (2009C) now, and have noticed the same thing about it "opening up." The grain is so tight that I really doubt sometimes if the tone will ever change. Perhaps in about 20-30 years, when some teenager owns it and thrashes on it. The positive side is that it dosn't seem to be affected as much by humidity changes. I have kept it sitting on a stand, in front of one of my stereo speakers for months. I have to agree that it has a "Martin sound", and I have a Martin-owner friend who made that exact statement after playing mine two years ago. I'm kinda' glad that it doesn't sound like my 1537 (which I LOVE), because is give me another dimension of acoustic sound in my arsonal. I can tell you that EVERYONE who has ever had the pleasure of playing her really likes it.
What I would like to see is an Agamas I style guitar made with a nice Koa top (: |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Thanks to Patch, I got out the 1537 and the LAVKoa last night and played the same song on both. Very distinct difference, but both very good. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Hi, Patch,
shoot me a PM with your email-address and I'll send you a sound clip of my 09C in comparison of any one you can see in my signature, recorded by the same conditions and equipment.
Bernie |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Thanks Bernie! I appreciate the gesture, which BTW would be a cool posting for everyone to hear, but I've read here enough to convince me to green-light next summer's project.
The forecast in New Hartford for summer 2012?
Expect Koa! :cool: |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Okay, I've uploaded some chords from the Stone's "Angie", which I've had in my ear from my way home out of the radio and which I've recorded now quickly.
Sorry for the quality, but I've no better recording equipment than my iDea.
All clips are recorded with all sliders of the EQ's in the middle, the FET of the 1537 in the middle also.
On the 1537 and the Glen Campbell are the same strings (Elixir Phos-Bronze 11er) on the 2009C are Elixir Polyweb 80/20 11er.
All played with the same pick (Fender Delrin .60mm) and capoed at the second fret.
Now click on the link to my Ning-Page...
Bernie |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | I don't like the sound of my 2006C. It does not sound like an Ovation to me and I don't have the time to wait til it "opens up". If I want something sounding like a Martin, I grab my Martin.
Best regards,
Kurt |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I haven't found a Koa topped guitar I liked yet. I'll stick with spruce and cedar for acoustic tops... oh, and maybe some carbon fiber thrown in here or there.
Koa's real purdy though. |
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The vagaries of tone via KOA....
