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March 2011
Posts: 14
| Hey folks,
What pickup would you install in a purely acoustic 1976' Ovation Balladeer for a good, clean, clear acoustic tone and why?
Your advice is much appreciated! Thanks!
Atmarama |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | L.R. Baggs or Fishman. Both undersaddle. There are others..... |
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September 2010
Posts: 79
| K&K mini. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Baggs I-Beam. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I would go with an Ovation saddle. You'd have to swap or modify the bridge, but I think it would be worth it. Not sure how much of an issue it would be to fit into a standard bridge besides widening the slot and putting a hole on one side, but it still seems to make the most sense to me.
After that you just need to put the jack in. For an preamp you could not run one, or use an external. Or you could go the extra mile and install either a single knob, double-knob, or just go full out and install an Ovation can for a an iDea preamp. Sky is the limit, but I would start with an Ovation pickup.
Just my 2 pence.. maybe someone could weigh in on the difficulty of modifying or replacing the bridge. |
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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I just a ovation saddle OPP and direct line put in my 1117 at the factory. It sounds great! |
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March 2011
Posts: 14
| What like this? http://cgi.ebay.com/6-STRING-OVATION-ACOUSTIC-GUITAR-PICKUP-NEW-OLD... |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "Like" that one yes. I'm not sure that particular one is exactly the best Ovation pickup. Some of us have spares laying around for one reason or another. But that is the general idea. Someone else can likely add clarity, but if I recall there was something special about the early pickups that they stopped using... but then after a bunch of years realized they should have kept on using them and they are back to using them now. The one in the picture, based on the descriptions of "used by Ovation in the 90's" leads me to believe that may NOT be the one you want... but someone else with more info needs to jump in on this as I don't recall all the details.
The cost and effort is not going to be radically different between the choices, so might as well get one of the ones that are supposed to be the best sounding. |
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March 2011
Posts: 14
| Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
"Like" that one yes. I'm not sure that particular one is exactly the best Ovation pickup. Some of us have spares laying around for one reason or another. But that is the general idea. Someone else can likely add clarity, but if I recall there was something special about the early pickups that they stopped using... but then after a bunch of years realized they should have kept on using them and they are back to using them now. The one in the picture, based on the descriptions of "used by Ovation in the 90's" leads me to believe that may NOT be the one you want... but someone else with more info needs to jump in on this as I don't recall all the details.
The cost and effort is not going to be radically different between the choices, so might as well get one of the ones that are supposed to be the best sounding. Thanks for that Mr.Ovation - ye hope someone can shed more light on this... |
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October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | An acoustic only Ovation will have the skinny saddle in it. I would opt for a skinny undersaddle pickup rather than widening the slot to fit the Ovation OPP. If you want the Ovation OPP I would do what PEZ did, and send it to the factory so that the original craftsmen can do it right. I would not trust myself or my local shop to do it right on an instrument I valued.
As for preamp, I would go one of two ways. My first choice would be a new two knob FET from Ovation. Simple, very little mod to the guitar (only two holes to drill for the knobs), and consistent with the era. Second choice would be an Op Pro Studio. The Studio preamp has a superb sound in wood topped Ovations, with the compressor and excitor functions for live or recorded performances. IMHO the VIP doesn't do so well in wood topped O's but is superb in A's. |
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Joined:
March 2011
Posts: 14
| Originally posted by FlySig:
An acoustic only Ovation will have the skinny saddle in it. I would opt for a skinny undersaddle pickup rather than widening the slot to fit the Ovation OPP. If you want the Ovation OPP I would do what PEZ did, and send it to the factory so that the original craftsmen can do it right. I would not trust myself or my local shop to do it right on an instrument I valued.
As for preamp, I would go one of two ways. My first choice would be a new two knob FET from Ovation. Simple, very little mod to the guitar (only two holes to drill for the knobs), and consistent with the era. Second choice would be an Op Pro Studio. The Studio preamp has a superb sound in wood topped Ovations, with the compressor and excitor functions for live or recorded performances. IMHO the VIP doesn't do so well in wood topped O's but is superb in A's. Fully, skinny undersaddle seems the way forward... Please could you direct me to where I can purchase these preamp options?
Thanks Flysig |
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October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | Try calling Alpep at lostartvintage dotcom. He's an official Ovation dealer and should be able to get whichever preamp you want at the best price. The FET two knob will be much easier to self install. The OpPro will need to have a kidney shaped hole cut into the bowl. It is doable for a very handy and careful person, but one little mistake will ruin the appearance forever. So if it were me I'd install the FET preamp.
Al may be able to help you out with the under saddle pickup, too. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I'd keep the Balladeer original, as the acoustic sound quality is particularly nice with that model. In the long run you may be happier saving up and buying a second, used electric-acoustic USA Ovation for plugging in. |
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Location: SoCal | http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=26793 |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I finally put a Fishman PreFix Pro (tuner EQ etc.) in my all-acoustic 1974 Legend (1117). It is VERY good and I'd recommend it highly. This unit is not bulky inside at all and did not affect the sound of my favorite axe. Sounds awesome through a Bose L1, for example. You can hear it in a very live setting HERE
(if this link does not work go to my "personal page" listed in my signature and give a listen) |
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March 2011
Posts: 14
| Bumpity bump bump |
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Pickup recommendations for an acoustic Ovation - Ideas please
