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February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | Are USA 1778T's with a truss rod cover (later models, I believe) any better than the ones without? I'm still looking for one & ideally I'd like the one with Op-Pro but I've just seen an early model (2002) with OP30 without truss rod cover. Any info & opinions appreciated. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I have owned both. Both are nice.
The neck with no Truss Rod Cover may feel a little thicker, but not noticeably so.
Both have "Quintad" bracing. Both have "Rock Maple" neck.
The difference is the Preamp and the Saddle.
The OP-30 has a Thinline CP-100 saddle.
The OP-Pro has The Original Patented Pickup.
(unless someone has been switching stuff around)
So grab whichever one is available. 
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February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | Thanks for the info, OMA!
This particular one is slightly over the budget, and I'm not so sure about the condition, so I MIGHT wait for the next one (whenever it will be!).
I'm wondering how it will compare to my 2778AX though. I know one is USA made and the other is Korean. But Elite T has always been the entry level Elite, after Custom Elite, Elite, then Standard Elite, right? If you compare the specs, AX has 'AA' top, whereas T has 'A' top? I actually love my 2778AX and I use it more than my USA made Standard Balladeer. So, would it make it much more inferior just because it's not USA made? After all, Custom Legends are even made in Korea. It would be great to hear your opinions.  |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | "A", "AA", "AAA", have always been subjective. It depends on the eye-of-the-beholder.
That relates to the available wood stock on hand. It is not a definitive scale.
The Elite T guitars were only "entry level" by the price.
And the price is influenced by ease of manufacture.
It didn't need to be painted twice... Once for the paint, once for the finish. Just paint.
Quality-wise, a USA-made Elite T was made in the New Hartford factory. ('nuff said)
The major difference is sound is due to how the top is able to move with the different finish.
I have compared a Flame T with a Textured-top T, and the textured top sounds more "open".
Also, here are two thread where I bought a New Elite TX and compared to a USA Elite T.
One and Two
I have never played an AX...
But I have played an Ultra, and a Celebrity CSE...
Both of which were the Korean models before Fender changed them to AX.
Otherwise, this is all a matter of personal preference.
In the USA we quibble about USA vs. Import...
But in the UK... They are ALL imports. 
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Joined:
February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | Thanks for your input, OMA! I'm still considering ....................... |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Hello, OFC. Long time no see! A back injury has brought an abrupt end to my gigging career, and a new years resolution has me ready to let go of my beloved guitars (but never my custom adamas which I now play almost exclusively).
Gemm, I have 2 1778T's I'd consider parting with. One is a prototype that OMA may even want to snag from me - it's a Sweet T prototype (search the forums) - with the mid size bowl, unlike the other Sweet T's which were the contoured bowl. The second is an another rarity - a Lusty Red with the baddest tone I've ever heard from a 1778.
Regarding T v TX (US v Korean) there is no comparison. All of the guitars mentioned here have the OP-PRO, which IMO is the best sounding preamp, Ovation or otherwise, period. Anyway, the US model blew away the Korean in terms of its tone for three reasons: (1) thinner spruce top allowing better tone, (2) X bracing vs quintad bracing, enhancing the boom, and (3) higher quality ebony fretboard vs decent rosewood, greatly affecting the speed and the ease of vibrato.
That being said, the Korean models are still excellent and have very decent craftsmanship. But when you play them side by side, well... you know the deal.
Not sure if my PMs work but try me. I'll check the forum now and then.
Happy new year everyone!
Edited by Jukebox Joe 2016-01-05 11:12 AM
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 849
Location: Canada | Jukebox Joe - 2016-01-05 10:09 AM it's a Sweet T prototype (search the forums) - with the mid size bowl, unlike the other Sweet T's which were the contoured bowl. I am sorry to hear abour your injury and hope you are mainly pain free. I might be interested in the sweet T and so will probably be a lot of other OFCers, please post in the For Sale section... |
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February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | Thanks for your offer, Joe. Unfortunately, we have the Atlantic Ocean between us!
I'm definitely going towards getting one, but I feel this particular one is just slightly over-priced, considering the fact that it has OP-30 (as I prefer Op-Pro). Thinking about it now, I should love it as I love the maple neck and I love the ebony fretboard (from my Les Paul Custom). I might just change my mind tomorrow morning and just get it. You never know! lol |
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August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Thanks, d'ovation. Yes, I'm mostly pain free (when I'm not in physical therapy!). I can play laying back in the bed (thank God) and I'm supposed to be back on my feet in a couple of months, but gigging is out of the question indefinitely (so I'm going to thin the herd and record an album at home with my Adamas).
I'll post in the for sale section pending a couple of PMs I've received. |
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Joined:
February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | Looks like I've taken the plunge.
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August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Sold |
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February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | I received it a few hours ago....... it was an agonising wait but I thought I should acclimatise it as it had been sleeping in the cold (if not freezing) depot over the weekend.
I just opened it, and ...........
OMG OMG OMG it's the sexiest looking guitar ever! Even sexier than black Les Paul Custom or red Bich! I'm going to go away now & play with it a bit. From the first strum, it was pretty clear that it's louder and bassier than my Standard Elite (AX). Perhaps as loud as my USA Standard Balladeer but definitely this has a lot more bass.
BTW, how do you guys clean the top of this guitar? |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Gemm, you need to post pics. It's the rules.
You clean it with a damp soft cloth. T-shirt material works well.
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Joined:
February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | Here you go.
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Joined:
February 2010
Posts: 72
Location: UK | The initial impression is ..... the neck is chunky! But it is pretty similar to my Standard Balladeer, so this shouldn't be a problem. It's just that when I compare it with my 2778AX, there's a huge difference - the neck of 2778AX is a bit too thin sometimes anyway.
OP30 sounds good so far. I haven't made a comparison with Op-Pro yet but I will do tomorrow. I read somewhere before that the tuning a bit tricky with OP30, but I didn't find this.
There's a bit of fret buzz, so I just raised the action for now but I will look into this more closely tomorrow. |
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