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November 2011
Posts: 741
Location: Fort Worth, TX | I'm involved in a discussion on another forum about this topic. I made the point that I will stick with the original bowl as it was sonically researched to arrive at the shape it became. I thought the contour bowl was a marketing decision and possibly not subjected to the same scientific research. The discussion began the usual way with someone complaining they couldn't keep an O upright while playing it. Can anyone enlighten me as to whether the contour bowls were ever put to the same tests as the roundback? |
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January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | My research has shown that the 350.00 Celebrity bowls are much more .... oh wait, wrong topic. Sorry. Dave, are you referring to the original bowl, or the original roundback design. |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I'd like to hear impressions from those who own similar models with different bowl designs. I'm sure that they are sonically different, the same as an SSB is different from a deep bowl.
Undoubtedly they were sonically tested, but never argued by Ovation to be better or worse. EVERY new design by any manufacturer is a "marketing decision."
It's a little like saying a 2 door car is better than a 4 door car, and maybe it's true. Less wind noise, able to lower the roof line in the back for better aerodynamics, etc. BUT, if you've got a bunch of kids, the 4 door is MUCH better. Thus, if you have the average, ample American belly, the contour bowl might be better for ya.
I'm sure, plugged in, they are equally good
Edited by BobG 2013-09-19 6:55 AM
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May 2006
Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | In addition to the bowl, you have to consider the bracing pattern supporting the top. It might have a bigger impact on the sound than Deep-versus-contour. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | The choice of PICK or STRINGS that you use will make more of a sonic difference than deep vs contour bowl. Play what sounds good and feels good to you. For ME, I prefer the contour bowl hands down but only for my own very personal reasons. Nobody elses opinion matters to me, nor should mine matter to anyone else. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I've got some of both. I like them both. There is absolutely no way to tell which sounds better because every piece of wood is different. You could take two of the exact same model, and they would sound different. (I know this from inspecting thousands and thousands of O's back in the old days.) So even if you put, say an LX top on a contour bowl and one on a round bowl, there'd be no way to tell if one sounded better because of the bowl or because of the top.
So just go for what sounds good to you. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I try not to have two of the same model. I thought the contour bowls have the same volume as the deep bowls. I didn't like them initially, because my gut didn't fill in the contour and I thought they were uncomfortable. The deep bowls fit me perfectly and I never heard of them sliding off the knee in my first 30 years of Ovations.
Jump ahead 8 years and 20 pounds and the contour bowls fit fine. Both of mine are cutaways, where my deep bowls are not. Both were bought new, one with Koa and one with Adirondack Spruce. The wood alone makes them sound different from the Englemann Spruce deep bowls or even from each other.
The best argument for the contour bowl, besides the increased girth of Americans, is the 2005 Collector. To me, it is one of the best sounding Ovations, and possibly one of the best sounding guitars out there. I still need one. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Mark, nosaj is probably still selling his.
For me it's contours on stage and deep bowls the rest of the time. The rest of the time being the 1581 for the most part |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | DaveKell - 2013-09-19 3:56 AM . I made the point that I will stick with the original bowl as it was sonically researched to arrive at the shape it became. I thought the contour bowl was a marketing decision and possibly not subjected to the same scientific research. The discussion began the usual way with someone complaining they couldn't keep an O upright while playing it. Can anyone enlighten me as to whether the contour bowls were ever put to the same tests as the roundback? From what I've gleaned from a few visits to the factory and discussions with some engineering folks, there was far more research done on the shape and sonic characteristics of the contour bowl than was ever doner for the original bowl. And I also heard from those who should know that the propaganda about the original shape reflecting waves the right way and not dissapearing into corners like wood boxes and such was total marketing spoo. I personally am a fan of the contour bowl because of the way I play guitars and the feel of the body when I do so (I generally play standing up and with a strap). But as others have said, the top, strings and how you play have far more impact on sound than the bowl shape. I find the original deep (and mid) bowls have a "pivot point" that can get in the way, especially if one have a bit of a heavy forearm, resulting in a less comfortable fretting position for me. My guitar that consistently gets the highest reviews for pure acoustic sound is a contour bowl (not counting one very special deep bowl I've got here). Is it the bowl? Maybe, maybe not. Or perhaps it's because everything feels right to me and I love playing it and that translates out to those listening to it. |
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May 2008
Posts: 1555
Location: Indiana | Original bowls are much better for salad. |
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November 2008
Posts: 400
Location: Northwest Arkansas | Original versus extra crispy. Seriously, the DEEP bowl is better than anything and I have a big ol' gut. They sound best and are really no different (in respect of rolling off) than a wood box. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I have 3 Contour Bowl guitars...plus 6 Mid-Depth, 3 Deep Bowls and one Super-Shallow.
So I have some to compare. I do like the Mid-Depth because they are comfortable.
When I first got a Contour Bowl I didn't like it because I was used to the round-back.
It seemed like a large distance to reach over, plus I couldn't see my strings. (bad technique, I know)
But I have grown accustomed to the Contour. (but I think that I still like the mid-bow better)
The flat/concave area in the back of the bowl transmits more vibration to your belly.
So that is different.
But we all know that the contour bowl was made for wood-box lovers and fat Americans.
As to Bobbo's comment about marketing spoo...
If Ovation had designed the Contour Bowl in the 60's there would be no round-backs.
(Just my speculation  )
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | The death knell for my beloved '05C was when I made the decision to play more standing up. I just couldn't find a comfortable position and that absurdly sharp ridge at the edge of the contour dug into my ribs.
Bobbo suggested I try to sling it lower but I couldn't get it to work for me. I had to sell a few things when a wood box guitar came along that just had to be mine, and the '05C was gone...
A pity, because it was, to me, as has been pointed out by others here, the best sounding wood topped Ovation ever.
But, was it due to the contour bowl? Or the Engelman spruce? We'll never know. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | I like the tone of the contour bowl LX models, and the contour 2078T. My only deep bowl is the 1976 Patriot, which doesn't have quite the crispness of the LX models, but it is slightly woodier in tone than the contour. I definitely prefer both the contour and deep compared to the mid. The mid seems to do more rolling skyward than the deep. But who's to say whether the tonal difference the shape of the bowl vs all the other factors? When I win the Powerball and order a custom job from the factory, it will have the hand laid deep bowl. |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | My 2 cents, the contour bowl is excellent for sitting while playing, and is deep enough to get some really great unplugged sound.
For standing and playing they suck, give me a standard round back any day. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | The best comparison I can make is the Wood Topped Adamas. I have the Deep bowl and the Contour bowl. Both in fiberglass.
They feel different - everyone will have their personal preference - but they sound identically the same. At least to me. |
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September 2013
Posts: 10
| Mr. Canterbury strings is correct gentlemen! Tone is so subjective, one mans trash is another mans treasure! (Anybody have a folklore with nylon strings on her?) ` |
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September 2013
Posts: 10
| Sorry my cat posted the last reply!!! I sell guitars all day and one guy loves mahogany another rosewood , we happen to like roundbacks! Neither person is correct ! There is'nt a better one , each piece of wood is individual and unique, The very next top out of the tree may have a totally different and unique sound! Thats the beauty of it!
There are guys that would completely dismiss my FD-14 because of the wider neck or the cedar top..... you don't want to hear this three chord wiley play a strat. Just the wrong tool for me, wouldnt matter what the plank was! I always tell the students everybody gets twelve notes! What are you doing with them! Finding just the right guitar is a disease we all happen to enjoy! |
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Original Bowl vs Contour?
