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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Today I got to compare s/n 471 to s/n 610487
Let me say right up front that the reissue is AMAZING in how well it captures everything good about the original Josh White. For guitars manufactured 40 years apart, the sound is almost "spooky" how similar it is. HUGE CONGRATS to the boys in the factory for pulling this one off.
The Josh White was my first "favorite" Ovation and I have loved it ever since. I've owned 4 of the originals. As far as I'm concerned, the original Josh White was the father of all those great Ovation wide neck 12 fretters that came after - Folklore, FD14, U681, Koala, ... It's like the All Star list of Ovations.
As I said the sound of the reissue vs. the original is almost spot on identical. How-day-do-dat? JW is slightly louder to the players ears, but JWRI had a more even mellow tone. But the differences were really subtle. Blind folded you'd never pick them out. Cosmetics, fit, finish, setup, etc. is 100% perfect (except for some personal opinions below).
Cosmetic Highlights:
1. Came with the new style TKL case - very nice
2. The 3 piece top is superb
3. Inlaid rosette is perfectly done like the original
4. Braz. rosewood 5 pointer is a perfect recreation, including the side ramps
5. Body binding is intentionally yellowed to look vintage - very nice
6. Shiny bowl is a thing of beauty
7. Fretboard, neck, inlays, very nice.
Cosmetic Lowlights:
1. The headstock angle is wrong, same problem on the balladeer, I guess they could not copy the original due to warranty issues
2. The headstock finish is wrong, same problem on the balladeer, the headstocks should have been faced in dark or black stain like the origials, to me this is a major missed opportunity
3. The headstock lip is not right, it's the new style thin lip, they should have made a thick lip such as they did on the balladeer
4. The tuners are a poor choice, I realize the original etched ones could not be found but they should have gone with something closer, such as etched Waverly's
5. The neck profile is FD14 flat C, not the full beefy C of the original, I actually prefer the flat C better but it's not true to the original
6. The edge points of the nut are razor sharp, this is the case on every new ovation I get these days, the first tjhing I have to do on all new guitars is round off the edge of the nut to keep from poking my hands, you should not have to do this on a brand new guitar
7. They never clean out the buffing grit from the inside of the slots on slotted headstocks, this happens on all slotheads I have recently bought, it takes me one minute to clean it out with a rag but it's another little thing you should not have to do on a brand new guitar
Sorry to nit-pick. Overall execution of this reissue is STUNNING and the sound is AMAZING. I don't know how many of these got made, but for anyone looking for a 12 fret wide neck slothead, THIS would be my serious recommendation.
I probably can't post pics for a few days, but I'll get to it.
Dave |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | "5. Body binding is intentionally yellowed to look vintage - very nice"
I understand they used some of the "Monday" coffee that John Budny made to create this happen!
BTW Dave, if you ever need a House-Sitter or a swap (houses and pets only!) for a short time let me know! My Wife would love the change of scenery and I could dissapear in the music-a-toreum! |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Just a minute ago Karl (kid-school) left - after we made a little Reissue-Original-Challenge.
Not much to add to Dave's contribution but pictures:
Only that Karl's original Josh White was one of the second series with two-piece soundboard and different bridge.
Kurt |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | ...forgot the most important one:
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The originals had a stain on the neck. In time the mahogony has lightened and the walnut has darkened. Perhaps they could have gotten closer in color but evidently chose not to. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Looks like a steeper break angle on the original. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | mike i do belive the old slotheads had a 13 or 14% peghead angle. my 74 folklore has a steep angle like the josh white had......jason |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I love the look of those tuners. :cool: |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | id loev to find a set of those original jw machines for my folklore..or better yet id like to find a josh white!!! jason |
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Josh White Reissue vs. Original
