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My take on the UKII solid body

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   Forums Archive -> The Vault: 2007Message format
 
Dr.Tom
Posted 2007-04-21 11:51 AM (#104295)
Subject: My take on the UKII solid body


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 302

Location: Buffalo,NY		Some of you may know that I recently bought an Ovation UKII off of ebay:


I am new to Ovation guitars with just having acquired an 1858LX just a couple of months ago. So it was a real leap of faith to buy the UKII on ebay unplayed and unheard. I went after it primarily after reading the reviews on Harmony Central(for which I have been appropriately chastised!)

This past thursday night I was able to spend some time with the UKII playing it first through a 1965 Gibson Falcon with no pedals and then my usual practice amp of a 1968 Fender Super Reverb with my full contingent of pedals.

The first thing that struck me was the natural sustain from this guitar that actually comes through even in the unplugged mode. But through the Gibson Falcon with a little bit a reverb the guitar sounded very sweet and creamy with substantial bottom end. It didn't take me very long to figure out how to work with the pickups; very logical to just move the switch for a single vs humbucker pickup(I think that's what the switch does !?) and switching pickups is easy with the toggle like a les Paul.

So after playing for a while through the Gibson Falcon I decided that the guitar sounded very good but I didn't like the action-too high for my tastes. So off to the work bench for a lowering of the bridge and a slight adjustment to the truss rod . The action is now just to my liking and the guitar plays very fast.

I next took the guitar and played it through my Super Reverb and my pedals. The guitar clean through the Super Reverb sounds fantastic, with a little adjustment to my treble setting I now have a guitar that can cover just about anything from jangly rythms to creamy smooth leads. It responds very well to pedals like the Klon,ZenDrive,King of Tone,Love Pedal, etc,etc. The interesting thing is that I don't need to use my compressor for sustain with this guitar , this guitar provides it naturally !!

So i make another leap of faith and let one of our other guitarists play it last night at practice. He plays through my Vox AC30CC going in to a 2x12" Alnico Blue loaded cabinet. At first it sounded too dark. So I switch him to the top boost channel , adjusted his treble and bass setting and he was in Tone heaven. This guitar just sings. It sounded great for his rhythms and leads all practice through.It's always difficult for me to let some one else play with my new toys but I've also found that it really helps to understand the sound of a guitar by letting some one else play it. It also reconfirmed for me that this guitar sounds and plays great.

After practice our other guitarist wanted to play it and just thought it was incredible and unsolicitted said that it sounded very close to the sound of a combination of a Les Paul and an SG. He also claims that the set up and feel of the guitar just begs to be played hard ! I'm not sure I under stand all of what that means but he was really loving it.

The guitar looks, feels and sounds very expensive. This guitar is fantastic. If you are looking for an electric I would be hard pressed to suggest another guitar for the value.If you look at the other guitars I have, then this is quite an endorsment. Now I am certainly still in the honeymoon phase with this guitar but as long as it doesn't make me do chores around the house,or complain about my friends, I think my love for it will last.

So now I need to know how the rest of the Ovation solid bodies sound. What can you tell me ?

Regards,

Tom
ELECTRICS : 2006 PRS CU 22 12 String Ch. Sunburst; 2004 PRS Hollowbody II McCart Sunburst; 2005 PRS Modern Eagle 20th Ann. Charcoal, 2005 PRS CU24 20th Ann.Artist Blue Matteo,; 1997 PRS Santana 1 ,Sunburst ; 1965 SG Special - White ; 1963 Fender Strat- sunburst ; 1964 Gretsch Country Gent-dark walnut ; 1998 Gretsch Country Classic Jr. ; 2001 Gibson ES-335 - natural ; 2004 Gibson Firebird - white ; 1966 Fender Electric XII ; 1989 Fender Strat Plus Deluxe - greyburst ; 1969 Fender Tele- Blonde ; 1969 Fender Esquire - Blonde ; 1969 Fender Tele Bass - Blonde ; 199? Jackson Randy Rhodes V - black ; 199? Peavey Wolfgang - cognac burst ; 200? Gretsch Duojet 1957 RI - black w/bigsby ; 2005 Gibson SG Special - black ; 1968 Vox Sidewinder Bass- cherry ; 1965 Silvertone amp-in-case 2pickup - red sparkle; 1965 Hagstrom I (powder blue)
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Goober
Posted 2007-04-21 12:12 PM (#104296 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body


Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799

Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville		Love the color, too, Tom. I always thought that the UKII was the most unique sounding of all the Ovation solid bodies. I think you got a winner there!
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stephent28
Posted 2007-04-21 12:21 PM (#104297 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066		I find the Preacher's to be a bit dull.

The Viper & Viper 3 are terrific players. While other's may disagree, I always thought it sounded a bit like a hard rockin Telecaster. I preferred the Viper 3 but there are some who did not like the switch configuration.

The Deacon & Breadwinner are just great guitars with a lot of potential because of the active electronics.

I have owned several of each of the above and sold them all except for the Deacon 12 string and the Breadwinner Ltd 6 string. They are exceptional.

Then there are also a lot of one-offs but Miles would need to chime in on those (since he has owned or still owns most of them).
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MWoody
Posted 2007-04-21 12:25 PM (#104298 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997

Location: Upper Left USA		Having nowhere near your experience and being known as the "Butcher of Bremerton" since most of my aquisitions come in pieces, I can only say that the UK II was the last of the line in the Ovation Solidbody Vision Quest.

My last mutated Viper (sold) was all Mahogany and had incredible sustain. This is a testament to the design and adjustability of the O's.
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Dr.Tom
Posted 2007-04-21 12:25 PM (#104299 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 302

Location: Buffalo,NY
Goober posted April 21, 2007 02:12 PM
Love the color, too, Tom. I always thought that the UKII was the most unique sounding of all the Ovation solid bodies. I think you got a winner there!
Goober,

Thank you. I too really like the color and the look of this guitar.

The picture I posted if from the ebay auction. I'll try and get some better ones up soon. I can shoot them outside now that the ice sheet has receded from Buffalo!.

Regards,

Tom
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stephent28
Posted 2007-04-21 12:29 PM (#104300 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066		Tom, there is a mint Deacon on ebay right now that would be perfect for you. Go check the thread in the for sale section.

For a mint deacon, that is an EXCELLENT price.
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Dr.Tom
Posted 2007-04-21 12:40 PM (#104301 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 302

Location: Buffalo,NY		OK,

How do I contact this guy and buy it for the opening price ?

Tom
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Mr. Ovation
Posted 2007-04-21 1:09 PM (#104302 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247

Location: The Great Pacific Northwest		My feelings about the UKII are posted on my collection site, but in summary, and in an analogy to "if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it make a sound?" The UKII was a great guitar that few people knew about. You KNEW its potential so you walked over to the amp and set it up. Most others, would have dismissed it and missed out, because it's gold is under the surface.
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stephent28
Posted 2007-04-21 2:07 PM (#104303 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066		Dr Tom...he has a phone number listed on the ebay auction and even requests that you call prior to bidding.
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Beal
Posted 2007-04-21 5:18 PM (#104304 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch		told ya.
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fillhixx
Posted 2007-04-21 5:32 PM (#104305 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia		Don't ya just hate being proved right 30 years later?

The Viper has been next on my list, and may well stay that way, for some time. Looks kinda Les Paulish, feels kinds Tele-ish.


..........Next US roadtrip may very well be to check a collection in "The Great Pacific Northwest" if I'm still allowed across the border and in the yard....
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Beal
Posted 2007-04-21 6:25 PM (#104306 - in reply to #104295)
Subject: Re: My take on the UKII solid body



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch		Better late than never, or somethig like that.
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