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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | I'm still trying to decode the Ovation model number thing — which incidentally makes the Di Vinci Code look like tic tac toe. The subject of this post is a Balladeer model 4861. Now, silly me, I thought all Balladeers were American made. But nooooooo. That would be too easy. The 4861 is Korean made? Is that right? But it has a solid top? The implication being that yer average 4861 would 'technically' be equal in sound and finish to a 'Murcan Balladeer? Or perhaps I should say COULD be? And don't even get me started on the Pinnacle models. I wonder if anyone at Ovation ever actually considered model numbers (or better yet, names — Gibson's Dove, Hummingbird, Artist etc. are all instantly recognizable) which actually made sense without using an Enigma machine. The archive thing of discontinued models helps some, but just bare bones. Dates and country of manufacture, superceding models, etc. would all be welcome additions. My rant for the day. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Model numbers confuse me as well. 1861 USA made, 4861 Koorean made. Just stick with names: Balladeer, Legend, Elite, ... |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | ...just part of Ovation Magic.... |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | You are presuming there's logic in the world of humans.....?
And that people remember a decision made years ago?
Embrace the chaos! |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Now don't anyone talk bad about a kimche-smellin' 4861!!
That's what my first Ovation is. It does have a solid top, that has aged very well. And it do sound a whole-lot better than my Plywood Chinese GC057. They are both SSB's, but that aged solid wood do make a BIG difference.
But the Number thing... I talk with my Mom over miles of wire, and refer to my guitars by numbers. She asks, "Can't you name them or something?"
It's kinda like cars in the 70's... American cars were Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes...
Foreign cars were 240Z's, B210's, and all the Mercedes were just numbers.
So, why would an American Company use numbers so much? |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I think Chevy learned the hard way that using names isn't a very good idea in an international market. They didn't know that "Nova" translated into Spanish means "Four Wheeled GM Piece of Shit". They had no clue why sales were plummeting in latin countries. Of course they have no clue why sales are plummeting in their own country as well ...
You want a real excercise in guitar model numbers? Go look at the takamine.com website. Holy one-armed zoo-keeper, it's a friggin number jungle. EAN340CSC. Let's see, that's Electric Acoustic Natural 340 series Solid Cutaway. TAN340CSC is the same thing, but the T means coolTube preamp. Christ, it almost makes sense.
Other end of the spectrum using no model numbers is Fender. Ok, please tell me what is the difference between a Strat, Fat Strat, Deluxe Strat, Nashville Deluxe Fat Start, Matte Strat, Cat In The Hat Strat, Hot Rod Strat, Deluxe Hot Rod Strat, Hot Rod Deluxe Strat, No Mo Fat Strat, Brat Strat, Not That Strat, Nappy Headed Ho Strat, I Wanna Strat, Crap Strat, Deluxe Crap Strat, ... And the accompanying Squire versions of each one.
Now, back to Ovation and Adamas guitars ... I guess what you could do when in doubt is CHECK THE O DECODER !
Dave |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Ha ha ha — Cat in the Hat Strat. That's a good one. And point taken. Fender does overuse the Strat/Tele thing just a tad. Anyway, my post was just a bit of good-natured venting. Very happy to have come back to the fold after many years in the outlands with Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, Larrivee, etc.
And yes, I do want some order in the world. However, I am married so I will just chalk the Ovation modeling thing (and, as pointed out, the Mercedes numbering system) up to Yet Another Female Thing I Will Never Understand.
Now I feel better.
FWIW, I'm still in search of the perfect O and am actually somewhat happy to know that there are foreign-made (read, 'cheaper') solid tops from which to choose. Presently have an American 1861 Balladeer (getting a neck adjust and new strings), a Ultra Deluxe, and a 1111-4 that I bought new in 1971. I'll always have the latter, but the other two are place-keepers for THE one. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | The road goes ever on and on, out from the door where it began, and where it leads I know not where... |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Why Woody!!! You little ol' hobbit!!
Model numbers are a form of shorthand for engineers and bean counters.
I'd much rather use and hear a word discription. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The popular names for Gibson Les Paul models over the years is also very confusing. |
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So Let Me Get This Straight...
