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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Hi,
Newbie here to the forum, but 'oldbie' to Ovation. Got a 1111-4 brand new in 1971 and still have it.
My question at the moment is about top wood. I understand that all American made Ovations have solid wood tops, but only SOME models made elsewhere. My particular question involves the 1528 Ultra series. Friend got one of these with a spruce on top and this thing sounds great (at least for a shallow body). I was so impressed that I bought one on eBay. Same model, and the serial number was even close, but this one had some kind of walnut veneer top, which was pretty. But unplugged, even with new strings, it sounded downright terrible next to his, the spruce top. This led me to believe that perhaps the spruce was solid, while mine was ply.
I did search the archive and found that an 'S' on the model number (at least in Celebrities) indicates a solid top. Both of these guitars are 1528D models made in Korea.
Clarifications, please!? |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | aloha oddball. welcome to the OFC, friend!
i'm just gonna welcome you and let someone who knows what they're talking about when it comes to ovations take over. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | i do belive all the ultras had a panlemaster top but i could be wrong.....jason |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Both are laminated tops. Some lams can sound really good and some sound like junk. Of course, the same thing can be said for solid tops. Ovation tends to be more consistent across their lines. There could be other factors at play ... things like string gauge, break angle, etc. Try different strings, and put a shim or two under the bridge if the action can take it. Also try plugging it in, you could be surprised at how good it might sound amplified. |
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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | Originally posted by Lanaki:
aloha oddball. welcome to the OFC, friend!
i'm just gonna welcome you and let someone who knows what they're talking about when it comes to ovations take over. Me too.. :) welcome |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Let your ears decide. Some ply sound good, some don't. Same for solids. As a matter of fact, some solids sound down right aweful. Let your ears do the talking (that sounds odd, but you know what I mean). Same goes for brands of guitars. Don't think for a minute that every model of such-and-such is better or worse than every model of another brand. Just ain't so. If you like what you hear, then that's the guitar for you. Dave |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15683
Location: SoCal | 10-15 years ago, Guitar Center had a number of koa topped O's built. They were all plywood and they sounded great.... |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Thanks to all for the welcome and the information. Guess the buddy was just lucky on his. Maybe I'll ask if he wants to trade. If not, I am happy with mine plugged in (which is the main way I'll play it), so will probably hang onto it -- at least until I can find a bargain Balladeer or Legend. LOL. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12762
Location: Boise, Idaho | Not all USA Ovations are solid tops. Some of the more exotic woods, like my Waterfall Bubinga, aren't stable enough for a solid, top, so they have to be laminated. Several of the Collector's series are that way. Some sound great and some don't. Play it a bunch and it might open up some. |
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Joined:
February 2007
Posts: 23
Location: Westchester, NY | I checked the Ovation website where the Collectors series lists the tops in various designations, some for example say AAA Sitka Spruce, others Solit Sitka Spruce. Are the ones that dont say "solid" laminate tops? |
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solid top, laminated top
