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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 91
Location: Valparaiso, FL | Back into playing after a few years. Back in the day (pre-children) had a Legend, then Adamas II. My wife and son went to a pawn shop last year and bought me an applause 6 string cutaway AE-38. Weird headstock, but nice look and plays great.
Thing is, they've awakened the beast.
The applause really is amazing, but doesn't give the full sound I remember, being a shallow bowl. I never plug in, so electrics aren't an issue. What I want is that full sound.
I've got $200 - $500 to spend tops. So that throws me into used and under the cedar top balladeer I really liked at GC.
What should I get? 80's Balladeer? Nylon? Really cheap legend I snipe?
TIA,
David |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | For the money you've budgeted, I'd suggest buyng a used US made Ovation, either a Legend or Balladeer. They're excellent quality for the dollar.
As far as the best ballanced sound, that's really a subjective thing. A 70's Legend, for instance, is considered to have a very ballanced sound, but IMHO, they don't have a very good bass response. So for me, "ballanced" in that regard isn't necessarily a good thing, while others may love it. On the other hand, a Legend made in the 80's or 90's with the "A" bracing pattern will give you much better bass response AND a pretty overall ballanced sound. Used Legends, Balladeers and Custom Balladeers are fairly plentiful on eBay. Hope this helps and good luck.
Jeff |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | David, you have five hours- keep your eye on this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33029&item=3777854104&rd=1
Good luck! |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Actually, this one might be better. The 1712 I recently sent to Germany had probably the biggest voice (unplugged) of the 20-odd "O"'s I've owned.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33029&item=3777887405&rd=1 |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 91
Location: Valparaiso, FL | And it's the bass tone that I miss with the shallow bowl. Even my 12 string Balladeer has more bottom. Maybe a little about my style of play would help. 75% home doodling, 25% church worship rythmn. Most of the time I do not use a pick and play fingerstyle.
Those are sweet links, thanks. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| I think string choice makes a big difference on most guitars and a huge difference on Os. My legend arrived with whatever O put on at the factory and I thought that the thin sound was down to it being a shallow bowl. When I put the new Rotosound CL5s on it totally transformed the guitar - fantastic balance across all six and the sweetest sound. Always worth experimenting. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | A have a Baladeer Special (S771)which is a USA solid top with a mid-depth bowl. It's got the best acoustic sound of any of my guitars. It goes for $650.00 new, so if you can find a used one, it should fall right in to your price range.
Good luck!
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_id/85723 |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | David
These folks are advertising a 4861 balladeer for 350, looks very clean.
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3724.htm |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Massachusetts | I have the S771 balladeer. It is a pre LX design neck so it is the fattest most v shaped neck of any O I have played in the past 4 years...I love it to death. My top got smashed and rather than trash the guitar..I'm having it repaired cause I love the neck and electronics that much.
Tone wise? Decent for an Ovation and I wouldn't hesitate getting one if I were you.
A satin top is very easy to clean which is nice but it dings just looking at it and it will shine up from arm and strum wear in spots. So you have some tradeoffs there.
I have the op24+ preamp which is more versatile and has a greater range of tones than even an Optima which I have tried on Adamas' and Custom Legends..that preamp is that good...course new ones use a different preamp with a tuner.
I don't know, I had a Custom Legend mid depth bowl briefly and it was very bright, not much bass response at all and I tried different brands, types and guages of strings and it wouldn't fatten up. Plugged in it wouldn't fatten up at all with the Optima. I returned it cause my S771 blew it away tone wise plugged and unplugged.
If a Legend is the same way I would take a Balladeer any day.
I do have to say..for down the road..the new LX's are a huge improvement in tone all around though I wish they'd bring back the oiled v neck. That's just me. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 91
Location: Valparaiso, FL | Since I've posted I went and played a Tangent, Glen Campbell (acoustic), and a couple of other mid and shallow bowl O's. I definitely want the deep bowl. Though that $350 one is sweet.
That GC S771 cedar is my favorite so far, but realistically won't drop below $500 for a while, and $500 right now is a stretch. So I've got to raise the cash or drop my sights. One day I'm going back to Adamas land or one of the new O's, but for now I'll buy and sell enough guitars to raise the money. Bought a MIM strat with EMG's last night on fleabay for $130. Should be able to get $100 more out of it with good pictures and a decent description.
So right now it's Balladeer, either 80's up, or Legend, used, deep bowl. I really don;t know enough about the newer models like the Elite, Tangent, etc. to know what to look for. Electronics not being a big deal, I'm looking deep bowl first.
Thanks for the help. It's great to be playing again. |
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Best O balanced acoustic sound
