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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | The thread on the original slots got me thinking about this. I've got three guitars that I believe almost anybody would consider to be the best of the best of the wood topped Ovations, a 1537, an 87 Collectors, and a 30th Anniversary Custom Legend.
The 1537 is now 32 years old and has power and tone. It's been played an awful lot (I've had it for 22 years) and has the most power of the three.
The CL is 11 years old but sat on a wall in a music store for 10 years. It sounds wonderful but hasn't opened up yet. I play it the most as it deserves to be played so the top will open up.
The 87C is about 8 years old (don't ask, but I will say that it's the only 87C with an OP Pro) and has been played a lot. It's opened up a ton compared to the CL, but not as much as the 1537. I like it's tone the best.
For everybody who thinks that Ovations can't open up because they are plastic, I would say that they don't know what they are talking about.
Oh, and I've got Elixir 80/20 nano mediums on all three. I"ve experimented with other strings. They sound best...... |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I have about the same experience with the same 3 models. My 1537 was played a lot before I got it and Noah had the finish polished to get the prior owner's scratches out of it. I played it quite a bit when I first got it, but not as much recently. It has a different tone than the others. The 87 Collector went to my daughter, but it was played a lot until I gave it to her. It had opened up, but I could tell it wasn't as open as the 1537. The 30th Anniversary was still pretty new when I got it and had a brighter tone. It sounded stiffer, but the action is a bit higher than the other two, which might account for some of the difference.
The traditionalists who think the back has to be wood should pay more attention to the quality of the wood tops. That's where most of the sound is made. |
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June 2012
Posts: 2315
Location: Pueblo West, CO | I bought a 1978 1617 Legend a couple of months ago that needs a new top. I was lucky enough to (finally) find some torrefied red spruce at Blues Creek Guitars web site that I'm going to use on the 1617.
That should give it the look and sound of a Ovation that's been played for over 100 years. 
Here's a video of John Hall (Owner of Blues Creek) playing two different guitars he made: one with a torrefied top and one with a normal red spruce top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gow0SP1KBHc
For best results listen on a set of headphones.
Edited by DanSavage 2015-03-16 2:52 PM
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Hey Moody glad to see you mention the CL-30. I've enjoying the classcial as well. That was a good deal for both of us. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | I'm interested...
Some are comparing the 'opened up' sound and or volume of non-cutaway models along side of cutaway models... i.e. 87c vs a 1537.
How can you really make this comparison? One top is inherently less free to move, not to mention having less top to vibrate.
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June 2012
Posts: 2315
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Reading the Adamas/Elite soundboard patents, the vibration takes place in the middle to lower bout of the guitar between the end of the fret board and the lower bout.
The quintaid bracing allows for freer vibration because the sound holes are moved from between the bridge and the fret board to the upper bout. The patent says this is a stiffer area of the sound board. Ovation / Adamas Guitar Construction Patent (See: section 4-15 through 4-45) 
Edited by DanSavage 2015-03-16 6:07 PM
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | So here come Damon and Dan getting all technical on us. Damon, I thought of the same thing regarding the 1537 and 87 Collector. I still prefer the center sound hole sound to the multi-hole sound, so it's really comparing apples, oranges and bananas and it's about as subjective as trying to tell which of those three fruits taste better. The ice cream analogy also applies. I need to put new strings on several of mine so they sound better. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | 95% of a guitar's tone and volume is based on the skill and technique of the player. Plug it in and the percentage probably reduces to maybe 60% player and 40% signal chain. Just my $.02. |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Ever go to one of the clinics where Matt, Brad, etc., used one of the store's inventory guitars? Either as acoustic or plugged into a store amp w/o effects? The could make the Cleb sound good. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Indeed the tops of out guitars open up and sound changes over many years of use. But our hearing stays constant, right? |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | There is that.
My original statement reflected one consistent (consistently crappy) guitar player playing and listening to three well built guitars over a short period of time. It has nothing to do with how a great player sounds or how my hearing has deteriorated over time.....
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Aging tops / tone
