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Posts: 4
Location: Florida | I am a newcomer to the Ovation world. I am comtemplating whether I should buy a Custom Legend 1869 or a 1990 Collector 199S-7. Can some of you give me your expert opinion. Thanks. |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Well, for some of us around here we'd buy both. And then a pile more. The two guitars you mentioned are very different from one another.
I prefer the deeper bowls for acoustic sound -- the 1990 is deep and the 1869 is super shallow. I have not played the 1990 .... but someone here has. Not sure if the maple is a solid top, but if so, it's probably got a unique sound. It's also got a 16 fret (clear) neck on it, which people used to electric guitars really like.
I'm certainly no expert, but if it were me, I'd buy the 1990, all things being equal. Just because it's different. |
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Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I think the 1990 might be a shallow bowl. They came in shallow or deep and I think the 199S was the shallow one. I had one briefly that I bought for Paul Blanchard. They are beautiful birdseye maple, but I bet they are laminated. The shallow bowls have the typical thin sound of shallow bowls. The 16 fret neck was somewhat unique and took me a few minutes to get used to. If you are talking about comparable prices, I'd go for the 1990, just because of its limited availability. Then get a deep bowl Legend later. |
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Posts: 430
Location: Lebanon, TN | The 1990 is wonderfully different top and very beautiful (I have one and like it way more than I thought I would). If you are playing plugged in you wont notice much of a difference in reality. The CL will have more bling factor depending on age and color. I did have one of the Chery Cherry burst and thought it was very pretty, but sold it pretty quickly as I thought it sounded anemic accoustic. Bought the 1769 Al Dimeloa to replace it, and subsequently bought a 1619 non-cutaway vintage black CL. Hmmm now that baby sounds great.
To sum up I agree ...snag the 1990 and buy a Roland AC30 to play it through :-) |
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Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | I owned a Custom Legend 1869 for two weeks. During my brief ownership of the instrument, I'd say that it was the most solid-sounding of all the shallow bowl Ovations that I had played. Prior to that, I owned a standard balladeer [1861] which was also a super shallow bowl, and its sound didn't come close to the CL.
I would never have parted with the 1869, but when the opportunity to own a deep bowl version came into sight, I didn't think twice. From my experience owning super shallow bowls for over three years, they have a crisp bright, but weak sound. They're great for practicing without disturbing the neighbors. SSB Ovations need to be plugged in to truly appreciate their sound, as their preamps can do things that are just magical. |
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Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I played Gil's 1869 during the short time he had it and it was VERY nice for a shallow bowl. Anyone who wants the shallow bowl should seriously consider the 1869 because it's probably the best of the breed. The problem is that once you compare the acoustic sound with a deep bowl, particularly a Custom Legend, you will be disappointed. That said, the 1869 still sounds a whole lot better than a lot of acoustics out there. |
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February 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Florida | Thank you all for your expert comments. I want to buy just one guitar and keep it forever and, from your comments, it seems like neither 1869 nor 199s-7 is the right one. I am now thinking of getting a CL 2079 intead. What do you think of the CL 2079??. Thanks again |
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Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | These are both shallow bowls, according to the model number given for the 1990 Collectors (though a deep bowl version was made in very limited quantities).
I have said several times on this board that I think the 1990 Nutmeg finish birdseye is arguably the most beautiful top Ovation has made, or at least the nicest versions of the '90. Some of those tops are simply stunning. (But I have also seen 2 or 3 2001 Redwood tops that looked three dimensional that would be contenders.) Anyway....
The only way to know with these two is A-B side by side comparison, and the only way that works well is to have someone else listen from across the room whose ear you trust.
If that isn't possible, conventional wisdom and collective experience is most likely to argue for the #1869 Custom Legend. The wood in the tops is better. I have one that I use in my band every week that I settled on out of all the Ovations I have played, and there have been many.
Yes, the deep bowls sound better in the natural. But I play plugged in 95% of the time and that difference is greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Since I have a roundfront, the shallow bowl is the way to go for me in playing an Ovation. On the occasions when I use the guitar unplugged in a room, the sound is at least adequate.
I love both of the guitars you are considering, but the Custom Legend is the one I would most likely be playing on stage. |
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February 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Florida | Thanks, Paul. I am going for a CL 2079. What do you think of it, more specifically, the new deep contour bowl type. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | You will not be disappointed with the 2079. I've owned two of them and they are great guitars.
Dave |
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Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | What Dave said. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by tom_3451:
Thank you all for your expert comments. I want to buy just one guitar and keep it forever Where did we fail? |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | You all talked him out of two and into one. Let's see a little more obfuscation and a little less focus next time.
Originally posted by tom_3451:
I want to buy just one guitar and keep it forever Yeah, right. Like anyone here can help you with that goal. |
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Custom 1869 vs 1990 Collector 199S-7
