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Location: UK | Although I am the proud owner of 2 Ovations - a 1994 Custom Legend and a Water Bubinga Custom Elite (1999) - they have spent a good few years tucked up in their cases under the bed (since the children came along). Having recently gotten the bug again I notice things have changed since I have been away and most models now have a new X bracing. Can anyone comment as to if these new guitars are far superior in sound to the older ones such as mine. As well as the bracing have they changed other features to better the sound? Any comments appreciated. |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Under the bed you say, how are they going to be played there? :)
I think it's hard to make a comparision as there are many factors involved not just the bracing.
I had a 6778LX and sold it, it just couldn't compete with the 1537! ;)
Oh and the 1537 is 26 years old... |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | To me, the LX braced guitars have more clarity. The A braced have more depth. But as Dweezil said, there are so many other variables to take into consideration. The new bowls are lighter and they are supposed to improve the sound. I haven't noticed that so much, but the contour bowls seem to help people keep them on their laps, so of course if the guitar isn't slipping, you sound better playing it. |
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Location: south east Michigan | Good question.
I'm no expert but IMO the recent(?) upgrades offer up just another flavor of Ovation ice cream rather than any quantum leap in tone.
I'm not 100% sold on the new neck system. The graphite bars at the 14th fret have to be an improvement. More adjustability is good but I've seen more LX guitars that needed a neck reset than I've ever seen with a k-bar.
A lighter neck is good but doesn't neck mass have something to do with the sustain a guitar has?
My internal "stove-knitter" alarm is starting to hum so I'd better carefully back away from the subject before I start using terms like "honey - wheat overtones".
One thing you can be sure of. I bet the newer neck system has helped bring the cost of production down. |
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Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Go to the Ovation website and read up on the LX features/improvements. Better? I donno. Different flavor of ice cream? Definitely. You've gotta play both to figure out which you prefer.
As an analogy, think wood box guitars. D size vs OM. Better? Who knows. Different? Yup..... |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | On a tangent perhaps but on a side note to comments made above...
Some people say a D shape is not a finger stylists instrument, but Peppino and others like 'em.
Hey, we haven't even discussed sytle etc etc etc etc etc etc etc .... |
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Posts: 9
Location: UK | Quadruped - Blown away I've just ordered a copy. What guitars are you using on the sample tracks. The tone on passage is fantastic. Getting back to the original question - which bracing pattern will take my playing to this standard!! - or do I need some serious practice pratice pratice.. |
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Location: Nashville TN. | different not better
LX big sound
A braced warmer |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Don't want to hijack your thread but as you asked...
Ian, sir, thank you! I'll send you a signed copy just as soon it's done (not too long now, just as long as I don't keep adding additional tracks to it!)
Passage was recorded with an Ovation 2007 Collectors using a blend of the output from the Op Pro Studio and AKG C1000s and Rode NT1a mics. Natsuhiboshi was an Ovation 1537 (2 x C1000s). Rye Whiskey was a Taylor W12C (C1000s + NT1a).
Different bracing is not going to make you better although I'm a firm believer that you can express yourself more with a better instrument. Not only are you more likely to actually pick it up and play the darn thing but it will also allow you to develop your control, dynamics, tone etc etc.
Whilst I'm not familiar with the Custom Legend or Water Bubinga Custom Elite I did have a 1999 Collectors (Waterfall Bubinga top), perhaps thats what you mean. Gorgeous to look at but in a tone shoot-out with my other guitars it came bottom of the pile, so sold it. A laminated top (and I think the 99C was laminated top) typically cannot compete with a solid top. So it's not just the bracing, it's other factors like the top also. Hope that helps.
If anyone else wants to pre-order a copy you can from my site - see link below (hint hint ;) ) |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Oh and as we like pics, here's the 99C...
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Location: Brighty in Blighty |
but in a tone shoot-out with my other guitars it came bottom of the pile, so sold it It has to be said it was an unfair contest as the 99C was up against guitars costing between 5 and 7 times more than it!
Some people might have actually preferred the warmer tone of the 99C. My ears are not the same as yours! |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I'm still a bit undecided on this one. I do agree with the statement about the A bracing seeming to have a warmer tone (which I like). But so far I have perceived a more even tonal range accross the X braced guitars. I believe the X bracing keeps the top more rigid, and the overall sound (to me) is more like a standard high-end wood box.(at a substantial cost savings) I played a Taylor 814CE Grand Auditorium at a music store last weekend (just killing time awaiting a flight) and the sound reminded me of one of my X braced guitars. I've noticed that in all the newer guitars I have purchased. On the other hand ... perhaps that is because the effects of age haven't kicked in yet. I think in order to do a good comparison, you would have to wait until the X braced guitar has some years on it. It is my opinion that 20-30 years of playing is going to change the sound of any solid-topped guitar for the better. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I think a somewhat decent experimental comparison (for now) would be the 1537 and the 2007BCS Collectors. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I think a somewhat decent experimental comparison(for now) would be the 1537 and the 2007BCS Collectors. Since they both have spruce tops.
Perhaps I'll try the 1768C and the 07C tonight. Although the cedar top is going to sound warmer anyway. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | My experience with the LX is mixed. Specifically comparing Custom Legend LX to the old 1719 Custom Legend ...
Positive: The consistency from guitar to guitar (of the same model) seems very good. I owned 3 2079LX and the sounded and played damn near idenical. The older model varied a lot. Some CLs were stellar and others were ho-hum. Just my opinion.
Negative: Across the board the LX ones sound "compressed" to me. Some people would call this "balanced" but I hear a lack of lows and a lack of highs on the LX. Everything sounds muted towards the mid-range. It's a noce sound, and maybe typical of Ovation. But it's not what my ears expect from a Custom Legend. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by dweezil:
Whilst I'm not familiar with the Custom Legend or Water Bubinga Custom Elite I did have a 1999 Collectors (Waterfall Bubinga top), perhaps thats what you mean. He means this one Dweez. Same top, but more bling and, not insignificantly, a DEEP bowl instead of the mid-bowl. It's loud and warm and, at least in my collection, tonally unique from my other O's. Ovation does not do panel-masters the same way as other companies. These CE's have a birch core sandwiched between two pieces of Bubinga. It's the same idea as an Adamas, just substituting a veneer for the carbon fiber. Very nifty I think!
Lovely abalone!
The full monty...
Did I mention abalone?
Pseudo-skyshot, just for Dweezil...
Bubinga inside and out...
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Location: UK | Patch - thanks for the explanation. When I bought mine it wasn't the look that really sold it to me it was the tone. When I went to the store I was set on an Adamas(albeit the cheaper SMT type). I took my Custom Legend with me to compare against and only tried this Elite thinking it would have a similar tone to one I owned in the late 80's. How wrong I was, this Guitar was something completely different (special) with a tone that won the day.
dweezil - Love the look and sound of your 07C - I'll keep checking your website and swoop when it lists 'For Sale' (subject to a Lottery win!!). |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Ian, the 07C (not mine) does come up for sale now and again for around £500(ish) as far as I recall.
I've said I'd never part with it but I'm finding the Seagull Peppino to be very similar to the 07C in terms of tone and playability so you never know. I don't like having two guitars with a similar voice etc so you never know! |
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Ovation LX versus Old School Ovations
