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Joined:
April 2009
Posts: 42
Location: Maryland | I picked up a Standard Balladeer 2771LX
I think I got a good deal on it for 350.00 used
after playing a Breedlove the strings on this feel very heavy to me. Since I am new to ovation I am not sure what to compare this guitar to. here is a link. http://www.ovationguitars.com/?fa=detail&mid=2299
I was hoping for recommendations on strings that are no so thick. I used the search option and as always I am confused. thanks |
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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 335
Location: Reisterstown, Maryland | Welcome Confused, You will find string are a personal choice here and you can start friendly battles over who prefers what. Just try all different kinds and find what you and you guitar likes. I like Elixir super lights, Earthwood superlights ans Earnie Ball Slimkys in superlights.
But I am not gigging like alot of the guys and gals are. I'm a grandmother who did all that who just plays for my own pleasure and can't handle too much pain on her fingers anymore.
Anita
I live in Maryland too |
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Joined:
September 2008
Posts: 1281
Location: Ohio | The comment you are going to get form most members is check the archives.....Or play what feels and sounds good.
I've use Elixer NANO(not happy with the quality. I had 2 sets for a 12 string and the G's broke before being tuned to pitch)
I really like Ernie Ball Earthwood Lights or D'Adario 80/20 phospher bronze.
I've also used Martin Silk and Steel for a softer sound. |
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Joined:
April 2009
Posts: 42
Location: Maryland | Thank you. After some research I see that my breedlove has D’Addario EXP16 strings on it which I really like. these are a light gauge string set
and the Dreadnoughts they sell get a medium gauge
I am not sure where the standard balladeer with a deep bowl would compare to. Would I want medium or light strings? sorry I am such a rookie.
any idea what came on this 2771lx when new?
they have color coded ends on them and the strings are thick and I am not sure if they are oem or not |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | Welcome! I live in the state of Confusion it's right in between Vermont and N.H. As for strings give Ernie Ball Slinkys a shot.
Pauly |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | Ovations come with D'addario EXP16 from the factory which are light gauge or 12's. D'Adarrio are the only strings I know with color coded ball ends. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | EXP 16s are my vote. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Generally people prefer the Phosphor Bronze formulations. Get "light" gauge, though different manufacturers have slightly different ideas as to what "light" means.
Coated strings last longer but cost more. I liked Cleartone coated strings on my 6778LX, and the Elixir Nano sound great on my '07 Collectors. But I prefer non-coated strings in general because they tend to sound a bit livelier. But the Nano on the '07 are great.
The thing to do is buy at least a half dozen different brands and try them all out. Put on a set and play the life out of them for a few weeks, then change to another brand. Keep notes so you know which you liked better and which died sooner, etc. After a few months you'll have a good idea what sounds good to you on your guitar.
String preference is personal, and it depends on your particular guitar too. |
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Joined:
April 2009
Posts: 42
Location: Maryland | Thank you
I guess I will need to get one of my calipers and measure the thickness of the strings because if these are 16's then they are to thick for me.
I feel like I went from driving a sports car to a bus |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Ditto the exp16s, I now use the custom lights but find either just as good a place to start. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 566
Location: Denmark | Originally posted by Organized Confusion:
Thank you
I guess I will need to get one of my calipers and measure the thickness of the strings because if these are 16's then they are to thick for me.
I feel like I went from driving a sports car to a bus Good idea to measure the gauge so you will know what seems too heavy. The "16" in EXP16 however is not the gauge. A set of "Light" strings will most probably have 0.012in wire for the thin E-string. Many string manufacturers provide assistance in string selection on their web site, e.g. D\'Addario . There is nothing wrong with trying different strings, but if your guitar seems heavy to play it could also have something to do with the general setup. If coming from an electric guitar with low action and super light strings (like '9s or '10s) any steel string acoustic will feel a bit stiff to play. |
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Joined:
April 2009
Posts: 42
Location: Maryland | Thanks I put a set of the exp 16's on it
they are identical to what came off of it.
the sound is crisper but i think it may have something wrong with the bridge so it may go back to the guitar center. The strings do not line up with the slots in the bridge and there are multiple small groves in the bridge near the slots.
I played the Breedlove Atlas acoustic it is not an electric guitar so to speak and it played much better so I think this one needs a new bridge |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by Organized Confusion:
The strings do not line up with the slots in the bridge and there are multiple small groves in the bridge near the slots...I think this one needs a new bridge Maybe you mean the saddle and not the bridge? The bridge is the wooden piece that's glued/bolted to the top of the guitar, while the saddle is the white/cream (sometimes black) piece that the strings rest on after coming out of the bridge. The saddle can get worn and grooved with age. If so, you can get a new saddle/pickup assembly (they're integrated) from the factory and replace it yourself - it's an easy fix. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Organized Confusion:
Thank you. After some research I see that my breedlove has D’Addario EXP16 strings on it which I really like. these are a light gauge string set
and the Dreadnoughts they sell get a medium gauge
I am not sure where the standard balladeer with a deep bowl would compare to. Would I want medium or light strings? sorry I am such a rookie.
any idea what came on this 2771lx when new?
they have color coded ends on them and the strings are thick and I am not sure if they are oem or not Ovations come from the factory with either D'Addario uncoated lights or EXP lights (both made by D'Addario -- I'll leave it to somebody else to tell you the model number as I don't play D'Addario's).
When you say that your guitar plays "heavy" compared to a Breedlove, I don't know what that means. Is the action high (Ovations tend to come from the factory with high action)? Are the strings hard to either press down or bend? Somebody at the store may have put on mediums that you're not used to. It's possible that the neck might have too much relief in it and therefore the truss rod might need to be tweaked.
Slots in the saddles wouldn't have anything to do with this. You didn't say if the guitar was brand new or used. A little more information might help..... |
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Joined:
April 2009
Posts: 42
Location: Maryland | MoodyPI I purchased a used 2771lx from my local guitar center last night. The strings feel hard to push down and bend plus the high e does not seem to work quickly as I would like it to with a single hammering note. They also sold me a Road Runner case made for ovation Deep bowls that does not work well with this deep contour bowl my guess is the contour bowl is different where the case actually is hard to close since it rubs on the body on the edge and the latches are difficult to release. They sold it all to me out the door for 450.00 that included tax with a 30 day satisfaction return policy. I found the same model today with the correct case for 100.00 more and it is new so I purchased it and will be returning this one since I think it is not playing like it should.
the saddle does have slots in it but the strings do not go through them and the slots that the strings have made "wear and tear" have the strings sitting at slightly different elevations.
it does not play smoothly as I am used to with the Breedlove I purchased a few weeks ago.
the action is high there are three shims under the saddle. Being a rookie in this area if I were to remove maybe 2 of the shims lowering the action how would that change the way it plays? |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Removing one or two shims can make all the difference in the world. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Remove one and see how you like it.... |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 566
Location: Denmark | Originally posted by Organized Confusion:
... included tax with a 30 day satisfaction return policy. I found the same model today with the correct case for 100.00 more and it is new so I purchased it and will be returning this one ... Good move IMO - a new guitar with original owners guarantee and a case that fits isn't bad, and most Ovations I played had really good action from the start. It seems strange that a relatively new guitar - like any LX - which comes from factory in a hard case is delivered from the shop in a case that doesn't fit. Good luck with it. |
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got my first ovation today what strings to get?
