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Location: Germany | Hello,
I'm new to this forum, that I found while searching for informations about an Ovation Collector's Series 1998 that's offered to me.
Right now I collected quite a few informations, but wasn't able to find out, if this guitar has a solid top.
I'd be very happy if someone could help with this question - and maybe give a short comment on that guitar.
Many thanks in advance,
Juergen |
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Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Welcome "J".
Check out this link. It may help.
http://www.ovationguitars.com/index.cfm?fa=detail&mid=1240 |
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Posts: 29
Location: Germany | Hello BT717,
many thanks for your fast response and the link.
Maybe my English is too bad to understand (sorry!), but all I read is "Top: Flamed Maple". In my eyes just a description of the design, right?
Are you able to find any information about a solid top?
Thanks again and have a nice weekend,
Juergen |
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Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Well ,I found this review on Harmony Central
That says it is a Solid Top. Others on the site have much more knowledge then I do. I would assume that any USA made "Collectore series" would have a Solid Top.
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/product/... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't think it's a solid top. I can't imagine a flame maple could be. Most of the highly figured woods are not strong enough for a guitar top without laminating them. The 99 Collectors was laminated, as are several other Collector series. It seems like the Collectors in that era focused on the looks. The mid bowls also contributed to the lack of bottom end. It depends on your taste. The guy who just bought my 99 thought it was the best sounding of the bunch, but he focused on the plugged in sound. |
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Location: Vernon CT | Wow!! Thanks for clarifying that Mark.
See "J", I told you others would know. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Flame maple, it's a panelmaster. |
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Posts: 29
Location: Germany | Hi,
many thanks again!
Mark's explanation about the strength sounds reasonable to me. Although even a German guitar magazine that I just found states the top solid.
On the other hand Ovation doesn't call it solid, as it does with other guitars. As it is a sign of quality they would mention it, wouldn't they?
Quite confusing...
@Beal: Could you please tell me what panelmaster means? I wasn't able to find a translation.
You already helped me a lot!
Greetings,
Juergen |
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Posts: 3969
| Panelmaster = American slang for plywood/laminated wood. BTW, welcome. And, it's certainly a veneered/laminated top. It could be solid spruce with the flame maple veneer, tho. In which case it would probably sound better than a true plywood top. Almost all those exotic or highly figured woods are plywood or thin veneer over solid wood. The crazy grain direction changes and figures reduce the dimensional stability of any wood, and could lead to disaster in a guitar made with highly figured solid top with all the stress placed on it by the string tension. |
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Location: NJ | hmmm . . . Germany . . . try "PanelMeister" . . . . |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | Juergen,
Welcome, and FYI...Beal is Bill Kaman. If he gives any info about our guitars you can take it to the bank.
John <>{ |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | except for spelling and occasional memory lapses. |
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Posts: 29
Location: Germany | Thank you - what a wonderful forum!
I've been look around a bit and found another Collectors: A 1993er. This one has a solid top and is in good condition, too.
Any options on the 93er? Does the solid top makes "the difference" compared to the 98er?
I wasn't able to find user reviews or tests on the 93er.
Just from the look I'd prefer the 98er, - but guitar playing isn't about optics...
I'd be happy to hear about your ideas.
Have nice sunday,
Juergen |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I don't think it's a solid top. I can't imagine a flame maple could be. Most of the highly figured woods are not strong enough for a guitar top without laminating them. The 99 Collectors was laminated, as are several other Collector series. It seems like the Collectors in that era focused on the looks. The mid bowls also contributed to the lack of bottom end. It depends on your taste. The guy who just bought my 99 thought it was the best sounding of the bunch, but he focused on the plugged in sound. I think my '99 collectors sounds incredible unplugged. As a matter of fact, I bought it based on the unplugged sound and tone, and that's how I play it 95% of the time. Plugged in, I play it through an Acoustasonic SFX-II.
Fantastic! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Many others would agree. That's why everyone needs to follow his or her own tastes. |
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January 2009
Posts: 29
Location: Germany | Hello,
finally I bought the 98er, as the 93er suddenly vanished from Ebay one day before the end of auction. :-(
It seemed as if the seller wasn't satisfied with the development of the auction.
So I finally got the 98er in perfect condition with a very good sound (at least in my ears).
As it is my first Ovation I'm really happy with it's quality and playability - but you'll already know that from your's.
Only the case has a little damage (2 cm x 1.5 cm) in the outer skin. I'm thinking about repairing it with black filler.
As I don't want to make it worse: Does anybody know if I have to be cautious by selecting the material?
Many thanks for your support and best wishes,
Juergen |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Congrats, and welcome to the club, I think. (see my post "It's all a big conspriracy")
My opinion on the case is....it's just a case. You can't really do anything that's going to affect the value of your guitar. Others here may value their cases a lot more than I do. Mine just store my guitars til I'm ready to pull them out and use them. |
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Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | Originally posted by bauerhillboy:
Juergen,
Welcome, and FYI...Beal is Bill Kaman.
John <>{ …and here I was thought I had figured out a deep, dark secret… ;) |
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Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | Fiberglass filler or something like it should work fine. I used some glue and paint to fix a crack on one of mine, but I have more cases than guitars right now and they all sit empty in a storeroom. Like me, they don't get out much. |
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Location: Jet City | To beat a dead horse 15 years later.... It is no 'panelmaster'. It is solid maple, confirmed. |
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Collector*s Series 1998 - Solid top?
