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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | As I swim placidly in the 'Bay, feeding on the lowest forms of guitardom, circling the weak and injured, occasionally seeing MWoody, I have the major product lines down OK:
1 Adamas is coolest
2 Ovation is cool
3 Celebrity is less cool
4 Applause is the least cool
Ran into three new ones - "Pinnacle" "Matrix" and "Ultra". I suspect they are in the lower eschelons.
Where do they slot in on the feeding order? |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I think they are somewhere between Celebrity and USA Ovation.
I get confused as hell. No wonder the buying public just gets fed up and buys Ibanez, Epiphone, etc. I 'think' Ovation makes some great stuff in the $500-$750 range but I'll be damned if I can figure out what it is and where to try it.
Dave |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | I think I might be able to help a little... The Matrix line, I believe, was Ovation's first attempt (mid/late 70s) at producing lower cost acoustics with aluminum necks. I think they were the precursor to the Applause line.
Now, trying to decifer between the Ultra and Pinnacle lines is where I get confused. I believe Dave is right in that they're considered a step up from Celebritys, but beyond that, the specifics are lost on me. If memory serves, I think Pinnacles (older ones, anyway) sport made in USA labels.
Well, that's about as far as I can go with this topic... |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | My first O was an Ultra 1517D. It was a fine guitar, made in Korea. Nothing wrong with it that a solid top instead of ply wouldn't have fixed.
Not up to the level of the US models, but better than any Celery I've played. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | OK, So the proposed O Family Pecking Order is modified to be:
1 Adamas
2 Ovation (US)
3 Pinnacle (US)
4 Ultra (Korean)
5 Celebrity
6 Applause
7 Matrix
8 Taylor |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Something like that. My brother has a Pinnacle that my dad gave to him several years ago. I think it was a 93 or 94 model, not made in USA. It still plays and feels like an O, and has a nice looking flamed maple top, but is definitely not up to the standards of my Elite or CL. I would put it right about third on the list.
And, as much as I hate to say it, Taylors aren't THAT bad. I like some of their nicer stuff, you just have to dish out 3G to get one. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I would put Celebacy above the Peanuckle and the Ultra for some models. The truth is that there where higher quality levels and years (error eras?) amongst each line!
You can still pick up a few "gems" from any of those.
A Pipefitter friend of mine has a cherished Applesauce 12 string that (once I borrowed it and restrung/oiled/reset action) was an exceptional player. |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | How about this?
1 Adamas
2 Ovation (US)
3 Celebrity Deluxe-ish
4 Pinnacle (US)
5 Ultra (Korean)
6 Celebrity
7 Applause
8 Matrix
Although, some models of the CE & CL, particulary in the collector's series actually look and sound nicer than some of the cheaper AD2's. Generally speaking, Adamas is the top, but that actually varies by specific model and preference.
More confused? |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | I'll go for it - it helps me when comparing the forlorn, cracked, bent, and limping specimens found at my altitude on the 'Bay. So we have:
1 Adamas
2 Ovation (US)
3 Celebrity Deluxe-ish
4 Pinnacle (US)
5 Ultra (Korean)
6 Celebrity
7 Applause
8 Matrix
I do agree with Dave that the overlap is confusing at best and offputting at worst. Add in the alpha-numberic soup and the confusion is complete. Fortunately some of those in the list are extinct. |
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March 2004
Posts: 120
Location: UK - Canterbury Kent | What about the Tangent range ? |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 120
Location: UK - Canterbury Kent | I'm sorry, I should have added that the UK Ovation Distributor seems to have their site virtually in your order. See:www.jhs.co.uk |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Tangent, IMHO is a premium Celebrity issue.
The MOB is a Tangent. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Why the Matrix below the Applause and Celebrity? They made a cheaper version of the Matrix for the Applause line. The Matrix was actually at the bottom of the Balladeer line and made in the USA. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Okay, we have a round of Applause and a standing Ovation for an Elite Celebrity at the Pinnacle of achievement who went off on a Tangent and disappeared into the Matrix...
Anyone else confused? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | We dazzled the MOB with Thunderbolts! |
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March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Don't forget about the (Made in USA) Celebrity models...
I have an acoustic CC11 that absolutely BOOMS!!! |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Why the Matrix below the Applause and Celebrity? Perhaps because they had the unmitigated gall to mess with the classic Ovation headstock design, if for no other reason? Some Applesauces have the non-cool design as well, so they go in the dumper. Anything with a metal neck, perhaps? |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Why the Matrix below the Applause and Celebrity? They made a cheaper version of the Matrix for the Applause line. The Matrix was actually at the bottom of the Balladeer line and made in the USA. I agree totally. My Matrix sports the rosewood board, which makes it a winner IMO. I'll take my Matrix over my Celebrity (and I do believe mine is Deluxe without saying so, but that's another post) any day of the week. The Celebrity isn't bad. It's just that durn shallow bowl kills it for me. I've owned an Applause many years ago, when they first came out and, while they were a good knock around guitar, the aluminum fingerboard/frets just never felt right to me. I would definately put the Applause at the bottom of the list, yet I would put the rosewood board Matrix up there above Celebrity Deluxe. I can't comment on the aluminum board Matrix. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | The headstock design is the same on the Matrix as the "classic" Ovation design. I consider my Matrix a classic, since I only have one that's older. I did notice last night that the Matrix has more of an angle to the headstock than my other Ovations. Wonder why that is. |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | OK - SO I'm Confused - I've seen aluminum neck somethings that have a sort of "three-leaf clover" top to the headstock. I assumed that all the metal necks creatures were Matrixes - wrongly I gather? What are these metal-necked creatures? |
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April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | I'm going to go drink now...heavily...then re-read this...maybe then I won't be confused...
All I know is if there is a skunk stripe on the back of the neck, it's a good one.
Is it true that the fact that every Taylor I have ever played breaking the G string at the nut is a plot by Martin to sell more Elixer strings for Kaman? |
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Pecking Order?
