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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | I'm continuing with a thread I started in the Welcome Center...
I'm attending a Guitar Craft course in May and need a Super Shallow Ovation... in the past, I've owned a Celebrity Super Shallow and on the other end I've owned a 2005 Collector's Edition (contoured bowl). Most of my other guitar are of high quality (Koll Superior, Hamer Talladega Pro, Les Paul R8, Parker Fly Artist, Hamer Newport, Fender American Strat... and some ex-guitars include a Teuffel Tesla, Teuffel Niwa, D'Pergo AVC, many many Parker Flys, many Hamers, etc). My only acoustic at the moment is a 414ce Taylor.
Anyway, I don't want to spend a ton of money on a custom-built guitar from Ovation, but at the same time I'm having a hard time finding a fairly recent used Ovation with a Super Shallow bowl. I recently found a good deal on a new 1861AX Korean model for $350 and I ordered it in case I don't find anything else, but still I'd prefer finding a good used American SSB Ovation, ideally an 1867 Legend. I've got some questions hopefully you experts could help me with:
Is an 1861AX for $350 good enough to settle on, or should I keep the hunt going for a USA Ovation? I really don't want to spend much more than $600 (and at the price, I'd be hoping for a minty USA model with modern electronics).
I see many older 1867 Ovations with OP-24 preamps; having owned Ovations with OP-Pro preamps, the OP-24 seems archaic. I think the latest 1867 included the OP-40, so I think it might be worth holding out for that - but what are your thoughts? Are the older OP-24 equipped Ovations worth considering, or should I look for something with a newer preamp like the OP-40?
Is it true that Korean Ovations have glued-on necks instead of bolt-on necks? Out of everything I've read, the glued-on neck is what tuns me off most about the Korean models.
It really sucks what Fender did to Ovation (and to Hamer, being a huge Hamer fan). It's made it really hard to find quality Ovations. If I could buy a quality USA Ovation new around $1.5K or less, I'd consider it, but now the options seem to be 1) a new USA Ovation for an insane price, 2) a used USA Ovation with a long wait finding what I want and even then it's a gamble on the condition, or 3) a Korean Ovation.
Thanks,
Mark |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | For less than $600 you should be able to find a shallow Balladeer or Legend.
You could get a newer LX model with an OP-Pro, or something from the 90's with an OP-30 or OP-40.
"Is it true that Korean Ovations have glued-on necks instead of bolt-on necks? Out of everything I've read, the glued-on neck is what tuns me off most about the Korean models."
As far as I know, the AX and TX Korean models are basically the same as the Ultra models from the early 2000's...
They had/have glued-on necks, and so do the Korean Elites and Balladeers.
Since I have never played one, I am not an expert.
But Jukebox Joe bought a TX, and it had a dovetail neck.
So I am not sure about the Korean Legends... But I can guess.
But you should be able to find an 1867 at a reasonable price.
Good Luck. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | you can always start with the korean and move up later |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4233
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | That's what I did. Slope's more slippery than I thought.... |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | The epoxy bound neck strategy makes the guitar disposable rather than repairable.
The Nayatoh (sp) wood vice the Mahogany is a lesser wood.
Losing US jobs...
click |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | I'm thinking I'll take a delivery of the Korean Ovation; if it fits my needs then fine. Meanwhile, I'll stay on the lookout for an American 1867 that meets my needs for a reasonable price, and then I'll sell the Korean if I find one. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I've seen plenty of used USA-made shallow bowl models sell for around $400. Most of them DID have the Op24, but at those prices you could afford to send a used shallow bowl to the mothership for the OpPro Studio upgrade, and for that matter ANY upgrades or a makeover if needed. A LOT of people on this board (myself included)have had the mothership do repair/upgrade work, an will attest to their phenominal work. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Here's a perfect example of what I have mentioned:
$400 Elite on Ebay - 1 hr left.
and here's a VERY nice older one under your 1500 price range:
]Angel Step Walnut Elite on Ebay |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I know where there's a Custom Legend SSB for sale under $600.
Send me a PM if you're interested. |
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Advice: New Korean vs. Old USA
