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Location: Edmond, Oklahoma | Is there any genuine playability or sound improvement reason to justify the extra expense of the MM68 mandolin, compared to the MCS148? I'm quite impressed with the MM68 model, but I don't want to spend unnecessary $$$ if I'd be satisfied with the cheaper instrument. Yeah, I know, the only ultimate way to tell is to try them both, but that's not an option at this time.
Tim |
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Location: NJ | I've never played either (wish I COULD), but I've heard it said (I believe by our own "StandingOvation") that the difference is night/day . . . |
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Location: Scotland | In a word, Yes. It's like comparing an Elite to a Celeb deluxe. The USA mandolin has a solid top, 5-piece neck with graphite stabiliser, ebony fingerboard, better machines, better materials. Every detail that is superior on the USA guitars also applies to the USA Mandolins. I own 2 USA Mandolins & as an Ovation Dealer have sold all 3 so I've had the opportunity to play all 3 (USA, Celeb & Applause) side-by-side, and the USA is vastly superior in terms of feel, set-up, playability & acoustic tone. The pickup & preamp is the same on all of them, so plugged-in they all do a good job. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | VAAAAAAAAASTLY superior. That's why I have one in the house! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | There is an old thread of mine somewhere about the sorry tale of buying a celeb mando when what I really wanted was a USA mando. I bought the celeb for something like $399. I spent a lot of money after the sale trying to get the damn thing playable (I think I spent another $180), and it was a complete waste. Neck had a hump in it at the body joint and the plywood top was caving in. Kaman Service (NOT OVATION SERVICE) was a complete freaking joke with no response what so ever. I was literally going to throw the damn thing in the trash can. Luckily I found someone willing to pay $200 for it. It was the worst round back instrument experience of my life. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE buy a USA mando. I finally did and it is just a wonderful instrument. Every single aspect of the USA is superior to the celeb - most importantly the playability and the sound.
Now, I know there will be members who reply to this post and say, Gee I love my celeb mando, it's perfect, blah, blah, blah. That's grfeat and I'm really glad they had a better experience than I did. I'm not putting down their instruments, just relating about my own experience. Peace. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | as a mandolin player who has played a Celeb, my opinion is this. Celeb sounds great plugged in, not so great acoustically.
I haven't played a USA but have seen some of the best Nashville players with a beautiful USA collector's model trimmed in abalone. That's the one I want.
Bailey |
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Location: Scotland | That's the 30th aniversary "Book" mando. I have one, so does Mr Witko. Doesn't sound a whole lot different to the standard model, but it sure looks pretty |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Hey, looks are everything, aren't they? |
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Location: NJ | there just is something about mother of pearl. |
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Location: Toronto | Interesting thread... I have an applause mando - which is just about as horrid to play as a $50 12 string guitar... The action is nasty, and the sound is - well no comment - it could just be my playing... It actually starts to hurt my hand after playing for a while - even after having the action lowered...
I have been on a search lately for a real mando - and had a traditional F-style (F-5 like) model in mind - the headstock is everything!
After reading this though - perhaps I need to do a double take and consider a USA mando. Can anyone tell me how it contends against some of the mid-range priced Weber's, Gibson's, Morgans etc...???
It's friday and life is good!
Dano |
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Location: Kent, England | There's no doubt that the USA models are the best having played one a good number of years ago, but...and it's the same old gripe they are just sooo expensive over here in the UK.
Anyway, I've got a celebrity mandolin which I'm still very pleased with and could justify the price verses use...but...I've got what I can only describe as an intonation problem on the 10 fret on the high E string. This is the only fret on which this occurs...the difference in tone is virtually a semi-tone worth, as if it is jumping from the 9th to the 11th fret.
I know it's ONLY a celebrity, but any ideas chaps?
Cheers
Terry |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | For those looking for a USA mando, Paul Blanchard is selling his for $625 in the For Sale section. Very nice mando for a fair price. |
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas | I own a Celebrity model, play it plugged in with the band on occasion - our REAL mandolin player owns an Epiphone that I usually play when it's my turn, don't have to lug one more instrument to the gigs.
They have different feels and sounds, not sure which one I like better. I got mine used for $250.00. It plays OK.
All that being said I've strummed some USA models and if I had the funds would get one in a heartbeat. Sorry Paul B. can't afford it right now - saveing for a new Hamer - if not I'd get that one!
And that being said I bought the Celebrity model to learn on as I wasn't a mando player before (tuned upside down from a guitar :D ~DOH!~)
I guess if you have the funds and are a real player get the USA model. The Celebrity is OK, but not nearly as good!
(Man, Tom Waits is on NPRs Fresh Air right now - what beautiful music and horribly fine voice!) |
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Location: Connecticut | Reading the posts about the New Hartford built mandolins has been a real kick for me. I've been building them since the very 1st production models left the factory back around '95 or so. I take alot of pride in my work and try to build the best quality I can into each one. Thanks for all the kind words about the mandos. |
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Location: Madison, Wisconsin | DaveO...Thanks for the input and the good work. It's always nice to hear from you guys. |
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Location: Minden, Nebraska | I have just cited Paul Templeman as an unnamed 'experienced authority' in my description of the MM68 I have for sale on eBay. I am grateful to all of you for this thread, as I have no experience with Mandolins beyond enjoying them in the hands of those who know how to play them. |
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October 2002
Posts: 181
Location: Queens, NY | Maybe Ovation should come out with a "Balladeer" mandolin: a USA model that's better than the MCS148, but not as expensive as the MM68. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | That's not a bad idea Tony, but I just wonder how much market there is for Ovation mandos and does it justify having 4 models in the lineup. If anything, take the Applause and Celeb mandos which are basically the same and move the Celeb "up-scale" by going to solid top and a better 2 piece neck. Maybe price point them at $400, $800 and $1500 instead of todays $400, $500 and $1800. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | As a mandolin player, some of these comments have touched a nerve.
Some questions, why do we not see more mandolins played outside of bluegrass/folk? I always felt a mandolin could add quality to any type of music, and really enjoyed playing in a country/rock type band as my soon and I did for some time, the mandolin always got a good reaction from the audience on typical 70's rock songs and country songs. An Ovation mandolin is great for this type of music, but the Gibson F type seems to have monopolized the genre, so nobody even thinks of playing an Ovation until they hear one in a modern band situation and realize that it can be plugged in and sound great where the good old F requires a mike and tons of feedback.
Just a thought.
Bailey |
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Location: Scotland | Bailey, there are countless examples of the Mandolin being used outside of bluegrass/country. Counting Crows, John Hiatt, REM, The Band, Rod Stewart, Hootie & The Blowfish are just a few rock-oriented acts who regularly use mandolin. There's also a strong tradition of mandolin playing in Blues, the most famous being the late Yank Rachell, but there are contemporary players such as Ry Cooder, David Lindley, Steve James & Alvin Youngblood Hart. There's also examples of mandolin in Jazz & Be-Bop. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Matt Smith plays a very good slide mandolynn in his shows. There isn't enough exposure to this but that is getting into why the record companies promote what they do (and not the good music we all listen to) |
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August 2003
Posts: 888
Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Excellent thread here guys. I have an MM68 that I really enjoy. I'm not really a mandolin player per say, (actually not at all, I only know 2 songs). So I was thinking about selling it because Tony forced me to buy his FD 14! So I need to find a way to finance it. Maybe I should ask my wife to get a job instead! |
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | And didn't Jimmy Page play mandolin (can't remember the name of the song) on the Zep album that included "Black Dog" and "Stairway to Heaven"? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Good idea about that spousal job. That way you can afford more gitters. Of course you won't want to phrase it that way. |
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Posts: 181
Location: Queens, NY | On Led Zeppelin IV, I believe Jimmy Page played mandolin on "The Battle of Evermore" and "Going to California". |
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Which Ovation Mandolin?
