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Location: jacksonville, fl | we all know that O's have a killer plugged in sound....but I was wondering which model sounds the best unplugged...? I'm looking for a full deep balanced tone that will rival an all wood box....what are your thoughts? |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Folkore Deluxe 14
Elite 1537
1987 Collectors
Adamas 1581 or u681t ....
Custom Legend LX
2005 collectors
CL30 |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | FD14. Of the wood topped ovations, this one is the standard bearer. Dave |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I haven't played everything on Jeff's list, but played Dave's FD and Ute recently. I don't know if "rival" is the right word. The FD has a cedar top and a softer tone than my Folklore, which has a more "traditional" Ovation tone. The 1537 has a more mellow tone, perhaps more like a wood box. The Ute was unlike anything else, but it was also the first Adamas I've ever played. Dave also has 2 great Martins. They are all great guitars and all different from each other. I couldn't say that any one rivalled the other, although at any given minute I could prefer any one of them. |
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Location: SoCal | I own the first 3 on Jeff's list (obviously a man of great taste in guitars). Any of those three would do the trick (assuming that you could find one). I've played my 1537 against some pretty great and expensive box guitars and never felt outgunned.
But the new LX's, especially those with the contour bowl would put you in good standing as well.
One thing to keep in mind tho' --- many of the wood box guitars that's you'll play against, cost 2-3 times what these Ovations cost. The fact that they compete at all is pretty remarkable. |
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Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | I'm still hoping one day to play (and own) the legendary FD14 which seems to get the most votes when this comes up.
The nicest O I've ever played is my Elite 1537. It would take several large men with sharp implements to pry it from my hands. |
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Location: south east Michigan | mine |
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Location: Chicago | My personal favorites are the very early Balladeers and Legends (circa 1970) with no electronics inside.
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dobro/v
"sub fives are good with jalapeno and some mayo" |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | The best sounding Ovation.
You will find almost as many opinions as there are members.
:)
I like my 1758 12 string Elite but I also like my 12 string pacemaker.
The 97 Collectors is also pretty good.
I've never played an Adamas but from what I've read for other members, they are awesome.
I must sound like the politican who when asked what his favorite color was, answered plaid. :D |
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Posts: 651
Location: Australia | Many non "O" players tend to lump them in together as a "one sound" guitar.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
An Adamas sounds distinctly different from a Legend - sounds different to an LX Legend
...etc...etc
For me, my texture top Adamas is the best I've owned but I recently played an Al Di Meola which sounded absolutely wonderful unplugged. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Maybe the best way to get that wooden box sound is to use the real thing... ok shoot me, but that's just my opinion. What I mean is, why would you buy an Ovation if your goal was to sound like a Martin? Am I missing something? Put it another way, which model of Strat should I buy that would give me that fat sustained Les Paul sound? Duh, maybe just buy the Les Paul? My advice is to buy an Ovation for all the good reasons that make it an Ovation (and there are plenty). If you buy it because you want it to be somethiing else, you'll probably be disappointed. Dave |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Rick, the guitars that Jeff listed are all great but in most cases also difficult to acquire.
The 1581 and u681t are Adamas and terrific. I would also add the 1681 to that group.
The '05 collectors is also a very nice guitar that can be had for a very reasonable price. I don't like it as much as the Adamas listed above but it is a very nice guitar nonetheless.
Any of the Adamas will set you back probably $1200+ for ones in excellent condition.
The '05 collectors pop up with regularity in the $850-900 range. |
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Location: SoCal | Witko's right and hit the nail squarely with his head. If you want a box guitar sound, get a box guitar. When I talked about playing my 1537 against a number of box guitars and looking good, it doesn't mean that it sounded like a box guitar... it just meant that the quality of the sound was so good so as to compare. But it still didn't sound like a box guitar. And I wouldn't sell it for one. |
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Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | I've been a faithful -- and I mean faithful -- Ovation player since 1971, and up until recently I thought I'd played the best (and the worst) of them. I've owned some pretty amazing sounding O's in my time, but by hanging around this forum, I become painfully more and more aware that due to my southpawed inclinations I've missed out on what the consensus always considers to be the creme de la creme of Ovation guitars.
I've probably owned somewhere in the vacinity of 75-80 different O's over the last 36 years, but not once have I had the pleasure of touching my fingers to the strings of an Adamas, or an Elite 1537, or an FD14, or a Collector's Series (of any year). I have owned a '68 Deluxe Balladeer, a 1651 Legend Ltd (now known as the "John Lennon" model) and several Legends and Custom Legends -- all of which I thought were the bomb in terms of tone. But apparently, I've been merely hawking around the minor leagues all these years, or so it would seem, to hear some folks tell it.
I have had the pleasure of discovering some pretty incredible sounding acoustic guitars in the last year or so, but I've had to step outside the Ovation family to do so. BTW, it's going on three years now and STILL no lefty LX's! :rolleyes:
I'm in total agreement with Dave (Standing O), in that an Ovation is best judged by how distinctly "Ovation-like" it sounds. I recently posted in another thread about my friends Elite-T, and how damned good it sounds, even when compared to my beloved '81 Custom Legend. The reason his guitar sounds so good to me is because it possesses all the classic tonal elements that made me fall in love with the "round sound" all those years ago: big, full-bodied tone with lots of ring in the upper ranges and plenty of balance and distinction of individual notes all the way up the fretboard.
I honestly can't tell you whether my buddy's Elite-T or my Custom Legend sound as good, or better, or worse than any of the "holy grail" Ovations that seem to garner all the praise around here. But I know when a guitar sounds good and when it doesn't, and any of the models I've mentioned in this quasi-rant I would nominate for inclusion into the "Ovation Hall of Fame" for best sounding Ovation(s). |
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Posts: 398
Location: Gig Harbor, Washington | Well, I'm votin' with Dave (and I too have owned dozens & dozens over the last 30+)...
I stole my FD14 from a fellow member over Labor day weekend in 2003, and have enjoyed more unsolicited complements from all who've heard or played it than all others combined!
I recently added an '82 Custom Legend 12 (which is practically itentical: slot-head, deep-bowl, twelth fret, 1 & 7/8's neck, etc.)...the fundamental difference is abalone rather than tortoise, and of course, an extra handful of strings...I'd rate it the very best 12, having owned well over a dozen of those O's...
So, consider me a very bless and satisfied snob in the deep-bowl, 12 fret slot-head school...
Did I mention I love my custom NOS Preacher DeLuxe, and wouldn't trade it for ANY other solid body active rival!?! :cool: |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Dave is right.
I also have a Martin 12-20. It is a 12 fret slothead 12 string.
Sounds very different than my Ovation 12 strings. Not necessarily better, just different. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Sing to the tune of "Charlie Brown, He's A Clown ..." by The Coasters, you know - the guy with the deep bass voice.
WHY'S EVERYBODY ALWAYS 'GREEING WITH ME ???
Actually, it's taken 4.5 years but I guess my mission is finally paying off. Like I always say - just do as I do and do as I say, follow my advice, and don't waste any effort on opinions of your own. The world will be a better place for all of us.
Dave |
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Location: East Tennessee | Dave,
You're up early. :D |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by Standingovation:
Actually, it's taken 4.5 years but I guess my mission is finally paying off. Like I always say - just do as I do and do as I say, follow my advice, and don't waste any effort on opinions of your own. The world will be a better place for all of us.
Dave I knew it. He's a Pod from Ukuzoid. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | You could almost say Dave's the original iPod. |
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Posts: 4413
| spelt egoPod.
:p |
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Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I would add that there is NOTHING as dark and beautiful as the tone of an Ovation that has been played hard for some thirty years. Off-the-shelf anything just does not compare! I absolutely LOVE my brand new Al DiMeola signature, but acoustically it doesn't come close in richness or volume to my early 70s Legend.
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dobro/v
"put the metal to the pedal tones" |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Greg,
As of now I have an early 70's, non-electric Balladeer and the new DiMeola model. I know just what you're saying.
Except...I would not discount the DiMeola as much. |
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Location: south east Michigan | Lets see if the photos are back on line.  |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by schroeder:
spelt egoPod. :p SPELT ??? I don't think that's a word in the English language. Maybe on some islands or something. I checked the dictionary. Spelunker... sperm... sphincter. NO SPELT.
Dave |
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best sounding o
