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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | After several failed attempts on ebay to buy a 1624, dvd clued me onto one on Portland's Craiglist that I bought. We had some hassles getting it, but my daughter brought it home from Portland yesterday.
Maybe I expected too much or maybe I'm still recovering from visiting Dave, but I was somewhat underwhelmed. It's got a couple of dings that I forgot about in the month since I bought it. I like the sound of the cedar top on my Classic better, although the narrower neck of the CA fits my hands better. My daughter thought it sounded great, but she heard it when I was testing the preamp. When it isn't amped it doesn't have nearly the volume of the Folklore. Maybe the Folklore I just got spoiled me. I'll put new strings on it and see if that helps. My wife already asked if I was going to sell it, but I said no. I promise myself I'm going to learn the rest of Classical Gas on this thing.
Anybody have any idea why there are so many 1973 Country Artists for sale out there? It seems like the last 6 CAs I've seen on ebay were 1973s. |
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Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Don't know about 1973's.
The Country Artist is a bit of a compromise -- a nylon string for steel string players. It's best for plugging in (actually it's great when plugged in). But acoustically, it leaves a lot to be desired. That's why I got my 1773LX. Same neck, shallow body (just slightly deeper than the CA's), but a much better acoustic sound, almost like your 1713.
What you should do Mark, is keep your eyes open on the 'bay, and watch for a 1773LX. They go for about a grand. Get it, then sell your 1624 and your 1713. You'll be glad you did. And the tuner on the OP Pro is great to have with a nylon string. |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I just have problems letting go. I doubt I'll ever sell the 1713, but might unload the 1624 if I got a 1773LX. My wife said last night that 9 guitars was a bit overboard, then asked how many models Ovation made. My daughter said hundreds. Anyone have any idea?
I reminded my wife that I haven't even started on the Adamas line yet. Last week at Dave's was the first time I ever played an Adamas. Sure like that U681T. |
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Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | When I first got my 1674 from Serge, I had the same reaction. However, he had told me this guitar had very little play time. Putting that fact together with the spruce top being stiffer than a typical nylon cedar top, I put a set of EJ44C Daddario extra high tension strings on and played the dawg out of it for two weeks. The sound is now very balanced nylon string guitar (not classical). The sound has improved tremendously. I will leave these strings on for a while longer and then try some Hannabach medium tension carbons.
I would like a 1773LX but am still waiting to see what the factory is coming up with the Adamas nylon. I'm not holding my breath tho. |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Mark,
I was going to suggest either hard or extra hard tension strings but tdeej beat me to it.
The Country Artist is going to sound different than a classical.
If a classical sound, (with a narrower neck), is what your looking for Iwould agree with moody, the 1773LX is the one to go for. I working with another OFC member on getting a Country Artist.
I like its lighter sound. |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I actually got exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to try a nylon string that was different from my Classic. In particular, I wanted the "tweener" neck width for fingerpicking. I think the disappointment comes from the fact that I lucked onto the Folklore after I bought the 1624, but before I received it. The Folklore just has such a bright, yet deep sound. Like an Ovation should sound. I'm sure the 1624 will sound better with new strings and I will enjoy it. I haven't met an Ovation I didn't like. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Mark, I wasn't that happy with mine when I first got it, either. It's definitely growing on me as time goes by. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I think if you have someone play it while it's plugged in, preferably in a performance situation, you will be floored by how it sounds. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Mark, The 1624 is not meant to compete with classcial guitars. The bowl is too shallow and the top is too stiff for that. BUT it fills a perfect gap with players who want a narrower neck, 14 frets and nice electronics. I used to have one and I hated the unplugged sound. But that's not what it's made for and not what I bought it for. Plugged in the thing sings and the comfort is big time better than a classical. I actually likd playing it wiht a pick (ok, shoot me). You need to keep it (at least for now). Dave |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | It's already growing on me and I realized it would fill a gap between my Classic and something like a Balladeer and it hangs in between those on my wall.
I downloaded your pictures today, Dave, and when Linda saw the blue Adamases, she said I should get a blue one like yours. I told her she just gave me a couple thousand dollars worth of permission. |
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Posts: 2487
| I think it has been said already but the deep bowl guitars are always the best sounding. The shallower bowls are more comfortable and if your plugged in the acoustic values do not matter so much anyway. It is the easy of play and the asthetics of a shallow bowl against your body with plugged in that make the most difference.
I have a medium bodies Artist that when working did not sound as good as I had hoped but it was better than the shallow bowls.
I have an Old classical that is beat up worse than you can imagine. But that deep bowl just rumbles with the nylon strings and it sounds as good as any of the traditional classicals for my needs.
Randy |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Dave, watch Lukather and Campbell again on the 40th Anniversary dvd if you want to see some good fingerpicking with a pick. Those guys are pretty incredible. I can't seem to do one or the other, much less both at the same time. |
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Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | My 1624 sounds somewhat thin sans amp. Once it's plugged in, though, the tone becomes focused and provides the mellowness I desire. I think playing a nylon takes getting used to. After years of experiencing the awesome power of a deep bowl steel string, it seems logical that the ears will need recalibrating to compensate for the change in intensity. I do like my 1624 very much, although, ideally, I'd like to have a cut-out, with better access to the high notes. I had not owned, or played a nylon in thirty years so it took a while to get the light touch and feel of the instrument. I still tend to bend the strings too much, but I'm getting more accustomed to it. |
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Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | I think most of these posts are in agreement, namely that while the 1624 and 1674 are great guitars, they need to be plugged in to get the most out of them. 95% of my nylon string playing is unplugged. The 1773LX has a great unplugged sound but has the comfort of the 1674 sans 2 frets that I don't need. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Someday...Since Linda has now inadvertently given her second blessing on an Adamas (first by saying I should try something besides Ovations and second by saying I should get a "blue one" when she saw pictures of Dave's 2 "blue ones") I may try to save up for an Adamas for the next one, unless a nice CL comes along in the meantime.
Then I can move to the 1773LX and sell the CA if I haven't grown too attached to it by that time. |
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Location: closely held secret | Mark, I believe Stephen still has that beautiful reverse blue 1681 for sale. |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't care for blue. I like his red one, but I suppose just to be a good spouse, I may have to bite the bullet and get a blue one. I always obey SWMBO whenever she tells me what I want to hear. |
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Location: closely held secret | So buy a red one. Tell her you really wanted a blue one, but they were $500 more. You only have her fiscal interests at heart. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | And THEN buy a blue one! |
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Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Mark, your wife must be telling you to buy an Adamas to serenade her for you anniversary. Sounds like a fantastic deal to me. Better go for it while the goings good. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I let her pick the colors of the first and last Porsche, but I only had one at a time. We have to get past tax day before there will be any new guitars. Fortunately, I sneaked in the last 2 just before we got the bad news from the accountant. I could buy several nice guitars for what the IRS gets this year. |
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Posts: 398
Location: Gig Harbor, Washington | Mark - try some stings to find your sound...Augustine Hard Reds or Blues, or perhaps the D'Addario ProArte' Hard Silver...Maybe even a set of Savarez 520P1's.
I LUV mine now that I have found some compatible strings, and the shape and size is perfect (and the Gold plated tuners helped too!) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | After watching Glen Campbell play Classical Gas on a 1624 and watching and watching, I decided I'll keep it. Nothing wrong with that guitar. Might just be who's playing it. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Mark,
We ALL have that problem. :D |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Again, when this guitar is plugged in, it's great. There are just better alternatives to it when played acoustically. |
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1624 Review
