|
|
Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 741
Location: Fort Worth, TX | This is in the opening sentence of the home page of this site, although worded differently. I can't fathom why that is? I don't understand why you don't see them being played by more mainstream artists - it's almost as if they are being boycotted. From an aesthetic standpoint, they are works of art. I'll admit I sometimes look at myself in a mirror with my Balladeer from a few different angles. I can't help it, O's are just sexy instruments. Sonically, I've yet to play one that left anything to be desired, except for some weird one years ago that seemed to be modeled after an alunimun ball bat. I can't get enough of the sound of my Balladeer mic'd when I play it. My son asked me if I wanted a soundhole pickup for Christmas and I said NO WAY! I think they are long overdue for a resurgence in popularity. I think if a few big names started playing them the effect would snowball. I just don't understand why that isn't happening. The biggest irritant to me is to hear them labeled a "plastic guitar". Plastic is the last thing that comes to my mind even with my Balladeer having a shiny bowl. I love telling people they are the result of tons of acoustic research and have their roots in helicopter rotors. I doubt many people would want to fly in a helicopter they think has plastic rotors! Until some big famous musicians make me cool for having an O, I'll just sit here so contentedly and watch the river flow. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Welcome to the club.
You echo the majority of our thoughts over the years. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by stephent28:
You echo the majority of our thoughts over the years. Which really illustrates just how few thoughts we've had. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Huh? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Guitars are like beer. Lots of different brands, and everyone has a favorite. The best selling American beer is Bud Lite. Does that mean it's the best beer? Ovation is more like the Sam Adams of guitars.
I don't know what the number one selling acoustic guitar is, but I guarantee it's not the BEST guitar... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | It's going to be interesting to see what, if anything, Ovation shows at the NAMM show in January. That should indicate where they are headed over the next couple of years..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Back in the `70's I recall Ovations getting a fair share of respect and positive P.R.. As a teenager then, my friends and I all referred to Ovations as the Glen Campbell guitar... and later on there were all those Hip & Groovy (yes, I'm old) ads showing Cat Stevens, Loggins & Messina, Bread, Mac Davis, Dan Folgerberg, Eric Clapton, Al DiMeola, and others all playing their Ovations. And Os weren't cheap either... bought my 1617-4 Legend brand spanking new for $480 in `75. That was a heck of a lot of cash for most twenty year olds back then!!!
So what the heck happened to Ovations popularity between then and now??? Well, Ovation has certainly had it's share of less-than-popular models... IMO the aluminum neck gits went over about as well as the Edsel, but other manufacturers had their own duds too. ??
And although I haven't personally experienced it, I have read of some disapproval from "purest" folk / bluegrass musicians towards Ovations claiming that they aren't proper guitars 'cause they aren't all wood construction. IMO WTF??? Is a washboard bass all wood???
Maybe Ovation dropped the ball in the P.R. department by not fully dispelling the notion held by John Q. Public that they are "plastic" guitars, or maybe by not distributing enough top of the line, highest quality models to the music shops (all I ever see these days are less expensive Celebrity models), the local Guitar Center always seems to have at least a few higher end Gibson and Martin acoustics.
Oh well whatever the cause, I'll remain happy that since only a few of us appreciate and realize the value of these guitars... we can still afford to buy 'em!
sorry 'bout the rant! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7232
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by dark bar:
Guitars are like beer. Lots of different brands, and everyone has a favorite. The best selling American beer is Bud Lite. Does that mean it's the best beer? Ovation is more like the Sam Adams of guitars.
I don't know what the number one selling acoustic guitar is, but I guarantee it's not the BEST guitar... +1000000
Dark Bar and Mr Ovation... long lost twins separated at birth... LOL I absolutely could not have said it better. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
Dark Bar and Mr Ovation... long lost twins separated at birth... Miles, you may need a new shirt to pull that off... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Originally posted by Designzilla:
Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
Dark Bar and Mr Ovation... long lost twins separated at birth... Miles, you may need a new shirt to pull that off... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | That explains a lot. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Does that mean I have some kind of control over this website? If so, Beal is officially banned. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | That should indicate where they are headed over the next couple of years..... If the last 4 years are any indication...
I am sure this is the direction:
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3650
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yeah, but does it have a preamp & notch filter? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | No, but you can download software into it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Boy did this discussion start spinning out of control.... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7232
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Do threads spin out of control in the opposite direction below the equator? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | I went through the phase of being a fan of Ovations, losing interest in them, and then gaining interest again.
It all started in the 80s when a teenage friend had one, and then my favorite musician Robert Fripp started using them for Guitar Craft. When I became an adult, I knew other guitarists who played Ovations, and when bought my first acoustic, it was an Ovation. I attended a Guitar Craft course and used an Ovation. Ultimately I bought a 2005 Collector's edition, which was the best Ovation I owned.
There is a certain sound - a harpsichord-like sound - which I like about Ovations, especially when plugged in. But it does lack some body and warmth, even when using a larger contoured body model like the 2005 Collector's edition. What I came to realize is the bowl of an Ovation is good at projecting the sound forward, but for the player it doesn't sound as good as a traditional guitar since the sound does not radiate as much from the back and side of the bowl. As I compared my Ovation to Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, or other traditional acoustics, I preferred the later sound (at least as the player), so I traded my Ovation towards a nice Taylor.
Now I'm back to buying an Ovation for use in another Guitar Craft course. I've been wanting one for a little while anyway as a second acoustic. The new guitar hasn't arrived yet, but I'll be curious to see if my opinions have changed.
BTW, I wish I had never traded the 2005 Ovation; though I did prefer the Taylor to it, it still was an incredible guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Weaser P:
Originally posted by Designzilla:
Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
Dark Bar and Mr Ovation... long lost twins separated at birth... Miles, you may need a new shirt to pull that off... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I agree with most everything said so far, except for the twins thing. My additional thoughts are that Ovation went from being out front when came up with the roundback and the first and best preamps, to a focus on "plug it in". That led to the shallow bowls to improve plugged in use. That opened up the criticism of the "thin" sound and the slides off your knee comments.
Personally, I prefer the sound of almost any deep bowl Ovation to the sound of a Taylor or Martin. It's clear and crisp from high end to low. Few people hear that sound and there's no real marketing being done to counter the negative marketing spoo. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | The shirts.
Miles or dB would have to go to Woody for, um, cleaning up. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2010
Posts: 63
| I have also heard people say they'd never touch an Ovation. I once went into a famous DC vintage guitar shop and asked what Ovations they had - got nearly kicked out buy the looks of the guy, not to mention the words. One of the reasons I got my first USA-made Ovation was that, for the money, it sounded way better than an M or T. And even the Korean models, when plugged in, beat the hell out of big brands.
So it's marketing, first of all. Secondly, I think it's still too soon for composite instruments. Look at CA guitars. People just can't accept carbon, composite or, yes, even plastic or god knows what polymers can sound better than traditional materials.
You guys know Smallman classicals? They're more carbon than wood - but hey, on the outside they look woody so everyone's happy. and of course they are among the best sounding classicals in the world.
As for the thing I've heard lots of times "those Ovations got no soul" - an instrument, as anything around us, has the soul or personality WE imbue into it or discover from it.
I love and own numerous wood instruments. Cheap, but very dear to me. And if I had a guitar built out of rock that sounded great, well very good then.
...sorry for the rant guys. Just some morning revolt against the hypocritical others :) ) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | Originally posted by DaveKell:
I think they are long overdue for a resurgence in popularity. I think if a few big names started playing them the effect would snowball. I just don't understand why that isn't happening. Sadly, I don't think this will ever happens since Fender moved most of the operation overseas. Being also a Hamer owner & fan, a brand which Fender now eliminated except for custom shop orders, I'm sorely aware of the reality of the situation.
The one thing I wonder is if Ovations and Hamers will increase in value in time since they have almost been discontinued. So far it hasn't happened a year later, but maybe in time. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Not sure about BIG names but here's one that's been in the news lately - Jack Wagner |
|
| |
Ovation "don't get no respect"...
