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Posts: 36
Location: Denver, CO | On the coattails of my label post. From the experts here - what are the most revered Ovation models to seek out and quest for? I've owned a Custom Balladeer and Ultra and am curious as to what models (especially older) have a reputation for excellence. I'm speaking acoustically more than plugged. |
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Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | U681-T
FD-14
Elite 1531
In my personal order. |
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Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by DenverSteve:
what are the most revered Ovation models to seek out and quest for? Are you looking for a specific style of play, or just for the sake of collecting the best? Carbon fiber (Adamas) included, or just wood-top (Ovation)? Cutaway, non-cut, or both? Wide neck, or standard neck? Blingy or not? 12-stringers, as well?
There are many that meet a "more sought after" definition, but not necessarily by everyone, all depending on what you want. |
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September 2010
Posts: 36
Location: Denver, CO | Why G8r, you do ask a few questions - but good ones. I don't "collect", I play. I'm looking for insight to Wooden top, 6-string USA made Ovations. Best volume, tone and action. I love wider necks but have come to appreciate the Ovation "standard" necks. Bling doesn't matter as it won't improve the quality of the guitar. That said many of my Taylors and Martins are high-end guitars because that's what the bling goes on. Plane-Jane or blingy the only thing that matters is the tone and action of a guitar - to me anyway. Thanks. |
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Posts: 36
Location: Denver, CO | Oh and prior to the "quality and tone are subjective" philosophers - I appreciate that. However, there are sought-after gems from every maker and i am interested in a fabulous tone-monster to add to my stable. I flat-pick, finger-style and flog my guitars when necessary as they are "made to be played". :) |
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Posts: 3969
| Cool. In that case (in no particular order) -
Any early '80s A-braced Legend or Custom Legend (1117, 1119, are the acoustic-only models; 1617, 1619 have pre-amps)
The 1537 (full body), 1547 (cutaway) and/or 1538 (12-string) Elites
1987 Collector Edition
"Book" Elite
Pacemaker 12-string (1615)
Josh White
Original Folklore
Glenn Campbell Balladeer |
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Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Wood Top: 1537
Textured-Top Adamas: 1581 (with the holes on the bass side)
My 87 Collectors is much like the 1537 but more bling and a cutaway. |
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September 2010
Posts: 36
Location: Denver, CO | Great so far. Thanks. Why is the Glen Campbell balladeer so expensive? I see them available and they are always high-dollar. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by DenverSteve:
Why is the Glen Campbell balladeer so expensive? Most likely re-issues.
Originally posted by G8r:
Any early '80s A-braced Legend or Custom Legend (1117, 1119, are the acoustic-only models; 1617, 1619 have pre-amps)
The 1537 (full body), 1547 (cutaway) and/or 1538 (12-string) Elites
1987 Collector Edition
"Book" Elite
Pacemaker 12-string (1615)
Josh White
Original Folklore
Glenn Campbell Balladeer .
Totally agree with most of that but I would personally pass on the "Book" elite and just grab a '87 Collectors. |
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Posts: 36
Location: Denver, CO | I was checking on the Ovation web site and don't find the '87 Collectors model. Does it have a different model number or simply labeled as a 1987 Collector's model? |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | K-1111 Reissue is just a stonking killer guitar. For your specs, I'd rank it at or near the top of any list.
Others I think are pretty stellar are the 1537 Elite, John Lennon Legend Limited Reissue, and a Josh White (either original or reissue).
The thing with the blingy guitars is that they tend to have the best tops ... or at least the the most highly-graded ones at the time of manufacture. That's why the Custom Legends, 87C and Book Elites tend to make it on the lists. |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | When I started on this board, everyone was gaga over the new 2005 Collector and the 1537. I finally played an 05 Collector and agree. The 04 Commemorative Custom Legend might be better, but has more bling. I agree with everything else on G8r's list that I've played. Right now I can't think of a deep bowl Ovation that I didn't like. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The 1651 Legend Limited from 1981/1982 is an A-braced model with exceptional tone. The reissues of this model (aka John Lennon reissues) from a few years ago are also very nice (some even think a bit better than the originals) because the necks are lighter which improves the overall balance of the guitar. |
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Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by G8r:
Cool. In that case (in no particular order) -
Any early '80s A-braced Legend or Custom Legend (1117, 1119, are the acoustic-only models; 1617, 1619 have pre-amps)
The 1537 (full body), 1547 (cutaway) and/or 1538 (12-string) Elites
1987 Collector Edition
"Book" Elite
Pacemaker 12-string (1615)
Josh White
Original Folklore
Glenn Campbell Balladeer Agree with all of these.
In the A-braced Legend department, you will want to add the 1976 Patriot, which is a Custom Legend in disguise.
And though some will take issue, I've said before that the 2001 Collector's is one of the best acoustic sounders to migrate out of New Hartford, even if it is a mid-bowl. I like mine so much, I had another Redwood Elite made with a deep bowl. It sounds just as nice but with a little more volume. I'm keepin' both of'em.
BTW, you will find WAAYYY more information about a given guitar like the 87C by doing a search here than you will on the home site. Every member who has owned one of the guitars listed has rattled on about it at some point. We can't help it, it's simultaneously addictive and therapeutic in a "rub other people's nose in it" kind of way. (Or maybe we're all just a bunch of show offs.) :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 3969
| So, is this "be nice to G8r" day? Here I thought I was opening a can of worms with specific recommendations, what with this opinionated bunch ;)
And that list is pretty personal, since I own nearly all of those. And the ones I don't, I've tried and found them close enough to what I do own to not make it worth trying to find them.
Now, if we start including the Adamas flavors, that's a whole 'nother story... |
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Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by G8r:
So, is this "be nice to G8r" day? I don't see that one on the calendar. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Folklore... Non-Cutaway Adamas... Elite T... Flame T... Standard Elite... Contour T...
(Do we see a trend here?) |
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Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | Great list so far.
I second the Adamas U681T, or the nearly identical 1680. The Adamas 2080 is a killer guitar, I love mine acoustic or plugged in.
But you specified wood topped Ovations, not plugged in. The 1537 gets my vote, along with the Patriot. These guitars are highly revered and also collectibles.
The A-braced Legends and Balladeers seem to be highly regarded and are generally plentiful on the used market. They are players with great tone, not so much considered collectible but are great guitars for a bargain price. |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Revered acoustic excellence? Come on ...
Just buy a vintage D28 and be done with it. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| I know of a '55 for sale, killer guitar except for the girly neck. |
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September 2010
Posts: 36
Location: Denver, CO | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Revered acoustic excellence? Come on ...
Just buy a vintage D28 and be done with it. Been there, got that (HD28). I'm speaking (as everyone else observed :) ) Ovation only. Guitars I don't have a shortage of. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | it's a nice girlie neck though.....
OK, my list
slothead
1537
1984
1111 reissue |
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September 2010
Posts: 36
Location: Denver, CO | There's a 1619 Custom Legend available around here that I'm going to try to look at on the way to a gig this evening. It looks great, but who knows. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| 1619 is a great guitar, the classic Ovation looks and tone. To be honest, 'tho, that would be the first to leave my stable.
Beal, the '84 was the one designed on a German cocktail napkin, right? |
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September 2010
Posts: 36
Location: Denver, CO | Okay. So anything from this person's collection:
http://www.ovationgallery.com/page6string.htm
He's obviously a member here somewhere. |
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High-Quality Models
