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| I am new here, and I never own an Ovation though I played some of my friends. The 2002 Collector's (figured African cherry top) looks really magnificent to me, and I've been told that it sounds great plugged and unplugged. What do you think about this guitar (sound, quality, reliability...)? What would be a good purchase price for a mint one ? Thank you for your help. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I had one. Loved it. Sold it. Regretted it. Replaced it. And intend to keep it.
The 2002 C seems to be one of the love'em or hate'em models. To me, they have a very unique sound; very mellow and warm. Not a bright guitar at all. They also have extremely fast-playing and comfortable necks. And I'm one of the few who actually appreciate that the top is a laminate. It's the instrument that I take out in the New York winters when I feel I might benefit from just a little added weather resistance.
As far as price is concerned, and mine is mint, I'd ask $1000 for it, but you can probably find one for less if you look hard enough.
Good luck.  |
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| Thank you for your proposal Patch. I think I gonna look around a bit before buying, and wait for the comments of other Ovation users. I'll keep in touch with you.
So, mellow and warm sound, and laminate top which resists to hygrometric changes according to Patch : maybe you got problems with your 2001 top, awesome also but with solid top ? 2002's seem to be pretty difficult to find as only 740 were made. What else about the 2002 collector's ? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Why do you want the 02C?
Is it the looks? Never had an 02C (but have had 84, 93, 97, 01, 03, 06 and 07 Collectors). The only one missing from that list that I'm personally interested in is the 87 (Patch? ;) )
I would also expect the 02 to be similar in tone to the 01, mellower and warmer than the others. Whilst the 01 looked gorgeous, like the 02, for me there were 'better' Ovations so it had to go to make room.
It's a great guitar, hell it's an Ovation Collector but I think not one of the classic Collectors. I suppose you have to ask yourself why that one. They do come up from time to time but often the sellers don't really appreciate what the 'real' market value is. Yeah it cost $2000+ new but these days realistically it's not going to command much more than say $700 (at least that would be my top $). Hell for a little more you can get an Adamas II :)
If you haven't yet tried one, try and do so, you might not even like it. For me the only way to try them is to buy them. Get then for a reasonable price then you can always sell them on.
Good luck. |
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| Good question Dweezil !
Why the 02C ? Well, first because I usually play electric guitar (Fender US Telecaster Plus and Thinline, Fat Strat) and the neck seems to be applied to electric users. Because it's a collector's and, maybe I'm wrong, as it is a limited edition it would be a quality work. Because of the ebony fingerboard. And because it looks really gorgeous ! $700 for a 02C ? I think I've never seen one sold at that price on Ebay for two years !
I never played either an Adamas or a Collector, and nothing to be tested in music shops except Celebrity guitars (are we talking about Ovation guitars ?!). That's the reason why I ask to "Ovationmaniacs" !
Why are you especially interested in the 87C ? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | I came from the electric guitar too, Tele's and Strat's, PRS, Ibanez JSs, Parker Fly and so I find pretty much all the Ovation necks to be similar, i.e. low action, fast etc etc. There are a load of wide neck Ovations/Adamas but generally they have an electric feel.
Whilst the looks shouldn't be important it is, at least in my case it is and I'm an ebony neck freak too!
Yes the collectors are great some some are greater than others. The '87 is widely acknowledged to be probably the best collector Ovation ever made and is the only one I want to try but haven't. It just had mojo!
Oh and take a look here for my guitars :
http://www.boiledsweets.com/gtrs
Where are you? We have members all over the place and often have get togethers where you can get your hands on 30 - 40 of the very best Ovations / Adamas! |
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| I bought my Tele Plus for the sound (Lace Sensor pickups) like my Fat Strat, but I must admit that I got the Thinline 72, beyond the sound of the humbuckers, also for the look of its body !
I played some acoustic Martin, nice and bright sound (too much bright ?), deep bass, very good projection, but I feel the neck umconfortable. So a thin neck would be fine for me. And I feel ebony fingerboard sweet and fast.
You got a really nice collection of Ovation, and almost Collector's. Don't sell your 2003C on Ebay these days ? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | The 03 was bought on Ebay and just sold on Ebay. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Dweezil and I tend to have similar tastes in instruments, but we definitely have differing opinions about the 2001 Collector's. I've stated before that I believe, 20 years from now, it will be considered one of the best sounding acoustic guitars ever made by Ovation. I love the sound that comes from it, but even I admit, it is a very unique sound. If you're looking for a spruce-topped, tone monster like the 1537 or the '87 Collector's (from my cold dead hands Dweez... ;) ), then the '01 might not be for you. But out of all my guitars, my discerning wife has only made two unsolicited remarks:
[list]
[*]1) "That's the best-looking one you've found yet."---When she first saw my Custom Legend 12-string.
2) "That's the best-sounding guitar you have."---Stated more than once while I played my '01C.
[/list]
Don't misunderstand, the '87C deserves its reputation as does the 1537. Here's a thread I started about a year ago where I actually took out the 01C, the 87C, and the 1537 and did a side-by-side comparison.
Comparing A to B to C
It might be helpful if we knew your shopping budget and any "make-or-break" details you have about purchasing. And I've assembled my entire collection whilst living by what Dweezil suggested: If you manage to buy at a reasonable price (or better), you can always sell a guitar for at least what you have in it if the instrument doesn't quite click your gears.
Again, good luck.... |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | What Patch said :) |
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| I read your comparison : you're an artist Patch ! Don't know if you do write songs, but you know how to put feelings in your descriptions. I was hearing yours guitars while reading you...
I liked so much your "if the 87 is a 'she', the 01 is a 'he'" comparison, and definitively, I'm looking for a "friend", not a "girl friend" (hope my wife will read this post one day !) : I want to hear a warm and mellow timbre, rather than bright and loud one. I want it to be my musical state of mind reflection, like my own soul speaking through it.
My shopping budget ? Around $1000, 1500 as a maximum. "Make or break" details ? A mint one, but not new as to get a good price, with a case. A thin and fast neck. And I don't really care if the top is real wood or laminated, if it sounds. Warm sound, not too bright, but as I can't try it before, need some advice to reduce possible insatisfaction.
So for the moment, I detain the 01 and 02 Collector's. Some more details or appreciation about these two guitars (or others) ? |
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| Hey Dweezil ! A 87C for sale on Ebay !!! Don't know how to put the link, but the Ebay reference is 120401397627
Good luck ! |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Well knowing your budget helps.
Now let me put this idea to you...
How about an 06? Can be picked up for less $1000! So play your cards right, shop around and get an 06 AND 01 for that budget!
Solid KOA top, highly glossed *FAST* neck, ebony fingerboard, jumbo frets, more stable top (compared to the 01), warm woody mellow tone, INLAID flame maple epaulet, a deep contour bowl (so better bass response to the 01).
I also think the looks, construction, finish and tone of the 06 is "better" than the 01. Ovation learnt more stuff in the 5 years and put it to good use.
Don't get me wrong the 01 is a great guitar but in MY opinion the 06 is more of the same but just "better" all round.
Then there's the 07 - OH MY GOD! It's everything the 06 isn't! It's my go to guitar. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | While not for sale here is few shots of my 2000 Collector's
2000 Collector |
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| Very nice guitars, Dweezil and MWoody. You know your guitar better than I do, MWoody, but isn't it a 2001 Collector instead of a 2000 ? How do you feel with it ? What are its "pluses" ?
Dweezil, I live in French Polynesia, which explain why I can't try some good Ovations : only some crappy Celebrity in the only music shop selling Ovation guitars. The nearest next shop is in ... Hawaii or New Zealand !
And buying a guitar at a distance means paying $100-150 shipping cost for each guitar, and adding custom fees... So my "net" budget is more $800-1000 than $1500, or buy it during a trip in USA saving shipping costs. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | You're right, Woody typoed a little. But the 2000 Collector's might also be a possibility. I had one that now belongs to 2ifbyC. It definitely had that warm sound. It is also another laminate. IFFY? You out there? Any input about this one? You know it better than me by now.
I've never played a 2006, so I can't help much with that one. Now I think about it, I've never had the opportunity to play a koa guitar of any kind at all! (Huh! How'd that happen? :confused: I gotta put some thought into that.... :eek: )
Living where you do certainly adds to the logistics of your acquisition. (Understatements "R" Us) I know where there are both a 2006 Collector's and a 2002 for sale, but they won't ship internationally. I'll keep thinking on it. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Patch:
IFFY? You out there? Any input about this one? Here's my initial 2000 Collector report/review. The lacewood is gorgeous and only 719 were made. Sweet guitar!
'Sounds' like Hollymood would appreciate the 2000C tonal qualities.  |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Heh, heh!!
Minor aside that only Iffy would understand, but I'd forgotten about that box I shipped until I talked with Music Mike a few days ago. That thing WAS a monster! |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Ok, I've been watching "Lost" and "Life on Mars" so I'm not sure what the heck year it is!
The Redwood is as you described - "A thin and fast neck... Warm sound, not too bright".
Soft and responsive sounds right. |
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| Nice guitars, and awesome kids 2ifbyC ! Do they begin to play guitar ?
I was looking first for a 2002, but now I'm wondering about 2000, 2001, 2006... Do I have to build a "collection of collector's" as Dweezil did ?...
Patch, will you find me a "four guitars box" :) ?!
But always thinking about 2001 or 2002, thin neck, warm sound, and gorgeous top...
"Life on Mars", is it that movie with Ken Russell, MWoody ? Or was you playing some David Bowie songs watching TV ;) ? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | There is one thing to note : the 01 redwood top is very sensitive to climatic changes, like you might get in polynesia.
I think the neck profile is shallower on the 06 compared to the 01. |
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| Well, it's always warm in Polynesia, between 24-28°C in "winter" and 26-32°C in "summer", which is the wet season. No problem of dry weather, so no need of humidificator here.
And what about the neck of the 02 ?
Dweezil, did you take a look to the 83C for sale on Ebay ? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Never had an 02 so don't know.
The 83C doesn't do anything for me. Cannot see it listed, whats the item number? |
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| Sorry Dweezil, I made a mistake.
It was a 87c, see my post above : item number 120401397627. But the guitar has somme scratches...
So what about the neck of the 02, "fast playing and comfortable" as Patch argues ? Another opinion ? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Ah the one with the bridge lift - trouble is it might need a costly mothership repair. I won't be bidding. |
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What about 2002 collector's ?
