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Posts: 34
| Out of all the O's I've owned from the old 1617 Legend, to the 1777LX Legend, 2778AX Koa, 1778T, Matrix, to C2079LX, and a few others I've tried.. and also a 1681 Adamas (CF top) excluded.. All though its not a wood top.. In my opinion the Custom Legend 2079LX sounds the best, even better than the 1681 Adamas I had. The 1778T is a amazing guitar for the price though, probably the best for the price .. loud for a mid bowl and good clean tone with clear highs and big bass, rivals guitars double the price easily.. But to me the C2079LX has the best tone, it's hard to explain. I've heard the 1537 Elites are great sounding guitars as well.. So in your opinion, since that's all this is since different guitars sound different to different ears, what's the best sounding wood-topped O? |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | no bests, they all have their qualities, my wood favs are
1537
A-braced pre-Kaman bar non-cutaway Legends (in my herd, that would be an Anniversary)
Book Elite
a class of it's own:
Ds768 Longneck
My DiMeola and LX models sound fine, better than most, but I think they excel in the plugged in department more. I would have been interested in hearing a non-cutaway Legend LX, but guess that won't ever happen now. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | My very favorite guitar out of the 15 I own is my 2077LX. Not particularly loud. Not particularly bassy. It just has a crystal clear sound that makes fingerpicking sound beautiful. I've owned it for years now, and I still go "WOW!" when I pick it up. If I had to get it down to just one guitar, there is no doubt in my mind that is the one I would keep.
I agree about the 1778T. Best bang for the buck. Closest to the bass and volume of an Adamas.
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Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | The Patriot. That was always the one I seemed to pull down just because it always sounded so good. Many years ago I played a John Lennon reissue and was similarly impressed. That was my favorite of all the guitars in Standing Ovation's collection at the time. His collection changed a lot, but the similarities between the John Lennon and Patriot may confirm what my ears heard.
The 1537 is excellent, but it doesn't have the Ovation sound that I like best, which seems to come from center hole Legends.
My favorite before I bought the Patriot and after I sold it is a toss up between the Folklore and the 2004 Commemorative CL. The CL has a bit more of a crisp, clear tone, probably because it is 30 years newer. The neck is better for barre chords, but the Folklore sounds the best to me for fingerstyle, especially with open chords. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I'll rule out the entry level models, start with the EliteT and go up the model chain from there.
As a general rule as you go up the chain, the better the sound.
Then there are the exceptions at both ends.
I've played and heard others play EliteT models that rival the top of the chain.
And I've been less impressed with examples of higher end models.
For some reason, some guitars just over achieve.
.
And, IMO more than half of any difference depends on just who is plucking the strings.
Edited by Slipkid 2014-05-30 1:33 PM
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | my prototype dreadnaught
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Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | This is as far as I can narrow it down: Best sounding Elite-style 6-string? My 1987-5 Collectors (though I have others that are close.) Best sounding center-hole 6-string? My FD-14-X Sinker Redwood Best sounding Elite style 12-string? That 1538 that I was too stupid to keep. Best sounding center-hole 12-string? My 1615-X Walnut. Best sounding nylon string? My 1713-X Redwood. I think it's fair to say though that if you ask me this again next week, I may have a different answer. And it goes without saying that other people may not agree with my opinions, which is nothing but no issue whatsoever. That's part of what makes guitars fun!
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Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | The best sounding is my Patriot. Center hole, deep bowl, A braced, no electronics. Clear, full, loud, crisp. Just wow.
Similar but not quite as awesome was my 2007C. I didn't have it at the same time as the Patriot to do a side-by-side comparison, but I think the Patriot would win acoustically by a sliver. I loved the OpPro Studio preamp for plugged in live performance.
The 1537 has a nice balance and somewhat woody tone compared to other Os. I haven't had it long enough to get it all dialed in to my preferences on setup and strings, but so far it would be a winner for more gentle playing. Fingerstyle (but I am terrible at fingerstyle) and less aggressive songs just sound perfect on it. Not as loud or deep in tone as the Patriot. LOVE the stereo fet preamp!
Though the question excluded Adamas, plugged in the 2080 is hands down by a mile the best sounding. The '07C was great plugged in but not as good as the 2080. Acoustically the 2080 is almost but not quite as good as the 2007C or Patriot, lacking just a bit of crispness compared to the '07C and the Patriot. It sounds amazing tuned down though. The 2080 has a nice acoustic mellowness which is a real winner but would not be my desert island guitar.
When thinning the herd it was a severely difficult decision between the '07C and the Adamas 2080, the '07C was that good. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | It would have to be either my 2007BCS or the John Lennon Reissue. It's a tossup between the two even though their sounds and tone are different.
The sleeper that always surprises me whenever I play it is the 1778RFT. It's bright and snappy ... and cool as hell to look at.
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | I've fallen IN love with many of the so-called "best" ... only to fall OUT of love a few years later for reasons I just don't know. There's a lot of guitars that can reach out and grab you. But only a few grabbed me and never let go.
At last count 142 different Ovation guitars have passed through my hands. Many that were or are considered "best" in many regards ... FD14, John Lennon Reissue, 1537, Collectors 1987, ... But they are all gone. All great guitars, but just didn't have the staying power. I'm down to a precious few and ironically some of them are among the first I ever collected.
1968 Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladeer
1967 Josh White
2004 Custom Legend CM30 Reissue
Can't really put my fingers on it. But these three have somehow dug their fingers deeper into my soul than all the rest. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | This is such a difficult question.
I have been playing a few of my guitars to try to choose one.
Today I took my 6774 Folklore out on the street and it got many compliments.
Just now I have been playing my 1114 Folklore and 1735 Legend Elite...
Both of these have repaired cracks on the top and both sound Great.
I Love the sound of my 1778T.
I also love the sound of my Red Flamer GCXT.
Then there is the Sweet T, and the Painted T which I take-out often in crappy weather.
They all sound Great in their own way. Even the CC29S4C Celebrity.
Without even comparing some more... I just gave up.
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Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | My list is similar to StandingO's... The '67 Josh White that I recently sold and the Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladeer #1. |
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Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | JL3. There's no better one. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Over the years I sold all of my wood top O's because for me the Adamas was just my preferred sound.
From my original slot head to my incredible twin 6/12 long necks, no wood top came close so eventually I sold them all off.
The only wood top that remains is an amazing mandocello that does not get the playing time it deserves.
I should probably sell that one also. |
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September 2011
Posts: 402
Location: New Hartford CT | #691 - A 3 planker Deluxe Balladeer my Dad left to me. It was stolen and OFC'er Michael Winters helped me recover. I owe you a debt that can't be repaid.
Close second? Patriot, 1111-4 RI. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | 1537 -- I always come back to it.
A braced Legend -- a 78 neck on a new (5 year old) body. Just a wonderful sound
87C -- really a great guitar
But the 1537 is my "forever" guitar....... |
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April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | My favorite -- the FD-14. Just wow! |
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January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | 67/68 ... the model matters not. Acoustically, Ovation got it right, with the first ones. imo, all the bracing, bowl and soundboard changes that followed fell short of exceeding the acoustic prowess of the first ones. Nick, you still out there?
Edited by jay 2014-05-31 9:52 PM
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Posts: 51
Location: Halifax, nova scotia | I've got that '67 Josh white from bluebird and it just is an amazing guitar.
I've mentioned before that I have never heard an ovation sound as good. |
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May 2012
Posts: 55
| By far the best pure acoustic Ovation I've heard is the 1114 Folklore (1980 date I think) I acquired from Old Man Arthur a few years ago. Loud and very resonant, My favorite electric is a 1778LX-Elite from about 2003. Easiest guitar to play I've ever owned and has a wonderful sound with my Behringer acoustic amp. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | You know, this question has been raised many, many times on this forum and the responses are always interesting. Of course there is no "right" answer and everybody hears things differently and has a different perception of what the "best" guitar should sound like. But there are a few trends over the last 8-9 years that do seem to pop up in response to this question that I don't think can be ignored.
1) The old 67/68 shiny bowls with X bracing always get high regards. They were truly a "better mousetrap"
2) The John Lennon reissue keeps getting raves - that's one that I wish I never let slip away
3) FD14 maybe a little too far of center to be most peoples go-to instrument, but always gets mention of its tone
The other interesting thing is how two people can have such differing opinions (I guess that's what keeps it interesting). Take Moody and myself - he has always loved his 1537 while I thought that model was rather plain vanilla sounding. And I go gaga over the GC Deluxe shiny bowl and Paul never really cared for that one. Different strokes (shut up cliff) and I guess that's why Moody and I are such good friends.
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I played an FD14 and a John Lennon Reissue on the same day--at Dave's. I was underwhelmed by the FD14. It was mellow, but I was disappointed that it didn't seem like a super version of the Folklore that I had. I preferred the Folklore. It seemed to have the true Ovation sound. I feel the same about the 1537 or any of the other Elites. They never seem to sound like true Ovations to me.
I had the opposite impression of the JL. It sounded like what I thought an Ovation should sound like. The closest thing to that was the Patriot, possibly because they were variations of the same theme, which I seem to like. |
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August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Mark, I think that FD-14 is mine now. Well, it's a nice sounding guitar, but there may be better ones out there....., but I still love it and it would not be the first that had to go.
The best wood topped O is a very difficult question and I can't vote one for the best. But in my opinion the "Book" is a very good one, mine was played really often and is very "open". My friend Dieter's 2007C is a very good guitar, also the 1537 and I can't forget my 2010C which is a very good allaroud guitar. You can play fingerpicking, flatpicking or strumming it, plugged in or acoustic only, it always sounds very nice.
But may be I think I have to look for a JL-RI now......
Bernie |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I'm with Stephen on this. I've been playing the Adamas brand for so long that I just don't appreciate the wood-topped models as much as I should. My wife, a professional singer with a wonderful ear for all things music, prefers my 1778-RF full bowl flamer to everything else, including the Adamas models. As has been said so many times here, that's why they make different flavors of ice cream. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | boltonb - 2014-06-03 9:46 AM ......that's why they make different flavors of ice cream. I wish could just stick with vanilla or chocolate or something. It wouldn't cost as much.... |
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Best sounding wood-topped Ovation in your opinion?
