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| Hi,
I'm a long time guitar player, been playing since I was 2 yrs old. I've been a guitar teacher, I have a recording studio at home and play regular gigs as a duo with a good friend, I have thousands of pounds worth of gear including the amazing Kemper profiling amp, Roland synth and boss rc300 lopper to create songs on the fly... So, I recently thought, why oh why do I still play, record and perform with an acoustic I bought for £100 off a friend when I was a student that isn't even comfortable in my hands?!
So I've just had my first-born (a handsome lad!) and to celebrate am going to treat myself to a new acoustic. Obviously I can't go crazy but I've always been a fan of Ovations.
There are 3 guitars I have my eye on, all for around the same price (£300-400). Any advice, tips and collective experience on which of these I should go for would be greatly appreciated! These are all in second hand but in great condition...
1771 in black (2006)
S771ax (doesn't say which year)
3712 in sunburst (1988 mij)
Many thanks in advance,
Stefan. |
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Posts: 5
| Well the 1771 has gone but there is an 1861 going for same price. It has the op-30 pre-amp and looking up the serial number (579184) I've looked up makes if a 2003 model? Would this then be an lx as the model page shows the 1861 not being made after 2001?
Many thanks in advance!
Stefan. |
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Location: south east Michigan | My 2 cents is... avoid the ax |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I take it "mij" means Made In Japan? That would be another option. I've heard nothing but good things about the Ovations from the made in Japan era. |
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| Sorry, yes the 3712 is made in Japan. Although I have in the past bought some cracking old guitars (electrics and a beautiful classical from the 60's) I can't get to view this one before purchase. Would that put you guys off too?
Many thanks for your replies and help! |
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Location: Utah | Unless you know the seller, I would avoid buying a used guitar without being able to inspect it. I have purchased numerous guitars from people on this and another forum, and relied on their reputation and association with the forum. All were excellent guitars. Alternatively, you could ask a lot of questions about the condition of the guitar (and case), and get them to send you a bunch of good quality photographs. Ideally the seller would agree to an inspection period, wherein you could return the guitar for a refund if it is not acceptable.
If the prices are in the normal range for your location, you could always take a chance on it without seeing it or knowing the seller. If it turns out not to be acceptable, you could resell it for what you paid for it.
Ovations were made with consistent quality. I don't think you are likely to get a poorly built guitar. But you might get a damaged or worn out instrument.
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Location: Utah | The 1861 is a super shallow bowl. These guitars do not have the same acoustic sound as mid or deep bowls. Plugged in they sound the same as others, but just acoustically they tend to be light on the bass side.
The Pinnacle 3712 has the deep bowl. This guitar will have a drednaught like spectrum, full and loud.
Between the two I would go with the 3712 unless you always play plugged in. In that case many other factors might be considered (color, condition, case condition, price, etc). |
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Location: Utah | They made an 1861AX, which is the Asian made model. The serial numbers of the offshore guitars are not traceable. I think most likely the 1861 you are looking at is a more recent AX model and not the older USA made model.
I'm with Slipkid, avoid the AX and the TX guitars. |
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Location: Bristol England | All Ovations with an AX suffix are not made in Korea. I have anS778AX which was made in New Hartford - a fact I confirmed with Ovation before purchasing it.
Also there is an S771AX on ebay u.uk. at this moment with a label inside that states it was made in the US.
All that glisters is not gold and it appears not all Ovations with an AX suffix are made in Asia.
Stefan, I suggest you contact the seller of the S771AX before dismissing it 'out of hand' as it might be an American one.
Cheers James. |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | LX guitars were made in New Hartford, USA. TX guitars are made in Korea. AX guitars are made in China. (There were no AX guitars made in the US).
Those Pinnacle guitars made in Japan are very good. That's the one I would get.
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | stonebobbo - 2014-10-26 3:56 PM
LX guitars were made in New Hartford, USA. TX guitars are made in Korea. AX guitars are made in China. (There were no AX guitars made in the US).
   
edit: I also found this...
THAT came from the 2005 UK Catalog on Ovation Tribute.
Edited by Old Man Arthur 2014-10-26 7:53 PM
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Location: Birmingham, Al. | What is so bad about the TX models. The 1778TX-5 gets excellent reviews from the guitar sellers and you tube. I have one and it's great. The fit and finish is top notch and it plays great. I've been playing since the early 70's and I've had a lot of experience with many guitars.
Edited by Alanbama 2014-10-26 8:41 PM
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Alanbama - 2014-10-26 6:36 PM
What is so bad about the TX models. The 1778TX-5 gets excellent reviews from the guitar sellers and you tube.
Extreme case of "Sour Grapes"...
Old time OFCr's loved the 1778T... and don't like the TX.
Personal experience...
I had owned six USA Elite T's of various configurations.
Six string, 12 string, shallow bowl... You used to be able to find Elite T's for $300 any day on eBay.
Then Fendrovation shipped Elite T manufacture to Korea, and you couldn't find a USA T at any price.
So I bought a 1778TX... with a free iDea preamp and zero gravity case.
The TX sound nice and played nice.
Then I found a 2007 1778T and snatched it up.
So I had a chance to do a side-by-side comparison between the T and the TX.
At first they sounded quite similar... until I put new strings on the USA 1778T.
If both guitars have new strings on them, the USA T decimates the Korean TX.
I immediately sold the the TX... I still have the 1778T. And I am keeping it.
The USA T has better wood, better paint, ebony fingerboard and a bolt-on (re-set-able) neck.
Plus... we are still pissed at Fender for shipping Ovation overseas.
If given a choice you should always but a USO over a Korean O.
That is not to say that Korean O's are all total crap...
I have owned and played Celebrity's and Ultra's and liked them.
But buy USA if you can.
Here are some threads on the subject...
HERE
and the HERESY story.
and THIS is a whole bunch of threads about TX's.
But mostly... It is because the OFC is upset about moving manufacture to Korea,
and USA-made are better just cuz they ARE!
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Location: Birmingham, Al. | I agree that the USA guitars are better and I want one. I just haven't found one that I can afford yet. I guess I need to look harder, huh?  |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Go visit OMA when the weather is poor in Portland (and his busking returns are meagre) and offer him money for something. You could do quite well. |
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Location: New Hartford CT | Some recent completed listings on ebay for 1778T indicate they're still a good buy.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ovation-Elite-1778T-6-String-Acoustic-Elect...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OVATION-ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-1778T-2006...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USA-Ovation-Elite-1778T-Acoustic-Electric-G... |
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Location: Canada | Thanks Geostorm ... I have been keeping my eyes open for a dreadnaught but after seeing those auctions I think I should put the 1778T on top of my list. Please let us know if you see any of these before someone else gets them ... |
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Location: Bristol England | Stonebobbo,
You speak with much implied knowledge when you state :- " AX guitars are made in China. ( There were no AX guitars made in the US. )
Bearing this in mind you should have no problems answering my 3 questions :-
1) Why did someone at the MS lie to me by telling me my S778AX was made in America. A question I asked before I bought it ?
2) Why do the labels on my guitar and the S771AX posted on ebay both state 'Made in New Hartford' ? If these were made in China this would be a deliberate intent to deceive and put all other labels in Ovation guitars under question ?
3) Why does the 2005 Ovation UK catalogue ( as shown in OMA's post ) show a Special Balladeer AX as being made in America? If this is not true it further compounds the deception and raises once more the question " How many more labels are deceptions.
I look forward with interest to your reply.
James. |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Give poor stonebobbo a break! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | So Bobbo got one wrong out of a thousand. Doesn't mean there's some big conspiracy to defraud. |
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Location: Tennessee | Mea cupla I guess. It must've been a one year deal. Could've been like the Ultra deal where they made them in Asia and ran them through NH. I imply now that I don't know jack about Ovations. |
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Location: Bristol England | stonebobbo,
Major respect.
James. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I will add that (as far as I know) the S771AX is the only AX that is made in the USA.
Also... Since this is the 2005 catalog, this was before my time and before Fender ruined Ovation.
So the S771AX may have been a design experiment...
(can we design a NICE guitar that can be cheaply made?)
But! Back to the Original Topic....
Stay away from TX and AX models. They are made in Korea.
With the exception of rarities that have the MotherShip on the label.
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Location: Canberra, Australia | arthurseery - 2014-10-28 7:16 AM
But! Back to the Original Topic....
Stay away from TX and AX models. They are made in Korea.
With the exception of rarities that have the MotherShip on the label.
Does the same hold for the cedar topped 1778TX-4CS? |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Eynowd - 2014-10-27 4:27 PM
arthurseery - 2014-10-28 7:16 AM
But! Back to the Original Topic....
Stay away from TX and AX models. They are made in Korea.
With the exception of rarities that have the MotherShip on the label.
Does the same hold for the cedar topped 1778TX-4CS?
I keep thinking about buying one of those, too...
When I say "Stay Away", I mean to be Forewarned that those are not USA-Ovations.
I currently own a CC29S-4C... And have owned many other Celebrity and Ultra guitars.
I keep seeing those 1778TX-4CS on Sale for $350 "new"...
But then I remind myself that I already own a Cedar-topped Celebrity.
Okay... I will say it again.
Korean Ovations are just high-priced Celebrity guitars.
So long as you understand that, buy anything you like.
(All of my electric guitars were made in Asia... and some of them are Very Nice)
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First Ovation
