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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 41
| Hey guys,
Just wondering if you guys face people looking down on you for playing Ovations.
As I said in another thread, I'm waiting on my new black 1778T, my first Ovation, but I already got a bunch of people kind of thinking I'm stupid for going with Ovation. They aren't explicitly telling me that, but I can feel it. None of them have very expensive instruments, but they all have some lower end Taylors and Martins. Hopefully my 1778T will be able to prove them wrong, but just wondering if you guys that already own a bunch of Ovations face similar problems.
-j |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Well, a couple of the taller guys.
Most of 'em are surprised when my acoustic lead noodling cuts through seven guys strumming the same chord at the song circle.
Actually, no I don't. But I'm an arrogant bastard who looks down his nose at wood boxes so what some ignorant guitarhomo (no, not our guitarhomo) thinks is beneath my consideration. Ignorant, rhythm challenged, hacker that he is....
Do not seek your sense of worth in the eyes of others grasshopper. |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | i just tell em to piss off and crank my volume knob open..lol
ive only had one person sayany thing bad to me about the playing of ovations that was a drummer...so go figure..what does a drummer know anyhow??? jason |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | the guitar world is a clicky place at times. For some unknown reason many guitar players get really hung up on what it says on the headstock of an instrument. They tend to close down their senses if a guitar isn't wearing their "correct" logo. Perhaps it's just human nature to align ones self with "something".
Not sure how to get through to this type of person, but, I tend to just play what "I" like and feel sorry for those who just refuse to open their mind to the fact that ice cream (sorry lanaki :) ) comes in many different flavours and it's alright to like more than one.
I've always enjoyed my Custom Balladeer and I play it for my enjoyment first and foremost. I can only hope that those listening are enjoying the music (well that's what I call it) coming out of it as much as I am enjoying the sound from their guitars.
I think it comes down to liking the sound of your instrument. If you do, hold onto it. If you don't, then you should keep looking for the one that speaks to you. It doesn't matter if the headstock says Martin, Taylor, or Ovation, or any one of the hundred others available.
I refuse to be intimidated into playing something just because some other player professes it to be "The Grail". "I" determine "My Grail", and will not hang my head because of it.
In another thread stephenT28 made something close to this staement; if it looks good, feels good, sounds good, and speaks to me, it's a winner. That pretty much sums it up and is a good motto to go by when assessing guitars.
Dave |
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December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | "stephenT28 made something close to this statement; if it looks good, feels good, sounds good, and speaks to me..."
wasn't he describing dates back in college? |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | if I misunderstood...me bad. ooops |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I think there is a human nature element that people sometimes tend to validate their own preferences by "looking down" a little on other peoples different choices. I mean, heck this has spurned a whole industry of pissing Calvin window decals. As a Ford F-150 driver what he thinks of a Chevy truck. Sure, some people look down on Ovations. Usually they hate the idea of the plastic bowl. Sometimes they even call them names like "tupperware". But so what. It's all just personal opinions. People on this board do the same and make rude comments about Taylors and Martins. It's all just an ego game. Play what works best for you and makes you happy. I think your Elite T will surprise a lot of people.
Dave
PS - For the record Martin is so much better than Taylor that it's not even funny. |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | No Dave, Takamines are so much better than Martins and Taylors and ...oh, oh , here we go again. And yes, it is funny.
Dave |
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January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | The world is big enough for all the different flavours and I enjoy them all.
I was playing in a folk club for a while with lots of different guitars but I don't think brand names were ever discussed. We were having too good a time to worry about things like that.
I'm sure the snobs who might look down their nose at me are out there, I just haven't met them yet. |
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December 2004
Posts: 370
Location: Isle of Man, UK | It's not my choice of brand that make people think worse of me, just my ability...
;)
I've never come across this. The closest I got to experiencing this was a former bandmate who just didn't like playing mine. It wasn't that he was anti-O, just that he didn't bond with mine.
He played a Tak, so I'd have thrown any brand comments right back at him though! He's a Taylor boy now, and that's fine for him.
JB |
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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | Originally posted by jb:
It's not my choice of brand that make people think worse of me, just my ability...
;)
JB I can relate to this jb :) |
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Posts: 4413
| I don't know any other people. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by juniodude:
Do people look down on you for playing Ovations Only until they hear them. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Jason_S:
ive only had one person sayany thing bad to me about the playing of ovations that was a drummer...so go figure..what does a drummer know anyhow??? jason Jason!!! :mad: |
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April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | No one's ever actually said anything, but sometimes I feel a vibe. The only times people have said something, it was a compliment on the sound. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I've had a few. look down at me for playing Ovations.
But.... "You can't fix stupid." |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | FWIW, I always had members of the public come up and say "cool guitar" after a gig when I was playing my Adamas. When I play my Taylor, I usually have one or two guitar players come up and admire it. |
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September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | One thing about a T is that you are not comparing the looks. An Elite T is "stealthy" "different" "cool looking", etc.
I have jammed with guys playing Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, Taks and never had a bad word spoken. You will be able to be heard.
The neck on mine has a really nice flame grain in the wood.
If I was a really good player I would have one of the flamed painted ones.
Every once in a while I get gas from the glowing reports on this board. Then I realize I would have to sell every other guitar I have to afford it and would only have one guitar. The T does the job and lets me keep my meager herd. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | I don't spend any time worrying about what other people are thinking.... |
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October 2005
Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | Same here. If people aren't going to be nice, it's probably more related to my ability than the guitar I'm playing. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The t is considered a good gigging guitar in NYC. The people who look down on you sadly don't know what they're talking about.
Where are from and what kind of music do you play?
When people hear you play your T they'll ask, "how cool, what kind of guitar is that? Can I try it?" |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I haven't had anyone look down on me but I have run into a lot of ignorance about Ovations.
So I just get my new Longneck LX and I come to church practice. I'm feeling all cool and snobby-like, really special and all. There is a new electric guitar player and the first thing out of his mouth is "I had an Ovation just like that and I didn't like it. You should get a Taylor".
So instead of kick'in hizzazz right there I decide to listen and get to know this guy. He's covered in tats, sports a Faux-hawk and plays a lot of U2 despite what everyone else is playing. He just wants to be noticed and had a bad experience with an Ovation that wasn't right for him.
It's not what the other guitarist think. They'll end up playing your O at some time (usually when the others aren't looking) and will have to see for themselves. The big test is with the the Sound-Dude(or Dudette)! I have never received a bad response from a Soundboard Operator when I have plugged in.
I usually have to hide my smirk when the "box" players have to work hard to cover their feedback though... |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | It you buy into fashion don't buy an O if you buy into sound buy one. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | au-contrair...(I'm brushing up on my French for the Tour).
I think Ovations are very fashionable. Lot's of very different styles & looks up & down the entire line. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I've had two recent experiences in Sam Ash - the 1st was some little snot teenager sitting on the couch singing to his girlfriend. When I picked up an O to play he sings something derogatory about O's - I don't remember exactly what he said. The 2nd time was last week when a young couple were looking to buy a guitar - he looks at the O's and says to his significant other "the plastic bowls really make them look cheap".
I'm on a mission to get the music store where my son takes lessons to start carry more O's and A's. They have one used Applesauce. |
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Do people look down on you for playing Ovations?
