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Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Had the unique opportunity to play 2 great Ovations and compare them with a great Martin. Met a friend yesterday. He's the one I helped into an 87 Collectors. At his anniversary last year, I helped his wife buy, on ebay, an 87 Collectors. At the same time his wife gave him the O, she also spent about $7k (maybe more) and got him a signed, Eric Clapton 000-28. I played it next to his 87 Collectors and my 1537. Honestly, the Martin's a beautiful instrument, worth maybe $2500. Great sound. Great to look at. Great to sniff at the soundhole. Would I trade my 1537 for it. Nope. I guess I just like the more robust sound of my 1537. What's interesting is that the attorney's playing and loving the Ovation and the Martin stays in it's case, only coming out once in a while. He also has a 1960's D-28, worth a ton. The Ovation gets played. And he rarely plugs in. It's the acoustic sound. |
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Posts: 4413
| I for one am not surprised. I've spent the last 20 years in a world where people sell their kids to get a Benedetto/D'Aquisto/D'Angelico etc., etc.
I've never played a guitar costing more than $5000 that I thought was worth it. Some of them are prettier/rarer/wear more gold than P. Diddy, but to play and listen to they are no better than a good O. I personally figure you are a total twat if you figure that you are getting something extra in the music department for your money. Have these people never read the story of The Emperor's New Suit? |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Does not surprise me. But it sounds like a set-up. The 000-28's are not great examples of Martins sound, if you ask me. Comfortable as hell to play, but they really lack the tonal balance (I've got a 000-18, same opinion). The 87 Collector and the 1537 are two of Ovations best sounding guitars. Blah, blah, blah some Ovations sound good some sound like crap. Some Martins sound good, some sound like crap, etc. etc. etc. No one builder is unilaterally better than the other in my opinion. Although I said I didn't care for the 000-28 sound, I must admit that this 12-fret, wideneck, slothead 000-28 on ebay has me more than a little interested. Dave
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33028&item=7... |
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Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | Isn't that out in Nils neck of the woods? |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I played one of these vintage series about a month ago. One of the best sounding Martins I have ever played. I think the one I played, was selling for about $2900 new.
This one looks like a nice guitar at a good price. |
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Posts: 29
Location: NW Ohio | I have six guitars, four Ovations and two Martins.Each one is different,and has its own voice. The Martins win hands down on smell though.The D28 is intoxicating! |
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Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | It's always important to evaluate each individual guitar and not make generalizations. I've played Martins that knocked my socks off and some very expensive ones that just sucked. Same with Ovations. |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I agree but has anyone noticed how important it is to play the "box" before buying? Seems that if you have the chance to play several of the same model, you will find one that is better?
Maybe I'm wrong but I haven't found a U.S. Ovation I didn't like. Which, other than damage, has given me a lot more confidence in O's and A's when buying before I can play. Course, with the small selection at local guitar stores, hard to find the O's and A's to play first.
Feel a lot more confident buying from OFC members or eBay when buying an O or A. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Very true. The consistency of sound seems to be a lot more prevalent in Ovations than most of the other brands. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Just had a visitor here today who plays a Martin(D-28). Her words when she heard the 1537, "Wow, that sounds incredible."
(I would like to believe she was commenting on my playing, but alas....) |
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August 2002
Posts: 398
Location: So. Cal. | As Tony pointed out, playing several of the same model can make a huge difference sometimes. When I bought my 87 collectors back then, the guy at GC was nice enough to pull out all five of them and the one I picked (serial #555) was distinctively better than the other four.
On a different note, the 000-28EC I have is best described as "sweet". Very well balanced and dark (not twangy). Nothing but fingerstyle heaven. The custom M-42 (as StandingO know) is out of this world though. |
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Posts: 29
Location: NW Ohio | I agree. I will buy an Ovation without playing it first because you usually know what to expect. I would never buy a Martin unplayed because they vary so much from one to another in the same model. The same is true of Gibson,Collins, Santa Cruz,you name it in an all wood guitar. |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Islander2 I will buy an Ovation without playing it first because you usually know what to expect. I would never buy a Martin unplayed because they vary so much from one to another in the same model. The same is true of Gibson,Collins, Santa Cruz,you name it in an all wood guitar.
I have 2 Ovations I ordered and purchased without playing.
I have 2 Martins I purchased after playing first.
I have played more Ovations I like Than Martins,(percentage wise)
Ovation has more bang for the buck. Hands Down. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | As I shared with someone on email, in my opinion on a scale of 1 to 10, Ovations go from 7 to 9.5 with tremendous consistency within a model. Great manufacturing repeatability no doubt due to the bowl and neck attachment. You know what to expect from an Ovation. Martin goes from 4 to 9.9. Yes there are some stinkers. But there is also that upper crust form 9.5 to 9.9 that is sweet heaven you'll only get from a Martin. Takes some looking, but man when you find it... Michael's M-42 is one of those. I've heard others. My D18VS 12 fret slothead is right up there as well.
Somebody posted that they never played a USA Ovation that they didn't like. I love Ovations, it's my passion. But I have definately heard and owned a few that didn't do anything for me. Never heard a decent VT braced Ovation, and some of the Elite models (even the Book Elite), leave me rather unimpressed sonically.
You just can't make generalizations about something like guitars. There are so many variables. Of course this is the OFC, emphesis on O, so naturally most of us think anything Ovation puts their name on is god-like. And all other brands are shit. That's only natural. Same happens on the other boards as well. |
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Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | I also have 4 martins currently and a boatload of Ovations.Although i enjoy some of my Ovations and are good guitars,there is something to a good wood guitar that you just cant beat.My Martin D42S 12 fret slothead is simply amazing.The martin 15 series guitars are the best bang for the buck.The D15S and 00015S for around 800 bucks new are much better than the new LX series by Ovation.Ive played several of both brands and in my opinion the 15 series are great guitars. |
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Posts: 10
Location: Hastings, Michigan | Each guitar brings out a part of my personaly. My 1980 Martin D-35 'makes' me an anamal, pounding out sound that makes time fly-or picking out that Martin bass line that (almost)keep up with the chord. My Martin D-45 Sunburst, yes cost a boatload of money, and no, I don't get it out as much as my other guitars; but AHHH! I feel close to God when I gently play that one.
And yes, I agree with Standingovation about ovation quality and reliability. And they, unlike the Martins, are solid enough to take out to the campfire. |
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Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Drew, how about a pic of the D45 burst.I gotta see that.dont ever see those in burst ..samova@aol.com |
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Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I've definitely played some new Ovations that were stinkers. Same with Martins, too. I bought a 000-16RGT a month ago that was hands down better than the 000-18 next to it.
I agree with Sam, the 15 series Martins are great. Good luck finding them, they sell quickly.
Roger |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I lifted the folloiwng from
Music and Technology
This guy is a recording engineer
As far as acoustic guitars go, I have had the opportunity to work with many of the top session players here in the Seattle area, and they can definitely make just about any guitar sound good. The guy I worked with a lot would always bring three or four really nice acoustics along with him and let me choose which one I thought sounded best for the particular. He had (I believe) a Guild, Martin, Takamine, and Taylor (can't remember the model numbers). For the pop stuff I was doing, I always liked the sound of his Taylor the best and usually went with that, although I picked the Guild or Martin for some other tunes. Another acoustic singer/songwriter friend of mine had an awesome sounding Takamine as well that really worked great for her. I also always had a negative image of the Ovation guitars, and never liked to record them.... I thought they worked better in live situations and would never consider using them in a studio, until I was working on a big album project with Jill Cohn, and her guitar player had a really nice, higher end Ovation (I didn't know there was such a thing) that actually sounded great in the studio. We did some tracks at the big studio as well as in my project studio, and it really suprised me at how well it sounded in both situations, even on songs where the acoustic guitar was pretty much the only instrument. Of course, he is an excellent guitar player as well, and that helped a lot, but he also knew how to pick a great sounding instrument for him. That was kind of suprising since I had the generalized notion that Ovations simply did not record well (from my limited experience with the cheaper ones I guess). |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | It would be interesting to just lift this whole thread and put it on the Martin board. I'm sure would get some "interesting" feedback. Totally agree with Sam and Roger on the 15 series. Those guitars are just amazing. Maybe the best acoustic sound available for under $1000. I know - everyone's panties are going to be in a bunch all saying, waah, waah, waah what about the Ovation LX guitars! You can't compare them. Just forget about it. The LX Legend and Elite are a different beast. No better, no worse. Lots of great attributes for the Ovations. They just lack the wooden sound that I and many others enjoy. I would LOVE to see Ovation put all the high tech shit they have perfected into building a wooden box guitar. Probably not politically acceptable, but they have some damn fine luthiers at Ovation. They build great tops, the best necks in the business, and their overall quality and attention to detail is amazing. Wouldn't it be interesting to see what they could come up with in an all wooden box guitar? Might just blow Martin, Taylor and the rest right out of the water! Dave |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I own a d-35 and a d-35 12s
both real nice guitars. I had them forever. I used to gig with the d 35 until I found Ovations and particularly Adamas guitars. I used an old dearmond pickup and a barcus berry and a dean markley. too much hassle too much of a drag.
most of the places I played that miced the guitar just used an sm 58 and that just would cause feedback. |
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March 2002
Posts: 389
Location: RI. That small State out East | Soon several will be playing the U681T...
This guitar will turn heads. Martin heads, and Ovation heads. I have had the fun of "shocking" several "wooden" lovers. If you think you can get a smile with a 1537... or 05 Collector...
I know, I know, ice cream...
This one will shock.
Woz
Martin : Yea, but it's not wood...
Adamas : I know, but hows the feel / sound...
Martin : Smile (as they play)... wow
One more thing... About the smell... I like empty cigar boxes. Nothing beats the smell. Not even a Martin. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | About the smell... I like empty cigar boxes. Nothing beats the smell. Not even a Martin. Not even a freshly lit cigar on the patio at sunset with the perfect drink of your choice in hand? That smells pretty damn good too! :D |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by Woz:
Soon several will be playing the U681T...
One more thing... About the smell... I wanna play the U681T so bad, I can't hardly stand the wait.
Maybe Ovations should could come stock with those little pine tree air fresheners |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | RE: It would be interesting to just lift this whole thread and put it on the Martin board.
The difference with this board is that most of the posters have and love Martins, as well as O's & A's.
Sure, there can be some critical comments or light banter about other guitars - yet to see any malicious, deliberate misinformation, or flaming from the OFC members. Heck, some of us are biased but we also drive different models and makes of cars.
A little North Sea pipe tobacco from TinderBox can give the "woody" smell. Or, the diehard could always add some cedar chips... :D :p :D |
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Ovations v. Martins
