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Location: 6 String Ranch | GN-Nick. you seem to fit in well here with all us fudiots. But you may graduate past all us as you keep making sense. Nothing personal meant, was just dying to use the new word. (I've spent the last week dealing with at least 7 different lawyers. It's my new favorite word)
I think Hizzonor should take a run at the court. We need some guitar players up there! |
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Location: south east Michigan | Nick,
After I sent you the e-mail to invite you here I started to worry about your reaction to our...shall we say...enthusiasm. I'm glad things turned out alright. |
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Location: GA USA | That is a mighty good idea, Nicky. And should make for some interesting reading, too.
I might also mention that I've enjoyed guitarnoise.com for a while, and recommend it to beginners - and others.
Jas
P.S. Yup... I changed my name today. It might be a tad late since I've been putting my real name out on the web for so long, but I'm gonna try and be more anomynous while still using my website to get cartooning work.
CaptainLovehandles.com |
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| Okay, here are my initial "requirements"
1. Gotta be used.
2. Solid top. What are my choices here?
3. I care more about acoustic than amplified sound.
4. I like fast necks.
5. I don't care about pick marks or the occasional chip. They suggest character.
6. A case would be nice.
7. $500ish is the limit.
8. I'd much prefer an older USA model to a newer overseas if possible.
Anyone want to give me a hint as to what the incredible number of model numbers mean? |
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Location: GA USA | That's brilliant, Nick. You're gonna wind up with a $2000 guitar just so somebody can prove a point. |
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| Dammit, I've been figured out. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Nick, since they're all good, best bet would be go here http://www.ovationguitars.com/?fa=series&sid=349 and see what turns your fancy. Then go here http://www.adamasguitars.com/?fa=history and see what features you like. On the website look at the features of some of the new ones. Once you've got something in mind, ask here if there are stores people can recommend in your area. Go check out the new ones or any old ones in the store. Then scan ebay and see if any of the old or new turn up, then buy. Beware of this place though, they're really good spending other peoples money. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by GN-Nick:
Okay, here are my initial "requirements"
1. Gotta be used.
---not hard
2. Solid top. What are my choices here?
---Legend, Elite, Balladeer, all commonly available under 500 with solid tops
3. I care more about acoustic than amplified sound.
---All the above were made with deep bowls which would be my choice for pure acoustic (certain models don't even have electronics)
4. I like fast necks.
---they all have very fast necks
5. I don't care about pick marks or the occasional chip. They suggest character.
---Good
6. A case would be nice.
---most likely
7. $500ish is the limit.
---definitely
8. I'd much prefer an older USA model to a newer overseas if possible.
---all the guitars mentioned are USA O's
Anyone want to give me a hint as to what the incredible number of model numbers mean?
---Go to the refernce section of this board to get info on this. The Ovation Guitar website also has a section called, "cracking the code" that will give you similar info. |
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| Well I will be damned!
This thread sure turned out much differently than I thought it would.
Well done!
Cliff... Nick My hats off to ya!
Interesting to the end I'm sure!
Nick; you have at least one new reader for your web site and I sure hope you will visit this site when ever you have questions about Ovations.
Good article your pursuing, Used guitars are always hard to find good information on before buying.
Randy |
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Location: Cicero, NY | (Shhh - don't tell Nick yet but I see him very close to riding a llama into Hartford while strumming an O uke in 2006 and it's really not that pretty a picture) ;) |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Great, I've just started building my collection and Ol' Nick here is going to end up driving the prices through the roof with all this publicity. :p
Better start building FASTER! :eek:
Blues |
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Location: Orlando, FL | This thread has been great to just sit back and read! Nick, you went from a fudiot to a reasonable classy guy in about 3 posts! Good to see sombody poke the hornets nest and then stick around and make friends with the bugs. Look forward to reading more of your stuff here and over at guitarnoise. |
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Location: SoCal | Nick:
I stand by my earlier recommendation. Get a mid 80's deep bowl Legend. With the A bracing pattern introduced in about 1980, they have a great warm, full sound. They can be had for about $500 on ebay (saw one a few weeks ago that was a cutaway and went for $300 -- an absolute steal!) The necks are fast, and with the K bar in them, are rock solid. Put medium gauge strings on them and you'll have a cannon.
This is on ebay now, but it's in the high range of the current market
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7337256594&categ...
Note the lack of the truss rod cover. That means it has a K bar in the neck which came in at the same time as the A bracing pattern (my personal opinion is that the 1970's Ovations with the VT pattern just don't sound good at all -- almost anything past 1980 is going to be a great sounding guitar). |
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| Moody Any recommendations for a Custom Legend? 1980 and newer good for these as well?
Randy |
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Location: SoCal | As long as it's in good shape, any CL from the 70's thru the mid 90's (just deep bowls) is a great guitar. They've always had the A bracing (the Legends didn't get it until somewhere around 1980).
But with a $500 budget, a good CL may be tougher to find. |
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| I was figuring $600 but hey with all the focus on used Ovations we will all pay higher prices!
Thanks a lot Nick!
I saw real nice Black CL go on ebay just a while back. Beautiful guitars Just like Paul Simons.
I'll keep my eyes open.
Thanks
Randy |
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Location: NJ | Y'might wanna throw a 12-banger into the mix as well. In Nick's article he poo-pooh'ed the idea of buying an (ahem) "old" 12-string.
While I agree that there are a lotta "BentBox" old 12's out there. There's also a LOT of GREAT-sounding old O'12's that're STILL rock-solid (and can prove to be an "Exception to the Rule"). |
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Location: south east Michigan | Nick,
I'm not suggesting that you "cherry pick" your purchase, but give it a little time for the right example to come along. Remember....deeeeep bowl if you want to test that unplugged sound.
My '70 Balladeer is a perfect example. But ya caaaaan't have it! Mine was made made before you could "plug in".
I will also start dropping in on guitarnoise.com to see what's up. |
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Location: Chicagoland | "While I agree that there are a lotta "BentBox" old 12's out there. There's also a LOT of GREAT-sounding old O'12's that're STILL rock-solid (and can prove to be an "Exception to the Rule")."
Like mine. 12 string Balladeer from the 80s, plays better than just about any other guitar I've tried, espeically other 12-strings I've tried. :) |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | As usual, Mr. Moody is right on target.
I was the buyer of that cutaway Legend for $306, plus $40 for shipping. It was an absolute steal.
Once again, the model numbers for the Legends are:
1117- Deep bowl acoustic (No truss rod cover assures A bracing)
1717- Deep bowl acoustic/electric
1767 or 1777- Deep bowl CA acoustic electric
A bit harder to find for less than $500, but can certainly be had for $500 to $550 are the Elite multihole models. All have the K bar and sound great but a different "flavor" than the Legend.
1718- Deep bowl acoustic/electric
1768- Deep bowl CA acoustic electric
S778- Deep bowl CA acoustic/electric. Essentially the same as the 1768, but with some cost cutting. Two piece neck replaces the five piece neck and no fret markers on the fretboard. Some also have plainer designs on the epaulets around the soundholes.
Some more notable mentions, but not really older models are:
S771- Deep bowl CA acoustic electric Balladeer.
1778T- New style Elite. Multi soundholes on the bass side only, no epaulets, textured finish.
My personal favorite from all of the above is the 1717 Legend. I think the cutaway version doesn't sound as full as the non-cutaway. Same goes for the 1718 Elite which is very similar to the much heralded 1537 Elite. Both the 1717 and 1718 have excellent acoustic tone. The electronics, even if you don't really need it, are icing on the cake.
For some reason, the natural tops sell for higher prices generally on eBay. The black models usually sell for less with the sunburst models somewhere in between. |
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| Excellent posts, I've created an ebay search.
These two show up in the right range so far.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7338470304&categ...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7338009423&categ...
There is also a 1617 on ebay now, looks like it's in pretty good shape. Anyone have experience with that? |
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Location: SoCal | Nick:
The first one looks good. Deep bowl, OP24 preamp. No cracks in the top. Ought to be a great acoustic sound. The second is a mid depth bowl. Still a good sound, but not as deep.
I'd stay with the first over the second.
A 1617 is probably a 1970's guitar, but if you're talking about this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7337359506&categ...
it doesn't have a truss rod cover and therefore probably has the A bracing (even tho' it was built in '79). Looks like a very fine instrument.
You know Nick, I wish you were in So Calif. I'd like for you to play the Ovations at my house, and I could get a number of other O's together for you. You'd enjoy it and probably learn a lot about why we all love them so damned much. |
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Posts: 176
| Okay, I educated myself on the numbering system.
Question for the Article, (multiple responses are encouraged) :
What are the main differences between Applause, Celebrity, and whatever the third category is? |
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Posts: 176
| Next question:
What types of top wood are available?
Mahogany?
Koa?
Adirondack?
Etc. |
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Location: south east Michigan | Applause: The lowest entery level model. Aluminum neck. A friend of mine has had one for more than 20 years. It went with him from ship to ship while in the Navy. I has a bunch of finish cracks and has seen some very rough handling, but still plays and sounds okay.
Celebrity: Made in Korea. Replaces the Applause line as the entry level model. All laminated tops. I would say that many, if not most are shallow bowl models. Although it's entry level, the neck still has the same Kaman Bar truss rod system that makes them very stable. I have played a few that for some reason or another sound as good a USA made guitar. One beef that the Fan Club has had is that the Celebrity models look exactly like the USA models. And they even go by the same names like "Elite". We beleive that the USA models should look different enough to let the shopper know that he is trying a superior instrument.
Woods?.....Historicly Ovation has used Sika Spruce. Some limited edition models and collector series have used cedar or some other exotic wood but not very often. The 2005 Collectors uses Adirondak Spruce.
I'm sure otherws will have more input. |
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Stay clear of any old Ovation???
