Posted 2017-05-09 9:55 AM (#535097 - in reply to #531529) Subject: Re: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: December 2016 Posts: 128
At first, it was just the positive at the joint on the socket. Then, after I got the pre-amp apart and soldered the positive back on the socket, I notice both power wires had come free of the board. Old, delicate wires.
Posted 2017-05-09 6:01 PM (#535101 - in reply to #531529) Subject: Re: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: December 2016 Posts: 128
Ha ha! Well, that was a fun scare I gave myself. I plugged in the CU to play it on the amp, and...nothing. Again. What?! I really didn't want to have to tear into the pre-amp again. To be sure, I tested using Darth Ovation and the system worked. Then I wondered how the volume was set on the CU. Zero.
Once I turned up the volume on the guitar, I had guitar sounds coming from the amp. Yay!
Posted 2017-05-09 10:45 PM (#535103 - in reply to #535101) Subject: Re: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: October 2012 Posts: 1034
Location: Yokohama, Japan
DarenSavage - 2017-05-09 8:01 AM
Ha ha! Well, that was a fun scare I gave myself. I plugged in the CU to play it on the amp, and...nothing. Again. What?! I really didn't want to have to tear into the pre-amp again. To be sure, I tested using Darth Ovation and the system worked. Then I wondered how the volume was set on the CU. Zero.
Once I turned up the volume on the guitar, I had guitar sounds coming from the amp. Yay!
That's funny! I've done that a bunch of times! Sorry to hear there's no chance for a video...I guess I'm just gonna have to get my very own "Savage" Ovation. BTW are you the Sith Lord of O?
Posted 2017-05-11 9:06 AM (#535116 - in reply to #535114) Subject: Re: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: October 2012 Posts: 1034
Location: Yokohama, Japan
DarenSavage - 2017-05-10 7:30 PM
My apolgiies, Arumako. I thought you were asking for a video of the pre-amp repair process. Here's a short clip of my Custom Ultra.
No, no...wasn't wanting to see Darth Ovation soldering loose wires on to a PCB! But thanks for the sound sample video...WOW! Your Custom Ultra sounds incredible...I'm sure your recording tools were relatively simple, but that resonance is something to behold.
I can tell I've totally underestimated the torrefied sound board. I kind of assumed that since my 1861 is over 20 years old, that a torrefied SSB would sound about as good, and I am not ashamed to say that my 1861 SSB sounds really really good. She's one of the few early X-braced builds, and she has a deep satisfying voice...especially for a SSB, but yours is kinda in a different class...if I'm not mistaken, Dan prefers light or extra light strings, so I suspect those are extra light Daddy 80/20s or Elixirs? The sustain is killer.
The video also clarifies what you all meant when you say your Custom Ultra prefers subtlety over hard aggressive playing. And how about that rosette? Together with the Zipflex purfling she is just stunning. What an inspiring conclusion to an awesome project!
You know what...with results like this, you can bet the Mother Ship has some torrefied projects either in the wings or in process. Incredible!
DanSavage - 2017-05-10 12:10 AM
Paul and I are meeting up with the guitar gang Friday night. I'll try to get some video of him playing his 1117.
Please, please! Looking forward to hearing moody, p.i.'s 1117 too.
Posted 2017-05-11 10:57 AM (#535119 - in reply to #531529) Subject: Re: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: December 2016 Posts: 128
Thanks arumako. Yes, Elixir extra light strings. As you can probably tell, the first part of the video is acoustic, the second part with the amp plugged in.
Posted 2017-05-26 10:37 AM (#535295 - in reply to #535236) Subject: RE: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: October 2012 Posts: 1034
Location: Yokohama, Japan
DarenSavage - 2017-05-19 6:27 AM
1979 Aspen AD-35 vs. 197? Ovation Custom Ultra
Here's a video of a quick comparison between the two guitars. They probably couldn't be more different; Dreadnought vs. Super Shallow Bowl.
Both are beautiful playing and sounding guitars, but to my untrained ears, the Custom Ultra has a little more clarity of sound than the AD-35.
Thanks for the additional video Daren! That Aspen is in great condition and sounds superb! Did they sell those in the States new? For those of us in Japan who could never afford a Martin, we bought those, and other Martin copies, back in the day. They still are a great value for the sound. I think they were made by the Tokai factory. Very nostalgic piece there! She does seem to have a mellower voice than the Ultra.
Your Custom Ultra has a really clean punch to it, that is so characteristic of the Os, but she seems to have more of a natural chorus, and has an impressive...sensitivity/dynamic range...to it. I really enjoy these comparison videos. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Posted 2017-05-26 6:51 PM (#535304 - in reply to #535295) Subject: RE: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: June 2012 Posts: 2315
Location: Pueblo West, CO
Hi Ken,
Yes. The Aspen guitar line was imported in the 1970s. Importation was stopped when Martin sued, not only the company importing the Aspen line, but also Alvarez and a whole host of hangers-on.
I agree. The Aspen guitars were one of the Japan imports that were a great value for the dollar, just like Yamaha.
The story behind this guitar is that when Daren and I were teenagers, we were avid about learning to play the guitar. Around our 17th birthday we were taken to the local music store to try out guitars.
I fell in love with a Yamaha FG-260 12-string and Daren, with an Aspen AD-18, which was a Martin-clone. Daren got the Aspen and I got the Yamaha.
The Aspen AD-18 has a solid Sitka spruce top, X-brace, Mahogany sides and back, ebony fingerboard and bridge. After a few years, the bridge split, rendering the guitar more or less unplayable.
Fast-forward to the present. I went to a local guitar show (think: swap meet) to pick up the Ovation 1717 hulk. While I was looking through the guy's extensive collection of guitars for sale, (50+) I spotted an Aspen AD-35.
The AD-35 was a short-lived model in the Aspen line-up. It was their top-of-the-line model. The top was AAA Sitka spruce with an X-brace pattern. But, what makes these guitars really special is that in the 1970s, Aspen was using solid Brazilian rosewood for the sides and back wood.
When I spotted the late-70s AD-35 for sale, I checked with the accountant (SWMBO) and told her that I thought this would be a really kewl Christmas present, I was cleared to make the purchase.
So, I bought the guitar, did a set up on it, bought a case, (played it a bunch!) then stashed it away until Christmas morning, 2016.
arumako - 2017-05-26 8:37 AM
Thanks for the additional video Daren! That Aspen is in great condition and sounds superb! Did they sell those in the States new? For those of us in Japan who could never afford a Martin, we bought those, and other Martin copies, back in the day. They still are a great value for the sound. I think they were made by the Tokai factory. Very nostalgic piece there! She does seem to have a mellower voice than the Ultra.
Your Custom Ultra has a really clean punch to it, that is so characteristic of the Os, but she seems to have more of a natural chorus, and has an impressive...sensitivity/dynamic range...to it. I really enjoy these comparison videos. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Posted 2017-05-27 7:32 AM (#535306 - in reply to #535304) Subject: RE: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: October 2012 Posts: 1034
Location: Yokohama, Japan
DanSavage - 2017-05-26 8:51 AM
Hi Ken,
The story behind this guitar is that when Daren and I were teenagers, we were avid about learning to play the guitar. Around our 17th birthday we were taken to the local music store to try out guitars.
I fell in love with a Yamaha FG-260 12-string and Daren, with an Aspen AD-18, which was a Martin-clone. Daren got the Aspen and I got the Yamaha.
The Aspen AD-18 has a solid Sitka spruce top, X-brace, Mahogany sides and back, ebony fingerboard and bridge. After a few years, the bridge split, rendering the guitar more or less unplayable.
Fast-forward to the present. I went to a local guitar show (think: swap meet) to pick up the Ovation 1717 hulk. While I was looking through the guy's extensive collection of guitars for sale, (50+) I spotted an Aspen AD-35.
The AD-35 was a short-lived model in the Aspen line-up. It was their top-of-the-line model. The top was AAA Sitka spruce with an X-brace pattern. But, what makes these guitars really special is that in the 1970s, Aspen was using solid Brazilian rosewood for the sides and back wood.
When I spotted the late-70s AD-35 for sale, I checked with the accountant (SWMBO) and told her that I thought this would be a really kewl Christmas present, I was cleared to make the purchase.
So, I bought the guitar, did a set up on it, bought a case, (played it a bunch!) then stashed it away until Christmas morning, 2016.
That's a great story Dan and Daren. What an awesome Christmas gift! I didn't know they sold the Aspens in the States. After the Martin law suits, I think Tokai changed the name to "Cat's Eyes" (or something like that) and sold them only in Japan.
Then for Daren to get a Dan Savage Custom Ultra...WOW! Philadelphia at its finest! The FG-260 is an awesome 12-string. Do you still have it? It has that cool (and unusual - at least for Yamaha) slot head. Every once in a while an FG-260 will show up over here, but I've never found one in good enough condition. I love my '72 FG-160 that a mentor of mine gave to me - laminated back and sides with a solid Sitka Spruce top. She sounds terrific - wish the head stock was a slot head though.
Posted 2017-05-27 6:07 PM (#535311 - in reply to #531529) Subject: RE: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: December 2016 Posts: 128
Aspen vs. Aspen - Comparing the AD-18 & AD-35
Here's a short comparison of my Aspens; the AD-18 and AD-35. Both are about the same age, give or take a year. Since we're talking about the differences between the the AD-18 and AD-35, I thought comparing the sound of the the AD-18 and AD-35 would be an interesting way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Both are subjected to the same torturous playing as my last video comparing my Ovation Ultra to my Aspen AD-35. To make the video a true apples to apples comparison, and because my AD-18 doesn't have neck strap pegs, I sat for this video.
I got a couple of cool video cuts between scenes. I was editing purely for sound when serendipity raised it's head. You'll see.
Here's the AD-18 and AD-35 side by side.
A side by side of the AD-18 and AD-35 headstocks
A closer look at the bodies.
And of course, the infamous cracked bridge. It's not playable for long-term tuning, but I tuned it for the video, then detuned it and returned it to it's case for long-term storage.
arumako - 2017-05-27 7:32 AM
Then for Daren to get a Dan Savage Custom Ultra...WOW! Philadelphia at its finest!
Well, the Christmas present was a total surprise for me. Sometime before Christmas, I was talking to Dan about the Ibanez torrified guitar (Artwood Vintage Thermo Aged).
He suggested I hold off buying it until after Christmas. As is our family tradition when we're slathering over something before Christmas, I said okay. When I opened my dreadnaught guitar case, I was expecting the Ibanez. It took me a minute after I saw the AD-35 to realize what I was looking at. Once I realized what my present was, I was totally stoked!
Thanks for your thoughts about the guitars. I appreciate hearing them.
Posted 2017-05-27 7:33 PM (#535313 - in reply to #531529) Subject: Re: 198? 1528-9 Ultra...
Joined: December 2015 Posts: 287
Location: Katmandu
I say it's about time you replace the cracked bridge on that AD-18 (I bet there's some fat screws underneath there) and cut a better-fitting nut for her (the current one's way too short) with better string spacing, which is sorely needed here. Put that ol' iron to the test!
Edited by leonardmccoy 2017-05-27 7:37 PM
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198? 1528-9 Ultra...
