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Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Dave: "Marco"
Moody: "Polo" |
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March 2007
Posts: 841
Location: CA | Correct me if I'm wrong, but every Collectors guitar prior to 2005 had a non-contour back. I wish they still did that, since I don't care for the contour.
Not that I could afford one anyway... |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | That's because the contour bowl was invented in 2005 |
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May 2006
Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I don't mind the contour back...
But I like the old deep bowl better. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The type of back matters little.
If the guitar sucks it sucks.
If it is stellar the back won't make a bit of difference. |
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Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Maybe not sound-wise, but comfort-wise it can make all the difference in the world. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Assuming I LIKE/LOVE the sound and look of the guitar.
1st, I find the size of the guitar to have more of an effect on the comfort (dread vs OM vs parlor) than the style of back.
2nd for me is the width of the neck
3rd for me is based on whether I am sitting or standing
4th is the back.
I really don't find much difference when I am playing a deep bowl vs a contoured bowl vs an all wood back.
I currently have 3 deep bowls, 1 mid bowl, 4 contour bowls and 10 wood backs.
With a bit of adjustment they are all just as comfortable as the next.
I would never let the back of a guitar be a deciding factor as to whether I bought it or not but YMMV. |
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March 2007
Posts: 841
Location: CA | I'm a diehard 'Ovie' ('Trekkie'/'Ovie... get it?). I've owned at least one Ovation guitar since 1971 — and I still have that first one. I've owned deep bowls, mid bowls, shallow bowls and one contour bowl. While I otherwise liked the Sweetwater T that had it, I didn't like the contour. I tried, really, but instead of getting used to it I ended up just despising the thing and hardly ever opted to play this otherwise gorgeous guitar. I said as much on this forum when I put it up for sale.
When the subject has come up before, others have chimed in — maybe not that they hated the contour, but at least that they preferred the regular round backs. Judging from the tiny OFC demographic alone, that tells me that there are likely other Ovation players (and players of other brands) who will pass over Ovations just because they have contour backs. I've written as much to Mother and suggested that they offer some of their contour-only guits in 'regular' deep bowl configuration as well. Got a nice "thanks, something to think about" response, which is maybe what everybody gets.
I'm not saying don't make the contour back, because I know and respect that some people do like it. I'm just saying how hard would it be when you're doing a production line to make half of them contours and half regular bowls? Or a third or whatever? Just seems like it would be a good business experiment to try it and see which sold better rather than what they seem to be doing — which is assume that the contour back is an end-all, be-all back that everyone wants.
On a slightly related subject, I think the 2005 Collectors is the most beautiful guitar Ovation has ever made (and yes I know that was the first year for the contour) — mainly because it doesn't have that dang plastic soundhole ring. But does have a real MOP inlay. But I won't ever buy one because I don't like the contour back. And unless you opt for a newer Celeb, you're not going to get that nice soundhole treatment.
Just my personal nits. But as far as the contour, it seems a bit like those two-part computer keyboards. Sure, you can get used to one, but if you're already used to the flat ones, why bother? And the keyboard makers sure as shooting still MAKE the regular keyboard for the rest of us. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Just think how many potential owners passed on buying an Ovation because of the round back and how the guitar slides off your leg.
The contour back solves that problem and removes the biggest objection that you hear about Ovations.
Doesn't matter to me as I mentioned above.
Just sayin........... |
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March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I've had several contours and The OFC II is the only one I have kept: and will keep! I like it more and more each day...I can play it for hours and do so several nights a week...awesome guitar! |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I don't own a contour bowl guitar, but sometimes I think that as I've aged, Ovation actually built this guitar for me.
When I was young and my chest was bigger than my belly, the deep bowl fit me perfectly. Now that I'm older and my belly is bigger than my chest, if I wear the guitar high, my belly should fit right into the contour. Makes perfect sense..... |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | The concave/convex transition syndrome... |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | We have to realize that this is a forum of Ovation FANS. We already loved them many, many years ago. Ovation had to NOTHING to convince us that roundbacks are our love ...
But WE and an insignificant market. Even if we consumed new Ovations like mad men (and some us do) we couldn't possibly keep the company afloat. To survive, Ovation has to win business from the NON OVATION PLAYING world. And THIS is where they have struggled. It is FAR too easy for a prospective buyer to dismiss Ovation righ toff the bat becuase of the round back. Rightly or wrongly, the round back, the very SOUL of Ovation, can be their achielles heel when it comes to new buyers.
So THAT is what the Contour Bowl addresses. It makes the OVATION guitar sit, hang and feel much more like a regular wooden guitar. Thus eliminating to some extent the achielles heel. Every single member on this forum might HATE it, but we are not the target audience.
There is no reason to fret if you don't like the Contour Bowl. I am quite sure you can still pick up the phone and custom order any Ovation model you desire with a round back. As passionate as I am about the Contour Bowl, it does not have ot be a devisive thing. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | It's like he's a marketing kind of guy or something.... |
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September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Well ... I LOVE the contour bowl! ... and I've been playing 'em since the early eighties.
Since I've owned a few of the contour bowls, I've shown the guitars to non-O players and they were quite impressed with the guitars. Those same players didn't care for them before because of the back. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | I think Moody's reason is the correct one, but no marketing person would ever say that the contour bowl is built to keep fat Americans from complaining that it "slides off my knee", when the reality is that the bowl fit fine on your thigh, but your belly got so big that you don't have any room for a guitar on your leg. Standing up, the deep bowl was fine when Americans weighed less. If you look at the videos from the 60s and 70s, Ovations weren't tilting up. Americans just got fatter and the two deep bowls don't fit anymore.
In 2006, when I tried my first contour bowl, I didn't like it because I thought it was uncomfortable. I've gained a little weight since, but I still don't fill out the contour, but I've gotten used to it and don't even notice the difference. I do notice that it has a smaller surface sitting on my leg, which I do not find as comfortable as the deep bowls.
Regular wooden guitars are less comfortable than either style of Ovation bowls. The corner cuts into my chest and my thigh, so making it feel like a regular guitar isn't an advantage. I realize that Ovation had to address the perception of reality, rather than the reality that Americans are overweight. Maybe Ovation should run ads on the "Biggest Loser".
Obviously, I'm not a marketing guy. |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | If I may return us to the subject at hand...
That pic from the Ovation website that bvince put up is not very flattering. That kind of staining in a top is not what I'd expect to see in a high-grade top. You'd think they would photoshop that out. I love what I see of this guitar, but I wouldn't but THAT one. Wonder what number it is?
John <>{ |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I dunno. Personal preference, sometimes guitar tops look a little too "sterile" to me. I like a little character. After all it IS a natutral material and the tree probably never dreamed it would turned into a guitar.
Check out my FD14. Looks like it was left out in the rain. But I sorta like it. I can see your point as well.
I would guess the photo on the Ovation site is one of the early ones. Maybe even #1. Maybe it'll be on display at NAMM and we'll find out. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | John,
That's Adirondack spruce or red spruce. It's expensive and has a wonderful sound. I've got a rebuilt GC 12 string with a top like that. Trust me, it's great wood and only gets better with time..... |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Ok,ok. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | To dig it into you a little more, John, I just picked up my GC 12 string with the Adirondack top. I've had it back from the factory for 3 years and it sounds deeper, fuller, and louder ever day.... |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Paul, what kind of strings are you using? |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | On what guitar? |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | GC12 and Big Blue.
This is a serious question, not just chop busting. I know nothing about 12 sting string preferences. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Regular Elixir polyweb (or nanoweb -- whichever the store has) lights. They give a good sound and last forever. They get ugly before they die.
Those are the only 2 guitars on which I still use the original Elixirs. Everything else get Elixir phos/bronze, either mediums or lights. Altho' I have D'Addario mediums on the Legend right now. I can't tell the difference between them and the Elixirs, except they are slowly going dead. |
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FS 2010 collector's 1/50
