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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Based on playing a few Koa guitars, that really might fit the bill. It tends to be a bit "stiff" when you first start playing it, but over time will open up into a very deep, warm midrange tone. It's somewhere in the middle of the range between ebony, rosewood, and spruce, and has a character all on its own.
Here's a couple visuals from Breedlove that I think help define the tone spectrum really well:
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Location: closely held secret | I wonder where Koa would fit into the top wood spectrum. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Dear Guitar Dealer, Here is my credit card number. Please send me a guitar that has a round harmonic tone with woody and pulsing breathing ... What a total bunch of bullshit.
There's about a gazillion things that go into how a guitar sounds and choice of wood is just one of them.
One of the most interesting experiments I ever read about, I think it was Taylor who did this, they took two different tops (spruce and cedar) and two different back/sides (rosewood and mahogany) and they played with the bracing pattern and bracing weights until they made all 4 guitars sound identical.
What gets lost in the translation is that even guitars built identically from the same materials will vary from one to the other because you're dealing with natural materials. Ovation has a huge advantage here because they use less natural materials that other builders. So same model ovations sound much more identical. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Very true, though there are characteristics of different woods, even if it is mostly in how they are handled and braced.
I heard of the experiment you referred to. Taylor also once built a guitar out of a reclaimed scrap pallet just to prove that it's more how it's made than what it's made of. I played the "pallet guitar" once...it sounded great.
I think that as a top wood Koa doesn't really fit into the "spectrum" that Breedlove lists, mostly since in my experience it changes so much over time and tension. It does tend to sound more clear with a strong attack, but my all-koa Tacoma for example has a ton of harmonics and resonance to the tone that I've not ever found in a spruce top guitar.
The moral is, find something you like and play the heck out of it! |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Um Hollymood?
I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I just checked with the USPS website, and if I'm not mistaken, a guitar will not fit below their size limits. How were you going to get an instrument shipped there. If we had an idea of shipping cost, we would be better able to find something that fits your budget.
I've found a couple of possible leads for you, but if shipping is too high, I may have to keep looking. |
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| Edensharvest, I thank you for yours usefull visuals.
Yes, you are certainly right, Gallerinski and Edensharvest : a guitar mostly sounds as it has been handled and braced, and also according to the fingers and the soul which play on it !
But as Gallerinski wrote, "Ovation has a huge advantage here because they use less natural materials that other builders. So same model ovations sound much more identical" : that is the reason why I am interested in the opinion of Ovation users, and especially Collector's users.
And as I live "far from everywhere", I can't try the guitars before buying, I have to buy it at a distance, so I want to "reduce risks" sharing your experience of Ovation guitars, maybe very personal or "subjective" but which often are similar with the same guitars (or one's opinion influences other's ?). |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | In that case, best to find something within the OFC here, as many members can truthfully represent what they are selling.
Patch, I've shipped lots of guitars via USPS International Priority, and a guitar box just fits the requirements. Some are a little on the large size, but Ovation and Taylor boxes as I recall (the 2 most common IMO) just fit. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Hiya Andrew,
An Ovation guitar box measures out at 106 inches (length + girth). I've sent several guitars overseas as well, but only to countries with "exceptional size limits." The usual maximum size for overseas Priority mail is 79 inches total.
Here's a link to the USPS page with a list of countries that have exceptional size limits:
International Postal Exceptions
I'm afraid French Indonesia isn't on it. I'm hoping Hollymood already has an alternate plan? |
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| Hey Patch, depends maybe on the guitar ? Some sellers on Ebay gave me quotes to ship guitars here (between $110 and $996 !), always with USPS. And some gave me the same information as yours.
If it is a real problem, I will have to find a reason to go to USA, and buy one here, or to make a stop there on the way to continental France. That what I do to buy my two last guitars (one year ago, I missed a 2001C in California : see it on Guitar Center website, try to keep it on save, but was sold at $800 when I arrived...). |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I don't think you will have trouble finding an OFC'er to babysit ANY Collector's model until you happen to pass through. ;) |
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| I typed "French Polynesia" in your link Patch, and these are the general conditions :
"The shipping label is approximately 5.5 inches high and
9.5 inches long, and the plastic pouch that carries it is
approximately 7 inches high and 12 inches long.
Maximum length: 46 inches
Maximum width: 35 inches
Maximum height: 46 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches"
That's just OK for an Ovation guitar box, so Edensharvest was right ?!
Otherwise, I'll have to plan my next hollydays in the United States... and maybe "babysit" some Collector's model in Patch's home ;) |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I forgot to mention that---those restrictions apply only to the "Global Express Guaranteed" service. Suffice to say that it is cost prohibitive, somewhere between $750 and $850 depending on the precise dimensions of the box. (I used 46X20X10.)
It gives you a quote for Priority Mail International, but limits the size to 79 inches. Anyone else out there who can definitively clear this up? I'd hate for Hollymood to purchase something just to have it stopped in its tracks by a cranky postal worker. |
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| You are so kind Patch, those service conditions are not clear at all for me. Some sellers say they can't ship a guitar to French Polyensia, and some others say they can, for the same kind of guitars. Depending on the box used as well.
Another solution is to send the guitar to France, where my family lives, and wait until my next trip there. But I'll not be able to check the guitar out of the box, and have to wait to play with it... |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | I'm in Brighton, UK about 30 miles from France and happy to baby sit anything for you. I'm even coming to France next week but I don't think you'd be able to get anything to me by then. Also there is the problem of import TAX :(
But if I can help let me know. |
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| Thank you so much Dweezil for your proposal. It may be a good idea for a purchase in UK... for instance one of your guitars !
I have the same problem here with the import tax, which must be added to the total cost purchase plus shipping costs.
Maybe the best (only ?) solution is to buy it during a trip in USA, or in France (and UK)...
I have to stay one week in New Zealand next month. Do anybody know if there's an Ovation dealer ? Or an Ovation fan as you are ? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Don't mean to confuse you any further but why not consider the 07C. It's the best one they made out of the ones I have tried....
84, 93, 97, 01, 03, 06, 07. |
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| I finally got it ! Posted with USPS, I received this morning my 2002 Collector's bought from a guy in Arkansas. The guitar was in its case, and the whole in a box (48,8 inch x 19 x 8,3). The box was a little rounded (too thin, 10 inch seems right), but the case had no issue, and no problem with the custom here.
So if we knew it before, I could have buy your 2002C Patch !
I went to my postal box, paid the custom fees, put the box in my car while I was working, and wait to be at home to open it. A sweet torture !
First thing, the case is perfectly fit to the guitar : the guitar doesn't move at all in it. And the best, the guitar itself. A real beauty. Even laminate, the top is wonderfull, it change with the inclination of the (artificial) light, let see tomorrow under the sunlight... The guitar has no scratch, no ding, near mint, some light marks of picking, but one has to watch with the nose on it.
The strings are Elixir light, and maybe it is the reason why I first found the sound quite "metallic" unplugged (my other acoustic guitar is a modest but brightfull Martin DX1). The auction is low, very easy to play (the opposite of my Martin !). The neck is quite round -I use to play Fender electric guitars-, but very pleasant to play. And the fingerboard... "like butter", sweet and smooth, like playing on silk... (I hear my Martin grouch...). A deep black ebony fingerboard, again a real beauty !
I plugg it and... wow, what a sound. The "metallic" sound becomes full and harmonious while each note stays very distinctive (sorry for my limited English !).
I don't know well how to use the "EQ", "pre-shape" and "notch" pot, the user's manual was not included, but with some use (or your advices !)...
So thank you all, Patch (sorry again for your 02C ! And great thanks for your kind attention by e-mail), MWoody, Edenharvest, Dweezil (my next one, a 07C ?...), 2ifbyC and others, your advices were very usefull. And I am proud to become today a real "Ovation Fan". But for the moment, an Ovation user... sorry, but "she" is calling me !!! |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Another happy customer, damn we're good ;) |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Told you you'd like the 02C. Congrats, and I'm certainly not displeased (in fact I'm kind of relieved) to keep mine around.  |
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| Exactly as you told me Patch : a mellow and warm sound, less bright than my Martin but it was exactly what I was waiting for. And an "highway neck" : fast and comfortable.
And I must admit it is my best loocking guitar : I haven't put it in its case since yesterday. Today I'm working at home on my computer. Well, working... Working, looking at it, playing, working again, looking, playing... My Martin is sulking in its case...
This purchase reassured me : it was the first time I bought a guitar at a distance, without trying it before. And I am now thinking about a 87 or 97C, an Adamas II, or a 1769 ADII in natural... Am I becoming "Ovation addict" ?... |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Hollymood:
Am I becoming "Ovation addict" ?
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| My wife won't be pleased as you are, 2ifbyC !!! |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Hollymood:
My wife won't be pleased as you are, 2ifbyC !!! Well, she could join the 'OOO' (Ovation Obsessive Organization) and enter the 6 or 12 step program! :p |
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| May they introduce a 24 step program, as to be more progressive !!! |
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| I wish they introduce a 24 step program, as to be more progressive !!! |
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What about 2002 collector's ?
