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February 2008
Posts: 158
Location: South Windsor Connecticut | I like the fact that once you own one Ovation you are completely satisfied and never ever long for another Ovation. Yeah right.......
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | I bought my first Ovation (Artist, 1121) in the fall of '72, and then in '78, traded it in on my second (Legend, 1117). To be honest, I loved the way they looked, felt, and played, but I knew I was never thrilled with the sound. It wasn't until I bought my 1537 in the summer of '93 that I got an Ovation with sound to stand up to anything around it.
Was I basically influenced by celeb performers? Probably. They all seemed to get the sound that I never could (Shut up Clifford!).
But now I play them for all of the above reasons and also because I love the sound. I just got my 87C back from the factory with a new body on it, and it is simply wonderful, sound-wise. My OFC slothead may be the best sounding guitar I've ever played. They don't sound like most other guitars. They have their own voice and I, for one, like it best.
Now, having said that, if I win the lottery, there will be some all wood guitars on my walls...... |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Looks, playability, sound and they're really affordable.
What do I hate about them? They're too stinkin affordable. I'm not tempted in the slightest by a $3k Martin, but when I see a classy, high quality guitar like a 1537 or CL for a price I can actually afford I start sweating like a junky late for his appointment at the methadone clinic. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | 1.The loudest unplugged acoustic at the guitar pull.
2.It stays in tune as the weather changes.
3.Sounds better than any other guitar in it's price range. (well, it did in 1974 anyway....) |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Everything already said, plus I really enjoy how the looks on the faces of the wood box players turn from snobbery to puzzlement to amazement to envy as I break out the 1537 or 1619 and they actually hear a fine old O head to head against their wood box du jour. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | You know, I should have also mentioned affordability. When I can buy a guitar that's better than a $3000 Taylor, for a third of the price, I just get all a twitter...... |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I just get all a twitter...... ...everybody.... STAND BACK!!!!! :eek: |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
You know, I should have also mentioned affordability. When I can buy a guitar that's better than a $3000 Taylor, for a third of the price, I just get all a twitter...... I'm glad you said "Taylor", otherwise I might have had to unleash some machine gun smilies on you ...
Dave |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Dave, there are a couple of Martins that I would enjoy owning as well as some Larivees, Lowdens, Collings, and a few others. Just not Taylors..... |
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Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 129
Location: Berkeley, CA | I like their round, sexy, uh...backs.
After I actually learn to play I'll probably love them for their minds.
knuckles |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 795
Location: Texas | I love the old antique sunburst tops.
Just recently got a killer old Artist 1621-1 sunburst.
Great recording guitar and so purdy.
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Dave, there are a couple of Martins that I would enjoy owning as well as some Larivees, Lowdens, Collings, and a few others. Just not Taylors..... Well said. |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I was spoiled while working there. They are just so darned easy on the fingers. Then, when I got my black legend, I took it everywhere. I kept saying it was because I was afraid my Gibson would get damaged or stolen, but secretly, it was because I sounded better playing a guitar whose action was so low it almost played itself. And they do have a unique sound. Almost mystical. And you're right about the bridge. Why do people mess with bridge pins? Ovations just make more sense. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Dave, there are a couple of Martins that I would enjoy owning as well as some Larivees, Lowdens, Collings, and a few others. Just not Taylors..... Well said. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I love the way the combine "acoustic soul" with "electric attitude": great projection for lead playing, razor sharp. And then again, excellent for rhythm. I really like the way the chords, especially "strange" ones, dissonant ones, don't all melt in a soft "Martin-like" mush. Each strings holds its own and you get a loud, transparent, ringing, effect (darker tone than some boxes, but STRON G). To me that is really the "Ovation Sound." Oh, yeah, and the OFC! The best. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| They're so comfortable to hold. They sound like church bells ringing across a field or like a mile-long freight train coming out of a tunnel. And then there's the necks. I used to only love the oiled Vs, but they are all wonderful. Nobody makes a neck like Ovation. And no other guitar has a forum like this. It says something about the guitars, I'm just not sure what. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by schroeder:
no other guitar has a forum like this. It says something about the guitars, I'm just not sure what.. We probably shouldn't lift the lid to look at that one... |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Why, Schroeder! You sound absolutely poetic when you speak about your Ovation Guitar that way!
I always knew you were the sensitive type. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 270
Location: Yorkshire, England | The headstock and neck does a lot for me, but my first loves are the Breadwinners and Deacons. Such a fantastic body design. I've recently purchased my first really good acoustic, a 1990 Elite - absolutely beautiful. In my opinion no other acoustic will match an Ovation. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Clive's just drinkin' tonight. In a few hours, half way to the label, he'll be "talkin Taylor" :) (wish I could join him...) |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | You guys have covered all the bases. The Ovation sound, (plugged and unplugged), is great. They are durable, affordable, and fun to play.
The most underrated guitar on the planet.
Some other brands mentioned are vastly overrated. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | My first Ovation came complete with a blue-eyed carpenter; quite a package deal. (But, since the next five came unaccompanied, I will have to conclude the first one was just beginner's luck! :D ;) )
With Gertrude, the incredible neck that is perfect for small hands, the huge sound--the fact she was Jack's. The quality of workmanship on my Jewel. The incredible Mothership. The relationships on the board--the bantering, the sharing, the caring.
--Karen |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | I first heard and had the opportunity to play a Balladeer back in the early seventies.
My brother was a budding professional muso and had borrowed it from a friend for a gig.
I never forgot that sound.
I didn't own an Ovation until 2003 when I bought my Adamas 1581.
Since then you can see the result :D
I agree with all above.
AJ |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 795
Location: Texas | Karen, you are a princess, thanks for being a part of the OFC.
Yep, one of the most incredible experiences in my life, was at an Al Di Meola concert in the 70's.
It was at a big rock and roll venue, after the first set of loud Les Paul music he pulled out the Legend, and played a full set of the most incredible music I have heard live in my life, and I am talking before the Super Trio with John and Paco.
I loved the music but was too young to understand it, but I could not believe the Ovation sound, look, vibe, the impact.
I had to get one right away.
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Well, I'll probably get struck down by a bolt of lightning, but I don't like the cheapo rosette and I think many other makers make prettier guitars. But Ovations are certainly not BAD looking. And durability? You can practically drive fenceposts with them. I bought one just before I went to Europe in '71 and that thing followed me on a sailboat for 2.5 years all through the Med, across the Atlantic, through the Caribbean and up the East Coast. Survived all that only to get the tail snapped off by the airline on the way home. It didn't affect the fretboard, though, so I whipped up some boat epoxy and glued/screwed it back together. Plays excellent to this day. In between all that, I recall several wood guitars owned by other people coming apart, breaking, warping, etc. The O played on through it all.
Never really liked that neck, though as it was too narrow. I looked around at a lot of other guitars, owned a Gibson and very nice Larrivee, but finally gravitated back to O-land. I've had a Balladeer, Ultra (the foreign made one), and currently have a 1778T that has the absolute most perfect neck I've EVER played (including electrics), and an older Legend currently en route back from the Mothership. |
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So what is it about Ovations that you love?
