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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell and Al di Meola didn't hurt the Ovation image around here. If you add in Glen Campbell it was obvious that real guitar players played Ovations. And there's still no cooler looking guitar than a Custom Legend in black with all the bling. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I saw a guy playing a strange looking guitar in a duo at my local pub in the early 80's. I hadn't heard of them before then.
He was playing through an EQ, and I was sure they had a bass backing track. But he had it set up just right and his flat picking sounded like a guitar AND a bass. And me being a bass player at the time, I was hooked. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Jim Hennessey |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | No artist swayed me. It was a demonstration of the indestructible round bowl that sold me after watching a music store salesman swing a Legend against the edge of a counter top with the guitar bouncing back without so much as a scratch. Not exactly sure of the date, but it was before the summer of 1973, likely in 1972. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | For me, as a freshman in high school, my biggest influence was a group of older students who all played Ovations. I eventually scrounged up enough money for a Matrix. Loved every minute with it. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | A great friend named Bob Peterson--handed my husband-to-be the case with Gertrude in it as a gift, almost 30 years ago now.
--Karen |
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August 2005
Posts: 22
Location: Ky | GC, Cat Stevens & Croce at first, but I didn't really notice how unique the sound was until Paul Simon's "Concert in Central Park". Then I started paying attention. |
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May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | not only did I get an Ovation, but I got one with an Aluminum neck that couldn't ever warp, and didn't need adjusting. [/QB] Interesting. My electric at that time in my life was a Kramer DMZ 2000 - aluminum neck. Small world. Still have the Kramer; wish I still had that particular Ovie. |
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December 2005
Posts: 109
Location: Alabama | I just saw another thread about the reissue of Al Stewart (with Peter White) Live Album, and that was the reason I first went to play one. The first purchase was probably influeced a little by Robert Smith of the Cure. He played a Breadwinner when he was with Siouxsie and the Banshees. |
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May 2004
Posts: 383
Location: Indiana | Probably GC and Jim Croce. I always watched GC's TV show back in the day. Just wish I still had my first 1111-4........and my second 1111-4
Bill |
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October 2002
Posts: 26
Location: Western PA | Nancy Wilson Live in the late 1970's, early 1980's.
Took a while until I got my first one. |
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November 2004
Posts: 1374
| Campbell, Croce, Havens, and Yousef
Glenn |
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May 2002
Posts: 651
Location: Australia | Paul Simon - Concert In Central Park - mainly |
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July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | All of 'em at the same time!
As a kid in the early 70's, I had already been playing for a number of years, and was very gear conscious. I'd taken notice of these strange round-back guitars that I'd seen all over the TV, in the hands of most of the name players at that time. I'd also discovered the music of the late great Marcel Dadi.
Around my hometown of Flint, Michigan, you only ever saw Fender, Gibson, Martin, and not much else in the music stores. I'd always dreamed about trying out one of those strange roundback guitars that I kept seeing on the TV. I also wanted to try a Rickenbacker, and I never seen one until I was about 15. I tried it and absolutely HATED it. I still hate all Ricks to this day.
When I turned 18, I had some money to spend on an acoustic - though not much. So, I decided on one of the new (at the time) Applause models, which I thought was a good cheap way to get into an Ovation. I grew to hate that guitar as well, and traded it away for a cheap Yamaha.
Fast forward to about 1999. I begin playing more acoustic gigs, and needed something that would plug in. After playing every model known to man, I decided that some kind of Ovation was the one for the job. Unfortunately, bucks were an issue again, and I wound up with the CS257 that I still have today. It's OK - but just OK.
I bought my Legend and Matrix off of ebay after coming to this wonderful board and educating myself. NOW I have seen the light! I play these $2000 Martins and Taylors at Guitar Center now, and I just HATE them. Both the Legend and the elcheapo Matrix sound much better to my ears than those expensive models. Unfortunately, being old and very beat up, they don't really play quite like they should, but their tone is just unbeatable.
So, the quick answer to your question is EVERYONE. There were so many Ovation players back during the day, and I took notice of every single one - whether I liked the artist or not. It's just amazing that it took so many years to locate and try out a REAL Ovation for the first time. No offense to Applause owners. |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Most every guitarist I've known has been more acomplished, so I've learned from all of them. As a kid, when I saw Campbell play I was almost discouraged because of his intricate technique, but he did motivate me to play the 4-finger scales and intervals, and especially the banjo-roll style of finger picking. (without dropping the pick...how embarrasing.. :) ) |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | I've always been inspired by Jim Croce ... I tried to learn to play his songs first, before seeing any photographs of him. It was then that I saw him play an Ovation, besides his share of Ms and Gs, and wanted to own one.
In the mid to late 80s, when hair metal was all the rage, I also took notice on the Ovations that they played on their ballads. That solidified my desire to own an Ovation even more.
It would take me many years to finally own one ... it was well worth the wait. :) |
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May 2007
Posts: 1
Location: Tacoma WA | Nancy Wilson. |
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October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | aloha esslewis,
and welcome to the OFC!! nancy wilson is sure enough a very good and influential artist.
enjoy your adventure on this site. it's a terrific ride! |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | John McLaughlin and Al di Meola. Within a year of seeing Dave Mason. Plus, I knew that Bruce Springsteen played one at some point. And glen campbell was in the back of my mind. |
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April 2007
Posts: 10
Location: Dartmouth UK | Me
Went to buy a yamaha acoustic 1n '95, ended up playing a used gibson j45 and an ovation 1718, fell in love...
Had to sell it in 2002 because of divorce, bought back 2003, sold again 2006, just got it back this week. Guess it dont want to leave me, must be mutual love???
Maybe next time someone leaves the house it should be the dog.
Best wishes from UK |
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February 2004
Posts: 548
Location: Up North | Welcome dan.
I think you win the "Ovation Boomerang" award. |
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April 2007
Posts: 10
Location: Dartmouth UK | Thank you Grif
Well it certainly can "boom".
Its taken me a while to stop it sliding off my leg (the dent in the leg is the right shape now) but it suits my playing style of a basic busker playing anything from blues through ballads to rock n roll.
Forgot to mention, didnt bother to buy the gibson, although it sounded "nice" and played good, didnt think it was me.
Only other guitar I keep going back to is the old Italian Eko, thats the one that gets played around the camp fire scenario. |
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October 2004
Posts: 256
Location: chicago | Larry Coryell
www.guitarsoffire.com |
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May 2002
Posts: 651
Location: Australia | Ahhhh Coryell
get "Dragon Gate" or "Bolero" and hear how good an Adamas can sound |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Basically the list is all the great endorsers of the 70's.
Now who have they got today doing it for the kids 30 years from not.
Oh, sorry, that's a marketing oriented question, we know where those go..........click. |
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What Player most Influenced you to get your first Ovation?
