|
|
Joined:
May 2011
Posts: 755
Location: Muenster/Germany | Chapeau! 6-string Winchester 73.
(I would use ebony tuner knobs.)
And...what do you think about the A-braced guitar if you compare it with a forward-shifted X? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | moody, p.i. - 2016-11-23 6:02 PM
It ought to sound as good if not better than any 1970's-80's A braced Legend.
It does sound pretty darned good. It's the best sounding A-brace I've had the pleasure of playing. Tons of sustain. It's like a standard A-brace on steroids. More of everything that makes an A-brace sound like it does.
The carved ebony bridge is noticeably heavier, so it does tend to dampen the high frequency response a little. But with a slight adjustment in attack on the high strings, the sound comes back into balance. Once you play it, you'll understand what I mean. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | 2wheeldrummer - 2016-11-23 6:26 PM
Absolutely gorgeous,I love the way the black saddle goes with the bridge.
Thanks, Kevin. Me, too. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Love O Fair - 2016-11-23 6:53 PM
In awe. Absolute awe. Dan, you are a wizard! (and then some)
Thanks, Al. I appreciate the kind words. It's not without its flaws, but it's still a very pretty looking and great sounding guitar. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | DetlefMichel - 2016-11-24 3:18 AM
Chapeau! 6-string Winchester 73.
(I would use ebony tuner knobs.)
And...what do you think about the A-braced guitar if you compare it with a forward-shifted X?
Yep. It's definitely a very unique guitar.
A-brace vs. forward X-brace? Personally, I still prefer the X-brace sound. This guitar sounds very good, and if I were to own an A-brace guitar, this would be the one for me. As I wrote to Paul, it's like a A-brace on steroids. More of everything that makes an A-brace sound like it does.
As good as it sounds, I think it might sound a little more lively with a lighter weight walnut bridge as the ebony bridge seems to be dampening the high frequency response a little. This minor shortcoming is easy to compensate for with a slight adjustment to playing style.
I tried PB strings and wasn't that impressed. I changed the strings to 80/20s and I like the sound a lot better.
Yes, it probably would look good with ebony knobs on the tuners. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2011
Posts: 755
Location: Muenster/Germany | Could this be the reason why my Adamas 1687-91 red sounds a little "higher"than my 1687-91 black? The black was buit just 2 years later, but it appears to have an other piece of wood used for the bridge, very much darker.I wondered how this could be with the same strings and the same setup. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | It could be. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1034
Location: Yokohama, Japan | DanSavage - 2016-11-23 2:26 AM
All done. I will say that it sounds every bit as good as it looks.
Saw this a couple of hours ago, and just getting a hold of myself...just in speechless blissful agony...she looks absolutely divine, Dan...but sounds "that" good? My heart might shutdown if I hear her sing...your killing me!
On a more pacific note, I've begun my first fret job! Was successful in removing the frets from a Yamaha CPX-10 that needs some urgent care. Your soldering iron tip worked like a charm! Thanks for the inspiration!
Edited by arumako 2016-11-24 9:37 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Hi Ken,
Thanks for the kind words. When I get the 1111-4 done, I'll make clips of each one so you can hear for yourself how this one sounds. (make sure to have a defibrillator handy before clicking 'play' - LOL!)
Kewl! Yeah, frets seem scary at first, but once you start in on the job, they're actually kind of fun and easy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1802
Location: When?? | I can't stop coming back to look at the grain on the top. You said earlier that is has character, and I have to fully agree. I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like that... longs and shorts running 90 degrees to each other in perfect little stacks like heat sink fins on a radiator-- thousands of 'em. Either I've lived a wood-grain-sheltered life, or that was the unique tree in the grove (I'll go with the latter). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Love O Fair - 2016-11-25 7:27 PM
I can't stop coming back to look at the grain on the top. You said earlier that is has character, and I have to fully agree. I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like that... longs and shorts running 90 degrees to each other in perfect little stacks like heat sink fins on a radiator-- thousands of 'em. Either I've lived a wood-grain-sheltered life, or that was the unique tree in the grove (I'll go with the latter).
Yes. The 'shorts' as you describe them which are running 90 degrees to the grain is known as 'silking' and is usually an indication of wood that is perfectly quarter-sawn.
The 'silking' is easier to see on torrefied wood because the process makes that part of the grain stand out.
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 566
Location: Denmark | DanSavage - 2016-11-22 7:26 PM
All done. I will say that it sounds every bit as good as it looks.
Besides mastering lutherie You have good sense for tastefully presenting the final result. One thing that catches the eye with these old guitars is the images reflected by the top telling that the bellies on these old buddies are really flat. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Thanks for the kind words.
The bellies are really flat right now. 
One of the reasons why I like to use extra light strings is that it helps keep the top from bellying long into the future. Though, this guitar is strung with 80/20 lights.
tpa - 2016-11-30 9:30 AM
Besides mastering lutherie You have good sense for tastefully presenting the final result. One thing that catches the eye with these old guitars is the images reflected by the top telling that the bellies on these old buddies are really flat. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Here's a family portrait of the two stable-mates. Yes, the top on the 1717 is noticeably darker than the 1111. Weird because both tops were bought at the same time, though it's obvious, to me, at least, that both were not in the same batch during the torrefaction process. It's clear that the 1717 is more 'well done.'  
Edited by DanSavage 2016-12-01 6:27 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Gosh Dan...those are beautiful. Thank you for continuing to do these threads. Kind of wierd that your tops have such a different personality. I wish we could put up 485 beside them. Pat yourself on the back. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1034
Location: Yokohama, Japan | Torreifed A-braced Legend and torrefied forward X-braced Balladeer! With the same quality tops, the bracing comparison should really stand out clearly. Stare at this picture long enough and I swear, I can hear them singing! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | jay - 2016-12-01 8:28 PM
Gosh Dan...those are beautiful. Thank you for continuing to do these threads. Kind of wierd that your tops have such a different personality. I wish we could put up 485 beside them. Pat yourself on the back.
Thanks, Jay.
The 1717 is pretty close to 485 in coloring and grain pattern. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | arumako - 2016-12-02 5:52 AM
Torreifed A-braced Legend and torrefied forward X-braced Balladeer! With the same quality tops, the bracing comparison should really stand out clearly. Stare at this picture long enough and I swear, I can hear them singing!
Thanks, Ken.
FWIW, the Balladeer using the 2nd generation of Ovation's original X-brace. This pattern is similar to that seen on Jay's 1967 Balladeer except that they tapered the upper part of the X and added the tone bars between the lower part. And, of course, there's no fiberglass strip laminated between the lower legs of the X.
Personally, I really like the lining Ovation used on these guitars. They would have a similar effect to the suspension ring used on the Adamas. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2016
Posts: 61
| Wow, absolutely gorgeous. I have to keep wiping off my keyboard from salivating. Great work Dan. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Thanks, Rick.  |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I was able to play both these guitars, as well as Dan's 50th Custom Legend. Both the CL and the Balladeer had extra light strings on them which are Dan's preferred strings. They don't do much for me, but it was enough to let me know that both guitars were steller.
The Legend had light gauge Elixir 80/20's (nano). That guitar made me stop and play for a while. That guitar was steller. It sounded more like a really good dreadnaught than an A braced Legend (most Ovations are more like OM guitars to my ear). It was wonderful. I own an A braced Legend and it does not sound like this guitar. My Legend is a 1977 and originally, it sounded like crap. I had a new body (A braced) put on the old neck about 8 years ago. Much much much better guitar.
But the torrefied top put Dan's Legend into a whole different catagory. I don't have the money to spend right now, but the thought of taking my rebuilt Legend and having Dan pull off the top and put on a torrefied Addirondack spruce top and braces on it keeps bouncing around in my head.
A man can dream, can't he?
Edited by moody, p.i. 2016-12-05 12:06 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Hi Paul,
It was great to see you again, yesterday. It was equally great to be able to hear the guitars from the front instead of from behind them.
I agree. All three guitars sounded really good. It's funny. I could really see the gears turning in your head about having me re-top your Legend. If you decide to ever do that, I'll give you the same good-guy discount that you got on your 1113. :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Oh my. I gotta think about that one........ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Yeah. Now that you know how good a torrefied Sitka spruce A-brace guitar sounds, imagine how an Adi A-brace O would sound. (LOL - No pressure or anything...)
Actually, that would be an interesting experiment, no?
Edited by DanSavage 2016-12-05 10:14 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 704
Location: moline,illinois | DanSavage - 2016-12-05 10:12 PM
Yeah. Now that you know how good a torrefied Sitka spruce A-brace guitar sounds, imagine how an Adi A-brace O would sound. (LOL - No pressure or anything...)
Actually, that would be an interesting experiment, no?
Besides the cutaway bowl how much do you think an Adi would differ from your torrefied legend,you already have the carved ebony bridge,is there torrefied AAA spruce you could use for the top,the thought of that is awesome.
I have a 1667 deep bowl cutaway with a cracked up top I would donate for that project. |
|
| |
1985 1717 Legend Rebuild...
