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Location: Alberta, Canada | I would like opinions on what would be considered the best bracing option now offered. Is the new x scalloped bracing thought to be a big improvement?
And, does a raised rosette restrict top vibration to the point that an inlaid rosette is better? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | In my opinion, yes the scalloped X bracing is the best current choice. I don't think the raised rosette has any effect on top vibration. Dave |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | colt, you're asking about traditional soundholes, like the Legend and Balladeer? Like Dave said, the new bracing is much better. However, even on my 12-year-old shallow CL, the top vibration and projection is awesome, and it has the inlaid abalone rosette with the raised plastic(?) cover. I haven't found one yet where the rosette seemed to make much difference at all. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Gentlemen, I truely appreciate your insight, as I have only bits and pieces of experiance with other models, played over the years at various music stores.
I had visited the Ovation site several times and surfed it a bit to find their contact info. In the process of deciding to go ahead and fix it, I thought why not embellish it a bit while I'm at it. So,I talked to Kim Keller over the phone, giving him my wish list, and he agreed that all was possible, and the guitar was sent.
Then I came across this site just after I sent my 1112-4 to the mothership and the more time I spent here the more I realized I did not know much about Ovation constuction, hence my query.
It would appear that my choices are sound (no pun intended) ones. Thank you for validating them and removing much self doubt and second guessing.
Is there anything that you guys would do that, I perhaps in my ignorance, have not thought about or am aware of.
thanks, Dave |
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Location: SoCal | Is the new scalloped X better than the A bracing? I'm up in the air on that one. I really like the A braced Ovations. They tend to have a deep mellow sound. The X braced LX's tend to sound a little lighter to my ear. I think the biggest improvement to the LX models is the new ANS neck system. The LX guitars are a ton lighter than the older Kbar guitars.
One of these days I'll have to a/b my 87C or 1537 with somebody's new LX. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Wonder what a scalloped X-brace would sound like under a Unidirectional Adamas top.
Bracing confriguration is fascinating. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Moody, are you talking about elite style tops or legend type too. Deep bass tone is what I'm hoping for. Altho I do realize it make take 10 years to season the sound board. |
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Location: SoCal | Colt, both the 87C and 1537 are Elites. But I've also got a GC 1627 reissue that has the A brace pattern. And for a shallow bowl, it has remarkable depth. I've played Legends built after 1980 that have A braced tops and the same thing applies. A few years ago Templeman had custom Folklore built with an A braced top. He loves it. Also, the FD14 has an A braced top. Nobody here is complaining about the sound.
A couple of years ago, a pro player in Nashville was hanging out on the board and told the story of how Glen Campbell got an A braced Legend in 73 or 74. It was described as having the tone of an old D-28. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Moody, I find the comparison to the D-28 interesting. The uncle I bought the 1112-4 from is a huge Martin fan. He has a 28, 35, and 45, and is always puffing out his chest about them. Of them all I would take the D-35 any day of week over the other two. It's a '67, the D-28 is a '69, and the D-45 is a mid '80s.
What I find really interesting is that the top on the 28 seems to tighten up if not played for a period of time. After playing for an hour or so it will loosen up and start to sound pretty good again. Ever hear of something like that?
That D-35 always sounds terrific! Most amazing low E I have ever heard. The D-45 really needs a ton of hours put on it, which would hopefully bring it out...right now it's just purty.
Anyway, I would just LOVE IT if my Balladeer comes back from the mothership and blows away that D-28. :) :) :) I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks again for your insight on the bracing...I'm hoping a few others will maybe give somemore comparisons of the new scalloped x-brace vs A-braced, as I've got the new bracing spec'd for the new top. I may have a bit more time to change the order if the concensus coincides with your assesment.
Dave |
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Location: Australia | Although it's hard to generalise, I prefer the tone of the A braced guitars.....generally |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Could you clarify "generally". Have you done a side by side with the LX |
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Location: ranson,wva | what bracing does my 1114-4 folklore have?? all i know is it has amazing sound..it even make a bad player like myself sound decent..jason |
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Location: Long Island, NY | Originally posted by colt357:
Could you clarify "generally". Have you done a side by side with the LX I have a Custom Legend with A bracing and an Elite LX. Both sound great acoustically, but different. The Legend overall has more overtones, but that could be a product of a 25 year old hand select AAA spruce top. Considering that the Elite is only two years old and has an A grade top, it sounds great. The big difference with the LX is the bass response. Its hard to describe in words, but even with extra light gauge strings the bass is very strong.
If I were buying a new Ovation, I'd go with the LX bracing. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Now that's what I was wanting to hear. Strong bass is very important to me. In my other life I play bass...well used to. Strong bass response in an acoustic really makes me droooooool.
Thanks flipsyde, Dave |
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Location: Central Florida | I hope you all don't mind if I interject a dumb question here (because I should know this), but was the scalloped X brace introduced with the LX Series, or can it be found on any "pre-LX" Ovations? |
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Location: Upper Left USA | The scalloped X bracing is an LX phenomenah. But the idea of scalloping or shaping braces is as old as old.
Looking at pictures of the Adamas braces you can see variation in height and triangular shape. |
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Location: Tampa, FL | As much as bracing, you might also consider using cedar for the top. I find the tone of my two cedar topped guitars (FD14 and Elite) is much more of a 'traditional' tone. I believe they are both A braced. I also have a 2005 Collectors (LX bracing) that sounds nice but is much 'brighter'. The best description I could give it is the 2005 is very balanced across the strings. The cedars sound more weighted towards bass. If you are looking for a 'bassy' sound, think about cedar.
In an earlier life I played a HD-28. I find the FUD to be somewhat reminiscent of that sound. Just louder. Idf you live near a GC, you might find a cedar topped Balladeer on the wall. I know they had a few of them last year. |
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| Jeff,
A finely scalloped X-bracing under a CVT Adamas top with a center soundhole is my preference for a future custom order 'longscale' Ovation. I'm trying for the 'best of both worlds' with that one... |
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| Jeff, Woody, Chat..,
No doubt Ovation has their preferences for what tops work best with what bracings...but Chatman's cedar-top suggestion got my attention. I remember there being some cedar top Elites, and cedar-top Balladeers. Curious what bracing they would use for a longscale solid cedar-top center soundhole, or if they would advise it. If they can brace a Balladeer special for standard tuning maybe they can a brace a midbowl-longscale for C or D tuning. The acoustic research would be interesting. Maybe the differences aren't all that much.. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | AS W2 would say... "Get one of each!" |
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Posts: 1900
| ..easier said than done... |
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Bracing and rosettes
