|
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 27
Location: Conroe, Texas | If anyone has played a bunch of the collectors series guitars, please give your impressions of each. Just curious about how they differ & which are the favorites. Any year stand out as having particularly good sound?
Thanks,
kev |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 27
Location: Conroe, Texas | BTW I am mainly interested in unplugged sound quality in the collectors line. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | I've owned the following...
1984, 1993, 1999, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007
The only other two I would be interested in are...
1987, 2008
The others don't do anything for me so I'm just speaking for the ones I've owned.
They are all very different, differents bowls, tops etc etc. My favourites are...
1997 - parlour sized body, wide nut ebony fingerboard, very unlike any other Ovation
2006 - contour bowl, ebony neck, lovely KOA top so warm/darker tones
2007 - contour bowl, ebony neck, bear claw spruce top, bright, lively and loud (my personal favourite collector)
All three sound great unplugged. For pics see the link below. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4026
Location: Utah | Bugeyed, welcome aboard!
I own a 2007 and love it. It's the only collector's that I've owned, but I've also played the 2006. The Koa top on the '06 looks great, but the tone of Koa is definitely more muted and warm. It is pleasant, but not as sparkly as other woods.
The '07 compares acousticly very favorably with my Adamas 2080. I don't think any wood top can live up to the carbon fiber of the Adamas, but the '07 really gets close. If you're looking for a collector's edition with the best acoustic sound, I don't know how you could beat the '07.
The '07 and '06 are deep contour bowls. So is the '08, I think. There's a Koa center hole version that looks amazing, someone chime in with whether it is the '08 or '09 or the OFC.
Anyhow, before that they are mid bowls generally, with at least one being the super-shallow. The super shallow has a noticably thinner sound and it is better suited to being plugged in. There's nothing wrong with either the mid or deep contour, but there does seem to be some preference for one or the other among some members here. Try to play an example of each bowl if you can, to see if you really love or hate one or the other. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Welcome to the club!
I have owned or own a '82C; 85C; 86C; 87C, 08C: I have played most of the other years: for my money and to my ear the 1987 Collector is simply the best! Tone (this is probably the best sounding Ovation ever built to my ear), Beauty (Abalone encrusted but not over the top), Electronics (no frills but versitle and dependable OP-24)...They are nearly impossible to find and are not cheap!
And Yes, it sounds great un-plugged! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | the 87 was the coolest. I personally like the 84. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | I really like my 88' but...
I've told MusicMishka already as a gesture of friendship, that I'd let him trade me straight across for that REALLY ugly 87' he's got.
Seriously though, I think the 87' is the prettiest. If they'd had one or if I'd know about them back then, I'd have bought one of those instead of the 88'.
The 88' is pretty and sounds great but the 87' is simply beautiful.
Seriously, Mike, trade me HA HA HA HA HA HA |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | The 08 was nice |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I've owned an 83, 87, 99 and the 04 Commemorative CL. The 87 and 04 are close to the top. I think I prefer the single hole sound of the 04. The 99 is fantastic looking, but a little weak on unplugged sound. It has the Optima preamp, though, which is great on the plugged in sound.
Ditto what FlySig said about the 06. Koa is just different. There was a member who was collecting them all, but he hasn't been around in a year or two. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | the 87 was the coolest. I personally like the 84. Beal I've never owned an '84C...but I have heard others say how good it is...it's on the list... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Seriously, Mike, trade me HA HA HA HA HA HA
Just come home to Tenn. safe and sound if you can! Be safe... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | the cool 84s were the natural ones.
Dave is right, the 08 was pretty nice too. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I have a 97C, and really love her. She has a very unique sound; because of the parlor-sized bowl she's not as boomy as some of her bigger sisters, but has a very sweet, pure sound with beautiful trebles. Some of the other ones sound really bassy to me now, because the '97's sound is so balanced (at least to me.) I don't plug her in too much; and, even though she's smaller, she holds her own in a roomful of Martins and Ibanezes when I play bluegrass Monday nights--especially if I play the inversions up the neck. Her sound still cuts through.
I have played some of the other collectors (and I'd really like to try Mike's '87), but I'm very, very happy with this one.
--Karen |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | 87C is KILLER acoustically.
01C is killer in a warmer, gentler way.
97C is killer in an "it shouldn't sound that good" way.
84C is killer in a "that can't really be a super-shallow bowl" way.
The Patriot is killer in an "A-braced signature tone with truly unique trim" way.
By comparison, many other Collector's might sound a little less impressive, but that doesn't mean they aren't also great guitars. I liked the 99C and the 02C in particular, but you can't keep'em all....
....unless you're Beal.  |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| I've played several. The ones I own are the 87 and the 08. That says something - 'tho I haven't had the chance to play an 07 or 09 (yet). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3408
Location: GA USA | Didn't Zilla have an 07 at g8rbowl 2? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 715
| Originally posted by Patch:
87C is KILLER acoustically.
01C is killer in a warmer, gentler way.
97C is killer in an "it shouldn't sound that good" way.
84C is killer in a "that can't really be a super-shallow bowl" way.
The Patriot is killer in an "A-braced signature tone with truly unique trim" way.
By comparison, many other Collector's might sound a little less impressive, but that doesn't mean they aren't also great guitars. I liked the 99C and the 02C in particular, but you can't keep'em all....
....unless you're Beal.
Michelle |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4026
Location: Utah | So, in summary, pretty much all of them are great guitars. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by Capt.Lovehandles, Head Counselor:
Didn't Zilla have an 07 at g8rbowl 2? I don't recall it, and one doesn't show up in any of the pictures. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I must throw in a good word for the '05 since it's the only one I've owned or played. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 1320
Location: Round Rock, TX | I own, and am a real fan of, the '06 and '07. They are both great unplugged. The '06 especially seems to get better as the years go by.
I will also put in a good word for the '05 which a good friend of mine owns and plays as his main acoustic. Every time I hear him play it I think, "I gotta get me one of those". Then I look at my bank account... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | How different is the 87C to a "Book Elite"?
They look quite similar and I haven't studied the specs
AJ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | How different is the 87C to a "Book Elite"?
They look quite similar and I haven't studied the specs
Jim, your Book has the only gloss neck...lol
Seriously,they are very similar in sound, although my new '87-4 sounds better than the '87-5 I previously owned...the Book has the headstock trim and the outie epi's...it has the Optima preamp where the 87 has the OP-24 and the innie epi's...they have very similar sound acoustically: according to Paul Moody who did an A/B comparison with both models, they are very close...
I have to say again my new 87 sounds really fine...In my opinion it is the best sounding Ovation I have played including the Book but YMMV...they are both World Class!
Book Elite:
Model 1768-7LTD
6 String Acoustic/Electric
Body Type: Deep Bowl C/A
Top:
Bracing:
Scale Length: 25 1/4"
Fretboard: Ebony
Fret Inlay:
Bridge:
Rosette: Mulite-Soundhole Epaulet
Pickup:
Nutwidth: 1 11/16"
Machines: Gold Schaller w/Pearloid Buttons
'87 C
Model 1987
6 String Acoutic/Electric
Body Type: Deep Bowl C/A
Top: AAA Spruce
Bracing: Ovation Quintad
Scale Length: 25 1/4"
Fretboard: Ebony
Fret Inlay: Ablaone, 12th Fret Block
Bridge: Carved Walnut
Rosette: Multi Sound Hole Epaulet
Pickup: Piezoelectric
Nutwidth: 1 11/16"
Machines: M.O.P. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I had a Book with a glossed neck at one point. I don't know if it's the same one. I passed it on to Stuart Miller. Beautiful guitar - very heavy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by AussieJames:
How different is the 87C to a "Book Elite"?
They look quite similar and I haven't studied the specs
AJ I plan on finding out in the very near future...glossed neck and all. 
And the 05C is a fantastic instrument that flies under the radar all too often. |
|
| |
Collectors series favorites?
