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April 2009
Posts: 21
Location: Central FL | Does anyone know for sure? I always assumed it was a Solid top but read somewhere that it was a Laminate. I can't get any info from Ovation.
It is really hard to tell by looking at the inside (sides) of the Soundholes. It looks like a seam on some of them but not on others so?????????????
I've had mine for sale. I picked it up a week ago and started playing it again. I quickly realized that I was nuts for even considering selling it and glad I didn't. I love this Guitar. It has a warm tone, unlike other Ovations I've played, I've contributed that to having a solid walnut top??????????
Thanks |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Laminate |
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April 2009
Posts: 21
Location: Central FL | Laminate over spruce? How do you know it is a laminate? I'm not doubting your knowledge, I'd just like to know how you got it. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I once had a Beautiful Ruby Red Flame Burst CS257. Beautiful Wood.
It was beautiful wood on the inside too, but the grain didn't go quite the same direction in there.
"Laminate over spruce? How do you know it is a laminate? I'm not doubting your knowledge, I'd just like to know how you got it."
Look inside the manhole cover and see if the grain matches. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | I had a 5868 Walnut, lovely to look at, nice to play but tonally others blew it away, so away it went but still a cracking guitar.
I was a little reluctant to let it go but got a Adamas 1881 instead :) But that's going too as I have an even "better" (yes it's in quotes) super shallow bowl lined up. |
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March 2007
Posts: 840
Location: CA | Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but the way I understand it, the reason these really pretty tops (walnut, various maples, redwood, etc.) aren't done as solid tops is that the wood can't take the strain at the thickness it would have to be to resonate well. And Spruce (and I guess Cedar) can. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | To get the figure of that wood you either peel a veneer off of a turned log or you have to take a slice other than quartersawn.
These are not strong cuts and the grain and figure is highly susceptable to splits and cracks.
A high pressure lamination with similar but cross grain woods is necessary and lovely.
I argue that the "Panels" when done well are every bit as able to age and mature in sound as an integrel part of the instrument!
I currently have an awesome Redwood on loan from a Member - nothing inferior about it! |
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April 2009
Posts: 21
Location: Central FL | OK, thanks for the replies. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by dweezil:
. . . got a Adamas 1881 instead . . . But that's going too as I have an even "better" (yes it's in quotes) super shallow bowl lined up. Since we both know how I personally feel about the 1881, I just upgraded my seat to the front row so I could have a really good look at whatever it is you intend to come up with. When's the curtain going up? |
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May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Oddball:
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but the way I understand it, the reason these really pretty tops (walnut, various maples, redwood, etc.) aren't done as solid tops is that the wood can't take the strain at the thickness it would have to be to resonate well. And Spruce (and I guess Cedar) can. Originally posted by MWoody:
I currently have an awesome Redwood on loan from a Member - nothing inferior about it! Actually, the redwood (2001 Collector's) is a solid top; according to both the Ovation site and my middle-aged eyes looking at both sides of mine.
And Woody's right, ain't NUTHIN' inferior about it!
As far as the other panel masters go, the American ones have a warm sound all their own, and there's nothin' inferior about them either. IMHO of course.  |
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October 2007
Posts: 283
Location: Portland, OR | Haven't seen a redwood for sale in a while. Do they hold up? I've heard you should detune when not in use.
They sure are pretty. I've seen one here with the inset epis that is absolutely gorgeous. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Hey, sligoman, yeah that was my redwood. It now resides in MWoody's capable hands. If it ever travels back south of the Columbia again, you'll have to run it through its paces. The redwoods are definitely solid tops and they have a sound all their own. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | My 99 Collector's had a bubinga top that was gorgeous, but it was laminated and never really had a warm sound. I liked the sound of the Redwood better. |
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June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | The 90 collectors birds eye maple top is also laminated.
For many years I thought it was solid.
It's also a 3 piece top. Never realized that either until I really examined the wood. |
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June 2006
Posts: 106
Location: UK | I really like my Quilted Maple Celebrity - easy to see in the sound holes I see 3 layers (not counting the rosette thing) The layer sandwiched in the middle appears to be thickest.
Strange that the inside is also quilted maple - you might expect them to save a dollar or two and not use the pretty wood in there. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I noticed that on my (long-gone) CS257... The inside wood was cool too.
The grain just went a different direction.
I figure that when they are making them they just pick the side they like best.
If it only had one 'good' side, if that side wasn't so good, you'd be Stuck!
But with two finish sides you can choose.
Probably more economical in the long run. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 106
Location: UK | I'm sure laminates aren't as bad as some people think.
I mean many guitarists wouldn't look at a guitar unless it had solid wood back and sides. But we here ovation fans are happy to accept that ovation can tune plastics and other materials so surely they have the ability to select and tune laminates to get the sound they want.
Having said that that I don't think my celebrity sounds as good when you're working up the neck above the 7th fret but it stil holds its own against other similarly priced solids. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | There are some fine laminated guitars. But the law of averages works against you, because there's many more fine solid top guitars. Without knowing anything else, your chances of getting a good one are increased by selecting solids. |
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June 2006
Posts: 106
Location: UK | How does it affect the plugged in sound ? I mean the strings vibrating in the saddle go straight to the pickup - so surely the quality of the pickup/pre-amp etc must be important here and when you consider that a laminate celebrity has an op30 then it must sound pretty much the same as any US built solid top ovation with an OP30 ?
or what ? |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | My 5868 sounds great. Interesting enough it has a finish crack running from the bridge to the neck under the bass E string. |
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May 2008
Posts: 1553
Location: Indiana | Originally posted by IanS:
How does it affect the plugged in sound ? I mean the strings vibrating in the saddle go straight to the pickup - so surely the quality of the pickup/pre-amp etc must be important here and when you consider that a laminate celebrity has an op30 then it must sound pretty much the same as any US built solid top ovation with an OP30 ?
or what ? Piezo pickups are sensitive to top vibrations as well. Even with the same pre and PU combination, there will be different sonic qualities from top to top... instrument to instrument. |
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Walnut Elite 5868 Solid or Laminate?
