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September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Hello All, and greetings from Canberra, Australia.
I’m new to this site and have already found it to be a very useful resource in my quest to get myself a new Ovation 6 string.
I’ve narrowed my search down to two options: a Custom Elite or Custom Legend.
I’m after a guitar that has good acoustic volume and a strong bottom end sound. Is either of these models better than the other?
Are there any other models I should look at?
I normally play without an amplifier, so the natural acoustic sound is important to me.
Thanks, Banjo
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December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Multi-hole's rule!
(Just one opinion)
The real answer is to get both. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I prefer the sound of center hole Ovations over Multi-holes, so I vote for the Custom Legend. At least in the wood top varieties. Of course, there were a few stellar Elites (1537, 87C, ...) but a deep bowl, round hole, a-braced Ovation is really hard to beat. Most Custom Elites are very even across all the strings and up and down the fretboard, but most I've played lack the oomph I get from the center hole guitars. An oomph suits the way I play better.
Have you looked for an Al DiMeola model? AD-II. Still made in the old factory, and arguably the very best Ovation you can still buy. It's like a Custom Legend on steroids. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | +1 on the Al di Meola. I've always wanted one, but my '05C is a suitable substitute.
I too prefer centre sound hole models. I was lucky to own an elite as well a while back and I think a single sound hole sounds better to the player, but both sound great if you're the audience. I know I'm not alone in that opinion as I've heard it said many times. |
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Joined:
September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Thank you all very much for your help and advice.
I had looked very seriously at buying the Al di Meola, but I prefer to go for the Contour Bowl, and the Al di Meola has a deep bowl.
Does anyone have any advice on the Contour Bowl versus the Deep Bowl?
I've searched this site about this and I'm getting the impression that the Contour Bowl is the better of the two, especially as this will be my first Ovation guitar.
Cheers, Banjo |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I have two contour bowls... I prefer regular bowls.
I like being able to tilt the guitar so that the top is facing towards my face.
Not all the time, but I like having the choice.
And I know how to hold an Ovation without the bowl running-away on me.
But when I started with Ovations, there were no Contour Bowls.
Contour Bowls are good for people who cannot hold a bowl without it sliding around on them...
Either in their lap, or when hanging from a strap.
It is also good for people who grew-up with square-cornered wood-boxes, and that is one of the reasons for the design (I think)... To appeal to all those Taylor/Martin/Guild players. 
But for those of us who originally played the Bowl-bowl, it took some getting used to.
Many OFC Members posted about buying a Contour Bowl, then promptly selling it.
The joke is that the Contour Bowl was designed to fit around Americans mid-depth Bulge.
If this is your first Ovation, you might want to find a regular bowl and a contour bowl and compare them.
Here is something to think about...
The Al DiMeola was designed for him... It has a Bowl.
The Melissa Etheridge Adamas was designed for her... It has a Bowl
The Kaki King Adamas has a Bowl. And it was designed recently, after the Contour Bowl was introduced.
BTW-- The reason that a Center-Hole Ovation sounds louder to most people is because you can roll the body so that you can see the hole, and the sound bounces up to your face...
If you get a Contour Bowl, the Top and the Holes will be facing away from you towards the audience...
That is part of the design.
So you really need to Try them for yourself. Good Luck on the Search.
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | arthurseery - 2012-09-09 6:00 PM I like being able to tilt the guitar so that the top is facing towards my face. Whever I'm teaching people to play, I ALWAYS discourage them from doing this. It's such a bad habit to fall into. It puts your fretting hand in a very restrictive position. This should never be a consideration whenpurchasing a guitar. arthurseery - 2012-09-09 6:00 PMBTW-- The reason that a Center-Hole Ovation sounds louder to most people is because you can roll the body so that you can see the hole, and the sound bounces up to your face... With the greatest of respect OMA, that is a rubbish statement. See my above comment. I had an Elite and my single sound hole one just sounded fuller with the guitar IN THE PROPER POSITION! It had a much more pleasing sound, seemingly 'fuller' and louder than the Elite, BUT... if I gave it to someone else to play and I sat opposite them, it was hard to tell the difference. I can offer no explanation why, but I wasn't staring down the sound hole. arthurseery - 2012-09-09 6:00 PMSo you really need to Try them for yourself. Good Luck on the Search. Now you're giving good advice OMA. FWIW, I only have 2 Ovations now, both centre holes but with different bowls. I sold the Elite simply because I'm not a fan of the multi hole model. It DID have the best neck on any acoustic guitar I've ever played, before or since. My contour bowl is an '05 Collectors, and if you can get a hold of one of these, you won't be disappointed. It was Ovation's first contour bowl, and although I've got no documentary proof, I'm pretty sure mine was the first one in Australia. My deep bowl is a completely different animal. It's a folklore with a wider neck and 12 frets to the body. This thing just booms. (If you looked down the sound hole you'd probably damage your hearing!) But that is more of a specialist fingerpickin' guitar, I wouldn't recommend it as a first choice. From my experience, for similar topped guitars, you probably wouldn't pick a difference in sound between a contour and a deep bowl. I think they've got a similar volume. (Thats length, breadth, depth volume, not 'loud' volume) What it will come down to is the comfort factor. I'm like Arthur in that I'm blessed with not having a problem with holding a deep bowl in position, (the proper position) either standing or seated. Nowadays, I don't prefer one over the other. My problem is finding the right string when I go from the wide neck to the narrow neck and vice versa. If you can find an example of each to try regardless of the style of top, you'll get an idea of which bowl you prefer. Even if it's a Korean/Chinese model, the bowl will be the same. Then you can buy the model you want (from a reputable vendor) sight unseen, because the sound of a USA Ovation will NOT displease you. I bought both of my current Ovations AND my Elite from the States sight unseen, sound unheard, and wasn't disappointed with any of them. I echo Arthur's closing comment - good luck with the search. Muz
Edited by muzza 2012-09-09 6:41 AM
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I notice you're in Canberra. One of the aussie members lives in Canberra and he also has an '05 Collectors. Dave - goes by the name McBarry. Once you're given full member access (sorry, I don't have the keys to the castle) you should check out the 'downundererers' sub forum, appropriately placed waaaay down the bottom of the forum list. See you there.
Edited by muzza 2012-09-09 6:47 AM
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Joined:
September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Thanks very much OMA and Muzza.
I had the opportunity to try a few Ovations of various models in Sydney a week ago, though none had the deep bowl. Unfortunately it was quite a noisy music shop so I couldn't hear them very well.
There were no Legends but there was an Elite. I loved the feel of the guitars, but as I said I couldn't here them very well.
Hopefully I'll get full member access soon, as it would be great chat to the other Aussies and maybe catch up with them.
Thanks again for your good advice.
Cheers, Banjo |
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Joined:
September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | muzza - 2012-09-09 9:46 PM
Once you're given full member access (sorry, I don't have the keys to the castle) you should check out the 'downundererers' sub forum, appropriately placed waaaay down the bottom of the forum list. See you there.
Thanks Muzza. I've searched around the site to try and find out what the rules are for getting full member access but wasn't successful.
How is it done?
Cheers, Banjo |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Eventually one of the Moderators or their Emissary will see your post and Activate your Account.
You just have to wait until they get done with their weekend festivities.
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I've sent a message to the moderators to let you in... |
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Joined:
September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | muzza - 2012-09-10 1:26 PM
I've sent a message to the moderators to let you in...
Thanks Muzza. You sure are a quick worker. I'm impressed!
I'll introduce myself in the Downunders forum when I get access.
Cheers ... |
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December 2001
Posts: 7211
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Hey BanjoJ... welcome to the show. You have full access now. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Not quick, just bored. I'm at work... |
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Joined:
September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Thanks again Muzza, and thanks very much Mr Ovation for setting me up.
Cheers ... |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6992
Location: Jet City | I have 3 Custom Elites... A deep bowl "Book" Elite, and 2 C2078LX's (one's a 12 string...). Also have a 1538
I have 2 Custom Legends... both deep, one is an Al DiMeola, the other an old Anniversary Legend with a hand laid bowl.
I didn't like the contour Legend as much as the Elite, however if you're going deep bowl to deep bowl, I'd be hard pressed to make a decision between the tw styles. I could say the hand-laid Anniversary is one of my favs to play acoustically, but then there's that 1538...
The only correct answer is get both. |
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Joined:
September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia |
The only correct answer is get both.
Thanks Damon67. I'm not sure my budget will stratch to two, mind you a new Al DiMeola is equal in cost to a new custom elite plus a new custom legend.
I'll keep thinking.
Are any of the models targeted at a specific style of music? For example is tha Al DiMeola great for jazz but not so good for country?
Cheers ...
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | BanjoJ, one thing to watch for is US made v. Asian made. TX or AX at the end of the name indicates an Asian model, LX is a US model. The LX & AX models are different to the "identical" LX model - you'll pay a premium for a US made one, which is worth it if you can afford it. If you use that formula you'll find the Al DiMeola is only about a $150 premium on the others.
Apart from models with wider nuts (Folklore and a few custom models - which are good for finger style) there are no models specifically targeting a genre (except for ones that are all punk rock looking - but that's just window dressing). |
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September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Thanks TAFKAR.
I fear this might get me blacklisted, but are the Asian made models noticeably inferior?
I've had a beautiful Japanese Takamine for over 20 years, and acoustically it is one fine guitar.
Also, thanks for the tip about the wider nuts on the Folklore. I hadn't considered that aspect.
Cheers ... |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | As I understand, the AX/TX necks are glued in place, which makes a neck reset impossible/unviable. Most guitars will never need this, but I bought a 12 string Adamas where the neck had been replaced (it came with the old neck as well) - I got the old neck fixed up and put back on, and in the process got a neck reset. All this was possible because it was a bolt-on neck.
A visual cue is the presence/absence of a truss rod cover (TRC) on the head of the guitar. Very early Ovations had a TRC, then they went to the Kaman bar, which has no TRC (but was still bolted on), then to the LX guitars (which have a TRC). When they moved production of Balladeers, Legends, Elites, Custom Elites & Custom Legends to Asia, they changed the neck attachment to one with no TRC - I'm not sure if they are using the old Kaman bar or something different. Also the bridge is attached differently in the Asian guitars - you can see two "dots" on the Asian bridges covering a bolt/screw which attaches the bridge. The USA guitars (with very few exceptions) don't have this feature - the bridge is just glued on. Finally, there is a general perception that the quality control of the US made guitars is better. |
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September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Thanks again TAFKAR.
You're starting to bring me 'round. Although I see that US made Ovations are getting hard to come by.
But I'll keep looking. That one you mentioned in the other forum looks ***.
Cheers |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Look around US Ebay and find a good second hand US one that you like the look of.
Even with the extortionate shipping costs, you'll come out cheaper with a better, already broken in guitar.
If you know anybody in the states or going to the states, you're gonna save even more...
I'm a self confessed USA Ovation snob. I have no time for Celibacys, Applesauces or Asian 'O's. (Clarification; if you can find a Japanese made Ovation, snap it up!) |
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Joined:
September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Thanks Muzza.
I've been looking at US eBay a bit, but I'm still trying to understand the differences between the various models.
I have to say that the help I've been getting here has been fantastic!
But I do get a bit lost when people use model numbers instead of names, but I'm getting there.
I've been thinking about getting a new guitar for about six months, but only narrowed the search down to Ovations a month ago.
The last guitar I bought was about 1980, a beautiful Takamine that I'm still happy with. So I don't do this often, but I do want to make sure I get something outstanding. The support I've been getting here will keep me on the right track.
Thanks again for all your help.
Cheers ... |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | BanjoJ - 2012-09-12 11:48 AM But I do get a bit lost when people use model numbers instead of names, but I'm getting there? Mate, you're not alone. I've been coming here for 7 years and don't know what numbers are what. All I know - all I need to know - is an original Balladeer is a 1111 and a deep bowl cutaway Elite is a 1768 - only because I used to own one. All those other numbers are variations of either a Legend or an Elite. The numbers mean nothing to me. Dont lose any sleep over it. |
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Decision Time: Custom Elite or Custom Legend?
