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Joined:
May 2011
Posts: 758
Location: Muenster/Germany | Please correct me if I got wrong... the special feature of the older Elite guitars was the "quintad" fan bracing. That´s why these guitars (and the old Legends with the VT braces and the Custom Legends and the Adamii) sound quite different from all other steelstrings.
The newer generation Elites have a X bracing like most steelstring guitars of the last 100 years. How boring. Wouldn´t you agree that this is a step back?
I remember when I played the first time a very battered 1619 or shortly after that an old Artist Ovation, the sound was highly surprising to me, totally different to any guitars I played before.From that day on I became an OV addict.
I am absolutely convinced that the greatest ideas of the Ovation inventors were the different and new guitar bracing patterns. I´m not sure if all the Ovation players are aware what great inventions are there under their guitar tops, epecially when they play the vintage ones.
What do you think? |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4227
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I only have one guitar with the LX bracing, but I like it specifically BECAUSE it sounds different from my other O's. I also have a mandocello ret-conned from an older Elite 1868. I would be curious to compare its tone to a standard one. FWIW, I don't want all of my guitars to sound alike, even if I do have a preference for A-bracing. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yes, the original Elites had quintad bracing...
That was made possible by the epaulet sound-holes.
All of the Asian-made Ovations have the same "Scalloped X" bracing.
So all that is needed is to make a bunch of tops with X bracing and cut the holes.
Either center-hole or epaulets will fit.
This saves time and increases profit.
Which is what it is all about.
BTW-- My 6778LX Elite does sound different from my Elite T's.
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6198
Location: Phoenix AZ | Bracing is a favorite discussion among doily knitters and cork sniffers. In my opinion it's only one aspect of the total guitar sound. You have to consider the whole package and every element reacts with every other element differently. Some swear by the difference of engleman vs adirondak spruce tops. Bone nut/saddle vs man-made, gloss tops vs satin, etc. Some think clipping a capo to the top of the headstock increases sustain. It never ends.
I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all conclusion. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret |
I disagree, Dave. String tubes made a world of difference in the tone of my Ovations.
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Ah, string tubes! I have a friend who wore out the bridge of his Adamas from years of changing strings and I sent him to JB to see about replacing the bridge. He swears that the Adamas II bridge sounds better than the Adamas I bridge. I can't tell the difference, but next time I talk to him, I'll tell him he should get string tubes to keep his new bridge from wearing out. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | A humbling difference in sound was one afternoon I got to listen to Phil Keaggy play my guitar...I promis - instantly it sounded way better. |
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Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887
Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | I might be interested in trying some string tubes if I knew what they were. Anyone got a pic?? Some of us remain bottom feeders on the ladder of knowledge! |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | We're not ignoring the question Nerdy.
Just letting it kinda ..... simmer. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I never got near the results from string tubes that other players did. I'm sure i was doing something wrong, but it just sounded hollow to me. |
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Joined:
August 2011
Posts: 887
Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Still simmering?? Gracias slipkid! |
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Elite guitar bracing
