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Location: enid, ok | OK folks, I'm pretty ignorant about acoustics in general, and slotheads in particular. Some of you just go GA-GA over slotheads. What's the deal? Not being critical, I'm trying to learn something here. What's the attraction verses others? |
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Location: Chicago | A few days ago I asked the "deserst island question" and the consesus was the Adamas #47 RI (a 30th anniversary re-issue). I own the 1581 but have never touched a slot-head. I suppose Charlie Kaman's opinion counts for something. The other big favorite is the UTE . The big deal seems to be that these are, first of all Adamas. All Adamas have a very powerful and unique sound. An acquired taste, perhpas, but if you love what we call the "Ovation Sound", then you will DIG the Adamas advantage. The slotheads, for one, are deep bowl with double epaulettes. So they must be VERY loud and nicely balanced. I would say to you what I say to myself: "Gotta play one, finally!" |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by maxdaddy7271:
Some of you just go GA-GA over slotheads. That would be me. |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
Originally posted by maxdaddy7271:
Some of you just go GA-GA over slotheads. That would be me. |
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Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I just think they look cool. And Ovation has put them on some of their most desirable guitars, including the most desirable one of all, mine:
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Location: Phoenix AZ | There are some slight technicial advantages of a slothead design, due to the sharper string angle over the nut. But others argue that they are more difficult to re-string. Then again, slothead guitars generally cost a few bucks more. So overall, it's probably a toss up and comes down to personal preference.
The 47RI, the OFC Guitar, The original 1687's, the U681, the Koa, the FD14 etc, etc are not considered the cream of the crop (or desert island guitars) because they have slottd headstocks. They are AWESOME guitars, that just happen to have slotted headstocks.
Dave |
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Location: SoCal | I think Ovation slotheads just look cool.... |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | I agree, however I just sold my 1658 to Trader Jimbob. It's OK though, I got an Adamas 1685 to replace it. All smiles here!
Give TJ a few weeks and then look for a great Ovation slothead 12er to come on tha market. They go thru his hands like a greased up monkey.
Pardon me, I need to duck.....TJ was throwing bricks at me. |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | To me, one of my best sounding guitars is my Folklore. The best sounding nylon string guitar I have ever played is my Classic. Both are slotheads, but both are also deep bowl 12 fret Ovations. |
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Posts: 3603
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yeah, I'm assembling a small gaggle- Josh White, Academy KA-17, 1113, & "Grafter"- the 1615, with a 6-string head transplant. |
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Location: big island | that's an excellent photo, jeff! |
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Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Since I own one of these slothead types - mine is older than newer - I think I have earned the right to say this...I think when they move to slotheads is when they run out of sandpaper. I have not seen one yet that the interior portion was not "finished". Dave - you got any they actually smooth-sanded the interior of the headstock? |
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Location: South of most, North of few | My Martin is finished inside the slots. :rolleyes: |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by elginacres:
Since I own one of these slothead types - mine is older than newer - I think I have earned the right to say this...I think when they move to slotheads is when they run out of sandpaper. I have not seen one yet that the interior portion was not "finished". Dave - you got any they actually smooth-sanded the interior of the headstock? One of my major pet peeves with Ovation. They don't do a good job on slotheads compared to their competitors. Part of it is not their fault, it's a just a poor design. It is near impossible to do a slothead on an inward tapering headstock (hourglass) like the Ovation design. Do the math and work out the angles (I've done it), you just can't can't do it without having the strings rub on the center spine. The steeper the taper (like the newer models), the worse the problem. It's a simple fact of geometry. The string from the nut is entering the slot at too sharp a lateral angle. On the other hand, on square or outward tapering headstocks like everyone other brand except Ovation, the strings do not rub on the spine because they enter the slot at a much straighter angle to the axis of the slot. Simple geometry. Fault the Ovation designer, not the guys who build them on a day to day basis.
On the OTHER hand, there is a recurring quality flaw that I get on every single Ovation slothead. They do NOT finish the insides of the slots. They shoot them with finish, but they don't sand it smooth and it looks like cheap, sorry. In addition, when they buff the headstock, they leave buffing compound inside the slots, which takes me 30 seconds to remove when I get a new guitar. If it only takes ME 30 seconds to so it, then why the hell isn't it done in the factory? This does NOT exist on other brands slotheads. Sorry to sound like a complainer
This little piddly quality shit eats me up because there is NO reason for it. I love ovation guitars and I love slotheads, but they need to do a better job. Martin, Collings, Takamine, etc. got it right.
 
Dave |
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Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | I agree with Dave and I have to laugh...
I think he has seen photos of the slots on the last 4 various "limited run" slothead guitars that I've received.
That attention to detail DOES exist at the Mothership. It is exhibited on every instrument that goes through the Service Department.
So why can't Production do it? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Hey, to be fair - Maybe the reason the inside of the slots on Martins are nicely finished, free of buffing compound and the strings don't rub on the wood is because they cost 2-3 times as much. That would make sense. Dave |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | I think they finally took care of the problem of strings touching the center spline. Look at the new Adamas Collectors"; they beveled that area so the strings clear. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I don't know. Tough to tell from the photos.
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Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | I'm not going to argue with you guys over the design and problems, but from the visual point of view, I love the look of the Ovation slothead over the Martin. Much cooler appearance. And my OFC slothead is the bestlooking headstock I've ever seen..... |
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Posts: 7210
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Hey, to be fair - Maybe the reason the inside of the slots on Martins are nicely finished, free of buffing compound and the strings don't rub on the wood is because they cost 2-3 times as much. That would make sense. Dave Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!! We have a winner.
The attitude that you "should" or are even "entitled" to get the same overall quality from a $xxxx dollar product as you do for one that costs several times more is just laughable.
The "special" thing with Ovations, is that I'm guessing if you asked that they "finish" the slots a special way when you order your guitar, THEY WOULD!! You may pay for it, you may not, still not going to cost what the others do. |
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Location: Colorado | Just an annoyance...I still like #43 |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | My 1618 is Fine..!!..a li`ll tricky to string-up..but there are so many things..and I do n`t bother about buffing the insides..as long as I get 24 kt. goldplated tuners..the headstock-design should be as it is , but the stringholes could be re-situated , all in all , it`s a workman`s guitar that delivers the tunes..in a singin` manner...
Vic |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I don't know. Tough to tell from the photos.
Yes, it is and No, they do not...
BTW What a fine looking headstock! |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | FINER
FINEST
:D :D :D |
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Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | 
I agree! |
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SLOTHEADS
