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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 107
Location: South Jersey | (I posted this previously (and mistakenly) in the 'Ask Ovation' section, my apologies).
Hey guys and gals,
I am looking for a classical but can't afford a 1773LX at the moment, what you recommend that I might be able to find around $700? I doubt I will be playing for an audience bigger than myself and the dog LOL, so the electronics aren't terribly important. Playability and sound are what really matter. I simply don't know the model numbers like the experts here do and need a place to start. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much in advance
jim |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'll take a stab. The older Ovation classicals or "Classic" was 1713 or 1763 with a cutaway. They had a cedar top. Basically the same guitar with a Spanish Pine top, which is another name for cedar, were the 1613s and 1663s. You should be able to find those for $700 or less. The Country Artist models also used nylon strings, but weren't really classical guitars in the sense they didn't have a wide, flat fretboard.
If you go to the Reference Forum, you will find additional information on the models and when they were made. |
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Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 699
Location: moline,illinois | There are a couple used classicals on GC.com,a 1116 and 1763 both say great condition,ask lots of questions and for pictures but the 1116 is a pretty sunburst.
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Joined:
March 2013
Posts: 359
Location: undisclosed | Not quite right on the Country Artist. The finger board is flat but slightly narrower. The big difference is the neck joins the body at the 14th fret like a steel string. The artist bowl is what amounts to a mid depth. These are very versatile guitars, the scale length is the 25 1/2" length of the steel strings while the classic 1113 1613 has the 26 and 1/4? classical scale. |
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June 2012
Posts: 2303
Location: Lake Forest, CA | Cavalier - 2017-03-06 6:47 PM
Not quite right on the Country Artist. The finger board is flat but slightly narrower. The big difference is the neck joins the body at the 14th fret like a steel string. The artist bowl is what amounts to a mid depth. These are very versatile guitars, the scale length is the 25 1/2" length of the steel strings while the classic 1113 1613 has the 26 and 1/4? classical scale.
The biggest difference between the Ovation Classics and the Country Artists is that the Classics are 12-fret to the body and the Country Artists are 14-fret to the body. |
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January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Dan...if you are really looking for the fuller classical response, another "biggest difference" is the bowl. The CA is just going to come up short acoustically. If you are plugging in...not really a concern. |
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March 2013
Posts: 359
Location: undisclosed | I think the CAs are a good balance. They have even tone and can play to a conversational level, important for social background music. Plugged in they can get louder without feedback so cover the range well. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15652
Location: SoCal | Everything said here is correct, but what Jay stated is the bottom line on sound. In general (and there are exceptions), deep bowls give the best, richest, acoustic sound.
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May 2011
Posts: 751
Location: Muenster/Germany | The Ovation 1613(1713) classic with the pine top is one of the best Ovation guitars, fully underrated. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | My first O was a 1616-4 nylon Classical which had a very nice, albeit a bit understated, sound. Sold that one to a member here years ago for much less than $700 but it did have a dent or two in the face. If you're not looking for a museum piece I would think you should be able to find something without too much trouble. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 107
Location: South Jersey | All the responses are greatly appreciated  I may try so see if Alpep has any of these models lying around, as I believe he's only a few miles from me. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6191
Location: Phoenix AZ | Not to be a wet blanket ... but does it have to be an Ovation? Nice guitars, don't get me wrong. And I've owned just about every flavor or Ovation nylon string guitar. The current resident is a wonderful custom that Mr PI had built which is basically an 1773-LX done up on Custom Legend trim. Very nice.
But I also have owned the Takamine TC-132-SC which was just fantastic and in that same 700-ish ballpark used. I think a few others here have that one as well. Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there for consideration. |
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January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | +1 Standing My ramirez is my only non ovation. I tried {tried, tried and failed} to be satisfied with a nylon O. Of course, ymmv and everything really boils down to personal preference... |
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September 2005
Posts: 107
Location: South Jersey | No, it doesn't have to be an Ovation, I am really looking for something good basically |
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July 2015
Posts: 190
Location: SW Mintsoda | Here's a new O nylon string that's in your price range and might tempt you...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ovation-elite-ax-mid-depth-c...
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March 2013
Posts: 359
Location: undisclosed | The 1116 Concert Classic is different in several ways from the 1113. AA spruce top with different bracing and a 25 1/2" scale. |
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September 2005
Posts: 107
Location: South Jersey | I really do appreciate the responses. At this point I may just wait to see what reviews come of the newly announced Eastman classicals as well. I didn't know about those until maybe a day ago. |
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May 2008
Posts: 1553
Location: Indiana | One more thing to consider, Ovation classics have thin fast necks while most "traditional" classics have beefier necks. That may or may not matter to you but it did to me.... that and the fact that they sound so good plugged in.
My .02 cents worth. Good luck with your search. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | There's a 1616 on Boise Craigslist for $400. Looks pretty good. Let me know if you'd like me to look at it or buy it for you. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Same as what HE said. I settled for a Taylor Hybrid that sounds like a nice traditional classical, but has a narrower neck. I had the O Classical and it sounded very nice with the deep bowl, BUT it was also heavy and cumbersome in relation to a true classical. Different animals.
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Mark in Boise - 2017-03-14 12:30 PM
There's a 1616 on Boise Craigslist for $400. Looks pretty good. Let me know if you'd like me to look at it or buy it for you.
The price dropped to $350 for a couple days and now the ad's gone. Somebody got a good deal. |
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Ovation Classical ~$700?
