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OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project

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arumako
Posted 2018-06-14 12:56 PM (#544103)
Subject: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1018

Location: Yokohama, Japan

Hello BFLG! Hope you all are doing well. Summer is almost here, and I wanted to get started with some pre-Project pics for "Vincent". This 97C is something that you all at the OFC are very familiar with. OMA purchased "Vincent" (BanjoJ originally suggested "Chopper" for a name, but I guess OMA went with "Vincent") back in 2013 and posted a thread here:

http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=34915&posts=21&highlight=97C&highlightmode=1#M478450

Ever since I posted my "The Ovation 12 Fretters – A Definitive List" here,

http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=48330&posts=2&start=1

I've been intrigued by 12 Fretter Os. Originally, mistook this "For Sale" thread as a 5741 Parlor (a 14 Fretter), but closer inspection revealed it was the 12 Fretter 97 Collectors. By the way, OMA also has the 5741 Parlor. How does the 97C compare to the 5741? Anyway, some of you named the 97 Collectors as your favorite Collector's Edition (here);

http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=30230&posts=25&highlight=97C&highlightmode=1#M401750

...and where ever the 97C is named, there are rave reviews. OMA's asking price was insane, AND he was nice enough to agree to ship "Vincent" internationally. He included the original TKL case (super heavy and really sturdy...think I'll get the O gig bag P/N GB6741), 2 new sets of strings, 2 picks AND an extra set of gold Schaller slot head tuners! The 9v battery is still good too! So, a big "THANK YOU!" to OMA for your generosity!

Well, although you all have seen him before, here's Vincent in his new home. I hope you don't mind my sharing:

Vincent

The simply operated and sophisticated Touch Sensitive (TS) Pre-amp is elegant and effective.

TS System  TS electronics 1

TS electronics 1    Out Jack & brace 

The guitar sounds phenomal through a PA and leads me to wonder if the deceptively simple circuitry includes compression functions. Of course, the A-braced sound board is resonant and balanced and gives this parlor guitar an amazing acoustic voice. Vincent only suffers from cosmetic damages in four areas which will be relatively easy to repair.

chip 1  chip 2

chip 3  bowl crack

The challenge will be to repair Vincent's ears... I guess when the ears are repaired, he won't be called Vincent anymore...

right ear  left ear

Unlike Os usual output jack, the 97C uses an end-pin mounted output jack.

output jack

Vincent's ebony bridge design is understated and elegant. The ebony and maple rosette is really classy too.

left side  front  right side

Vincent will spend the next two years or so on this side of the Pacific, but my daughter expressed a desire to learn guitar for the first time this summer, and Vincent will be the perfect instrument for her to learn on. She'll be taking Vincent back to the States with her when she goes to college, so he'll be back on his home turf in no time. It'll be a month or so, before the repairs will begin; meanwhile, equipped with Adamas 1919E strings, Vincent has a deep, satisfying resonant voice. One of my surprising discoveries was that the Parlor bowl is only second in depth at 138.0mm to the standard deep bowl (147.6mm)! Comparatively speaking, the mid-depth bowl is only 133mm deep while the SSBs are 103mm. I'm guessing the bowl depth contributes to the 97Cs surprisingly full resonant voice. He'll see a lot of playing time this summer for sure.

Until then, keep playing those USA Os and thanks for letting me share!



Edited by arumako 2018-06-14 1:16 PM
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2018-06-14 2:26 PM (#544105 - in reply to #544103)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Glad that he found a new home.
I look forward to seeing your repairs.
Although I just used it as-is.

Yeah... And I will miss that guitar every time that I see it.
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Love O Fair
Posted 2018-06-14 5:12 PM (#544107 - in reply to #544103)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1768

Location: When??
Praise and congratulations to both of you for keeping Vincent in the OFC family! Certainly in good hands for the repair work to come. Looking forward to seeing it come together. Also very pleased to know that another teen has decided to enter the world of guitar (in this case quite literally).
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arumako
Posted 2018-06-14 10:47 PM (#544117 - in reply to #544103)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1018

Location: Yokohama, Japan
Thanks for the comments OMA & Al!

@OMA - How does the 97C compare to the 5741 Parlor? I love that sunburst finish of the 5741, but the 12 Fretter 97C pulls strongly at my heart. Aside from the little cosmetic details, Vincent has no structural problems whatsoever, so he can be played and enjoyed "as is" for the rest of his useful life. A real gem! However, the repairs will easily double her market value (although I have no intention of selling him at all) over here, and I figure a USA O deserves, at least, that much respect...
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2018-06-14 11:38 PM (#544118 - in reply to #544117)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
arumako - 2018-06-14 8:47 PM

@OMA - How does the 97C compare to the 5741 Parlor?

It is a little late to ask me.
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arumako
Posted 2018-06-15 5:17 AM (#544119 - in reply to #544118)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1018

Location: Yokohama, Japan
Old Man Arthur - 2018-06-14 1:38 PM
It is a little late to ask me.

Oh Jeez, OMA. Sorry about the insensitive comparison request! With a 97C and a 5741 in the house, I just assumed you'd have already made a comparison! Doh!
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Love O Fair
Posted 2018-06-15 1:14 PM (#544125 - in reply to #544103)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1768

Location: When??
@arumako - >>>However, the repairs will easily double HER market value (although I have no intention of selling HIM at all)<<<

Wait. Not to get too personal, but is Vincent having a gender identity crisis? No, no.. I mean, it's okay, we're all friends here. I just want it to be a happy guitar. What with all the teasing that has no doubt been endured from having no ears. Reminds me of....

Three traveling salesmen stop at a farm. The farmer said it was okay to spend the night, as long as they didn't make fun of his son for having no ears.
Fine, it was agreed. Then, after dinner they were all sitting around when the first salesman started staring at the earless boy.
"What are you looking at?", cried the son.
"Er.. uh.. oh, I was just admiring your.. hair. You have nice hair", replied the man.
Then the second salesman got caught staring.
"What are you looking at?", cried the son.
"Er.. uh.. oh, I was just admiring your.. teeth. You have nice teeth", replied the man.
Then the third salesman got caught staring.
"What are you looking at?", cried the son.
"Er.. uh.. oh, I was just admiring your.. eyes. You have nice eyes.. and you better take good care of them since you sure as hell can't wear glasses."

Okay, I'll go away now. Happy weekend!
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2018-06-15 11:49 PM (#544131 - in reply to #544119)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
arumako - 2018-06-15 3:17 AM

Old Man Arthur - 2018-06-14 1:38 PM
It is a little late to ask me.

With a 97C and a 5741 in the house, I just assumed you'd have already made a comparison! Doh!

It was a joke.... sorta.

I did compare them a bit.
The 97C had a little more lower-end due to the position of the bridge.
I couldn't do a real A-B comparison because I have really light Silk-n- Phosphor strings on the 5741 because it had uncomfortably high action when it arrived.
I just dug the 5741 out. It is louder than my Takamine GY93E.
The battery is easier to get-to on the 5741, and I like the OP-24E better than the TS preamp.
Although the "E Tuner" leaves much to be desired. Like four other notes.
14 Frets are nice if you want to play Sweet Child of Mine.
They are both good guitars.
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arumako
Posted 2018-06-15 11:53 PM (#544132 - in reply to #544125)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1018

Location: Yokohama, Japan
Love O Fair - 2018-06-15 3:14 AM

Wait. Not to get too personal, but is Vincent having a gender identity crisis? No, no.. I mean, it's okay, we're all friends here. I just want it to be a happy guitar. What with all the teasing that has no doubt been endured from having no ears. Reminds me of....

LOL! You got me there Al! Obviously, Vincent's not the one with a gender issue. I'm not confused about my gender either; but apparently, I am confused about the gender of my instruments! Now, let's see - what was my dogs gender? Yikes, I'm making all kinds of Cyber faux pas!

Edited by arumako 2018-06-15 11:55 PM
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Jonmark Stone
Posted 2018-06-17 12:24 PM (#544143 - in reply to #544132)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project


Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1553

Location: Indiana
This'll be fun.
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2018-06-18 7:28 PM (#544148 - in reply to #544103)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Oh... I found another photo of Me and Vincent.
(and it would not let me post it... Let's try a work-around)




Edited by Old Man Arthur 2018-06-18 7:34 PM
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Love O Fair
Posted 2018-06-19 12:24 AM (#544150 - in reply to #544103)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project



Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1768

Location: When??
Arthur and Vincent on the Portland tourist piers
A girl stops to listen and applauds with claps and cheers
She's heard about this guy
And warned to walk on by
But caved to curious sight and sound
Of guitars that have no ears.


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moody, p.i.
Posted 2018-06-19 1:41 PM (#544152 - in reply to #544148)
Subject: Re: OMA's 97C "Vincent" Project


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15651

Location: SoCal
Old Man Arthur - 2018-06-18 5:28 PM

Oh... I found another photo of Me and Vincent.
(and it would not let me post it... Let's try a work-around)



Ok, now that got a good laugh out of me.....
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