The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #16  
Old 08-25-2016, 08:34 AM
martingitdave martingitdave is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,282
Default

I had a beautiful new 410e last year that I played for several months before selling it. The wood is visually beautiful. I would consider it to sound right smack in the middle of Mahogany and Rosewood. However, the human ear is designed to be more sensitive to the midrange. As such, I heard mostly midrange. So, Wade is onto something when he compares it to Koa. It could be considered "wider Koa", "beefed up mahogany", or "mid rangey rosewood." As a rosewood lover, I did not like Ovangkol as much as I thought I might. This is especially true on a dreadnought. Most rosewood lovers like the scooped nature of that wood. So, Ovangkol doesn't always fit that mold. On a fingerstyle guitar Ovangkol might be more appealing.
__________________
"Lift your head and smile at trouble. You'll find happiness someday."
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 08-25-2016, 08:55 AM
Jeremy's Avatar
Jeremy Jeremy is offline
AGF Administrator
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10,350
Default

I've owned a couple 400 series Taylors and to me the ovangkol split the difference between rosewood and mahogany. As such, it seemed generally unremarkable to me and I ultimately parted with the guitars.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 08-25-2016, 09:03 AM
Earl49 Earl49 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 10,982
Default

Fair enough Jeremy, but one man's unremarkable is another man's versatile.
If you are having trouble deciding between rosewood or mahogany, ovangkol seems to split the difference nicely.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 08-25-2016, 11:10 AM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Staten Island, NY - for now
Posts: 14,983
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earl49 View Post
Fair enough Jeremy, but one man's unremarkable is another man's versatile.
If you are having trouble deciding between rosewood or mahogany, ovangkol seems to split the difference nicely.
Mine's strictly an accompaniment guitar, which it does nicely - doesn't get in the way of a lead instrument, nor does it call attention to itself against vocals; seems lotsa folks seek out Gibson Hummingbirds for much the same reason...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool"
- Sicilian proverb (paraphrased)
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 08-25-2016, 11:16 AM
Jeremy's Avatar
Jeremy Jeremy is offline
AGF Administrator
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 10,350
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earl49 View Post
Fair enough Jeremy, but one man's unremarkable is another man's versatile.
Agreed. That was just my personal impression of it.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 08-25-2016, 07:08 PM
Guitarplayer_PR Guitarplayer_PR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Puerto Rico
Posts: 2,235
Default

Funny thing is that, to my ears, I find ovangkol as "juiced mahogany" more than a "rosewood with less downward scoop." I had, at one time, a Cedar/RW OM guitar and a Sitka/Mahogany dreadnought. I found the 414 just a bit closer in tone to my dreadnought than my OM, as in the OM sounded really dark, the dreadnought sounded quite dry. There was more dryness than darkness with the ovangkol.
__________________
-2017 Gibson J-45 Standard
-2019 Gibson J-15
-2019 Gibson Les Paul Junior
-2020 Gibson Les Paul Special
-2019 Gibson Les Paul Studio
-2021 Fender Aerodyne Special Telecaster
-2022 Fender Telecaster 50s (Vintera)
-1994 Fender Telecaster Deluxe 70 (Vintera)
-Sire V5 5-string
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 08-25-2016, 07:10 PM
Guitarplayer_PR Guitarplayer_PR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Puerto Rico
Posts: 2,235
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by earl49 View Post
fair enough jeremy, but one man's unremarkable is another man's versatile.
if you are having trouble deciding between rosewood or mahogany, ovangkol seems to split the difference nicely.
+5 .
__________________
-2017 Gibson J-45 Standard
-2019 Gibson J-15
-2019 Gibson Les Paul Junior
-2020 Gibson Les Paul Special
-2019 Gibson Les Paul Studio
-2021 Fender Aerodyne Special Telecaster
-2022 Fender Telecaster 50s (Vintera)
-1994 Fender Telecaster Deluxe 70 (Vintera)
-Sire V5 5-string
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 08-26-2016, 04:05 AM
Yrksman's Avatar
Yrksman Yrksman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lancashire/Yorkshire border, England.
Posts: 2,589
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa View Post
Mine's strictly an accompaniment guitar, which it does nicely - doesn't get in the way of a lead instrument, nor does it call attention to itself against vocals; seems lotsa folks seek out Gibson Hummingbirds for much the same reason...
I wouldn't go as far as to say strictly but my McAlister has a very rounded and warm sound when fingerpicked that is great for accompaniment. I wouldn't want to make a hog/rose comparison. I like the sound a lot. The first time I played the guitar, not knowing what it was made of, I liked it a lot and wanted to buy it.
__________________


Chris Stern



Guitars by:

Bown Wingert Kinscherff Sobell Circa Olson Ryan Fay Kopp McNally Santa Cruz McAlister Beneteau Fairbanks Franklin Collings Tippin Martin Lowden Northworthy Pre-War GC Taylor Fender Höfner

44 in total (no wife)

Around 30 other instruments

Anyone know a good psychiatrist?

www.chrisstern.com
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 08-26-2016, 04:21 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: The Isle of Albion
Posts: 22,067
Default

Used to have a Lakewood (Germany) OM in Cedar and Ovangkol. I preferred it to the Martin J-40 I had at the same time.

Both long gone !
__________________
Silly Moustache,
Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer.
I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom!
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 08-26-2016, 05:15 AM
Yrksman's Avatar
Yrksman Yrksman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lancashire/Yorkshire border, England.
Posts: 2,589
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa View Post
Mine's strictly an accompaniment guitar, which it does nicely - doesn't get in the way of a lead instrument, nor does it call attention to itself against vocals; seems lotsa folks seek out Gibson Hummingbirds for much the same reason...
I wouldn't go as far as to say strictly but my McAlister has a very rounded and warm sound when fingerpicked that is great for accompaniment. I wouldn't want to make a hog/rose comparison. I like the sound a lot. The first time I played the guitar, not knowing what it was made of, I liked it a lot and wanted to buy it.
__________________


Chris Stern



Guitars by:

Bown Wingert Kinscherff Sobell Circa Olson Ryan Fay Kopp McNally Santa Cruz McAlister Beneteau Fairbanks Franklin Collings Tippin Martin Lowden Northworthy Pre-War GC Taylor Fender Höfner

44 in total (no wife)

Around 30 other instruments

Anyone know a good psychiatrist?

www.chrisstern.com
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 08-26-2016, 06:07 AM
topographic topographic is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ohio
Posts: 712
Default

It's easier to answer the question if it's asked this way: Is rosewood closer in tone to Ovangkol, or is mahogany closer?

Mahogany is closer, to my ears--especially in the low end frequencies.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 08-26-2016, 07:11 AM
Golffishny Golffishny is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 810
Default Perception or reality of bass

This comparison of RW/Ovangkol/HOG makes me wonder if the increased bass in RW is real or perception due to scooped mids? Since it has a tonal spectrum of Ovangkol but Ovangkol resembles Mahogany more to some, is it because of more mids? Does we just hear or miss bass due to the lack or boost of mids?
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 08-26-2016, 09:06 AM
baimo baimo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: LA CA
Posts: 1,921
Default

it really has its own distinct sound. I have never found one I wanted to buy but the Martin posted by Wade sure looks nice.
__________________
at 4. No more for awhile. Moving soon. Less is better until I settle.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 08-26-2016, 11:15 AM
fregly fregly is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,472
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by baimo View Post
it really has its own distinct sound. I have never found one I wanted to buy but the Martin posted by Wade sure looks nice.
I am sure it does have a distinct sound, like all the many other tonewoods not Rosewood or Mahogany, yet apparently just about everything is only ever "somewhere between Rosewood and Mahogany".
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 08-26-2016, 11:24 AM
mr. beaumont mr. beaumont is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 10,188
Default

I think of it as extended range mahogany. Does not have that "mid scoop" of rosewood, or as much in overtone shimmer. It's actually perfect for how I play, that's why my fave flattop i own is a Taylor 414ce.
__________________
Jeff Matz, Jazz Guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jeffreymatz
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Tags
back and sides, mahogany, ovangkol, rosewood, tonewood

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=