The Acoustic Guitar Forum

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

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 10-26-2003, 12:37 AM
chacho chacho is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 105
Default Any opinions on ovation guitars?...

...I've seen them at the guitar stores but never played one nor do I know anyone who has one...they have always caught my eye and I think the next time I'm at the guitar store I will play one...till then I would like to know what you all think...I will be out of town the next couple of days but will check for any responses when I get back...thanks.
__________________
2008 GS8E
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-26-2003, 01:43 AM
Stenevo Stenevo is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Wichita
Posts: 269
Default

Some people think they are great. I don't like them very much. They sound shallow to me. But they are supposed to be very playable - the ones I have played had good action.
__________________
Steve
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-26-2003, 05:29 AM
A Friend A Friend is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 1,805
Default

In my opinion - Good playability but consistently non-woody.
__________________
SHERMAN YL KUEK
Malaysia
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-26-2003, 06:38 AM
fnesnor's Avatar
fnesnor fnesnor is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Muskegon, MI
Posts: 1,325
Default

The Ovation I owned sounded great plugged in. Not so great unplugged. They are a well made guitar (in my opinion) and are excellent when performing on stage or in studio.
__________________
RonSenf


2023 Taylor AD22e
2001 Guild F47RCE

Certified Fretting Technician - Galloup School of Luthiery 2005
Guitar Builder/Tech
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-26-2003, 06:44 AM
franchelB franchelB is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Irving, United States of Texas
Posts: 5,613
Exclamation WARNING...

People will bad mouth Ovation, period.
Maybe it's because of the "Roundback" design, or its materials used to make the guitar(Lyrachord?), questionable brand parts on the guitar(Hint: Ping tuners!), or its overall "disposable" appearance: major guitar repair? you're better off buying another guitar instead...
But I happen to like the sound. When some would state that a certain guitar is a "canon", I would always think of Ovation. Ovations are consistently the loudest guitar I've ever played "unplugged". Besides, IMHO, they're the original travel guitar. I literally took my Applause 12-string EVERYWHERE I was needed for church youth services...
__________________
franchelB: TGF member #57!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-26-2003, 07:13 AM
JedimasterPaul JedimasterPaul is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: White Marsh, MD
Posts: 2,101
Default

I have an Ovation and I like it all right. I love the headstock design - and with the round back look somewhat 'lute-like' and medieval. I also liked that fact that it had no pickguard. I think they sound pretty good plugged in too.

The playability is great. The only thing I don't like about it is the skinny neck and the deep round back (not very comfortable to me).

I was fine with my Ovation until one day a few years ago my pastor came over for a guitar lesson. He had a several hundred dollar Yamaha acoustic and I was surprised by how much louder it was than my Ovation. At that time I was using it at church, but it was this encounter that started me down the road to getting my first Taylor.

I will say, however, that until that time I really didn't play much steel string acoustic at all - it was some electric but mostly classical.

Now that I have the Taylor, I play 95% steel string.

I don't play the Ovation much anymore, but I'm not getting rid of it - it was my first acoustic and a birthday gift from my parents.
__________________
Paul
2020 ??
2016 Gibson 1958 Reissue True Historic
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-26-2003, 07:26 AM
Boogieman Boogieman is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: So. Calif.
Posts: 18
Default

I'm not an accomplished musician by any means. However, I do know what I like. I grew up in the 60's and 70s when lots of performers (think Jethro Tull, Mother Goose) used Ovations. I grew to love their unique sound. I've owned nice Ovations for over 20 years and will continue to. Having said that, I also love Taylor tone, so I bought one. I don't see why some folks want to confine acceptable limits to others. BTW, I agree with the other comments about playability: I play mainly electrics of various types and the Ovation is a superior playing acoustic when compared to many others. The neck is a bit narrow for fingerpicking, but fast and easy. Bottom line is try it and buy it if you like it. Maybe you'll be like me and have the flexibility to love completely different instruments and the tones they produce.
__________________
Toys: Gibson Es 335 Dot Reissue, Fender American std Strat with Kinman Woodstocks, Taylor 710ce, Taylor K22, Ovation Elite 6778, Rickenbacker 360cw12 string, Boogie Nomad, Fender Blues Jr., Tease RMC Wah, TC Electronic G-Major + misc. pedals
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-26-2003, 07:57 AM
jhm-614 jhm-614 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 515
Default

I really like the neck on my ovation -- thin and fast, almost an electric neck. The guitar amplifies well too.

You should definately play one or two the next time you are in the candy store!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-26-2003, 08:01 AM
jim_n_virginia jim_n_virginia is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Virginia
Posts: 746
Default

I grew up here in Virginia with everybody I know playing guitar (and an occasional bass hehehe) and what I have always heard about Ovation is that they are dependable and durable and sound good plugged in. What I never cared for was the unplugged sound and the roundness of the back made it uncomfortable to sit and play. There mandolins are kinda cool but sound more like little itty bitty guitars than a mandolin.

All in all though, I think if you like the sound you should buy it because thas what counts.
__________________
--jim in virginia --

2002 Taylor 810e
1996 Flatiron Festival F
1906 Friedman Bros. fiddle
Yamaha AW16G
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-26-2003, 08:32 AM
aggie182's Avatar
aggie182 aggie182 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Missouri City, TX
Posts: 1,571
Default

ovations feel so so good standing up. sitting down, sometimes they'll slide right out of your lap though. i think they're cool guitars.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-26-2003, 08:37 AM
freestyle freestyle is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Pocono Mtns, Pa
Posts: 1,526
Default

The neck on an ovation is very playable, fast and narrow, so I can make a lot of 1 and 2 finger chords. I just recently bought a new 1976 Ovation Patriot model guitar (the dealer had it in his back room for all those years!). The sound is so sweet, I couldn't resist it. It is basically a Legend, which premiered that year. Big full body. Amazing sound. You can hear each string clearly. I do a lot of fingerstyle playing, but I strum some, too. This guitar is LOUD!! I never liked playing Ovation guitars, cause of my gut. It was so hard to keep it on my leg, kept slippingThe Ovation owners have a forum too. On it, I found out that to keep the guitar from slipping, just use a piece of the rubber matting your wife/gf/mom puts under her lamps and things to keep them from sliding. My musically inclined kids actually like to hear it better than my other guitars! HAHA Just wait til the walnut matures
__________________
freestyle
Taylor W14ce
Taylor XXXRS
Taylor 110 GB
Ovation Patriot
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-26-2003, 08:37 AM
Midnight Shadow Midnight Shadow is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,502
Default

I have always liked the sound of them but have never felt comfortable with them in my lap playing. I have always had a hard time holding them in place. Must be something I was doing or not doing as others have not had this problem.
Midnight Shadow
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-26-2003, 08:48 AM
stringseller stringseller is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Latte Land
Posts: 260
Default

I really like my Ovations. One thing that is not mentioned in this thread is that there are, like Taylors, many models, sizes, shapes, deep bowls, shallow bowls, and different necks. Many seem to lump Ovations all into one. The older Balladeers have a deep booming acoustic sound where the newer models seem to have a little less volume acoustically. (My older Custom has a very thick neck and my newer Standard is very thin) The shallow bowl models are not the great acoustically but work great when plugged in (like the Elite model) and are great to play on stage IMHO. The slim design and neck on the Elite also makes it comfortable to play while sitting where the large bowl Balladeers tend to "roll" in your lap. One of the biggest advantage to the Ovations is that they are very stable due to thier technology and travel well.

I tend to stay away from "absolutes" and "always" and will just state for the right person these are great guitars and also can be aquired used at very good prices. (I think the best values are in the used market on most guitars)
__________________
Steve
"Every day with a pulse is a great day!"
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-26-2003, 09:05 AM
Pvee Pvee is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Maineville,Oh,USA
Posts: 2,667
Default I like the new model

The one with the flat bottom. Don't need a stand for it that's why they call it the standing ovation.!!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-26-2003, 10:12 AM
Steve314 Steve314 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: San Diego
Posts: 3,348
Default

To my ear, Ovations excel when they're plugged in. Acoustically, not so much. I do kinda' like the sound of the Elite mid-depth models, though. Don't know that I'd ever buy one, but they sound pretty good.

There is one Ovation model that I do want:





Steve
Reply With Quote
Reply

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

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:28 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=