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Location: Minden, Nebraska | In looking at the archive of DC'd models on the O' website, I noticed that the Legend #1867 and the Elite #1868 are listed there. The specs are for the older versions, but it does seem these are being phased out even though they are still listed as current production models.
These supershallow bowl models have been my main squeezes for live performance since the early '90's when I converted from using Guilds. It seems that soon these guitars will be as vintage as I already am. |
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Location: Midland, MI | When I bought my 1868, I found the info in the Archive section, not in the current section. I don't know if it was in both places at the time or not, though. Huh. |
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Location: NJ | my understanding is you will see them in LX versions |
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Location: Minden, Nebraska | Will mauve be a color option? |
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Location: SoCal | At the OFC gathering this year, Rick Hall said that Ovation wasn't going to be selling supershallow bowls in the U.S. anymore. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | That makes sence, last I knew they were only 30% of production. |
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Location: Converse, Texas | Paul Wag will be disappointed... |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | "Only" 30%???? That seems like alot to give up. Or was that meant to be ironic?
I think there are some good reasons to get rid of the shallow bowl. People walk into their local GC & try the first Ovation within reach. If it is a shallow bowl it sounds weak and they never pick up another.
The latest GC mailer has Ovations listed as the "guitars meant to be plugged in". I think that is a regretable and inaccurate statement. |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Maybe they'll bring back the artist bowl? Start of a new era?
I'd like to see the 1624 come back, but updated as the "Latin Artist". I just got one and the thing cries out for a latin style of play. Seems natural given population and music trends anyway. |
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Hizzoner, hey I've actually started getting shallower on my own bowl (belly), so I know my next one will be a medium LX bowl :p
Now which model and finish....
:) |
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Location: Minden, Nebraska | I, too, am one who needs a shallower front.... |
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Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | No more shallow bowls? Yes! that is great news! :D :D |
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Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | i always thought the shallow bowl was great plugged in. glad i have a couple if they aren't going to make them anymore. i have a deep bown elite cutaway that really sounds great both plugged or not, but after playing it all night my right shoulder sure feels it. the ss 83 collectors edition with a neck like a solid body sure is allot more comfortable. the elite recieves numerous "wow is that guitar beautiful" comments. not sure what the right name for it is, but it is a natural top with light tangerine sunburst. has an oxblood colored bowl. i love it for short sets or a couple of acoustic tunes mixed in to a set.
how do you all feel about the fet3 compared to the more modern preamps. i don't have anything more recent than fet3. |
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| hey an4340, isn't the artist bowl and mid-depth bowl about the same anyway?...i've still got my original 1624 with the stacked tone/volume knobs...
steve |
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Posts: 181
Location: Queens, NY | I believe Rick Hall said only LX supershallow bowls will not be available in the USA, although I did recall seeing an LX supershallow that Rick said was going to Japan.
My understanding was that the LX models would eventually expand and become the standard Ovation USA line, although they didn't go into details on how or when that may happen, or what will become of the USA supershallow bowls.
I'm also wondering will the Balladeer 1771 get phased out as well? What about the Balladeer and Elite Specials? |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | There is a differnce, you can't get a mid depth into an original artist case, (or at least mine) and an artist slops around in the current mid depth case. The artist is definitely deeper than the shallow. Sonicly, the artist bowl gives a lot more oomph than the shallow bowl. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes it was being a wee bit silly, (the 30%) Actually production at one point got up to 40% |
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Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Brad
I agee. Shallow bowls are a drawback, when a customer picks up one at the GC. Especially when competing with the Taylors or Martins. Ah, the sound of a LX or deep bowl, can blow away, the Martins or Taylors. Not to mention the sweet action of the O's.
Tommy |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | My erudite Ovation friend
Every Era has to end
Some with thunder, some with reverb
This one seems to end with one word
They don't want this thing no more
The shallow bowl goes out the door
Replaced with LX deep and timbered
Guitars that sound like we remembered
Booming, thundering, deeply singing
Wonders that keep cash drawers ringing
Bailey |
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Location: NJ | A shallow bowl guitar does NOT mean it has ti have bad acoustic sound. Am I the only one that believes this? |
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Location: Vermont USA | Hi alpep
I have an Elite S868 which is a shallow bowl and I have used it at a nursing home and at a small bible study with out amplification and I find it has good acoustic sound and tone.
Paul |
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Location: Minden, Nebraska | Al: no you are not the only one who believes it. And not all deep bowls sound great, as DaveE mentioned in another thread. The 'bowl bias' is real. The truth is that there are individual differences. |
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Location: Queens, NY | That's why I prefer the mid-depth bowl. I figure that way I'll at least be half right no matter what. |
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Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | I agree with Al. Shallow bowls can really have a nice sound acoustically - especially the 1868T. Mine has an amazing sound coming from that lovely (for those of us with round bowls ourselves ) little shallow bowl. Having said that, I have played a bunch of Celebrity Deluxe shallow bowls and have yet to find one that sounds good unplugged. I know, I know ... Korea vs. USA, laminate vs. solid wood top, textured enamel finish vs. high gloss finish. The point is that a shallow bowl CAN sound really good. If the mother ship stops making them, I think it would be a mistake. This is especially true given how good the shallow T's sound. ;) |
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Posts: 181
Location: Queens, NY | Even though I personally shy away from shallow bowls. I agree to stop making them would be a mistake. I think there is a market for them for people who are used to playing electrics. |
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Location: south east Michigan | Perhaps I have not played any high end shallow bowl Ovations. Any one I try I find myself greatly underwhelmed. |
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Location: Fort Worth, Texas | They certainly are great when standing up, plugged in playing with a band.... |
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Location: NJ | They ARE exactly what they were designed to BE!! . .
. . . an acoustic guitar that can be (comfortably) played in live situations, producing accurate acoustic guitar tones at considerable volume with minimal feedback.
(period).
To consider them inferior because they don't hold up to a Martin or Taylor in front of your fireplace is like saying that a Mercedes SLK coupe is a piece of $*^%# because you can't fit your couch in it on moving day! . . .
I think that innundating the market with them over the years was a mistake and has lost Ovation the credibility it deserves, as much as I think that doing away with them altogether is also a mistake.
(but then, what the &^%# do I know?? I'm a glorified carnival-worker in a tie . . .) |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | re: A shallow bowl guitar does NOT mean it has to have bad acoustic sound. Am I the only one that believes this?
A shallow bowl can sound excellent - may be a little "shallow" v. a dreadnought but try it next to a thin or non-dreadnought box. Also, better playing position can help the player excel.
Yet, I believe there are still some engineering factors that could improve the unplugged sound more on a shallow bowl (may have already been considered.) #1 balance the resonance of the top to the bowl size/capacity, #2 look at how the box inside the bowl disrupts the sound flow...notice that always on bass side, rectangular form, size. As an experiment, took the box out of the 1669 deep-bowl - slight improvement in acoustic sound. Either baffle to control flow, smoother edges, moving the box to more centered position toward end pin, etc. Small bowl, small change...could be a major difference. |
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Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | There's no incentive right now for the factory to build ssb guitars, just like there's no incentive for them to build deep bowls. They are back ordered on the LX's so that's what they are concentrating on.
As for acoustic sound vs. plugged in sound, my impression is that Ovation is trying to move back to the quality acoustic sound. Can't do this with a ssb guitar and change how you are perceived.
Cliff --- in a tie???? |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I aggree with Cliff, the fact that supershallows were everywhere for a while didn't help Ovations reputation as a credible acoustic guitar, and keeping them out of the standard line, at least temporalily is probably a good idea. I've heard a small handful of supershallows which sounded amazing acoustically, though why anyone would expect, or for that matter want a supershallow to behave like a full-bodied guitar escapes me.
That said, I have a MOB as back-up slide guitar. Unplugged this plywood-topped imported supershallow POS sounds at least as good as my 72 Deep-bowl Legend (which, as a result has become the back-up) Go figure. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | OK
I took one side, and in the spirit of Fair and Balanced, I must take the other.
In defence of well built shallow bowls, I must point out that those small, shallow Martin's (I think they were 00's) had a sound that blow you away. I heard some at the San Diego folk festival in the 70's played by jazz type pickers that could never be improved on. I went to a jam session here in Las Cruces a few months ago where this old guy had one he put together from broken pieces and it sounded GREAT. A shallow bowl may have it's place in life, if it is built well.
Bailey |
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Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | bailey, i'll go to bed if you do. zzzzzzzzzzz |
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The Ending of an Era?