|
|
Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | At the risk of outright blasphemy, the prettiest acoustic guitar I currently own is a CC24S Celebrity, which I got really cheap. Both it and the case are in like-new condition. Why is it the prettiest (to my eye)? Because it has all the proper Ovation 'signatures' EXCEPT that dang plastic soundhole ring. No, this guitar has a pretty inlaid MOP ring, like a proper guitar should have. It also has the original 'Tuscan Tan' burst, which is an understated shading around the top that was discontinued because, presumably, it didn't sell well. The current 'Tuscan' burst on this model look exactly like 'Honeyburst' on every other Ovation. Go figure.
Unfortunately, my digital camera has taken a dump so can't post pics yet. I'll try tomorrow.
But the other 'beholder' observation I have is sound. As many of you may or may not know, most Celebs are laminated tops. The 'S' in the CC24S stands (I think) for 'Spruce' and it is a solid top. As such, this guitar sounds way better than I expected and perhaps better than it's supposed to. Which brings me to my question: If you're a guitar manufacturer, how to you 'dumb down' the sound on a lower priced model? I realize bracing has much to do with it, but given the same bowl, same neck and spruce on the top, couldn't a cheaper model 'accidentally' sound better than a more expensive one? In particular, this low-end Celeb sounds better than two 1778Ts I've owned, as well as my 1111-4 and several other makes. It sounds very much like a shallow-body Legend I had, but being a mid-bowl, it has (predictably) more bass — okay, and not quite the ring. To say I am tickled pink (or Tuscan Tan) is an understatement.
In fairness, it does not sound better than my current 1778T, which really jangles.
I know all solid-top guitars sound a bit different and unless you have a roomfull from which to pick and play, it's a bit of a crapshoot to get 'the' one. But purchases over the last several years have shown me that, even with today's technology, you can still get a hohum-sounding expensive one and a great sounding cheapie. | |
| | |
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | As far as beauty to my eye, my two best lookers are the EA-68 Viper with the ultra deep maple quilt top in a subtle orange burst finish, and, of course, the Koala 12 fretter. The VXT Koa custom is pretty, but its grain is more subtle and doesn't stand out like the Koala models. Sound-wise, I have a bunch that all sound great. | |
| | |
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Mine was the 99 Collector in red waterfall bubinga. I didn't think the sound was as good as several of my deep bowl Ovations, but the guy that bought it thought it sounded the best of all of them. He was much more into the plugged in sound, but I'm the opposite. | |
| | |
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Call it the difference between ice cream and frozen yogurt. They both taste good, and if your favorite flavor comes only in one or the other, all you have to decide is how many scoops you want. | |
| | |
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The sunburst one off '87C that I got from Samova and sold to Serge was one of the prettiest and best sounding woodtop O's that I had the pleasure to own.
Current woodtop might just be the blue tamo ash viper I just picked up. | |
| |
|
Eye and Ear of the Beholder