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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Maybe this has been asked before ,but, not since I've been around.
I am curious what YOU prefer and why. Round sound hole or Epaulets? This is not a bash one or the other as I am aware some do not like one or the other for personal reasons. Just tell us what you like. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Ok, I have played all 3 and personally I really love the double epaulet style. I own 2 my 1778lx and my 1758 12 string. They both ,atleast to my ears, have a better, more rounded tone and a lot more volume. I also "feel" the sound vibration on my body much more then the round sound hole. Not sure what that means. but, that's my preference. |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | I've never played the single epaulet style other than the 1778T, so between the double epaulet style and center hole, I prefer the center hole. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Need to distinguish between wooden tops and adamas tops. On adamas tops the multi holes work great. They look completely gay, but sound great. But on wood topped guitars I have never ever heard a multi hole guitar that sounded any good to my ears. 1537 was the best of them but even that leaves me unimpressed compared to wooden top guitars with center soundholes. Others will disagree. Toby |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I agree with Dave, I prefer centre holes on wood-tops. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | This is something I've been asking myself since I got my rebuilt Legend back. Which do I prefer, the Legend or the 87C? Both sound good, just different. Martin and other companies get different sounds from different size/shape/braced bodies. With Ovation, it's different bracing/body depth/soundholes. The different sounds produced are, well, just different.
And there are different guitars for different situations. The 87C has big cajons for jams or for being plugged in (love the onboard tuner). The Legend is great alone or with just a few other guitars. But lately, I've been playing the GC RI a lot. After 2 1/2 years, the top is opening up nicely, with the saddle raised it rings, and it's comfortable. Doesn't have huge volume so it doesn't get taken to big jams, but it's great by itself or in small groups.
Different guitars, different sounds. Ice cream.... |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Your 87C has a tuner? Did you upgrade the preamp when you sent it in for repairs from "The Fall"? |
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May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I couldn't vote. I like'em all. As Moody says, to me they sound different, not better or worse, and for me, that's the real reason for owning (and appreciating) multiple guitars. I've gotten to the point that sometimes I just want to hear the specific tone from my (fill in the blank). So I get the specific instrument I'm looking for from its case. I might also add that so far, I have not noticed a preference for any single guitar that condemns the others to lengthy stays in their cases. I play all of them about the same. It's about as close as I get to "guitar contentment".  |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
Your 87C has a tuner? Did you upgrade the preamp when you sent it in for repairs from "The Fall"? OP Pro..... |
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January 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Bangkok, Thailand | I prefer Epaulet either single or duble because it's the "Ovation".
for me
Single for the cutaway
Duble for non-cutaway
eventhough I realzie that the centre-round sound hole on wood top gives loudest, resonant but the epaulet is the most important feature and design that make me love Ovation. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Although I wanted to see the results, I didn't vote. I didn't want to screw up the numbers.
In my experience..
For wood-tops, 9 times out of 10, single center hole.
For an Adamas top, multi-hole only.
There have been some single center hole Adamai made. They are not very well thought of. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
OP Pro..... That's right, they had to replace the bowl. I'd love to have an OP Pro on mine, but wouldn't want to go to that extreme... |
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April 2008
Posts: 288
Location: New Hampshire, USA | In order of preference:
Single epaulet
Double epaulet
Center hole
Why? Harder to lose the pick inside... :D
Seriously though, I love the epaulet look and prefer asymmetry over symmetry.
Sound? They all sound great! |
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June 2005
Posts: 1320
Location: Round Rock, TX | What scooterboy said. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | +1 with Sccoterboy. Could just be my rig, but the center holes seem more prone to feedback. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | The only Ovation I've ever had feedback problems with is my UTE. It's a feedback machine. |
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August 2003
Posts: 888
Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Looks like 2/3 of our members prefer the Epaulets. I prefer them as well but much of my preference is visual. I enjoy people asking me what kind of guitar is that? My 07 Collectors wood top sounds fabulous as does my 12 String Adamas. That's not to say I don't love my FD 1614 because it will hold it's own without problems. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Not surprising that most ovation fans prefer epaulets. Folks that prefer center holes probably buy Martins, Takamines, and Collings. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Center hole. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Not surprising that most ovation fans prefer epaulets. Folks that prefer center holes probably buy Martins, Takamines, and Collings. We talking about anybody in particular? |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Epaulets Look Cool!
Single-hole sounds better to the person who is Playing...
I chose single epaulet cuz of all my T's... (most of which have No epaulets except the Sweet-T)
But I came to the realization that most of my guitars are center-hole
Go figger... :p |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Can't say I prefer one over the other - depends on the song/style of play. That's why I have so many of each :D |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I have 4 multi-hole and 2 center-hole. Oh, and one with an oval hole a little off center ( ;) ).
It just worked out that most of the models I actively sought out (1581, 87C, DS768) happened to be multi-hole. If they were center hole and sounded like they do I wouldn't care. |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I agree with Dave: You need to specify the top first. Otherwise it's apples and oranges. Play an Adams side-by-side with a wood top! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I like the traditional Ovation sound. Although I doubt I ever part with the 1537 or an 87C, I prefer the centerhole sound of the 04, Folklore or the Balladeer Reissue. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7211
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I make the choice depending on who's listening.
If I'm just listening to me, then yes the round-hole sounds "better" to the player. However by design, the epaulet models project further forward.
This is in the archive someplace, but Al and I did a test back when I bought my Redwood top model. We compared the center vs epaulet. Both sounded great, but the center-hole sounded better to the "player" while the epaulet model sounded better to the "listener."
I think this was the best example to use as we tried at least a couple of each model, and the result was the same. |
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March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Really a difficult question as I like them all...different guitars sound different...Round hole sounds great on the earlier guitars and for 10 years was on both of my gigging guitars and is on my daughters 82C...Double Epi's are really nice as the Elites changed so much for me and remains my go to guitars today...But the 08 Collector has the single and sounds great...absolutely one of my favorite guitars...
Whatever floats yer boat, I guess... |
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March 2004
Posts: 241
Location: Le Havre (France) | Due to my poor vision, I prefer one big hole rather than several small ones ! |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | they all sound the same to me... |
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May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
they all sound the same to me... They all sell the same to you too.... :p |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | not you too, how did they get to you Patch? Do they have one of your guitars hostage? |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
not you too, how did they get to you Patch? Do they have one of your guitars hostage? Nah, it's just that, now that I can no longer partake (in my own humble way) in the time honored and noble trading tradition you so ably espouse, I find myself reduced to occasional flippant pop-offs (not the hand signal) directed at those who continue to play the game. Kind of like the spectator telling the QB how he should be playing.
The financial realities of modern life have sequestered me on the side lines for the foreseeable future. Which wouldn't be so bad if my #1 wish guitar wasn't on eBay right now! That center-hole 2001 Collector's wouldn't go anywhere but here if I could swing it, but alas, I have no bat. 
Someone here buy it so I can live vicariously through you!  |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | As I discovered a long time ago...
You won't be dropping your pick into an Epaulet, unless you try real hard. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
As I discovered a long time ago...
You won't be dropping your pick into an Epaulet, unless you try real hard. My toddler makes it look easy. :rolleyes: |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 9
Location: Dallas,Texas | I prefer the round hole,because it is much louder when played non-electric. I play '83 collectors(3) and keep a rubber plug in the hole for electric,but when I play just acoustic and take it out,the sound is loud and full. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Off hand preferences:
Round hole
Single eppy
Dual eppies
But it really depends on the guitar... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | The other evening I played my 87C and my rebuilt Legend for my daughter and asked her opinion. She said that the 87C sounded more like me -- deeper voice, loud, lotta volume. The Legend sounded like mom -- not as loud, but when it speaks, you can really hear it. She said both sounded great.
As good an analysis as I've ever heard...... |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | So the Legend gets played a lot more, then, and no one pays any attention to the 87C? |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I couldn't vote, because the girls are all so different and I couldn't hurt anyone's feelings. ;) 1 double-epauletted cutaway super-shallow bowl (Jewel), 1 shallow-bowled rosetted classical (Johanna), 1 shallow-bowled rosetted 6 string (Rosa), 1 deep-bowled rosetted 6 string (Gertrude), 1 double-epauletted deep-bowled 12 string (Hildie)--and then there's the Tornado, which is F-holed and gives all the others an equal run for their money when she's amped. If push really came to shove, though, I guess I'd have to say...Gertrude; for me, she just exemplifies what an Ovation is all about. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
So the Legend gets played a lot more, then, and no one pays any attention to the 87C? Pretty much..... |
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Round Sound hole vs Epaulet