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| I've been wondering, as someone who has been a longtime fan of the Ovation brand, but also one who isn't super knowledgeable about the breadth of the company's catalogue: is there any one model in particular that is largely agreed upon as the exemplar of Ovation? (i.e "The Lloyd Loar" of Ovations, for any mandolin players in this lot.) I've seen and played a lot of very fine looking guitars by this company, but didn't know if there was an archetypal model. |
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Location: Texas | This topic has been discussed more than DaveKells illicit drug induced, STD infested, sex romp with Dwayne Allman. But...Heck yeah! It is the Adamas U681T "UTE". And in the Ovation line, I have to (finally)agree with Paul...it is the A braced CL's (sorry, shineys). |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Slothead Adamas.
Folklore.
A-braced Legends.
or any Elite T. 
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Ovations 1537 and CLs Adamas -original Slotheads, Al's OFC1 and OFC2 special run of guitars, 47RI's, then the rest
Edited by stephent28 2014-08-13 10:18 PM
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Location: SoCal | stephent28 - 2014-08-13 8:10 PM
Ovations 1537 and CLs Adamas -original Slotheads, Al's OFC1 and OFC2 special run of guitars, 47RI's, then the rest
+1..... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | A model year 2015 USA made Ovation. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Yup, a 2015 Collector's! Damn it... |
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Location: NJ | mine
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Location: SoCal | alpep - 2014-08-14 12:53 PM
mine
Concise..... |
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Location: Utah | 1) Original Slothead. Pure economics on this one. Almost never come up for sale, and when they do the price is 5X or more any other O/A. Anyone who's played one will tell you they are in a class by themselves.
2) 1537, Patriot or A-Braced deep bowl legend, Ute, T (based on bang-for-the-buck, meets the mission of a pro level guitar for the working class)
3) 2007 Collector's edition, or the Wood Topped Adamas (very similar to the '07 with the added suspension ring). These are the pinnacle of the LX era guitars.
3) Whichever one I don't have yet. |
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Location: south east Michigan | That koa that Al has for sale has to be part of this discussion. |
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Location: SoCal | Never been a fan of koa, but I'm in a serious minority with that opinion.
So at this point it seems we are at:
Original slotheads
OFC I and OFC II
1537
Any deep bowl A braced Legends/Custom Legends
1987 Collectors
2007 Collectors
Should we include the FD14? Al's Koa? |
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Location: Jet City | I don't like the sound of Koa new, but after it's opened up a bit, they're quite lovely.
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Location: Flahdaw | immoody - 2014-08-15 12:47 PM
So at this point it seems we are at:
Original slotheads
OFC I and OFC II
1537
Any deep bowl A braced Legends/Custom Legends
1987 Collectors
2007 Collectors
Should we include the FD14? Al's Koa?
one One ONE!!!! "Most desirable Ovation"......you have to pick ONE! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm with you on the koa. It sounds like the hard wood that it is. I've either grown used to mine or it's opened up a bit. I know Cliff really liked his, but it was his player, so it probably got more seasoning in a couple months than mine has in years.
The same is true of my 2011 Collector, which seemed like it would be great sounding by the specs, but it still doesn't sound as good as some of my older Ovations. There are some common elements that would keep them off my "best" list, besides the newness. One is the cutaway, which might cut down the volume. One is the lack of a center soundhole, which makes them sound "different" and one is the contour bowl. My best Ovation vote, if not for an Adamas, would probably go to a deep bowl center hole Ovation, just because I prefer that sound. I'd like to hear a 2012 Collector when it was new, just to try to eliminate the new factor. After I bought the 2011, thinking it would be the last Ovation Collector (disguised as Limited Edition the last couple years), they came out with the 2012 that seemed to match my preferences, except for the price increase. I still haven't heard one, but I'd like to. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | darkbarguitar - one One ONE!!!! "Most desirable Ovation"......you have to pick ONE! Start at the top of the list and slowly go down until you find the one that fits your price range. Those are definitely the cream de la creme ranging from 15K to less than 1K. |
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Location: sitting at my computer | darkbarguitar - ......you have to pick ONE! oh yeah, like that'll ever happen around here. |
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Location: Flahdaw | I know, hehe. It's like picking the most beautiful woman ever |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Did somebody call me? |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Original shiny bowls... particularly the Josh White model. |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Good response Allison. Hope to get to your shop someday someway. |
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Location: California | Mine but wait I would like to play a 1688 12 string Adamas |
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Location: SoCal | Speaking only about Ovations and IMHO. You will never get a consensus, especially if it is not defined as 'on stage' or 'at home', acoustic or a/e, strum or finger pick, size or shape of neck, # of frets, cutaway, 6str or 12 str, size and type of bowl, value v. cost, type of top, bracing, finish, and probably 100 other variables. Personally, I gravitate to three that I play most - plain jane 2005C currently with an iDea amp, Custom Legend 1719-30CM, and the NAMM 2009-FKOA 2009C. Guess that is why a number of us have more than one O and A.
I have experience with Koa and say play it and enjoy. I have a Martin D25-K2 (all Koa) that was a NAMM guitar in 1980, 2006C, NAMM 2009C, as well as several with sides/back Koa. Even considering a trade of an Adamas reissue for a 12 or 14 fret Koa.
As to my vote for the best Ovation and Adamas reissues: Ovation Custom Legend 1719-30CM and the Adamas 47RI. Best value for cost is the great Adamas UTE. |
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Location: Utah | The most desired - the custom shop Adamas I never got around to ordering... |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | FlySig - 2014-08-18 2:25 AM
The most desired - the custom shop Adamas I never got around to ordering...
Sigh! |
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Location: Canada | FlySig - 2014-08-17 8:25 AM The most desired - the custom shop Adamas I never got around to ordering... Yeah, that and the Custom Legend I got outbid on ebay... |
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Location: sitting at my computer | darkbarguitar - It's like picking the most beautiful woman ever ...that sings like an angel ...and plays like the devil ;-> |
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Location: Tennessee | Ovation?
John Lennon Legend Limited
Adamas?
Slothead
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Location: Muenster/Germany | The Ovation´s Martin D45 is the Adamas 1687. There´s no Ovation that´s more "Ovation". |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Some might say that the original Custom Legends were more "Ovation". Back when it was all fresh and new and they were seen weekly on national television. |
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Location: Taxed To Death State | Custom Legends are amazing guitars. |
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Location: Chicago | What Tony said. For my particular style it's Adamas. That means: pretty aggressive pick and fingers hybrid. A reliance on the full 3 1/2 octaves etc etc.. The 1581-5 has been my go-to guitar for a long time now. The 47 RI prototype is also magical. My '74 1117 Legend will always be my first love. |
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Location: Muenster/Germany | I must confess that I was thinking quite a time over my post. My decision for the Adamas 1687 was 50,001 % against the Custom Legend with 49,009%. And I see this from the distance (of Germany) and how far which of the Ovation guitars represents best the Ovation idea/heritage for me. When I was -younger- the Ovation was my first dream guitar (long before I was even aware of the existence of Martin guitars...today I have 6 Ovations but only 1 -very nice-Martin...). |
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Location: Munich, Germany | DetlefMichel - 2014-08-19 12:48 PM The Ovation´s Martin D45 is the Adamas 1687. There´s no Ovation that´s more "Ovation". I could not disagree more. Okay, if you'll see the D-45 as the Martin with the greatest Heritage, then I could see, what you mean - Neill Young and all the others. But with that don't forget that the D-45 was gone for nearly 30 years, before it was reactivated by Dick Boak. And before that they did not came in heavy doses as well. So for me the Martin that is "most" Martin is the D-28 or the D-18. If it comes to Heritage in Ovations, I see all these Slothead naturals of the Seventies in the hands of Cat Stevens and all the other singer/songwriters, and not a 1687. Nor any other Adamas. Soundwise I am absolutely on the contrary: The D-45 is the "gentleman" of Martin's Dreadnoughts, it is bassy, yes, and deep, but it has a clarity and a crispness, lots of overtones, that nearly no other Martin Dreadnought has. It can be very subtle and reluctant. The 1687 is all, but not a "gentleman". I would, if, compare it with a D-35 with forward shifted braces: Loud, bassy, in your face - the bad guy in Martin's Dreads. Like the HD-35 or the D-35 Johnny Cash, the loudest and bassiest, deepest guitar I ever heard. For me the most desirable Ovation would be any A-braced Legend. If it comes to a comparison with a D-45, give me the most decorated Custom Legend. With the old style rosette, not the inlaid one. And the big fretboard inlays. Best regards, Kurt |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | This is not an easy question. Desirability means diferent things to different people, and no answer is right or wrong. Every answer is subjective based on the provider's point of reference. If valid data could be collected and measured, then there may be some conclusions that could be made which might lead to generalizations about Ovation product desirability. Possibly, those generalizations might reflect the dominant views from the memebrs here, particularly with respect to older models and the slotheads in particular. For those purely interested in the business model, the most desirable models are those that sell in the greatest volume. Collectors might say the original slotheads are most desirable because of the resale value they command, but their market is quite limited. For me personally, I prefer the SSB models for playability comfort and their amplified acoustic sound in a band setting followed by the semi-solid bodied Vipers, then the VXT. My custom Adamas 1187 SSB would be No.1, the Adamas 1881 No. 2, and the 1984 Legend SSB No. 3 which I use for practice with a sound hole dampener. I have, what, 25 other Ovations including prototypes, customs, and all of Al's limited run models, but its the SSB's that are most desirable for me. I seldom play the deep bowls any more. |
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Location: south east Michigan | The Professor was smart to spec out a very, very nice VXT for himself.
It's a good one.
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | The most desirable Ovation is the one that speaks to you. We've no doubt all had the experience of going into a music store and picking up a guitar that cried out to us, "Take me home!" When you find that guitar it is a lot like falling in love. You just know. You have found "the one". It's your "soul mate".
And it's usually a different guitar for just about every person. The only single "most desirable guitar" for the masses is produced by Taylor and that is for the masses who are more interested in status than in tone or playability.
If you're interested in finding YOUR most desirable Ovation, play a bunch until you find the one you just have to have. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | CanterburyStrings - 2014-08-21 12:02 PM
The most desirable Ovation is the one that speaks to you. We've no doubt all had the experience of going into a music store and picking up a guitar that cried out to us, "Take me home!" When you find that guitar it is a lot like falling in love. You just know. You have found "the one". It's your "soul mate".
And it's usually a different guitar for just about every person. The only single "most desirable guitar" for the masses is produced by Taylor and that is for the masses who are more interested in status than in tone or playability.
If you're interested in finding YOUR most desirable Ovation, play a bunch until you find the one you just have to have.
For me, that is the 771LXc cedar top O Balladeer special I just came back from playing. Put a fresh set of strings on it and it became a totally different guitar. The sound of bare fingers playing fingerstyel is to die for. So responsive. Soon as I get paid for my personal dred I have it will be mine and I am already anxious to bring it home. I checked it out and it is A braced. Still can't find any official info on years it was made, but it doesn't matter. It's a USA made guitar with a flawless finish and bowl. It will be my first cutaway as well.
Edited by DaveKell 2014-08-21 1:04 PM
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Location: sitting at my computer | CanterburyStrings - ... it is a lot like falling in love. You just know. You have found "the one". It's your "soul mate". hmmm, does that mean a bunch of us are... pOOOOOlygamists???  |
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| DetlefMichel - 2014-08-19 3:48 AM
The Ovation´s Martin D45 is the Adamas 1687. There´s no Ovation that´s more "Ovation".
I appreciate this phrasing, as this is what I was kinda looking for in my initial question. (I'm no Martin devotee; far from it. But the D-45's ubiquity is at least a good reference point.)
I really appreciate the extensive answers y'all have given, as it's given me some idea of the breadth of the comany's roster.
I myself, as mentioned in another thread in this forum, am oriented toward fingerstyle playing, so something like a folklore or a top-tier classical would be highly desirable on my end. But just based on specs alone, a wood-topped Adamas would be my most desirable model overall.
Edited by singeroffailingsongs 2014-08-21 9:53 PM
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Ah, you need an FD14! |
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Location: Muenster/Germany | singeroffailingsongs - 2014-08-22 4:51 AM
But just based on specs alone, a wood-topped Adamas would be my most desirable model overall.
My wood-topped Adamas is my best-playing Ovation, but as I said before, to me not the most typical and not my most-loved (hard to understand?I guess..),actually it is an 1992 Adamas 1688 AND a 1992 Custom Legend N769!
I had very many guitars over the years, more than 120, and my preferences did change many times. During the last decade I discovered the Ovation ideas, I had OV´s from the early 70s to the nearly last USA made. My favourites are the guitars made in the late 80s/early 90s.These appear to be Instruments from the heyday of Ovation. They have bolt-on necks, the only guitar which may undergo a neck-reset within 1 hour, I did this several times.The overall quality of these guitars reminds me to my 1992 Mercedes. Maybe this was a period when *quality* was still at stake, not only gross profit.
Besides that, my equally precious Martin D-45 was made in 1992.... |
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Location: Muenster/Germany | CanterburyStrings - 2014-08-21 7:02 PM
If you're interested in finding YOUR most desirable Ovation, play a bunch until you find the one you just have to have.
HA,HA. I did exactly this and found the BUNCH I just had to have..... |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | Ok, I agree with all of the previous entries, but my crazy Mothership Masterpiece takes the cake... For me. 
Cheers, BillÆ |
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Location: Flahdaw | Well, now THAT"S interesting.....
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | Wow BillÆ! That is beautiful! What is that called? Like an Ovation/Adamas combo... Since it looks like listing Adami is okay here, my most desirable "O" would be 1). For sheer beauty - a 1587 Cut-away w/ epaulet's on the bass side only; and 2) a 1687 - because I played one years ago, and the resonance is still ringing in my soul. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR |  I think that Dave is selling two of them in the For Sale section.
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | OMA, Yup, and I'm trying really hard not to look! |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | arumako - 2014-08-27 6:37 PM
Wow BillÆ! That is beautiful! What is that called? Like an Ovation/Adamas combo....
I call it "Guitar". It started as an Elite that was made for a famous player in the early 1990's, but for some reason was not used and went into Ovation's inventory. I bought it and a few years later the top cracked on either side of the bridge. In 2003, I sent it to the Mothership for repair. They stated that they no longer had the mold for a non-cut-away, but did for the Adamas. I went with the natural color CVT top with no epaulets and they kept the neck & OP 24. One nice thing they did was to put the battery compartment on the side instead of inside like the original... BTW, that neck is great and they said even in 2003 that they could not remake that one.
Cheers,
BillÆ
Edited by BillÆ 2014-08-28 12:40 PM
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| dvd - 2014-08-21 7:59 PM
Ah, you need an FD14!
That is indeed a highly desirable model for me.
But, truth be told, I really lucked out with the 1122-4 I got on a whim via eBay auction. I know it was at the bottom of Ovation's roster in the early-to-mid '70's, but everything about this guitar is a dream. Wood aged beautifully, super playable fretboard, great bass response... the whole package. While I'm comfortable playing on the wider neck, the one thing I would say is I would prefer a standard size neck. But that is by no means make-or-break for me. |
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Most Desirable Ovation?