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| I don't have an opportunity to listen to these 2 guitars personally, so could anyone describe the tonal differences between them?
As far as I know the only differencies are the appearence (inlays etc.) and, more importantly, the sound holes. I like the looks of the Custom Elite better but I've heard that its sound holes don't project the sound to the player as well as the traditional center sound hole.
I suppose it doesn't affect the plugged in tone, but I'm highly interested in the acoustic tone as well.
So could anyone comment on the differencies between the models, please? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | The sound hole placement may make the elite a little less bright. Some folks like that, others don't. I personally always liked the sound of the center hole guitars better, but that's just me. Dave |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | PaulS, I've played both. I would say that Dave is correct, the Elite has more apparent bass in the sound than the Legend. It comes down to your taste. Both have a nicely complex sound.
Roger |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | I would say the Elite is a bit richer and deeper, and the CL is brighter. Again, that's all highly subjective. I play both a shallow Adamas and a deep-bowl Elite, and ordered my 12-string in a CL contour bowl. A large part of it comes down to the look. Some might claim that the "traditional" center hole is closer to a standard guitar top, but overall it's the 1537 Elite that the vast majority here consider the closest Ovation's ever made to a "wood box" guitar.
Both of the ones you're looking at are contour cutaway bowls, so they're really comparable in that regard. If you like the looks of the Elite better, I'd go with that - I think you'd be hard pressed to be dissapointed with the sound of either one. You just really can't go wrong. |
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Location: Scotland | Guitar tone is absolutely subjective. Forget anyone's opinion and make it you business to hear both guitars, or suffer the consequences of buying someting you don't like. Talking about guitar tone makes about as much sense as dancing about architecture. Remember the credo: "Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink" |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | 'cept mine... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Because of the lack of a good Ovation store in this area, I've had to buy most of mine in order to listen to them for the first time. So my advice is to buy both. You'll notice a few differences, but I bet you'll like both. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Mark, nice advice from the guy with the Porsche... |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I agree with what Dave/Tupp says about delivered tones, however you have to consider at least two perspectives of listening.
To the audience, or someone about 6-10 ft in front of the guitar, you will be focusing sound from a single source (mono-hole) or from the multiple points (multi-hole) with hopefully a similar result.
To the Player, you are getting a different output. I like to aim my Elite at another guitar to hear what I am putting out. Similar materials will reflect in a similar manor.
Then when you plugg in you are getting a combination of string on piezo and soundboard on piezo with the ability to adjust using the gain/volume.
While Dave prefers center hole guitars I like the multi hole. You just have to play them!
Am I helping now? |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Originally posted by MWoody:
... I like to aim my Elite at another guitar to hear what I am putting out. Similar materials will reflect in a similar manor.
... Am I helping now? LOL! Mike, is this how you justify owning multiple guitars with SWMBO? I'm picturing you in your music room, triangulating guitar angles like a shot on a pool table. Hah hah hah haaaaa...
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by edensharvest:
Mark, nice advice from the guy with the Porsche... I didn't get to try that out before I bought it either. We didn't have a Porsche dealer then. I bought it over the phone. Tough living in the sticks. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | My heart weeps for you, Mark. :(
I will agree on one thing though, it's hard to find a place to try out most good Ovations before you buy. I have 5 right now, none of which I played prior to purchasing. They came on recommendations, assumptions, and the too-good-a-deal-to-pass-up excuse, er, uh, method.
My custom order 12-string is a shot in the dark, with ideas based on what I know works and some good recommendations.
This is the beauty and inherent problem with Ovation - there's just too darn many to choose from. After all, how many Taylors can you really own without having a bunch of the same guitar? Just look down the thread on Ovation colors - you're talking nearly 50 models just in color choice. No wonder we all have such bad GAS... |
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| Thanks everyone for the help! So the Elite basically sounds a bit deeeper while the Legend is a bit brighter.
1. Is there a difference in PLUGGED IN sound, or not at all?
2. Is there a difference in sound/projection/loudness to the PLAYER? |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Again, you'd really have to do a side-by-side to be sure, and even then it can vary a bit from instrument to instrument based on the setup, strings, conditioning of the top, etc. Of my two shallow bowls, the Legend projects (to my ears) better than my Adamas (which would be close to the Elite). The difference is plugged in, that the Adamas blows away the Legend for purity of tone and volume without feedback or distortion. (they are different preamps, though) It's not a wood top, but it does give you something to think about.
Plugged in, between the two you're looking at, you really won't notice a difference. Same preamp, bowl size, etc...should play equally as well that way. You might get a bit more volume to you from the Legend. I've played around a little with a 2078, and really you don't need more sound than it already has. Go with what you like the looks of. |
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2078LX vs 2079LX
