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Joined: November 2004 Posts: 21
Location: Asheville, NC | Can any one easily explain what the "Real" difference is between an Elite, and a Celebrity Deluxe.
I am now contemplating purchasing one or the other.
This Ovation bug really bites hard :D |
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Joined: December 2001 Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | elite made in usa celeb in korea.
use your ears and wallet. |
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Joined: August 2003 Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...I agree with what aLeX said...
..and, I would add: Buy the Elite from Al! You'll never regret it! :D |
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 Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The difference between a Chevy and a Caddy. |
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 Joined: February 2002 Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Maybe more like the difference between a GEO and a Caddilac. |
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 Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | maybe |
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 Joined: December 2003 Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Lo fat Frozen Yogurt and Ben & Jerry's. |
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Joined: September 2004 Posts: 96
Location: Eugene, OR | Two Buck Chuck and ---Adelsheim, 1999 Pinot Noir. |
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 Joined: August 2002 Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Marilyn Monroe and Courtney Love.
Seriously ... there are three flavors of Elites. Let's assume for this exercise that we're talking an 1868 vs a CS257 (both shallow bowls). The same things apply in general to 1768 vs CS247 (mid bowls).
Made is USA vs. Made in Korea
Bowl made in US and Bowl Made in US (same factory)
5 piece mahogany and maple neck vs. 2 piece Nato neck
AA Solid Spruce Top vs. Laminated Spruce top
High quality rosewood fretboard vs. not so high quality rosewood fretboard
Handcrafted vs. mass produced
More traditional colors vs. lots of bright colors and things like faux quilted tops, etc.
There are other subtle differences such as quality of preamps, binding, nut, bridge, etc.
The other Elite flavors include the 6868 which is similar to the 1868 but has a two piece mahogany neck and a Solid Spruce top, with fewer cosmetic touches. Then there's the Elite T, which is a horse of a different color with maple neck, sound holes on the bass side only, and bowl paint all over. I'm not even going to go into the new LX series as there's no equivalent on the Celebrity side. Information on that is on www.ovationguitars.com.
In general, the sound, playability, and overall quality of build is markedly better on the Elite. However, the Celebrity Deluxe is a good guitar for what it is and it's price point. A careful buyer can get an excellent used Elite for the same price as a Celebrity Deluxe. I recommend watching both on eBay for a while to get a feel for them. Even more importantly, find a well stocked guitar dealer and go play both. And then go back and do it again another day. Your eyes, ears, and hands will point out the things that make a difference to you.
No matter how you end up, it's a good bug bite to have. |
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