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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I finally got to spend some quality time with the Book Elite and '87 Collector today. Basically the same guitar. Take away the cosmetic stuff and as near as I can tell they sound identical. Both were restring with EJ16s. I didn't plug them in. There's probably some difference between the OP24 and Optima. But acoustically they are dead ringers. The setup is pretty identical as well, but somehow the '87 felt like a more "worn in" guitar. Hard to describe and maybe just my imagination even though the sound coming out of it was identical to the Book.
 
The only structural difference is the op24 vs. Optima-XLR. Cosmetically the most notable things are the innies vs. outies, carved bridge and headstock abalone trim. Plus of course the 12th fret inlay. The '87 has slightly different wood in the epaulets. The Book Elite has a glossed neck and headstock, but those were added recently. The abalone trim on the Book Elite is more diverse colors and brighter.
Anyway, just a little comparison of two guitars that I always wondered how they would sound head to head. Bottom line, they both sound wonderful and looks to die for!
I can't keep them both long term, so look for one or maybe both to be up on ebay soon. I've got some new stuff coming in that needs room. Email me if you have interest in either of these great examples of Ovations fine work.
Dave |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | We spent a few minutes with my 87 and Miles' Book last summer at the NW Gathering. I couldn't tell a difference in the sound either. I like the innies and the headstock better on the 87. It's promised to my daughter, so maybe I'll replace it with a Book when she gets it. But then again, I'll probably be dead or unable to play then, so I won't replace it with anything. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Both are nice grabs - and whoever is getting any one of these from Dave, will have a great guitar - plugged in as well as unplugged.
I am an Optima Fan, but when it comes to amplified acoustic sound, the OP24 beats the Optima for miles, in my opinion. Sounds just as if you were placing a mic in front of the guitar. On the other hand, the Optima has the built in tuner.
I am definitely a book fan - I love those "outies" (sorry Dave) - and have the bass and the longneck. But I took the 87 instead of the book six-string. Why? I love the looks of the glossy walnut peghead on the 87. No problem here, Dave had his Book "reglossed" - and this was absolutely a highscore. Makes this guitar even more a winner.
Both are very collectible guitars - and you are assured by the "Ahhs" and "Ohhs" of your audience. Pure beauties, maybe the most beautiful guitars ever left the factory.
If there is someone out there, who has none of them - that is your chance to get a guitar that has it all: Sound, Looks - and the feeling to own one of the wooden milestones - the best, nicest and most asked for Ovation has offered.
Kurt |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | An 87 is on the bay right now. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I wonder how my 1768 would rank alongside those 2? (Optima OP-X and innies) |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 143
Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England | Help! Innies and outies? Please tell me what these are?
HW |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Look at the epaulettes on the above photos. On the left one the bottom of the epaulettes point inwards - innies. The bottoms of the right one point outwards - outies.
Nothing to do with bellybuttons whatsoever. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Both are beautiful guitars! |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 398
Location: So. Cal. | In my particular case, it could be the '87 was played a lot (lots) more, it definitely sounded much better than the book guitar. The '87 is much darker and deep sounding (my kind of sound) whereas the book guitar is brighter and has less punch. Again, for wood top guitars, you really have to play it to get the sound out. So, I guess I'll write another report again in a few years and see. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
An 87 is on the bay right now. Pretty poor discription of the guitar in that listing. No mention of condition or issues. here. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | It was the Book's bling that got me. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | same guitar.
I made the book fancier, just cosmetics. Thought it would look good on the cover. I think it got a gloss neck cause we'd switched to it by then. The electronice were the choice d'jour. That's it. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Witko glossed the neck and headstock on his book Elite. They came with just a satin finish, that to my eye, did not look good at all. In fact, it looked like different wood altogether from what Ovation used to use. When I saw the neck glossed, I realized it was the same mahogany. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | How would my 1768 compare? It looks very similar to both of the above, but without the 'bling'. I think mine is from the year before the 'book'. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Deep Elite probably sounds similar to book elite and 87 collector, but I don't know for sure. Dave |
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Book Elite vs. 1987 Collector
