|
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 83
Location: Columbus, OH | I just read the review in Guitar Player. Does anyone else find it strange that with all its years of innovation in piezo electric bridges and preamps that the Ovation VXT uses a Fishman bridge and Fishman Aura electronics while the Hamer Duotone uses an Ovation bridge and electronics????
It's probably a nice guitar for sure, but I just don't like the way it looks. Purely a personal taste thing. I'd take a duotone (3 hole or artist style) over the Ovation just on looks alone. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Who makes Ovations electronics for them? Maybe it's Fishman. Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | I thought the VIP was based on the Fishman Aura and it's proprietary modeling technology? I know the pre-amp in the VXT is like a single-model version of the VIP, with the magentic side tacked on (OK, I'm oversimplifying, maybe; if I'm wrong, someone will surely correct me...heh). So, it's not really surprising, to me, that they've used the Fishman kit.
When was the last time we saw an Ovation metal bridge, for instance? Why source a part and have to inventory it and all that when you can just buy a very good one from one of your current suppliers and know it will integrate with the other half of the system right out of the box?
As far as appearance, the VXT looks suspiciously like the new Hamer Talladega. Which I don't like. So, I'm with you there. It's different enough, though...and the O headstock on a solid body is still cool...that I could get past it.
Will the Duotone do the same tricks the VXT will, as far as blending the magnetic and piezo signals? I thought it was either or on that, but I've never owned one and don't really know much about them.
Whoever was playing the VXT (MusicMishka?) at Stonge's that night had it sounding fan-freaking-tastic. I think Keller was playing it right after that and between the two of them, I changed my opinion about what it was capable of doing.
It's not for everyone, but then again, what guitar is? ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | a) Don't find it strange. In fact, I recall, a discussion on this board a few years ago, and someone mentioned that they would like to see ovation make a guitar like this with a fishman bridge. And as cruster says, why reinvent the wheel --- Fishman is the name in this stuff.
b) I like how it looks, though I'm waiting to see a clear lacqer version, showing just the plain wood. Then that baby'll be over the top. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | the vxt has a metal bridge to appeal to the electric players that don't like the ovation saddle on an electric guitar.
both the vxt and the duotone are cool in their own ways. if you own one you probably don't need the other. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | The electronics are totally different between the Doutone and the VXT. It's more than the ability to blend, but rather the ability to mix. As you move between the Humbuckers and the Bridge pickup, there is almost no difference in Volume or EQ. Although the Doutone has a definite Electric platform, it has the feel and seems to cater to the Acoustic sound. The VXT is an Electric guitar. It can generate some nice acoustic tones, and the 59's on a chambered body do what you would expect, but the "sleeper" feature is in blending the Bridge pickup with the Humbuckers on an Electric guitar amp. The depth and width of sounds available are quite amazing. Hopefully they'll still be making them when I pay off the OFC guitar to get one. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | They are two completely Different Animals . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 83
Location: Columbus, OH | "but the "sleeper" feature is in blending the Bridge pickup with the Humbuckers on an Electric guitar amp."
Ah.... that's something I wouldn't want. I have a few hybrids and have sold off a few as well. I always want to send the acoustic sound to a p.a. or an acoustic amp.
The original duotone is an either or proposition, but I believe the duotone custom can blend the sounds. I always run these guitars into my Fishman Powerblend pedal that includes a mix output and you can control the blend with the built in volume pedal for the acoustic side.
I haven't used a hybrid rig in quite a while, but the combination of a clean piezo acoustic type sound mixed with an overdriven electric can be HUGE. The idea of an overdriven acoustic sound doesn't appeal to me at all.
As for the look, I don't think it looks like a Hamer Talledega at all. I like the way that guitar looks. Maybe I have to see the Ovation in person.
What Al said made perfect sense. Hamer is trying to appeal to the acoustic player with the duotone and Ovation is trying to appeal to electric players with the VXT. How about a new Deacon, Preacher or Breadwinner???? ;-0
All that said, it's awesome to see Ovation producing an electric guitar with the O headstock! Plus, my Ovation killed at my gig last night. As usual. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by DavidE:
"but the "sleeper" feature is in blending the Bridge pickup with the Humbuckers on an Electric guitar amp."
Ah.... that's something I wouldn't want. I have a few hybrids and have sold off a few as well. I always want to send the acoustic sound to a p.a. or an acoustic amp.
I didn't mean to mislead. It has two outputs and you can easily send the bridge pickup to an acoustic amp and the humbuckers to an electric. It's designed to run that way. Again, the blend control is more than just blend, if you get to check it out, do so.
My point was, that using the guitar as an "either/or" you'd be missing out on 90% of the sounds you can get from it.
Now I preferred the mono mode (single cable) into an Electric amp, but.... just as well for a different style of music, using the same setup into an acoustic amp is pretty amazing too. Having the rich full sound of the Bridge pickup and just cut in a little of either or both of the humbuckers makes for such a huge sound.
I realize what the guitar is, but after playing it, I would NOT call it a hybrid or Doutone or any other label. I would call it an Electric guitar that also has a bridge pickup and a phenomenal pre-amp.
At first I thought the idea that the Humbuckers don't work if the battery dies, was a bit odd. But again after hearing and playing the guitar, the pre-amp is clearly an essential part of the "blending" feature.
Your mileage may vary, but I was sincerely, and rather surprisingly impressed. |
|
| |
Ovation VXT vs. Hamer Duotone
