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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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Most Desirable Ovation?
