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So I've been toying with the idea of getting an ovation acoustic guitar, mainly to use when I play at church to avoid the hassle of trying to amplify/add a mic to my current guitar. Plus they seem pretty cool, but I don't know much about them. Hows the tone? And whats a good price?
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I like them alot....plugged in. I do NOT like them unplugged. I've seen them in the $3-400 range new. My boss bought his daughter a used '84 for about 250. If your buying it just for the amplified reason, thats probably fine. I think there are better sounding guitars that also have pickups that you could use in both settings for about the same price range though. Or you could just buy a pickup for your current guitar if you like it.
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I've got an Ovation and I love it. You get a lot of guitar your money and although they've fallen a little out of fashion over the years, for me it's my "Go to" guitar, (and that's over a Guild and a Takamine!). Some people have a problem with the bowlback claiming that they have difficulty with the guitar moving around while you're trying to play it but I've never experienced it.
Ovations are renowned for their playability and have a lovely light neck, mine has a superb really fast action, (you can sort this yourself as the bridge height is adjustable using shims under the bridge). Tone and projection is good and is what Ovation is all about, Charles Kaman, the guy who designed them was an aircraft engineer who studied sonics and vibration, and that's what the bowlback is all about.
Machine heads are sealed Grover types, although with Ovation stamped on them, and as you'd expect from Ovation are pretty much faultless. Mine holds its tune better than any guitar I've owned in the last 30 years.
On board electrics are excellent.
For live use I'd avoid the shallow bowl and go for either a medium or deep bowlback for better projection.
As for price, unless cost is a real issue I wouldn't bother with an Applause and as with all other US makers the guitars build overseas are cheaper than the US built models. It would be a big mistake to discount the overseas built guitars, as with Fender, Guild and any of the other US manufacturers the quality control overseas is exceptional and I think avoidance of non US built guitars is more down to snobbery than quality.
I'd definately recommend trying one, I think you'll be surprised at how good they are for the money.
Have fun!!
Jerry
Last edited by Buzzwagon (2011-09-03 08:42:38)
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I've owned my Ovation for nearly 25 years and wouldn't part with it for anything. I've played Fenders, Gibsons, and Martins and haven't found any that I would prefer over my Ovation. Fast neck,low string height,great electronics and sounds good unplugged as well. The deep bowl have more projection but as I'm not a real big guy I find them a little cumbersome to play. Mine is a shallow bowl and is very comfortable and still has good projection. I'm not knocking other brands but I personally feel that Ovation stands in the same category as the big names. Play one and then decide
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I have a solid-body Ovation bass that I absolutely love.
I have diddled around with some of the six string guitars and haven't liked them much. I haven't tried them plugged in, which is where they supposedly really shine. It has always sounded like a lot of middle and not much high or low definition to me. Playability is good. I've probably never played another guitar brand on which barre chords were easier. I like the shape and size of the necks.
- Zurf
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I have an aplause which I gig regularly ,my mate has an ovation both are good but the electrics on the ovation are better I find that the aplause pre amp does geneate a little feed back where as my mates doesnt ,but youve got to look at the cost and the Applause is about £300 cheaper , and as we only do a couple of acoustic tunes in the set I find it ok in terms of playabuility and sound quality, the neck is very slim and playable much more like an electric.
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Right, that is on my list of guitars-to-get!
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Hi hanna,I had a 1982 ovation,it was one of the higher higher end ones,great guitar amplified but not so good for just acustic use. I finally sold it because the large back bowl made it too uncomfotrable.
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Not everone likes them but there are many devotees. Get an old, US-made, deep bowl, solid topped one. Anything with 'Celebrity or 'CC', or Applause in the name are more budget models (and are good budget models)
Last edited by flester (2011-09-03 18:49:34)
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I used to own an Ovation, and it the slim neck makes the action and playability amazing, but when unplugged, I always despised that "muddy" sound. I currently gig with a Cort semi, 3/4 sized guitar, and while it's action is not quite a slick as the Ovation, the electronics are the equal or superior to the Ovation, IMHO, and there is no comparison whatever acoustically. The Cort is superior when unplugged, and equal to the Ovation in electronics. The Ovation has a thinner neck, but the Cort is amazingly playable.
On the whole, a good quality Cort semi will run 3-600, and you'll pay much more for the Ovation, I believe. Canadian prices.
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Ok. I'm a die-hard Ovation fan. I have a 1981 Balladeer model 1112. Its a deep body lyra-chord back, sitka spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard. It is quite possibly one of the best acoustics that I've ever played. It did not come with electrics but has Fishman pickups in it now. The acoustic sound is not "muddy". It is crystal clear. Like a bell. The neck belongs on an electric guitar, it is a soft V shape, just like some Fender's you might know. It is very fast and extremely easy to play. I paid $500 for it in 1982. Every once in a while one becomes available on ebay. Keep an eye out. Mine has all of the original parts except for a set of frets. Unfortunately, its about time for another set..
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Ovations are either a love 'em or hate 'em proposition for most folks. I have one friend that owned every guitar in their lineup for a while (uke all the way down to acoustic bass) while I have another that will state categorically that guitars can not be made out of plastic. He's a strat junkie, though, so grain of salt...
Personally, I don't like any round-backed guitar (I feel like they're always slipping down my body) but that isn't specific to Ovations.
Best bet: Go play a bunch and see what you think.
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Wow what mixed reviews! Guess the best thing is like jerome said, to play a few and see. Thanks for all the insight guys!
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craig23 wrote:
I like them alot....plugged in. I do NOT like them unplugged. I've seen them in the $3-400 range new. My boss bought his daughter a used '84 for about 250. If your buying it just for the amplified reason, thats probably fine. I think there are better sounding guitars that also have pickups that you could use in both settings for about the same price range though. Or you could just buy a pickup for your current guitar if you like it.
Those are definitely the budget ones. No comparison with the 'real' ones (which are very expensive so buy used. Mine was EUR250 at 30 years old)
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Check out the Ovation Fan Club Form .
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It seems to me the back would be hard to get used to unless you used a strap to help hold it.
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HELPFUL HINT: to keep an ovation or applause from sliding off your lap.Use a rubber jar cap remover.It will keep it from sliding and they are dirt cheap or usually given away.Also if you are in the middle of a gig and someone needs a jar of pickles opened and are willing to pay 500.00 for the favor,You will be all set.
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I never thought much of them other than a good beater that could take a spilled drink, but.....I picked one up on Craigslist advertised as having the binding coming off and a scratch on top. Paid $40.00 for it, fixed the binding and I have to say, it is one of the best sounding guitars I have. It is an older, deep back model. I use a clip on pick up, but plan to get one installed. The best part is, it can still take a spilled drink and a trip to the beach.
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bought a 12 string in 81 just before deploying on a submarine. we spent 3 wonderful months underwater and created two of my best songs. cost me 800 back then and i ve banged on it for over 30 years. destring the octaves and it is totally awesome for fingerstyle. the finish has cracked in a few places and the ring has been chipped up from dropin pickups but looks don t thrill me good tone over the entire fretboard does. and she still sings just fine. but as with any instrument. find the one that speaks to you and plays for you and you will find happiness.. 3 of my guitars are off brands that i wouldn t trade for a martin or a taylor or a takaminie. good luck and good hunting....
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Not every 12-string would last 30 years as well davesworlds one, and my one. The "sliding off your lap" issue I just don't get. Doesn't happen to me. Does it affect only people who've never played one?
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flester wrote:
Not every 12-string would last 30 years as well davesworlds one, and my one. The "sliding off your lap" issue I just don't get. Doesn't happen to me. Does it affect only people who've never played one?
Perhaps you do not have a surface that is an alternately rotating arc against which you are placing the curved back of the Ovation, as do some of us.
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Zurf wrote:
flester wrote:
Not every 12-string would last 30 years as well davesworlds one, and my one. The "sliding off your lap" issue I just don't get. Doesn't happen to me. Does it affect only people who've never played one?
Perhaps you do not have a surface that is an alternately rotating arc against which you are placing the curved back of the Ovation, as do some of us.
hilarious!
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Sadly, I do, Zurf. Maybe I've just adapted my technique to suit!
Last edited by flester (2011-10-19 18:00:40)
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I liked my 82 ovation,but after having it for awile the round back drove me crazy.
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I don't own an Ovation, but I've played my buddy's at his gigs before. I've got a nice, round pot belly and I find that the round-backed Ovation doesn't stay in place as well as my Martin does. I have to say that I've never played his guitar sitting down so I don't know how it would do in that situation. I don't know the model number but his is black without the traditional soundhole but rather several smaller soundholes in the upper bout. It's a sweet player, though, as far as the feel of playing it, and it has really good projection plugged in.
My advice to the OP would also be to go out and play a bunch of them and buy the one that chooses you. You'll know it when it does.
Last edited by tfsails (2011-10-25 18:14:11)
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