• From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Topic: little acoustic brothers

SIGMA
From 1970 to 2007, Sigma Guitars, a division of C.F. Martin, provided players with an affordable option in tradition and value, and Sigma Guitars were based primarily on original Martin® shapes and sizes, but Martin began cutting back the Sigma line in the late 1990s and finally discontinued it in early 2007. So this means that they don't produce the Sigma again. WHO HAS EXPERIENCE HERE
and who, this is even better, has and a SIGMA and a MARTIN, and can tell more about the "big difference" between them. I know the fact that they use "laminated" tops, and also for the sides and the back. There are higher priced Sigma's with a solid spruce top.
I don't think that Martin needs this line, and I also think they stopped, because of the huge market of other, almost in the same price category, better guitars.
So the second one is APPLAUSE.
An offspring from the OVATION SERIES.
I told it already 2 or 3 times that, due to disability, I can't stand right longer than a few minutes, so when I play acoustic, or electro-acoustic ( I have a MARTIN D-1 Electro-acoustic), sounding pretty good pluuged in my acoustic amp, a Marshall AS100D, 100W of pure power, and this is even the amp I am using as "main amp", so playing 80% electric on it. You can hear the beauty of the sound of any electric guitar, even using effects and floor boards. I never wanted a 100W acoustic amp, 50 was more than enough for me, UNTIL they asked me to play on the 50 and 100W with the same guitar. NOT a SPLIT SECOND of hesitation: 100W.
But to continue about ADAMAS, OVATION and APPLAUSE: what is the DIFFERENCE or SIMILARITY BETWEEN APPLAUSE and OVATION? They are both part of the KAMAN group, and Applause seems to be the cheaper version of Ovation: IS THE DIFFERENCE REALLY VISIBLE, or can you hear the difference, and the wood used of course.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • Registered: 2007-09-15
  • Posts: 30

Re: little acoustic brothers

Great Question !!. I personally owned a Sigma 12 string as my second guitar.  I played it professionally for 6 months until i bought my Ovation.  I was proud to own the Sigma.. To me, it was a Martin gutiar.  Now, to answer your question, there no comparison to the Sigma and the true Martin as far as 12 strings go.. Thats all i can talk about because its all i know.. The sound, the feel, the neck of the guitar is so vasty different, you can't even compare them. I loved my Sigma, but when i bought my Ovation 12 string, it didn't compare.  Not even a little. the neck action was so much greater.  The sound was so much better..  Don't get me wrong, the Sigma is great for sitting around the house and playing for your friends, or around a campfire at the lakehouse, but on stage, there is no comparison.  Now, having owned an Ovation 12 string and comparing it with the Applause, My opinion is that there is no comparison.  Period. I don't know why, but i have experience.. I have tested them both..  Now, the funny thing, is that after one of my children fell (jumped) onto my Ovation and broke the neck just 2 hours before a show, i called a friend who loaned me his Yamaha 12 string. I thought i would hate it..  But, the sound and quality and feel all along the neck was amazing..  I went out the very next day to Rockin Robins in Houston and bought the exact guitar and i still play it to this day..   Long story short, its what you feel.. Not the name brand, not the cost, not the look..   How does it feel/sound, to you..    Peace..