Ovation Acoustics?

[Mr 9finger]

Yeah yeah yeah, I know. There's some out there that don't like them. I personally dig them and I'm in the market for a new acoustic so I'd like to hear some comments on the quality of the current Ovations out there.

There's 3 that I'm looking at.

US L778 Elite

US 1771 Balladeer

And the Import LCS247

Prices respectively are from top to bottom, $1200, $1050, and $670 shipped w/ hardshell.

 

[darnright]

Re: Ovation Acoustics?

Well, obviously the top one is the best looking. I find with acoustics it FAR more important to hold it and play it. Each sounds SO different. The only Ovation I ever owned was a 1967 Balladeer (2nd year made) smooth back-very difficult to sit and play. (I bought a 1975 Les Paul Custom (used) at this store and he said if I bought the Gibby, he'd throw the Ovation in free!) BTW..This was probably 1978-79, I gave $500 for the LP. The Ovation sounded good, but although I kept it for 20+ years, I never really accepted it and always had a Martin to 'really' play. They DO have a unique sound and actually sound pretty good.

-dave

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Ovation Acoustics?

I've been using a 1771LX for a while (2-3 years maybe?). It's a pretty decent acoustic with a pretty decent plugged in tone. It could probably benefit from a better preamp like the D-Tar Mama Bear, but it's better than a lot of other ones out there especially for the money.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Ovation Acoustics?

The only acoustics that I own are Ovations. I have three 12 strings and one 6 string. They are by far the most robust instruments that I have found. I'm not saying they're the best sounding, but they have a flat response across the board that is easily EQ'd to give whatever characteristics you like to the signal. Unplugged, they're the loudest acoustic guitars I've ever heard. And for me, the selling point is that they take a beating night after night after night. I just got home from a small tour where I was beating the hell out of my main 12 string, and through it all, she just smiled and delivered, with only one incident of tuning problems. Of course, this next weekend it starts all over again, and no doubt, she'll be a little pissy. But I wouldn't trade her or either of her sisters for anything.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Ovation Acoustics?

The ones I've played have been very consistent from one to the next, both in terms of quality and tone.

I had a CS257 (import) for a time, and while it served its purpose by sounding fine running through our PA, the neck never really fit my hands (too narrow, too close to a V) and the shallow bowl has a habit of wanting to slide down your leg. I do like the electronics Ovation is stuffing in their guitars, though, even the imports.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Ovation Acoustics?

I'm really digging the looks of the 778 and the 247. That's the look I think of when I think of an Ovation so it will be between them to. I really don't have the option of going out and playing them. But It will probably be between those 2. I'm going to see if I can find some comparisons of the Import vs. the US line. If it basically comes down to cosmetics then I'll probably go w/ the 247.

Not worried about playing sitting down. I rarely do that w/ my electrics. If I do, I'm looking at other acoustics as well. The Guild GAD-50 is looking mighty tempting.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Ovation Acoustics?

Ovations tend to elicit responses at opposite ends with little in between. People love them or hate them.

They are fairly stable instruments, especially for acoustics.

The rounder my gut gets, the less I like Ovations, though.

 

[shawnr]

Re: Ovation Acoustics?

I have a '70's Custom Balladeer that was "thrown in" with a bass I bought a few years ago--it has the original saddle pickup and the simple one knob preamp, but it gets very close to a Beatles' acoustic sound.

It also weirds people out when I hook up a wah and SD9 to play Hey Joe.