Why Ovations are good for a working musician

[southerncountry]

A lot of folks here dislike Ovations, but after playing just about everything I've come to appreciate some of their strong points for a working guitarist.

They're a good value for the money-because collectors don't fawn over them you can get them used for a good deal. They sound good plugged in with very little fuss- this is nice when you don't have a lot of time for setup/soundcheck. Their necks are easy to play; and I love the way you string them through the bridge- my Gibson acoustic once launched a bridge pin into oblivion in a crowded bar one night during a string change!

 

For folks who perform a lot of outdoor shows, they handle heat and humidity and even getting rained on much better than many "nicer" guitars do. And tuning stability on mine is very good also. Working guitarists are also more likely to have their instruments stolen or damaged on the road or in the joints, and Ovations are great to take to "questionable" places where I wouldn't want to take my "better" guitars. Just my opinion, but something you newer pickers might want to think about.

Southerncountry

[EvilTwin]

Good points.

I think Ovations are reliable, dependable, playable guitars.

They sound good plugged in and they're durable. If you're playing biker bars, I would think you'd rather take an Ovation than a Collings.

I just prefer more traditional acoustics. Ovations are great for what they are, though.

[padtrek]

I own two ovations and I think they are the biggest piles of crap ever built!!

If you don't plug them in they sound like balls and if you do they sound like electric balls.

God I hate Ovations

[franchelB]

I've no problems with Ovations...shoot, if it's good enough for Al DiMeola and Preston Reed....

[LittleBrother]

I think they are fine. In fact the gut string ones are rather fun to play. Most of the problems on forums come when people use the topic to troll for arguments and cause trouble. Never seems to be a plain thread about them. It's always some kind of trolling and looking for controversy.

Another factor is that pickup systems for traditional flattop acoustics have gotten alot better over the years since the Ovation was first created. This severely limits the huge niche that Ovation had in the market. To complicate matters you have Rainsong and CA guitars which are arguably even more reliable and durable than Ovation and I think sound tremendously better plugged in or acoustically.

Add the fact that there have been issues with some ovations bridges flying off and other small issues and the discomfort many people find with the bowl back and there you have exactly where Ovation stands in the market today.

In other words. Ovation is not getting some kind of raw deal.

[padtrek]

trolling!!..... you better not be talking about me, I Own two and have every right to tell Everyone they are Junk, becasue they are junk.

[Etienne Rambert]

Two other good points. They feed back less on stage than wood guitars and they are amazingly versatile. An Ovation Elite plugged into Hawaii 49 Reverb on the MIDIVERB IV is a GREAT Surf guitar!

 

My Elite has been durable for 16 years now.

[RainsongDR1000]

Originally posted by LittleBrother To complicate matters you have Rainsong and CA guitars which are arguably even more reliable and durable than Ovation and I think sound tremendously better plugged in or acoustically.

That pretty much hit the nail on the head!

[54merk]

Ovation has produced good quality instruments and they have also made plenty of junk. I would not touch an Applause or the cheap Asian stuff they import these days. Of course, if I had a $1000 to $1500 to spend, a CA or Rainsong is a much better instrument.

The point is that you can get a used US made Ovation for $400 or less. I have a '75 12 string which other than my metal reso, is the sturdiest guitar I own. Of course I prefer my wood guitars, but the Ovation is easy to plug in and play, and with proper EQ can sound quite decent. And if played standing up (with a strap, of course), it's quite comfortable. The point of the post was that they are inexpensive and sturdy, not how they compare to modern Rainsongs and CA's.

[Carle]

They would make a good guitar for an up and coming musicaian because he can use it to fight his way out of the bar if they don't like his playing:eek:

[southerncountry]

Well, I'm new around here and I sure didn't come to stir up the anti-Ovation crowd. There's enough guitars around for everybody to find something they like these days.

My main point is their durability and value for the money. No, I don't take'em into the recording studio, but I sure don't mind leaving my Gibson at home when I'm playing in a place where a guy tells me that "all the pool sticks got broke" in last weekend's fight! Plus, if something did happen to it, it's cheap enough to replace and move on- I look at it more like a working tool.

Anyhow, to each his own- find a guitar you like and wear it out making good music with it!

southerncountry

[54merk]

Welcome aboard southerncountry! You sure found out in a hurry that even mentioning the "O" word around here is guaranteed to start a bar room brawl. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and they are neither right nor wrong, just opinions.

Seriously, we are a very peaceful bunch around here, unlike some of the other forums out there in cyberland, so hopefully you will feel free to post away. Lot's of very knowledgeable folks are here, including dealers and luthiers, and they are always willing to help out.

[Matt McGriff]

I have owned Ovations for a while and liked them, but the shortcomings still exist-round back, kindy less than the best sound (although pretty good). I just sold two of my Ovations and my Yairi to raise the money to get a CA Guitars COT. Sure its the same price as the top of the line Ovations, but its top line itself. Looking forward to it.

[roger hart]

have those who put the CA and the Rainsong over the Ovation ever played an Adamas I or Adamas II?

[fingerpicker]

trolling!!..... you better not be talking about me, I Own two and have every right to tell Everyone they are Junk, becasue they are junk

 

 

Which models? If they are lower end Ovations, they probably are junk.

 

 

have those who put the CA and the Rainsong over the Ovation ever played an Adamas I or Adamas II?

 

 

Roger, I was thinking the exact same thing.....

 

 

 

In my opinion, anything new from the standard Balladeer down-Including all celebrity models (except the nylon string CC 059) will probably sound like junk to people who own a higher end guitar.

 

BUT the higher end models sound very-very warm and balanced. Very far from junk.

 

 

It would be like playing the Epiphone Jumbo model that costs about 4 bills, then saying Gibson jumbos are junk witout playing the J-200...DIG???

[padtrek]

Which models? If they are lower end Ovations, they probably are junk.

 

 

 

I have a Nylon sting from the 60-70. doesn't plug in, actually not a terrible guitar (but its the only classical I have played so cannot really compare

 

And one of the Celibrity Delux, not sure what model. (holes in the top).I can check when I get home

 

JUNK

[franchelB]

Originally posted by padtrek trolling!!..... you better not be talking about me, I Own two and have every right to tell Everyone they are Junk, becasue they are junk.

I can understand with you saying "they are Junk", even if you owned just one; but owning 2 Ovations and say you "have every right..." makes you look like a dumbass!

I played an Applause for years until the aluminum frets wore out...it's not as bad as Ovation haters claim them to be.

But with Ovation, the real question is that is it really the guitar or the guitar player that makes the guitar sound bad?

[RainsongDR1000]

Originally posted by roger hart have those who put the CA and the Rainsong over the Ovation ever played an Adamas I or Adamas II?

I've played an Adamas, don't know if it was a I or II. Actually it was a decent sounding guitar, but I personally thought the Rainsong fit my playing better and was less money (I DID getting a screaming deal on it though). I respect Melissa Ethridge, Kevin Cronin, Al Dimeola, Ritchie Sambora etc. etc. I doubt these players would play them if they were crap. To say that ALL Ovations are crap is a bit extreme. I just don't think that they compare w/ CA or Rainsongs. But that's just one guys opinion.
Although I will say that the new "Q" is ridiculously overpriced for what it is, unless it's Brazilian graphite or something!

[padtrek]

I can understand with you saying "they are Junk", even if you owned just one; but owning 2 Ovations and say you "have every right..." makes you look like a dumbass!

 

 

1 was my dad's, and 1 I got for christmas...Asshole... and I stand by my origional word...ABSOLUTE JUNK

[Sarricola_Sauce]

Originally posted by southerncountry A lot of folks here dislike Ovations, but after playing just about everything I've come to appreciate some of their strong points for a working guitarist. They're a good value for the money-because collectors don't fawn over them you can get them used for a good deal. They sound good plugged in with very little fuss- this is nice when you don't have a lot of time for setup/soundcheck. Their necks are easy to play; and I love the way you string them through the bridge- my Gibson acoustic once launched a bridge pin into oblivion in a crowded bar one night during a string change! For folks who perform a lot of outdoor shows, they handle heat and humidity and even getting rained on much better than many "nicer" guitars do. And tuning stability on mine is very good also. Working guitarists are also more likely to have their instruments stolen or damaged on the road or in the joints, and Ovations are great to take to "questionable" places where I wouldn't want to take my "better" guitars. Just my opinion, but something you newer pickers might want to think about. Southerncountry

 

 

Right on

 

those ugly ass things do play real nice a lot of the time, and are overall very versatile instruments.

 

but the slide down yer lap when u play em sitting down.

 

However, Al Dimeola thinks their top shelf so thats gotta count for sumtin.

[derivicus]

I don't like them. Few of them sound tolerable unplugged and they ALL lack good bottom end without EQing to smithereens.

I now own an import Viper just for practicing. It's cool because it feels like an electric with the thin almost solid body and No rounded back. I have the bass turned all the way up, and outboard EQ with the bass turned all the way up, and a slight bass increase on our mixer. God, that thing sounds like crap.

I got it with the case for $290 and I guess it beats beating up my two Guilds(now there are a pair of real guitars)

[ShesGotVerve]

Originally posted by derivicus I don't like them. Few of them sound tolerable unplugged and they ALL lack good bottom end without EQing to smithereens. I now own an import Viper just for practicing. It's cool because it feels like an electric with the thin almost solid body and No rounded back. I have the bass turned all the way up, and outboard EQ with the bass turned all the way up, and a slight bass increase on our mixer. God, that thing sounds like crap. I got it with the case for $290 and I guess it beats beating up my two Guilds(now there are a pair of real guitars)

 

Is the guitar on the far-right in your pic an FG-403S? If so, how do you like it? Playability........tone........tuning stability........anything else.

 

Thanks!

[fingerpicker]

Few of them sound tolerable unplugged and they ALL lack good bottom end without EQing to smithereens.

 

 

 

I haven't noticed this on either of the ones I have. On my Adamas I usually have the Bass half up at most and between 12:00 and 2:00 on the board.

 

 

 

I have a Nylon sting from the 60-70. doesn't plug in, actually not a terrible guitar (but its the only classical I have played so cannot really compare

 

And one of the Celibrity Delux, not sure what model. (holes in the top).I can check when I get home

 

 

Pad-- Yep, I can see how you would feel the latter would sound like junk. The Celeb Deluxe is just not that nice a sound to my ears either...

 

You should try an Adamas sometime, I think you'd be surprised on the much better, warmer tone with that model---both plugged and unplugged.

You may not want to purchase one, but they do serve their purpose as a very good sounding, well built gig guitar.

 

Me!

[geneb2450]

I bought 2 Ovations new in 1983 - a 6 string collectors and a 12 string Pacemaker. In 1983 the choices were limited for an 'electric' acoustic. I still own both. They look great, play great and have stood the test of time. Sure, today's models are sexier, and may have a better pure acoustic tone. But a higher end Made in America Ovation, like the new LX series, provide good bang for the buck. And used '80s American Ovations can easily be had for $300 or so. I agree that Ovation's foreign made guitars have something to be desired, but for a working musician on a budget, you could do a lot worse.

[JacoMon]

Ya know... back in the day. Unless you had access to a FRAP, no pickup sounded better than the salad bowl plastic jobs (Ovations). Please don't shudder at my confession. In the late 70's (when I was playing for a living), I had an outlaw shop carve an ovation pup into my Guild D-44. I also had a Lawrence in the hole, and had a SM57 pointed toward the 14th fret for live performance. For the time, it sounded better than most of the systems I heard. I recently had the "O" pup removed and a large bone bridge installed.
A baggs Element Active in the slot, and an I -Beam underneath comprise the current setup. I'm not sure its an improvement when plugged in. But it does play better acoustically, which was my main reason for the change. One thing Ovation did long ago was show nearly everyone else how poor their pickups sounded.
At least for that, they deserve a standing (should I say it...) Ovation.