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Post by andy3sheds on Mar 21, 2021 20:51:08 GMT
I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a 12 fret Ovation 12 string. I thought years ago that I would end up with an Ovation but it never happened and I’m quite happy with the guitars I’ve got so nothing ever came of that. My current 12 string is a maple Guild J30 it’s big and blonde and plays well,so what’s not to like? Well it weighs a ton, which is typical for a Guild I just fancy having a lighter option. A couple of years ago when Pat Metheny played in Hull he had an Ovation 12 fret 12 string so I reckoned if they are good enough for him there should be nothing for me to complain about. What are forum members views on Ovations I do realise this is a potential Marmite topic
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Post by oustudent on Mar 21, 2021 20:53:28 GMT
Iconic, but never liked them do the reasons you mention.
J
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Post by jangarrack on Mar 21, 2021 21:52:20 GMT
I've had 2 Ovations, a shallow bowl Custom Legend and a standard or mid depth bowl Folklore, two very different guitars and both great in their own way. The two I had were US built and were certainly very well made, but I don't know how they compared to those manufactured in other countries. Personally, I never found either of them comfortable to play sitting down, but I did find the standard bowl back a lot more manageable than the shallow bowl which seemed to constantly slide about. I think there may be a knack to holding them that I never mastered as I know other people who had no trouble at all. I think it also helps if the player is not the same shape at the front as the ovation is at the back. Although I'm glad I had them, I wouldn't ever want another one. There's a lot of love on line for them and the links below may be helpful to you. www.ovationfanclub.com/Ovation FanClub(tm)www.ovationtribute.com/I think you're right about them being Marmite although it's of no relevance, I'm very partial to Marmite.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 21, 2021 22:53:55 GMT
......................... What are forum members views on Ovations ............. I owned a shallow bowl Ovation copy many years ago. I couldn't get comfortable with it sitting though it was OK standing. At the time I found the deep bowl ones too roundy-sticky-outy to play comfortably even when I was a trifle slimmer. The trouble is, Andy, at our age, most of us stick out too far just where the Ovation bowl sticks out too. Now if only they did concave backed guitars..... Do yourself a favour and get a Vintage Paul Brett signature 12er instead. Keith
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2021 7:25:09 GMT
I think it also helps if the player is not the same shape at the front as the ovation is at the back. Ah'm oot.
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Mar 22, 2021 7:53:51 GMT
Andy, I found that the better Ovations have a great sound - for the audience. Maybe that is because of the shape and mix of materials, I don't know. However, the player doesn't get the same benefits as the audience, which I consider a bit unsatisfactory. I tried several models in shops when I was on the hunt for a new guitar. I never bought one.
I read somewhere that a quite a few artists like them a lot, because they are not so prone to feedback when amplified. In addition to that, they are quite durable.
So, if you decide to get on stage and mesmerize the masses with your performance, an Ovation may be a very good option. However, if you decide to stick to one of your sheds, then I guess you'll be more than happy with other options.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Mar 22, 2021 8:10:44 GMT
If you're looking for a 12er then, depending on your budget, perhaps try a less well known UK brand called Auden. I bought my Auden 12er about 5 years ago to replace a Crafter which I found too heavy and loud/dull. The Auden is brilliant and excellent plugged in. When I've brought it to Halifax many of the guys love it as well.
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Mar 22, 2021 8:53:34 GMT
I always used a strap even when sitting down which helped, but even then it did scoot around a bit. To be honest I was glad to see the back of it ❤️
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Post by jangarrack on Mar 22, 2021 9:27:45 GMT
..........To be honest I was glad to see the back of it ❤️ I know there's an Ovation joke in there somewhere, but I can't find it.
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Post by scorpiodog on Mar 24, 2021 11:19:11 GMT
I’ll stay out of this because I have no opinion on the bloody horrible things.
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colins
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Post by colins on Mar 24, 2021 12:36:31 GMT
They are good gigging guitars plugged in standing up, never been a fan of them purely acoustic though. Though not cheap, they have to be considered almost disposable as if they need any repairs, then the usual guitar tech/repair guy will run a mile as trying to take them apart is something of a battle. That said an old friend of mine Geoff Bradford loves his, (He's the guy that turned Brian Jones down for a place in the Rolling Stones so they asked Keith Richards instead!)
I would say that if you think they have a tendency to slip off your lap, try a lute!
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mandovark
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Post by mandovark on Mar 24, 2021 14:34:20 GMT
A friend of mine had one for years and it sounded good plugged in, but (in my opinion, at least) less good acoustically. He still has it, but I know he's had some problems with the neck recently and doesn't think it will be playable for much longer. He took it to a guitar tech, but got exactly the response that colins describes. That does seem to be an issue with Ovation-style guitars: they're fine as long as they're in good working order, but if anything goes wrong they're a lot harder to fix than other acoustics.
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Mar 24, 2021 17:03:30 GMT
I once owned a Ovation Balladeer (no pickup) in the mid 80's which had a lovely sunburst top which I got by swapping it for a Gibson 'The Paul' in a shop in Bingley (JSG Music?) when I decided to change to acoustic. I didn't know anything about acoustic guitars at the time (clearly ) but I do remember it had a bit of a rougher patch of plastic where it sits on your thigh to attempt to keep it in place. It didn't work, you needed a strap It was stolen by burglers and never recovered fortunately. With the insurance money I bought a lawsuit era Japanese Takamine F360 dreadnought with a cutaway which I eventually part exchanged for my first Martin in Hanks, London. Sorry I digress. I remember thinking that the Ovation sounded reasonable at the time but what did I know......
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Post by jangarrack on Mar 24, 2021 17:43:19 GMT
............ but I do remember it had a bit of a rougher patch of plastic where it sits on your thigh to attempt to keep it in place. It didn't work, you needed a strap It was stolen by burglers and never recovered fortunately. With the insurance money I bought a lawsuit era Japanese Takamine F360 dreadnought with a cutaway which I eventually part exchanged for my first Martin in Hanks, London. Sorry I digress. I remember thinking that the Ovation sounded reasonable at the time but what did I know...... Both of my Ovations had that rougher patch you refer to and in my case it didn't seem to help at all. I actually bought a thing called a Slip-Grip, a purpose made self-adhesive, anti-slip patch which was stuck over the rough patch. That didn't work for me either. Interesting about the lawsuit era Japanese Takamine as I once came across a really interesting Takamine copy of a Martin OM. I can't remember that much about it other than it had the Takamine name on the headstock in a Martin style logo, it was Japanese built and was certainly a very nice guitar. The owner thought it was probably built in the early 1970s or possibly before.
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Mar 24, 2021 18:53:44 GMT
A bit off topic, sorry Andy. I own a lawsuite era japanese Maya which is an excellent copy of a Gibson Hummingbird, including the now sacred open book headstock. That guitar (my first) has been with me for nearly 40 years now. I could never give it away. And most certainly not for an original Hummingbird
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