Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). Ovation acoustics, are they still going? - Acoustics Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Ovation acoustics, are they still going?

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  • downbytheriverdownbytheriver Frets: 1003
    I went through a series of Adamas II guitars in the 80s and 90s (trying different depths, cutaway/non cutaway, different colours). They all had the best necks I’ve ever played (quite distinct V and I always liked the sound. For me it was full depth with cutaway that worked best. 

    I also owned three nylon string Ovations that were really excellent, narrowish classical neck - very playable and good plugged in sound. 
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  • TanninTannin Frets: 4394
    The subject happened to come up in conversation with my local luthier/repairer this week. Before saying too much, he asked if I liked Ovations. (I think he was just checking in case he had to be tactful if I'd said "Oh yes, my favourite guitars".)

    Anyway, he said he gets a lot of them in for repair with a characteristic fault: cracking in the wooden top. As he put it, the plastic bowl back can't move (with temperature and humidity changes) while the top has to move. Result: peculiar cracks which sit up above the rest of the surface and are very difficult to repair neatly. He did say it was mostly old ones. Whether that is because the new ones are better made and have some better way of coping with expansion or whether it is simply because hardly anyone buys them anymore, he didn't say.
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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    edited December 2021
    Interesting about the cracks in the tops. Not seen that myself but I've not seen old Ovations where issues have had longer to develop. I've heard Ovations (a guy last night who came on after me at a gig played one) and to my ear they sound thin  
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    edited December 2021
    The cracks are usually in the finish, not the wood as far as I've seen. Very common on older Ovations. The finish is an early and very hard polyester as far as I know - very resistant to wear and scratching, but prone to cracks.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • CostaiCostai Frets: 1
    Ovations are still the best guitars for the stage! I was playing a Legend 1617 200 nights a year for 16yrs. Reliable, never out of tune and sound that cuts through anything. Now I have guitars from the big makers but none can beat Ovations 
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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    @Costai ; firstly, welcome to the forum :). Yes, AFAIK, Ovation is still making guitars. 
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