Ovation

proggy · July 2015

I cannot stand bowl-backs, only ever played one, sounded and felt horrible and awkward.

What is the point of them?

Why do they make them?

thomasross20 · July 2015

Didn't the owners come from an aeronautics background?

I think they were trying to apply some of their principles...

Neil · July 2015

thomasross20 said:

Didn't the owners come from an aeronautics background?
I think they were trying to apply some of their principles...

Charles Kaman started a helicopter company and the bowl backs on Ovations were made of composites, apparently from the same stuff as rotor blades IIRC.

proggy · July 2015

It might be very high-tech and all that, but you can't really replace the beauty of wood with melted down helicopter blades.
I don't think!

Evilmags · July 2015

They were the sound of 80s electroaccoustics. Jimmy Page and Roy Harper´s Jugula album is the sound of an ovation at its most period correct. I think pickup systems got a lot better than they were back in the day and Kaman´s other brand (Takamine) seems to have replaced them as a go to electro. They have appeared on a lot of really good albums and Al Di Meola soldiers on with his, oblivious to fashion.

thomasross20 · July 2015

Yep I was going to mention about Al!

ICBM · July 2015

I think Fripp still uses his too.

Neil · July 2015

Al Di Meola, Robert Fripp.

Dare I open the case again?
:-O

ESBlonde · July 2015

Evilmags said:

They were the sound of 80s electroaccoustics. Jimmy Page and Roy Harper´s Jugula album is the sound of an ovation at its most period correct. I think pickup systems got a lot better than they were back in the day and Kaman´s other brand (Takamine) seems to have replaced them as a go to electro. They have appeared on a lot of really good albums and Al Di Meola soldiers on with his, oblivious to fashion.

Chicago - 'if you leave me now' was the classic ovation sound. Mind you the whole song is lush with aural exciters and spiky reverb so the ovation fits right in there.

Chalky · July 2015

I've got a Ovation Glen Campbell if anybody is looking to sample Ovation delights

Neil · July 2015

Chalky said:

I've got a Ovation Glen Campbell if anybody is looking to sample Ovation delights

They are a difficult shift.

I've had mine up in the classifieds for what seems like centuries (well months anyway).

John_P · July 2015

I've just been playing mine - I still love it.

MattFGBI · July 2015

Until the beginning of the year we distributed Ovation across Europe. Having sold, played and serviced them over the last 7 years or so I've got to say that some of them were absolutely fantastic. They are very much a "marmite" brand and have a dedicated following. Plenty of innovative designs over the years - but some quite terrible designs too, like an aluminium neck!

From a service point of view I don't remember seeing many of the USA made ones back at all. The factory was very good and had a lot of guys there that had been with the company for many years. Not the easiest guitars to work on but not over engineered like some of the other brands we've had.....

But yeah, can't play them sitting down!

Sassafras · July 2015

Can if you've got 'em on a strap.

Actually that's how I play most guitars whether I'm standing or sitting. They all slide aroud to some extent.

HAL9000 · July 2015

I have an acoustic Ovation Balladeer which I bought with some money left to me when my Nan died about thirty years back. Sounds pretty good although some of the frets are say past their best. Bought it after seeing Lindisfarne (remember them?) using one at Fairfield Halls and being impressed with how resonant it was. Still gets played most days.

Neil · July 2015

HAL9000 said:

I have an acoustic Ovation Balladeer which I bought with some money left to me when my Nan died about thirty years back. Sounds pretty good although some of the frets are say past their best. Bought it after seeing Lindisfarne (remember them?) using one at Fairfield Halls and being impressed with how resonant it was. Still gets played most days.

Fairfield Halls 'eh.

Saw Chuck Berry and John Mayall there.

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