Ovation

Made in China 20 Frets Pinless bridge Has Ovation OP4B pickup/pre-amp. Set Neck UTILIZATION I find this has a wonderful sound. I've always been impressed with Ovation's deep-bowl 12-strings. They are the perfect marriage of science and art. They project well with clearly articulated notes across the spectrum. The lows are not muddy and the highs sparkle without sounding tinny. Because this is a non-cutaway body, one does not have easy access to the upper frets. I do not see this as a problem since I very seldom play higher than the seventh fret. SOUNDS I primarily play this as an acoustic, but occasionally run it through a sound board when gigging. If I am using my soundboard, I run it through a Zoom A2 pedal, and then into a dual i/o DI box and from there, into a Peavey XR1212P, using two of the channels and panning one full left and the other full right to take advantage of the stereo FX. Usually I try for a clean sound, but occasionally will use delay and/or flanging/phasing. This combination is perfect for a sound I prefer to call "Psychedelic Country Gospel." OVERALL OPINION Features I like most: the sound, the electronics, the pinless bridge, the deep bowl, non-cutaway body design. This has no features I dislike. I've been playing guitar for over 40 years and 12-string for over 35 of those years. In that time I've owned six other 12-strings and tried over two dozen others ranging from high-end models by Taylor, Guild, and Martin, to intermediate-priced offerings from Conn, Alvarez, Guild, and Ovation, to student-priced models such as Ibanez, Dean, Fender, Yamaha, Samick, and Epiphone. The only other guitars I've played which match this for sound were a Guild F-412 and an Ovation AA35 . Knowing what I know now, I would still buy this guitar without any regrets.

Ovation's Magnum I is an electric bass guitar that is definitely on the unique side. I believe that these basses were made in the late 1970's, although there are a few different models of the Magnum bass. The Magnum I has both a neck and a bridge pick up, along with tone and volume knobs for each of them and a pick up switch selector to choose between the two or to blend them. Uniquely, it also has two 1/4" connections on it for sending it to either one or two places, which is really cool and unlike any other instrument I've seen that I can think of... UTILIZATION The overall feel of the Ovation Magnum I is definitely more than enjoyable. It has a heavy sort of feel to it, in that I found the strings and action on the one that I played to be quite thick. It isn't hard to play, but does take a little bit more force than something with a more fluid feel. To me this isn't a bad thing, it just means that it has a different feel and therefore a different type of sound. The look and style of the body is really quite cool looking and very unique. SOUNDS The sounds that are possible with the Ovation Magnum I can definitely be manipulated in a variety of ways, but overall it has a very thick and heavy sound. It's great for getting more of an aggressive sound rather than a smooth one, but it is capable of getting a wide array of tones between the way you play it and the pick ups. I've used the bass in the studio, where we recorded it both direct with a Sansamp DI and through an Ampeg amplifier and got a really outstanding sound. OVERALL OPINION Other than the one that I've used, I've never seen or used another Ovation Magnum I bass guitar. Upon first seeing this guitar in the studio where I used it, I was definitely instantly impressed by the look and make up of it. I was even more surprised to find that Ovation made it, as I'm used to seeing them only make acoustic guitars. The Magnum I is one of the coolest bass guitars that I've had the pleasure of using.

My guitar is a Pawn shop find. They are USA made guitars, but the hardware is made in Germany (Schaller). The guitar looked a bit sad when I got it... missing 2 tuning machines, and looked well under-loved. At some point, the guitar had been re-finished... and they didn't do a bad job... the refinish was long ago, since there were plenty of knicks and scratches to account for the age. I disassembled it all, buffed it all out, cleaned the pots, and gave it a full tune up. I sourced original parts to put it back how it belonged. That said, it's a very solid guitar. Sonics are a Telecaster on steroids. The fretboard is a bit on the flat side... and Fender guys who try it get fussed up about that. As far as a solid players instrument, you can't go wrong. Good construction, great hardware, stays in tune great, plays with a strong bite. If you see one for under 500$ US, you won't get burned providing condition is good. The pickguards are prone to cracking at the input jack, so watch for that. Otherwise, give it a whirl. It's a well made guitar that should hold up. This is one of those "Sleeper" guitars that you can get for less $$.. but delivers great performance.

I play mostly folk music (Dylan, Baez, John Prine). My wife writes the lyrics to songs which we copyrighted and put up on Lulu.com My wife has been writing lyrics for about 5 years and I edit them & co-wrote some with her. I also put the mucic to one of ours, "The american Dream" which I perform at open mic. I started playin the guitar in the mid '60's and then like a lot of us, everyday life was interrupted by time in the military. After a 40 + year hiatus, i started playing again 3 years ago & besides watching movies with my wife, playing guitar has become a big part of my life. I own several guitars, all are acoustic-acoustic/electric, except for my Epiphone Dot Studio (which is a beautiful great sounding guitar, in spite of its weighing about 15 lbs.)I play solo at open mic when I am able to & will do so more often in a few years when i retire. I aquired my Ovation CC 44 at guitar Center in Scottsdale Az. and was lucky that Musiciansfriend.com had it reduced $100.00 & Guitar Center followed suite ( for about 2 weeks, then raised the price again) and the local store honored the reduced price ($299.99), even though they were selling it for $399.00. Why did I buy it.....I like Ovations because of the unique shape of their back and they sound good too. and, the different soundholes on the CC 44 make it (Ovation) pretty much, one of a kind. After you get over the initial unique-ness of its beautiful looks (the honeymoon's over) you then pay attention to what it sounds like. Unfortunately, you have to clear up "what you don't like about it" before you can get to what you do like about it. Likes: unique soundholes. pickup is most excellent, had to turn the volume down some . when properly tuned (I double check the internal tuner with my Korg tuner) it plays beautifully. Mine was a brand new one, out of the box, not a store floor model. The action was set very low, which I would have loved, except for the frett buzz, which was terrible. I took it to a local music store for a set up, which cost me another $50.00 They did a pretty good job of set up, but it still needed a bit of tuning to get rid of the buzz on the low E string. After that got straightened out, it sounded really good & I'm glad I didn' t have to return it. It was kind of like a relationship, you had to work at it to get it right. Overall, considering the craftmanship of this model & the reduced price I would say I am happy . Finish on it was well done Frets had been filed pretty well An overall, beautiful instrument. If I had to do it over again, I would buy this model, but it would have been good to know that some work & tweaking on equalizer & amp & set up was necessary before it played & sounded good. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I'm originally a piano player- picked up guitar about 10 years ago and have attempted every style up until now. I tend to naturally side with contemporary blues. I bought this for $299 at Guitar Center, I really wasn't sure what brand I was looking for. I just wanted a decent acoustic with a pickup, and a helper at Guitar Center suggested the Ovation as the best bang for the buck in that category so I took his advice.E Great sound, both plugged and unplugged. I was a bit worried about the guitar being made in China, but it's really well crafted. Attractive design and detailing, a very beautiful guitar overall (I bought the red one). The projection is excellent for a guitar that's this thin- I'm not even sure how it works but I've played thicker guitars that don't project as well. Since the guitar has a hump-back, you really have to lean forward and step on something to play it without it slipping, but it's really not bad. The playability was my main concern- when I first bought it, the action was pretty high and made it very difficult to play fast. My friend's shop had to shave down the saddle and tune the neck to a comfortable level. Now that the action is lower, it plays much better and surprisingly, there's no buzzing or significant changes to the tone. It makes me wonder why they didn't start the guitar with this setup in the first place. I usually prefer American or Korean made guitars but playing the ovation and from the first impression, I didn't actually know it was made in China. I'm certainly impressed with the level of work here- it's definitely not the same cheap-o quality you'd expect. Excellent for the price. Obviously it doesn't stand up to the playability of a $1000+ guitar, but the tone and projection surprisingly will. So the playability, you may have to customize for yourself- but the sound and build will definitely make you a smile. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Purchased w/Visa at Mothers Music - Calgary AB, Canada for $495 to replace older bulkier acoustic... An Awesome guitar. It has already helped me improve my playing and is so fun to play, the sky is the limit. Firstly it looks great. It is a super shallow style, deep purple with a rosewood fretboard and dots and diamonds inlay. It has the classic Ovation Headstock with chrome machines. It looks like a rock star guitar... Then you pick it up to play it. It sounds great. It came strung with D'Addarios and that won't be changing. It has a "shimmering" type sound, similar to the sound you get with a 12-string. It also has the Ovation pre-amp for plugging-in, which also sounds great. The kicker for me, is the easy to use on-board tuner. I'm not far along enough in my playing to tune my guitar quickly or easily, but with this guitar its both. I've even started playing using alternate tunings which can be adjusted in a flash. I have no complaints with this guitar as of yet, but I can't see any negatives. I've read that some people have problems with it slipping off while playing, but I haven't... This is a suprisingly sturdy guitar and always stays in tune. To me that must mean its a high quality product. When I went looking for a new guitar, I decided on either a smaller body Yamaha, Takamine or Ovation, in the $500 price range. The Yamaha looks nice, but has a generic sound to it and doen't have the on-board tuner. The Tak sounds more like the Ovation ("shimmering")and has the tuner but is a little too plain looking and is priced a little higher. In the end the choice became obvious and I went with the Ovation. If you are in a similar scenario I would suggest the Ovation or maybe the Tak. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I am an Martin Accoustic Fan ( I own four). I stopped at a local Music Store and saw a Ovation CS-257 (Quilt Cherry Burst $520.00) I bought it for it's "Appearance" The action was "high" (7/64" @ 12th), but removed the "shim" at the bridge and "tweek'd" the truss rod and the action is now close to 2/32nds. It plays easy and sounds great - "Super piece of lumber" ! Considering the price, the guitar is "out standing". The "built-in" tuner is another plus. I do do not dis-like anything about this guitar I feel the construction is as good as "high end" accoustic's I own. For anyone who is an accoustic player, this guitar is perfect to own as a "change of pace, sound and feel". I am considering on purchasing another different model Ovation. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this guitar in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I purchased it at Second Encore Music for around $300 Canadian. I got it as a birthday present. I just about like everything about this guitar. Its the lightest guitar i have handled. It is round around the sides so its easy and comfortable to play. It has a rich deep sound to it. It looks great and the head is beautiful. The strings are in perfect position on the neck. I've been playing it for a year now and the strings are still in great condition and i havn't broken them once! I think i might replace them soon though... they are getting old lol. Theres not much i dont like about this guitar. Theres only 20 frets... but i cant complain its only down 1 fret :P. One of my frets is glued in badly... and there is dried glue around the area... but it doesnt effect the playing so its still good. One of my frets is glued in badly... and there is dried glue around the area... but it doesnt effect the playing so its still good. Also my friend had to get his replaced because one of his frets were to high and the face plate was coming loose. Gladly the guitar store he got it at gave him a new one for free. I dont think any of those problems are from Ovation... probably just shipping problems :P. Overall this is a great guitar and i suggest you get it if you are looking for a nice low priced acoustic. The have a whole bunch of acoustic/electrics and 12-strings too :). This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I was looking for an acoustic guitar that i could play on stage at a loud voulume that would not feed back. I found that the legend has a mid shift control that you can use to dial out feedback. I first tried the baladeer but did not like the thick c shape on the neck. I played the legend and it was perfect! Although unplugged it is not the greatest sound (some what thin) plugged in thru the pa it is awesome! I must admit the main reason I decided to go with the ovation brand is because of the built in tuner. This is a must for live playing! built in tuner-thin body-awesome amplified sound-easy to play-AMERICAN MADE! It has a low E string fret buzz that is driving me nuts! I also had to file down the edge of the nut because it was digging in to my fretting hand when playing an Emaj chord. It looks and plays great. I think it will be quite durable. If you mostly play "campfire jams" or acoustic jams unplugged, this is not the guitar for you. If you play in a loud band and want to punch thru the mix without feedback, This is definetly your baby!!! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

i recieved this guitar for my birthday last year, i aquired it at georges music and i paid 550 for it. on the actual status of the guitars looks, no matter what your taste, this will catch your eyes. i do like the electronic system that is attached to the guitar and also it has a great small neck and it is smoothe. the actual fretboard plays like an electric, and with small hands that comes in handy. the bridge seems to cut away quicky. i would rather a better bridge with the guitar. also, the neck of the guitar seems to be comeing apart from the body. and it is also sometimes hard to play due to its size and shape. it slips from off of your lap at certain times. the back of the guitar is built out of old helicopter parts and is incredibly durable. i have heard stories of the guitar surviving amazing feats. i myself have banged and dropped the guitar and it has stood up to is predesessing guitars. it is of overall good quality. the guitar overall is a nice guitar. i think you find something better with the money that had spent with but i would not disregard how great the guitar had served me. i would recomend the guitar to anyone who would want a great looking and decent playing guitar. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought my Ovation on ebay from a dealer in Colorado as a factory second. I didn't mind the blemish in the finish. It made the price much more nice. $279.00 The CS-247 Celebrity Deluxe looks, sounds, and plays great. The neck is thin and the action is very low for an acoustic. This guitar is designed to be plugged in and it has the great electronics to get it done. I always get compliments on the way it looks. The unique look of the multi-sound hole design with the leaves around them is a real eye catcher. There isn't a lot I don't like about this guitar, but the sound quality of mine when it is unplugged is not as deep or rich as the more traditional acoustic/electric guitars in a similar price range. But the great plugged in sound definitely makes up for it. I had heard that many people didn't like the round back of the guitar but I never even think about it. It has never been a problem to me. I've played mine a pretty good bit and I haven't had a bit of trouble with it. It stays in tune well and like I said before, the electronics are flawless. I definitely recommend this guitar to someone who may not have ton of money but really likes the sound of an acoustic plugged into an amp. You don't have to compromise and get a cheepo. Here is a guitar you can afford that is made well and is fun to play. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

MY Ovation was $450.00, i love Ovation and since i'm young and don't get paid much i can't afford a better one, but if i had money i would of bought every Ovation in the world, thats how much i love it It's so beautiful, it's shape is uniq, it's sort of like a Electric Guitar, the sound is so clear, it's Great well, i don't have anything to dislike, it's perfect the Ovation has made for someone like me, young, full of like, alternative rock, kind os syle ovations are the best thing in the world of music........ This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com