Ovation Balladeer 4771

This model is quite rare. It was produced a year or two to offer a version of the Balladeer cheaper than the standard appear before the Special Balladeer. To reduce costs, the connection is made in Korea, the net along the handle has gone and you can have it anywhere in any color as long as it is the sunburst. For the rest, we are in the same configuration as the Balladeer 1771 of the time:
- Crate Lyrachord midbowl Cutaway
- Solid spruce
- Mahogany Two-part V
- Fingerboard and bridge (crossing) rosewood
- Pre-amplifier OP-24 + (volume, 3 band equalizer, off the EQ, pre-shape, mid-shift)
- Mechanical oil bath

It has a guitar with all the fundamentals for stage and home. Few frills.

UTILIZATION

The handle is surprising when one is accustomed to traditional guitars: fine and fast. Being accustomed to one of my Simon and Patrick is relatively wide, I needed time to adapt (fast) for finger-picking. To pick, it becomes an advantage and we'll quickly for Al Di Meola as it is thought to facilitate the game The cutaway full well his office and the high notes are very accessible.

Played seated, rounded shape of the body does not pose a problem and does not slip at least to keep the guitar in Freddie Green (that is to say very crooked). Performed standing, it falls fairly upright except possibly if it was too overweight.

SOUNDS

Most of the time, the image that was Ovation is their low-cost production: the Celebrity. With few exceptions, they have a table cons-plated which makes them unattractive in acoustics. The 4771 is a real Balladeer so his table is massive and it has good projection.

Important thing on a guitar, the majority of the power and timbre of the instrument passes through the table so a person directly opposite the musician better hear the sonic potential of the instrument that whoever plays. The Ovation have this in common with resonator guitars to have a fund that does not disperse the sound so the phenomenon is even more true. An Ovation tries to two guitarists or you may not hear the full potential of the instrument.

In terms of timbre, the quality is a subjective thing. As much as I find Takamine without character, much like the Ovation. The response is uniform over the entire range and sustain there is (as it is disconcerting at first). It is not in the register of a Martin D-28 in his round and thick but rather in the sharpness and brightness. To make a comparison with the electrical field, I would compare with the Martin Gibson and Ovation with a Telecaster. For a soundtrack, I refer you to the Guitar Trio (Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola) or Al Di Meola.

On many acoustic guitars, I find that using extra light strings pulling it sound soft and lifeless. I think it's more the case on this instrument. It may lack heat, but can easily be detached on the other hand of the band's sound while staying clear and precise (acoustic), very valuable for the soloist.

The instrument response is quite different from that of a more traditional guitar and can bring his game to review and explore new things that my other guitars I had not brought. In general, she excels in everything that is played with a pick.

The amplified sound is impressive. The timbre of the instrument is respected. Whether in a table, electro-acoustic amp or even a tube amp (thanks to pre-shape), the pre-amplifier (at the same time, Ovation is the inventor of the preamp board ...) allows quickly find a setting that will make you sound acoustics. By working a little EQ, we obtained an electro sound like Al Di Meola, but it could just as easily sound acoustics.

PS: Al Di Meola does not hesitate to saturate his Ovation Legend on stage, I tried, it is curiously very usable.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought six months ago because my other sound a little tired and begins to fear the move (while Ovation is made for). In unconditional Marcel Dadi, I always had a certain sympathy for Ovation with a preference for models with central rosette which I really like the particular sound.

I tried lots of Ovation guitar since I was (14 years) and I did not hesitate for long when I saw this hand Balladeer price at which one usually finds Celebrity second hand (because not made in the USA that while the level is that of a Standard Balladeer). The quality / price ratio is impressive for an instrument capable of professional use.

I love the handle type highway, turn indestructible and this unique sound both acoustic qu'amplifiée. It is just sometimes too powerful for me in sound but it made me want to work harder game to pick more rhythmic and worked while I am more oriented game to fingers.