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Ovation Celebrity
- Thread starter Larry Randall
- Start date
Too uncomfortable for me because of that rounded back...I have three Dean Exoticas and use a strap but I'm guessing the Ovation feels pretty strange even with one.
Not very loud, I'm assuming you know you have to plug in if you're thinking acoustic jams, and the plugged-in tone is only so so.
(I've only played them with the horrible factory strings, though, so they might sound better with some D'Addario black tapewounds. I'm sure some people gig with them.)
$150 sounds like a good price though, depending on how clean it is, but any flaws and you might want to reconsider.
I'd show him a hundred-dollar bill and hope for the best.
Regardless...
As I mentioned...factory strings.
Not very loud, I'm assuming you know you have to plug in if you're thinking acoustic jams, and the plugged-in tone is only so so.
(I've only played them with the horrible factory strings, though, so they might sound better with some D'Addario black tapewounds. I'm sure some people gig with them.)
$150 sounds like a good price though, depending on how clean it is, but any flaws and you might want to reconsider.
I'd show him a hundred-dollar bill and hope for the best.
Regardless...
As I mentioned...factory strings.
Last edited:
wmhill
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- Aug 20, 2012
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Their equivalent of Squier, Applause, is garbage. I have a skinny stringer Ovation that is really nice at the price point.
You're just hoping for a good acoustic bass in the neighborhood of $200...one you can play before buying?
The only ABG I have ever owned (20 years ago) was a Jasmine (by Takamine.)
It was a nice enough instrument, but "deep-bodied" - jumbo? - and after owning it a few years, I had to admit to myself that it just wasn't comfortable for me.
I think that would go double for the Ovations with that big, rounded back they have. Also, ugh, that big rounded back is plastic - I just don't like the thought of that for some reason...
I don't know that I'd go full-on ABG again, I think I'd be giving a semi-hollow a whirl first.
It was a nice enough instrument, but "deep-bodied" - jumbo? - and after owning it a few years, I had to admit to myself that it just wasn't comfortable for me.
I think that would go double for the Ovations with that big, rounded back they have. Also, ugh, that big rounded back is plastic - I just don't like the thought of that for some reason...
I don't know that I'd go full-on ABG again, I think I'd be giving a semi-hollow a whirl first.
I have an applause acoustic 6 string that is amazing, owned it since new from years ago.
I am a big fan of Ovation acoustic guitars and basses. Here's a part of my collection:
The Celebrity line is a good value for the money. I have one of those as well.
The Celebrity line is a good value for the money. I have one of those as well.
I have had one since 1995. First thing I ever saved up money for. Ovation Celebrity Deluxe cc274
I'm super bonded to it so I don't know how impartial I am. I used to gig with it in college when I was in an acoustic band. Since college it's mostly been my practice bass. I rarely amp it because the pup is screwed up and stays on of the time and burns through the 9v batteries. I have to take off the back cover and plug/unplug the pup. It's been like this for like 12 years now and I haven't gotten around to having it fixed. I really should tho.
it's small scale and I find it comfortable. I wish it were louder without being powered but that's the nature of the beast.
I'm super bonded to it so I don't know how impartial I am. I used to gig with it in college when I was in an acoustic band. Since college it's mostly been my practice bass. I rarely amp it because the pup is screwed up and stays on of the time and burns through the 9v batteries. I have to take off the back cover and plug/unplug the pup. It's been like this for like 12 years now and I haven't gotten around to having it fixed. I really should tho.
it's small scale and I find it comfortable. I wish it were louder without being powered but that's the nature of the beast.
I've played the ovation acoustic 6 strings so I'm used to the body style. I'm probably partial to them. I'd say that acoustically, they lack volume. Plugged in, it's pretty much like a lot of basses. With the right EQ you can get almost any acoustic to sound ok. I'd do a search on Craigslist through google advanced search to see what they're going for. You can also check Reverb and Music go round. from what I saw they were going for between $3-500. What someone said about the applause basses being questionable is probably legit, but they are a lower line of ovation. One frustrating thing is that I wanted to buy a case for a Celebrity elite bass that I was considering buying from Music go round... it was nearly impossible to get a response from Ovation to check case availability since they're no longer manufactured in the US... I think they moved to Germany.
A local store had an Ovation and a Celebrity ABG in stock at the same time so I got to compare.
Let's just say it was one of those cases where you definitely get what you pay for. (The Celebrity didn't do a thing for me. I wound up buying the Ovation and have used it in a bunch of different settings - band mates really like it. One of my all-time best buys.)
But, how wrong can you go for $150? (At that price I'd almost be tempted to scoop it up for a beater/camping ABG. I have an Applause mandolin that serves in that capacity.)
Let's just say it was one of those cases where you definitely get what you pay for. (The Celebrity didn't do a thing for me. I wound up buying the Ovation and have used it in a bunch of different settings - band mates really like it. One of my all-time best buys.)
But, how wrong can you go for $150? (At that price I'd almost be tempted to scoop it up for a beater/camping ABG. I have an Applause mandolin that serves in that capacity.)
Some people are quick to slam ovations... but a quick search would show that there are a lot of pros that play them. I like My 6 strings simply because they sound the same today as when I bought them in the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s and they've been nearly indestructible. To me they're more comfortable than a standard guitar, but that's what I'm used to. To those that haven't played them, they're going to feel awkward.
For $150, I'd probably check a bass out. It's easy to tell if it's a problem child or not just by looking at the bridge. (Same as most acoustic basses). Any problems are usually pretty evident on inspection.
For $150, I'd probably check a bass out. It's easy to tell if it's a problem child or not just by looking at the bridge. (Same as most acoustic basses). Any problems are usually pretty evident on inspection.
I bought a case for my 2 Ovation bass guitars. I ordered it direct from Ovation through their website. It took a month or so to arrive.
I'd second that you always need to wear a strap when playing an Ovation round back. Even when sitting. It keeps it upright. I play a Balladeer guitar.
I played a lot of phone tag with ovation, and eventually got through to what was supposed to be the US distributer... He basically told me that the particular case i was looking for was close to unobtainable and told me to go to an aftermarket case and put some backing material behind it... The shame... I had the blessing from my boss to buy the bass, but couldn't see not having a good case for an acoustic. Had to pass on it.
Weirdest thing was he answered the phone with a simple hello, nothing saying he was affiliated with Ovation. At first I thought it was a wrong number, then when I started talking model numbers he was on it.
Well there seems to be two camps on Ovations.I am not that good of player and I do have a good Ampeg bass. The video I saw earlier did not sound good. I guess I was wanting a better sound. Maybe I should look for more clips. Thank each of you for the help.
