About fifteen years ago I had an Ovation Adamas acoustic bass and it was hands down the best sounding acoustic bass guitar I ever played. I was only able to play it sitting down because of the round back. I eventually traded it for my upright bass.
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Ovation Celebrity
- Thread starter Larry Randall
- Start date
If you have a belly, definitely pass. A roundback and a round belly just don't work together.
Are you considering the Ovation because of the price?
If so, better acoustic basses are available for only a bit more cash...no need to spend four of five hundred dollars...but you might have to buy without playing.
I did with all three of mine.
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oh, I've had one. here's how it sounded with tapes and with flats.
I eventually got rid of it, as it was big to lug around and not usable without an amp.
I eventually got rid of it, as it was big to lug around and not usable without an amp.
I bought one in a pawn shop for $120--an impulse buy. I find the rounded back more comfortable to play than my Dean ABG. That said, I have yet to find any ABG that was very comfortable to play given the sound they produce. The juice ain't worth the squeeze, in my opinion.
People love them, or hate them. I have a 6 string Ovation Balladeer from 1971. I love the sound and the playability of the neck. If you can deal with the round back (Perhaps by using a strap even when you sit) then go for it.
FWIW the round back has never been an issue for me - and I have a fairly pronounced "beer baby". 
A right angle plug is preferable, as the output jack is kind of on the back.
A right angle plug is preferable, as the output jack is kind of on the back.
I have one Celebrity and two DJ Ashba Ovation guitars (not basses) - you love them or you hate them.
BUT! Although they gave me (at that time) the sound I needed, on live shows they were 110% beasts!
Always great sounding, easy to use and stable tuning.
Also, because of that lyracord backs, they are easy (but not light) for traveling.
On the other hand, for more than two years I've been trying to sell my Celebrity - but no luck! So think smart.
BUT! Although they gave me (at that time) the sound I needed, on live shows they were 110% beasts!
Always great sounding, easy to use and stable tuning.
Also, because of that lyracord backs, they are easy (but not light) for traveling.
On the other hand, for more than two years I've been trying to sell my Celebrity - but no luck! So think smart.
I like the quirky Ovation line because of the nice tone, the round back is no big deal, some users line the bout indentation with sandpaper to increase friction. The fiberglass back is nearly bulletproof so if you gig the chickenwire bar from Roadhouse this is your ax. Of course acoustic/electric basses are too quiet unplugged for anything except practice or playing in a quiet room. And the bulk of them is a challenge for arthritics like me. The other issue is the high tension of the back tends to crack the top lengthwise. I'd buy it for 1.5 C-notes.
To 5aP, what price range are yours in? They to see if this is a deal. I mentioned that my dad had and I have it now, an ovation he played and it has the cracks several have mentioned. But the neck is a litte off also, is that a common problem?
Well, I paid mine around 700€ ( if I remember well) + new machine heads 100€.
Now, I'm asking around 550€ but with strap and gigbag...
But I cannot find anything similar for sale to compare to...
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I have a 6 string one from around '82/'83. Still can't get used to the round back. Don't pick it up much, maybe 3 or 4 times a year. Playing mostly bass.
When you try it be mindful of the back.
You may like it or not or 38 years later you still won't like the back..... HAHA!
It's not a lot of money and you could probably make most of it up selling it.
GOOD LUCK!
When you try it be mindful of the back.
You may like it or not or 38 years later you still won't like the back..... HAHA!
It's not a lot of money and you could probably make most of it up selling it.
GOOD LUCK!
I had one... great guitar...
Why did I trade it? I have a bunch of great guitars... thinning the herd... had one that cost 10x as much that is not replaceable
Why did I trade it? I have a bunch of great guitars... thinning the herd... had one that cost 10x as much that is not replaceable
My brother has an Ovation Celebrity sixer. He loves it, I like the neck, the sound BUT that ridiculous rounded back made it impossible to hold comfortably. Maybe others don't find it bothersome, but that would keep me from buying one.
I've had over fifty Ovation acoustic guitars and a few acoustic basses pass through my hands. ~30 of the guitars had split seams in the tops, three had split headstocks, 100% of them were "acoustic" electric instruments. I never met anyone who liked Ovations, it's either deep love or no-thanks.
I am going to get ours out to see the fell. It has been years since I have had it out. Seems like there was something about this model.
