(Ovation) bowl back guitars

[Dangermouse1968]

Can someone please tell me a little about these.

I have a Washburn D10S standard acoustic but looking for something smaller and a little quiter. Even though I'm 6 foot 2 I struggle to get me arm right round the thing to play above the hole and am finding it rather loud.

Would these work?

Might need to buy blind off the Bay :-(

Thnaks,

DM

[ICBM]

I would strongly advise you to try one before buying. They're very different from standard acoustic guitars. Personally I find the tone tinny and artificial, and the way they sit against your body awkward - they have a tendency to slip down and outwards, even sitting down. Older ones and cheaper copies also frequently have problems with neck joints and playability - the way a wooden neck is joined to a plastic body just doesn't seem to work as well as wood to wood.

They really gained a big foothold in the late 70s and early 80s because they were some of the first acoustics with a decent(ish) pickup and preamp system for live use, but you rarely see them nowadays because standard guitars have been fitted with those things as well. They're pretty much a solution to a problem that no longer exists now.

I'm sure someone will come along to defend them - they do have their fans, and I've played nice ones as well, although never anything with the very shallow body or other than a proper Ovation, which are expensive. But by and large I'd avoid them - and certainly if you're buying blind with no experience of them.

There are many more smaller/quieter 'square' body acoustics available now - you could do worse than look at a Yamaha APX. Personally I don't think they sound very good either, but they are certainly small, light, quiet, well-made and have a reasonably decent amplified sound.

[ESchap]

I had an ovation a few years ago, bought for me as a present in the late nineties. Really never got on with it. Tone was tinny to my ears and as ICBM says it's like a boat that always wants to capsize, whether on your knee or a strap. Traded it for a Taylor 000 size and was MUCH happier!

[jalapeno]

Agree with the tinny & awkward comments ^^^^^^^

If you do - look for the upmarket models like the Adamas or Glen Campbell models

[ESBlonde]

Get a parlour size proper guitar, there are some that sound very sweet and are small and cozy. iirc Bertie was recently on the quest to find one and might have a tip or two to offer.

Roundbacks only saving grace was the live feedback resistance thing, and as stated that problem no longer exists for acoustic guitarists.

Edit

Yer Tis...
http://forum.musicradar.com/showthre...g-for-a-Parlor

[bertie]

all of that.......what they blokes up there said..... avoid is best.

[Dangermouse1968]

Thanks oh wise ones, i'll steer clear :-)

[Not_the_DJ]

The Yamaha APX range might be good alternative (as mentioned above).

I had one for ages and while it was a little boxey compared to other acoustics I got on with it really well, and plugging in it sounded fine.

Slimish body and quite well suited to an electric player.

Plus they sold loads of them over the years so they'll be plenty of used ones out there.

[bertie]

what's yer budget Mr Mouse ??

[Dangermouse1968]

I'm not sure. Absolute max 500 but ideally less. It really depends how blown away I get and I'm not in any rush.