Ovation Applause Mandolins

[Jack_Daniels]

Does anyone have any advice on whether on not these are worth the money?

Folk of the Wood (http://www.folkofthewood.com/page2217.htm)
Ovation's Website (http://www.ovationguitars.com/index.cfm?fa=detail&mid=72)

Thanks,
Jason

[bjc]

Most people have said to go with the Ovation rather than the Applause. And I have read some negative posts about the Applause...and don't let people get started about FOTW.

[Moose]

AS a former "picker"-of-tunes, I can say that Ovation makes/made(??) excellent guitars ; both acoustic and electric - the FT guitars are/were not exactly "orthodox"("composite material" back!), but one of my friends - now in G'nashville - plays an Ovation "thin-line" electric - he's had it for years & loves it. Hope this helps. Above all..., play 'em BOTH & don't go by "cosmetics" - Let us know how it goes. Moose. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Fred's Mobile Homes]

The Ovation mandolin is well made, like their guitars, but basically is built like a guitar, with a flat top and low bridge. The tone is something between that of a flat top guitar and an arch top mandolin. They sound good amplified with their built-in pickup.

Just don't expect these mandolins to have a chop tone like an F-5.

[billkilpatrick]

if you're ok with a polyresin bowl you might also consider the crafter M-70

http://crafterguitars.com/main.html

their site is appalling: click on "guitar series", scroll down past "pro series" till you see "regular series" then select mandolin. there's also some correspondence on the crafter in the electric section of the cafe.

[8ch(pl)]

In my opinion they were designed by someone who thinks you can make a mandolin in the same way as a guitar. I have a serious prejudice against a guitar type bridge on a mandolin. The smaller top is an issue for sound with this method of construction. I have seen finish separation on 3 new import versions in a store. I also saw one in for repairs at my friend's shop that had serious top issues.

Yes, there are well known builders who make mandolins without tailpiece, using a through the top bridge like a guitar. I would not buy one of them either. I just don't like the idea.

[8ch(pl)]

In my opinion they were designed by someone who thinks you can make a mandolin in the same way as a guitar. I have a serious prejudice against a guitar type bridge on a mandolin. The smaller top is an issue for sound with this method of construction. I have seen finish separation on 3 new import versions in a store. I also saw one in for repairs at my friend's shop that had serious top issues. I have my doubts that the bridge is strong enough for the tensions on a mandolin, particularily the twisting pull from the back of the bridge. Strings attached to a tailpiece appliy downward pressure on the bridge.

Yes, there are well known builders who make mandolins without tailpiece, using a through the top bridge like a guitar. I would not buy one of them either. I just don't like the idea.

[glauber]

Applause supposedly is very bad. I've never played one. I have a Celebrity (also Korean), and IMHO, if you can get one of those for a reasonable price (<$300), it may give you good mileage. One day when i have the $ i'll upgrade mine to an US-made Ovation or something else, but in the meantime, i've got a lot out of the Celebrity.

What i like: nice electronics, nice preamp and tone controls. If you set it right, it sounds very nice amplified. No distortion, no feedback. Good solid construction, will take a beating and stay in one piece. Can have it any color you want, as long as it's red.

What i don't like: thick, non-adjustable neck. Action a little high (but usable, at least in mine). Non-adjustable bridge. Requires ballend strings, so the selection is a little limited (i actually saved the "balls" from several sets, so now i can use loop-end strings on the Ovation, by adding the balls). The battery, on the Celebrity, is a pain to change (at least it lasts a long time).

Another caveat: you'll get no respect from players of other brands. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

It doesn't have the kind of sound they expect for bluegrass, but IMHO it works well for jazz, choro, etc.

By the way, the link you have to the Ovation site points to a Celebrity (MCS148), not Applause; they don't have the Applause on their site.

Folk of the Wood: Run away! Run away! (http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_sounds/hg/runaway.wav)

g

[BlakHoleXplosion]

I'm a big fan of the Ovation guitars of any price range, but I didn't find that their mandolin offered any real advantages. I'm satisfied with my decision to buy a Fender instead.

[glauber]

I'm a big fan of the Ovation guitars of any price range, but I didn't find that their mandolin offered any real advantages. I'm satisfied with my decision to buy a Fender instead.
Is that one of the Acoustic-electric Fenders with magnectic pickups, or a solidbody, or something else? How do you like it?

[Dennis Schubert]

Don't know if it's true or not, but I was told that when you play a plastic instrument, you have to use a rosewood or mahogany pick to get any tone out of it.

[billkilpatrick]

nope ... i can't go along with that. my crafter has a sweet tone. i heard a godin guitar just recently in a "hot jazz" type trio and noticed that it, as well as my mandolin and the ovation guitar a friend of mine has, tend to make a very "smooth" sound - for the want of better word.

this is similar to the debate surrounding the wooden bowl or armadillo shell charangos. i've played some "goodies" in both camps - as well as some duds.

[glauber]

Don't know if it's true or not, but I was told that when you play a plastic instrument, you have to use a rosewood or mahogany pick to get any tone out of it.
No, not true. A plastic pick works quite well. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif