Ovation Mandolins

[steve in tampa]

Does anyone out there have any experience with the Ovation line? I have an MM68 that I am very happy with for non bluegrass use. I also have a Korean made Applause MAE 148 that is nota real good player, but has great tone. Both stay in tune very well.

[Bandersnatch Reverb]

Is this the Steve in Tampa that is known on the OFC board?

Either way WELCOME, but if that's you - special welcome.

[pathfinder]

I bought an Applause as a present for my niece 3-4 years ago. #She tore it open, lifted it from the box Christmas morning, and got this real puzzled look upon realizing that the strings were hanging from the instrument. #They were still connected to the bridge, which had let go from the top sometime during the night.

I'm not saying this happens to all of them, but it's the first thing I think of whenever I see an Ovation or an Applause. #I wonder whether these bridges will stand up to a mandolin's string tension over the long haul.#

I much prefer strings which are anchored to a traditional tailpiece on the bottom of the mando. #But that's just me.

I got her an 'A' style Samick on Boxing Day. #FWIW.

[steve in tampa]

Not the Steve in Tampa from OFC. What is that anyway?

The attached bridge has not been a problem, in fact I can play without getting my watch band caught in the strings.

The neck is a little wider also.

[sandcastlefaith]

I had an MM68 when I first started playing, and I wasn't very happy with it. It looked beautiful, but the sound was very shallow and small, and it didn't play very well. Maybe it was just the particular instrument I got, but . . . who knows.

[Bandersnatch Reverb]

The Applause is really a low end instrument, but even so, it has a warranty, and Ovation gladly honors it. The Ovation MM68 is well built, not my cup of tea, but they sell enough to keep em in the line-up. They're really a stage mando, meant to be played electrically. Their acoustic sound is non-traditional to say the least. I quite nearly purchased a used MM68 for a real steal ($50), but the seller ended up giving it to a family member. Such is life.

The OFC is the Ovation Fan Club (online). I can say as a general rule, Ovation is thought to be one of the best in customer service. Anything can happen in shipping, anything made can break, but from what I see, their quality is pretty high, and the warranty rock solid. I just heard a story about an original owner of a 25+ year old guitar getting the top replaced and neck reset for labor only (which is their warranty). Cost including refinish, strings and setup... was less than $150. That aint too shabby.

[steve in tampa]

I use the MM68 and an Ovation 1868 guitar (they match) outdoors in the sun and salt air. Run both through a pedal board with an A/B switch, tuner, volume pedal, chorus, Aphex Acoustic Exciter. Get a very pleasing sound for beach bar/folk rock type music.I do some sideman stuff for a very talented local performer. Folks dig the mandolin in that setting, and it is surprising how many have never seen one before!

I also have an old no name A body, and a F body Dean for bluegrass/campfire music, and ordered an MK w/ electronics.