Ovation

[JeffD]

I just played an Ovation electric accoutic mandolin, more to test out an amplifier than anything else.

It was much better than I would have thought. Playability very very good, sound very very good. I think it leaves something to be desired in the looks department.

What has been your experience.

[DryBones]

I like the looks of them but they don't make a lefty so it's not in my future.

[Pen]

I play the MM68 when I need to plug in and it suits my needs very well for that. Unplugged, it has an average sound - but reasonable. Plugged in, it sounds great. It's quite sturdy (which is nice when I play in bars). Overall - a great stage instrument.

I wasn't that impressed with the lower lvl models. If you are thinking of buying - I'd recommend spending the extra $$ and get the nicer of their models (MM68). I'll bet you like it.

[Tim2723]

I played an MM68 for nearly seven years (it was one of the first batch) as my primary stage instrument. #I chose it because of the electronics and its plugged in sound, which is very nice. #In my opinion, it really is an electric instrument, and not that well suited for pure acoustic playing. # But Ovations are really electric instruments after all. #They just look like acoustics. # But its real advantage to me was the ability to plug in and forget about the technology. #It never fed back, it never lost power abruptly, didn't distort or overdrive, and was dead quiet electrically. #It was a dependable money maker for me. #I had it modified with an on-board Stealth tuner and a mute switch so that I could tune silently. #It died one night when it hit the floor face first. #I still have it as a backup emergency mando, and use it sometimes when I don't want to risk damaging my new mandolin. #The finish is severly cracked from the bridge outward, but it still plays as well as when it was new. #Just looks awfull.

Downsides: It uses ball-end strings, so you're stuck with the Adamas sets (not much choice) or you buy single strings (not much better choice). #It's also inconvenient to change batteries, as you have to unscrew an access plate on the back, just like the early Adamas guitars. #They may have fixed that in the new ones though. The Adamas guitars now have a sliding hatch on the battery compartment, maybe the mando does too? #The case is a custom job and was about $170 a copy when I was using it. #No cheap case alternatives. #It was frequently mistaken for a ukulele, and lots of people asked "What is that weird little guitar you play?"

I now play a Michael Kelly electric and like it even better, but I'd get another MM68 in a heartbeat if anything happened to it.

[trevor]

I've had a couple of used MM68s, very different acoustic sound, one dryish and quiet, the other fuller with more resonance. As others have said, they are in their home turf plugged in.

[MandoSquirrel]

For what it's worth, Ted at JazzMando offers these:
http://jazzmando.com/mandobird_strings.shtml
sets of four. I know nothing except what I've read there, i don't have anything I'd use them on, NFI.

[mandroid]

Seriously,WAY easier to put a loose ball in a loop end string , than it is to take the ball out of a guitar string. ball just has to stay long enough to be tuned up, then Its fine..
then again you can custom gage, just buy 4 bulk guitar string bags .

[Mark Levesque]

D'addario makes a ball end string that sounds great on a Ovation. The Adamas strings feel real cheap in comparison.
http://www.fqms.com/D_Addario_Mandol...16440C1112.cfm
I use an Ovation for any gig where i need a lot of volume, band shells, large corporate events etc. There is never any feedback, hum or any problems whatsoever. Also the battery life is amazing.
The lighter the touch you use in both hands, the better the MM68s sound. If you play hard, they can sound terrible (piezo-y).