Ovation

[firstchair]

One day I would like to buy a better mandolin. I played an Ovation Guitar, it sounded really good. Are Ovation Mandolins just as good? Does anyone out there like it as well?

[Tim2723]

I bought one when they forst came out and played it as my primary stage instrument for 10 years until it met an untimely demise on the pub floor.

It's fair to say that they aren't for everyone. The tone is a bit guitar-like, but still distinctively mandolin. It doesn't have the Bluegrass sound. I play Irish folk, and it was perfect for that. Classical would be good on it too, and I think Old Time players would like the sound, if not the technology.

It is a very reliable mandolin. In 3000 performances it never let me down once. The electronics are typical of Ovation. They are designed for the mandolin, and it sounds its best plugged in. While Ovations can be played acoustically, it's never really their strong point. They are electric instruments. But the mandolin never fed back at any volume level, and was compatible with every sound board I encountered.

I played it for ten years and got nothing but compliments. I think if I were in a BG band that would have been different though. I paid $1000 for it, so it cost me $100 a year. I thought it was one of the best investments I ever made.

I replaced it two years ago with a Michael Kelly FS-E, which is nice for the money, but I'm planning on getting another Ovation this Spring.

It depends on the kind of music you want to play, and your need for amplification. If you only plan to amplify once in a while and play mostly acoustic, steer clear of the Ovation. If you're going to be plugged in all the time, the Ovation deserve serious consideration.

[Jeff Hildreth]

The Ovation mandolins come in a higher level and lower level model

I can't recall the numbers

I much prefer the more expensive one

As to your question.. are the Ovation mandolins as good as their guitars ?

That is opening the door : )

[Tim2723]

Oh, I should have mentioned that mine was the MM68. #That's the higher end domestic model. #I've also tried the imported version. #It's very similar, but not as solidly built, IMO.

As to the mandolin being as good as their guitars, well, they are made with the same materials and construction techniques to the same quality standards. Those who like Ovation guitars will probably like the mandolin, and those who don't probably won't. Not much more to it than that really.

The primary strong point of the Ovation is the ability to plug and and forget about the technology. I never had to struggle with the electronic end of things, so I could focus my attention on the music. That's a big plus for me. Others are free to disagree, but they're also free to buy whatever instrument suits them.

Oh yeah, there is one other thing. The Ovation uses ball end strings. There's only two choices of their own strings (light and meduim) and if you want anything else you have to buy singles and make up your own sets. No big deal really, but not as convenient.

[Ted Eschliman]

Huge Ovation Fan here. Avoid the Applause, the Celebrity is okay (my first mandolin), but the Ovation USAs are very useful electric/acoustic instruments. My favorite was my custom made Ovation Adamas CF top. Incidentally, string choices are limited, unless you know where to look. D'addario makes the EJ70 (11 15 24 38), Thomastiks are available in a ball end (and REALLY warm up the instrument). For what it's worth, the JazzMando Labella JM10B will be available in a ball end version soon, (10 14 24 35).

[entau]

I never owned one ( now I have an ovation mandocello!!!)

all the ovation mandos I played -

play easy ( action and neck)
are light weight
sound great plugged in
stay in tune regardless of the weather(for the most part)
ussually come with a nice hardshell case

have almost no tone (or volume) unplugged
are flat top instruments

definatley not for bluegrass ( or hard core anyway)

overall a nice mando for the price

if I had to choose between a mid range ( $6-800) pacrim
or an ovation in close price proximity - I would go for the ovation.

[mandroid]

FwIw, all loop end strings are usable,
once up to tension, string balls, put ad hoc, into loop strings work just fine.

on like my 8 string FM61 with 4 ferrules thru the body,
It even works to double up 2 strings on one ball.

[Tillmanator]

I have and play and like my Ovation. I agree with all the previous posts about its sound (like a small guitar) and the ball end string thing (being harder to find... well not hard to find but more limited choices) etc.

If you wanna hear an amateur (myself) play one, feel free to check out my Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/TLMN8R

It will probably sound even better once I have more ability.

The strings on it at the time of the vids were what came on it originally. The tag said they were D'Addario. There is only one choice in D'Addario ball end. That's these:

http://www.juststrings.com/dad-ej70.html

In my search for new strings (I find these to be a bit heavy for me) I also found these:

http://elderly.com/accessories/items/PFBM.htm

These are currently on my mando now and I like them!

I also found these with the help of someone's post here on the cafe:

http://elderly.com/accessories/items/154K.htm

And I see that someone mentioned another set in a previous post up there.

I am enjoying my Ovation (I LOVE LOVE Ovation guitars... just bought my husband a doubleneck... will post pics soon... and I want a black one as I'm excited about learning guitar also). It definitely has the "Ovation sound". So if you like that sound, you will like this mando. It's not gonna give you a nice big bluegrass chop but for pretty much anything else it will be fine.

And it's kinda cute too, as it looks like a little guitar. But that's just the girl in me talking.

Have fun in your quest.

[Pen]

IMO, the Ovation MM68 is great if you intend to use it plugged in. I use one on stage and I couldn't ask for a better tool. 3 years and countless gigs later - my Ovation has always preformed great (wish I could say the same!!!). I did NOT like the lower level models.

If you plan on using it unplugged, be prepared to be let down. It's not bad - but that's it. Average at best. I have my stage mando and then my accoustic mando's. I mean COME ON! You don't plan on using the same mando for every jam do you? Heck - I propose a different mando for every song we play.

[Tim2723]

Oh yeah, let me tell you about two very neat modifications I had done to mine (and intend to do to my new one).

I had a Sabine Stealth tuner installed along with a swtich to kill the sound to the amp while tuning. My local guitar guru did the installation, so I can't tell you just how it's wired, but any good electro guy will know how to do it.

The tuner is built for an acoustic guitar but works perfectly for the Ovation mando. The circuit board goes inside and is stuck to the heel block. A little hole gets drilled in the side and the tuner's display fits perfectly between the top edge of the control panel and the binding. He put a micro toggle switch next to the control panel (another drilled hole) to mute the mando when tuning. It works really well.

I blows the warranty of course, but adds a lot to the functionality of the mando. I never had any warranty issue with it anyway, even in ten years of hard road use.