Ovation Mandocello Information requested

[BluegrassPhilfromFrance]

Has anybody around ever had the opportunity to try the Ovation Mandocello ? What are your feelings about it, plugged and unplugged ?

[delsbrother]

I'll let you know Monday. I hope. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Ted Eschliman]

Huge fan here...
I picked up mine (http://members.aol.com/teesch/images/Mandocello.jpg) three years ago after John Jorgenson did an Ovation guitar clinic at one of my stores. I consider them a real (and underated) technological breakthrough.
It sounds pretty good unplugged, but where it really shines IS plugged in; this advanced pick-up technology is a player's fantasy come true.
What's greatest is its rugged construction. Ovations are capable of a great deal of tension, so its possible to get a solid, low playing action, with virtually no shifting of the neck and zero fret buzz.
Strings are a chore to get, but I got that one figured out, Darell. I order D'addario EXP guitar singles (this takes ball end), and they sound great. (Not many string manufacturers make a ball end acoustic .070 gg...)
The downside to the instrument is the progressive cosmetic "vibe;" in Classical climates it looks like a fish out of water. It's funny to get reactions from people who have no idea what a mandocello is. ("Hey, a 12 string guitar! 6, 7, 8, no wait... what the..?)
They aren't cheap, but if you can find a "deal," you won't regret it.
The only problem with mine is finding the time to play it...

[glauber]

Are the Ovation mandolins good too?

[Ted Eschliman]

Tee hee...
Ted's Blog On Ovation MM68 (http://www.members.aol.com/teesch/Ovation.html)

[glauber]

Cool gig bag! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

I almost bought an used MCS148, but since that was going to be my first mandolin and not wanting to learn on something unusual, got a Mid-Missouri M-11 instead. I'd love to have an Ovation too, eventually.

[vkioulaphides]

Ted, you may have answered this question already elsewhere but... what is the scale of the Ovation MC?

And, BTW, I don't find the decorative design anything BUT cool! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Ted Eschliman]

25-1/4"
The cool thing is it fits in one of their standard shallow bowl guitar cases, so that's not a big custom job expense.
Here's the poop:
Ovation M868 (http://ovationguitars.com/?fa=detail&mid=73)
Victor, it sounds as good as it looks!
Oh, and I forgot to mention, not only does it have a 1/4" jack for an out, it has an XLR (microphone) jack in the back so you can plug it directly into a board with no preamp.

[delsbrother]

Hi Ted,

I did decide to keep mine, as Bunnybass offered to pay for the repairs AND discount me on the purchase price.. Hurrah! You're right, this thing is wicked cool. When I first got it, the strings were slack (and resting on the frets). I thought, "There's no way I'm going to play this thing without those low Cs buzzing!" But lo and behold, got it up to pitch (still with very low action) and it's buzz free as long as I don't really thrash it. Amazing. And fairly decent acoustic tone, too.

I'm still trying to track down some of Robert Fripp's Guitar Craft stuff (which I'm thinking could also be Mandocello Craft stuff, as his New Standard Tuning is CGDAEG). I wanna play Thela Hun Gingeet!

[Ted Eschliman]

Darrell, did you know Jaco Pastorius doubled with mandocello on a track of (Weather Report) "Birdland?"
Heavy Weather (http://www.connollyco.com/discography/weather_report/heavy.html)

[delsbrother]

No I didn't... Sheesh, now I'm going to have to tango with all these Bass Gods, eh? First Levin, now Jaco? Knowing me, Claypool won't be far behind.. Talk about a slippery slope! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Was the WR part done on an Ovation?

[Ted Eschliman]

No financial interest here, but you're not going to find too many deals like the Ovation currently in the Classifieds (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=12441&query=retrieval).
If you've been Jonesing for a M'cello, this would be a good deal.

[PlayerOf8]

Teddy,
You know I own two Ovation mandocelli. I wasn't a big fan until iI used it on a recording. I was able to tweek it just eenough to have the producer remember my name. Unplugged, you'll be a little diappointed, but in the board with a tad of Chorus and a pinch of reverb, and it grows balls the size of New Jersey. The one selling here for 900 is a real deal for someone not sure if he or she is ready to read tenor clef.

george

[glauber]

No financial interest here, but you're not going to find too many deals like the Ovation currently in the Classifieds (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=12441&query=retrieval).
If you've been Jonesing for a M'cello, this would be a good deal.
Man, oh man, i'd LOVE to buy that. I hope it gets a good home.

[delsbrother]

Now it's even cheaper. It does have a repair, but it's strictly cosmetic damage.. Overall it's nicer than the one I paid more for.. AND it's NOS. Arrgghh. Somebody buy it before I'm tempted to own two of these things!