Big_Stu Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 I bought my bowl back in a sale about 5 years ago. I wish I'd shopped around more & found the one with the lower profile bowl. I like the sound in either mode, and it's a lovely neck but that bowl gets a bit wearisome after a while, either stood OR sitting; I was agreed with by my optician last week too. I think either Jeff Lynne or Ivan Drever in his Wolfstone (in EAEAEE!!!) days were the first I saw playing them, but that was a good few years ago. Are there still any fans of these around?
Mykesbass Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 May sound a bit silly but I like the fact that these guitars don't try too hard to be an acoustic guitar and, at least the early ones, have a distinctive sound of their own, unlike the modern breed of electro's which chase the holy grail of acoustic tone and never quite get there.
LiamPodmore Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 I can't stand them, something about them just doesn't feel right to me, and i think they look horrible . Liam
Big_Stu Posted October 30, 2012 Author Posted October 30, 2012 It was also a bugger to find a gig bag to fit properly.
Ian Savage Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 I wouldn't be surprised if we were to see a bit of a resurgence of them over the next few years actually, in view of 'good'/legally-sourced tonewoods becoming more scarce; as Myke says, they don't (usually) pretend to sound like a real acoustic, the shallower body is actually an advantage for an amplified electro in terms of reducing feedback and with leaps forward in transducer and emulator technology can actually get a lot closer to the natural sound we often want than they've ever been able to before.
Bilbo Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 I think they are a biy like Yamaha pianos; they have a sound of their own. They outstripped the competition in their day but have been superceded by more 'authentic' sounding instruments. I have an Adamus six string that sounds great and I have no trouble with its stability )I play acoustics siting down and without a strap). Horses for courses, I guess. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44fM6nQlbik&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44fM6nQlbik&feature=related[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Y7VJGFrFo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Y7VJGFrFo[/url]
Bilbo Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 And Yamaha drums.... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPiAWfprCzI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPiAWfprCzI[/url]
Ancient Mariner Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 They made acoustic guitar useful for rock bands, although a few people picked up on the alternative looks along the way. They are still excellent stage instruments provided the bowl is shaped right (early ovations were terrible at rolling away) I have a Melody bowlback that I bought for £25 on ebay, and it sounds ever so similar to an early 80s Ovation.
Big_Stu Posted October 30, 2012 Author Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1351626218' post='1853491'][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Y7VJGFrFo[/media][/quote] Thanks for that - it was amazing, gave me a few playing ideas to investigate - & also some posture to improve on I think. This tune especially brings back many happy memories of many Wolfstone gigs; one of the highlights of 24 years of my Edinburgh living - though I don't think Ivan is using a bowl-back on this one, or if he is it's shallower one - it's the one I remember first noticing one being used the year before. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIwuwGj3cro&feature=related[/media] ..........also some classic 90's mullets from hell. Edited October 30, 2012 by Big_Stu
oggiesnr Posted October 31, 2012 Posted October 31, 2012 Ah, Wolfstone, classic band I have a cheap bowl back that I bought at a trade fair a couple of years back (the exhibiters were selling off al their stock as they didn't plan on shipping it back to China). It's OK and I use it as my camping/festival guitar where I don't want to risk my decent acoustic. Steve
Big_Stu Posted October 31, 2012 Author Posted October 31, 2012 I've seen a cheap-ish copy of one - possibly Vintage - which is the low profile one. It's a record shop that's diversified into guitars so I don't think I'd get much of an audition opportunity. Once bitten twice shy now........... and my other half counting the cases & gig-bags (not quite but it feels like it ) Though I have just offloaded my SG to a collector so I'm due one.
hollywoodrox Posted December 7, 2012 Posted December 7, 2012 I had a tangle wood tm07 it was ok I do prefer a wood back though
Kiwi Posted December 7, 2012 Posted December 7, 2012 I'm waiting for a carbon graphite bowl back to be made. I've wondered about a bass version.
Big_Stu Posted December 7, 2012 Author Posted December 7, 2012 Holy thread revival! I'm surprised there isn't a carbon-graphite bowl-back, get one knocked up & patented quick!
shizznit Posted December 7, 2012 Posted December 7, 2012 The first electro-acoustic I bought was a second hand Ovation Elite 2078LX. Sounded lovely plugged in, but the natural acoustic tone was very wimpy. Just didn't have any balls or warmth when finger picked. The first pro session I did with it was a nightmare. The producer wanted to mic it up and we could not get a decent tone from it. We ended up using an EKO that belonged to the studio. I felt a bit embarrassed. Not long afterwards I traded it in for a Takamine Sante Fe which sounded great plugged or unplugged. But, the main reason why I got shot of it wash because it was a pain the arse to play standing up. I just couldn't get intona comfortable playing position with it and my wrist (frettng hand) was ruined after each gig. I will never go back to playing a bowl backed guitar.
JohnFitzgerald Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 I have a Westfield bowlback worth about two bob that I got off Gumtree. It was no more than 'all right' when I first got it. Then I had a bit of a fiddle with the truss rod and bridge and now everyone who plays it comments on just how easy it is to play. I do really like it now. It's a cracking guitar. When I'm slouched on the sofa, it works just fine.
Big_Stu Posted December 23, 2012 Author Posted December 23, 2012 [quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1356271545' post='1908588']When I'm slouched on the sofa, it works just fine.[/quote] So far that's the only position I've found that works for a bowl-back.
wrinkleygit Posted December 23, 2012 Posted December 23, 2012 they will never sound like a full blown acoustic,but in their day these were a better bet than an ovation, mike b. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189917-rare-pilgrim-electro-acoustic/page__view__findpost__p__1890926__hl__pilgrim__fromsearch__1"]Rare Pilgrim electro acoustic[/url]
martin8708 Posted January 30, 2013 Posted January 30, 2013 (edited) Well , I like em , so much so I have two of them , used to be three , but I sold the Adamas . The steel string is a Balladeer that I bought 30 years ago when I was an poor student , I was in a guitar shop and this guy brings in the Balladeer to try and trade against a shiney new guitar . The assistant behind the counter was a real dick , and offered very little for it , so I got chatting to him and offered all my ready cash for the guitar , and its been with me ever since . I thought I would go one better and get an Adamas , but to me the feel + sound of the Balladeer was better . I bought the Classical guitar version about 5 years ago for £200, it has a gouge in the soundboard from some ones over zealous finger nails , but the playability and depth is fantastic for a 200 quid guitar , plus it has an on-board stereo amp . Other Acoustics owned ( and subsequently sold ) are a Gibson J185 , Brook Creedy , Larrivee OM , Yamaha acoustic , Bernabe Classical . If you avoid the cheap Applause range , I think the proper old Ovations are great guitars for the money . Edited January 30, 2013 by martin8708
Ian Savage Posted January 30, 2013 Posted January 30, 2013 Night of the Living Thread - It Won't Stay Dead!!!!!
xilddx Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 I love them! But I tried quite a few mid range Ovations and the actions were terrible and they felt awful. I bought a Breedlove instead. I would still love an Ovation, but it would have to be an expensive American made one.
Big_Stu Posted February 19, 2013 Author Posted February 19, 2013 Is that as in "Applause" Ovations or not the most expensive of actual Ovations? The action on mine is fine, it's just "not got much about it" acoustically.
xilddx Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 [quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1361305920' post='1984361'] Is that as in "Applause" Ovations or not the most expensive of actual Ovations? The action on mine is fine, it's just "not got much about it" acoustically. [/quote] No, I mean £700 - £1000 + Ovations. The five I tried were poor. I was pissed off about that, I had major GAS and money But not enough for a USA model.
martin8708 Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 The action on my Balladeer is comparible to my Strat , you can pick up old Balladeer's and Legends for not much money on 'bay . Given that these guitars are probably 30 years plus old , the Spruce tops will be nicely " seasoned " giving a lovely open sound . Good enough for Cat Stevens , Brian May , Ritchie Sambora , Paul Simon and Adrian Legg .
xilddx Posted February 19, 2013 Posted February 19, 2013 [quote name='martin8708' timestamp='1361309634' post='1984460'] The action on my Balladeer is comparible to my Strat , you can pick up old Balladeer's and Legends for not much money on 'bay . Given that these guitars are probably 30 years plus old , the Spruce tops will be nicely " seasoned " giving a lovely open sound . Good enough for Cat Stevens , Brian May , Ritchie Sambora , Paul Simon and Adrian Legg . [/quote] That's what I should have done mate. A friend of mine who died a couple of years ago gave me his old Japan Epiphone 12 a long time ago. But it needs restoring, bridge lifting off and other stuff that needs doing. But I think I'll take it to Graham Parker and get it sorted, it has a really gorgeous tone.
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