Ovation Magnum..........which model?

[ProfJames]

I think there are four.......what are the differences and who prefers which one and why?

[Shaggy]

Magnum 1 - eccentric "potato" shaped body (inspired by the Deacon and Breadwinner axe-shaped guitars), twin pickups, passive circuit with mono and stereo outputs.

Magnum 2,- as above but with 3-band active circuit (6 graphic sliders supposedly keep volume output constant when adjusting EQ), mono output.

Magnum 3 - as model 1 but with more traditional double cutaway body.

Magnum 4 - as model 2 but with more traditional double cutaway body.

Magnum 1 is my favourite (I have a factory fretless one) - love the original body shape, and the active circuit is known for being noisy and hungry with batteries.  All fab bases though! 

Edited August 20, 2020 by Shaggy

[fleabag]

I had a Mk 3 - nice bass too.  Silly money these days

Edited August 20, 2020 by fleabag

[skankdelvar]

[BassTractor]

^^^^ Applause! 
(cheap line, I know, but even cheaper lines are available)

Edited August 21, 2020 by BassTractor

[Happy Jack]

I have a Magnum II fretless and a Magnum III fretted. They're both glorious sounding basses, and the quirks of the design are really quite fascinating (as is the back-story to Ovation generally), but they are undeniably heavy beasts.

That enormous mud-bucker at the neck does not produce the expected Gibson EB thud, but is far more musical and 'tailorable' thanks to individual volume controls for each pole-piece. The tones you can get when combining both pickups are well worth experimenting with.

 

[BigRedX]

1 hour ago, Happy Jack said:

That enormous mud-bucker at the neck does not produce the expected Gibson EB thud, but is far more musical and 'tailorable' thanks to individual volume controls for each pole-piece. The tones you can get when combining both pickups are well worth experimenting with.

It's not really a "mud-bucker" though, more individual single coil pickups for each string fitted into a single cover, and IIRC has more in common with Wal pickups than anything Gibson ever made.

[Old Man Riva]

17 hours ago, skankdelvar said:

“Dear Fender Custom Shop,

I specifically requested lollipop tuners. Imagine my disappointment when...”

 

[ProfJames]

Quite close to getting a MkII.......................confirmation in a week when I see her........................

Edited August 23, 2020 by ProfJames

[fleabag]

Just remembered  Magazine  ( remember them ? Great band )  bass player used a Magnum 2 amongst other models

 

 

[ProfJames]

Not seen any band using the MkII model................

[fleabag]

Didnt  Jah Wobble use a Mag 2  in Public Image Ltd ?

[fleabag]

Here at 50 seconds in...

 

[ProfJames]

Just now, fleabag said:

Didnt  Jah Wobble use a Mag 2  in Public Image Ltd ?

Just watched Death Disco and couldn't get a good view.............definitely his preferred bass was a Magnum though he stated somewhere he also used a BB1100s for some sounds........

[BigRedX]

1 minute ago, fleabag said:

Here at 50 seconds in...

 

Looks like a Magnum 1 from the controls.

[fleabag]

Yeah he's used other basses but i think he's known more his Magnum

[fleabag]

1 minute ago, BigRedX said:

Looks like a Magnum 1 from the controls.

Yeah i think you're right. 

Close enough for jazz, though

Edited August 24, 2020 by fleabag

[ProfJames]

Agree with you on his preference but that is a MkIII (or MkI?).......  no sliders........

Edited August 24, 2020 by ProfJames

[fleabag]

Nope, a Mk3 is a very different beast.  I had one.  More conevntional shape but still had the bizarre pickup arrangement

 

[fleabag]

Mag 3 with normal controls and Mag  4 with the graphic

 

[fleabag]

5 minutes ago, ProfJames said:

Agree with you on his preference but that is a MkIII (or MkI?).......  no sliders........

Magnum 1 with no graphic

[BigRedX]

6 minutes ago, fleabag said:

Nope, a Mk3 is a very different beast.  I had one.  More conevntional shape but still had the bizarre pickup arrangement

 

What's so bizarre about the pickup arrangement?

[ProfJames]

This is a Mk II.............?

Edited August 24, 2020 by ProfJames
photo

[fleabag]

Yup

[fleabag]

4 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

What's so bizarre about the pickup arrangement?

U-shaped pole pieces in the bridge and the quad coil in the neck that  was unusual at the time, with neck pup having gain control on each coil

Edited August 24, 2020 by fleabag