Nighthawk, about your guitar

[jeffnles1]

I've been looking at and interested in the Ovation Applause. Isn't it true that you can reduce the buzz on the frets by using flat wound strings instead of round wound? Also less byproduct noise when moving up and down the frets.
Is there any experience out there with the Ovation Applause? Does it have an adjustable bridge?

I have one of the older US made Ovations that my dad bought for me when I graduated from high school. I still get it out and play it although I have guitars I like better and that sound better.

There's nothing wrong with an Ovation guitar. Most of them play quite well and they sound great through an amp or a PA system. They are great camping guitars, rock solid necks and the (whatever it's made from) backs are nearly indestructable. Mine has been beat around, drug on countless camping trips tossed in the back of a car and hauled all over the country and it still looks and plays like it did when new.

Also, as oldfart said, older guitars frequently sound better than their newer counterparts. The new ones will get that tone with time but if the guitar has been well cared for and played a lot, it will quite frequently sound better.

I picked up a Taylor 314 for our youth minister last summer that was about 5 or 6 years old. It belonged to a friend who gigged with it for the entire time he owned it. It has a couple battle scars from boom stands, music stands, and other mishaps that happen on the road, but it was well cared for. He sold it to me cheap and it's one of the nicest sounding Taylors I've ever played.

Now, if you really want to have some fun, play a late 1930's to early 1940's Martin D-28 or D-18. You'll be ruined for life. They are like a fine 'boo rod only better. Unfortunately, they cannot be had cheap.

About 9 years ago, I had the opportunity to pick up a 1937 D-18 for $15,000 but knew my wife would kill me for going into debt for a guitar. I could sell that same guitar today easily for double the asking price back then.

That is my "one that got away" story.

Jeff

[nighthawk]

Eric,
If you're going to change out the pins, I highly recommend Tusq pins. The tone is not as "harsh" as bone but a little brighter than the stock plastic pins that come with most guitars (including Martin). This guy sells them, I've done business with him quite a bit, including buying one of my Martins his customer service is good and he'll treat you right if anything does go wrong. http://www.maurysmusic.com/

Next time I'm at Guitar Center (There's one about 3 miles from my house so I go there at least once a week), I'll check that Epi out.

Jeff

Bear in mind it is not a Martin so you know the sound will be different. However you may just find yourself a nice, inexpensive travel guitar to take to fish-ins, on float trips and so on where you may not want to take your Martins.

Thanks for the advice on the pins. I will definitely check them out. Have you guys ever checked out Bluette Violins, Mandolins and Guitars?

http://www.bluettbros-violins.com/violins.shtml

Oh well I can't afford one of his but I can dream!

[jeffnles1]

Eric,
That is some nice eye candy. His prices are not out of line for a custom made guitar. I don't know much about what mandolins and violins but his guitar prices are "in the range".

I have an old beater (actually the first guitar I ever owned) that I've done a ton of work to get to the point it will play, I also have my Ovation that I take along on camping and fishing trips although I have started not taking that one out as much. My dad bought that guitar for me when I graduated from high school and that guitar and I have a lot of miles together.

I may need another guitar to take camping and fishing as I start to retire the Ovation. I think I will check the Epi out. I've also been looking at a couple Seagull guitars, but they are a bit expensive for a campfire guitar.

I did, on Christmas Eve, play an outstanding guitar that I can't get out of my mind. It was a Martin HD-16A. It has the HD-28 trimmings with a V neck and an Adirondack spruce top. I want that guitar so bad. It's $2,200 and I'm not sure how I can sneak THAT past the wife.

Jeff

[Lotech]

What do you all think of this one? Any experience with one?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-D...15-i1146547.gc

[jeffnles1]

What do you all think of this one? Any experience with one?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-D...15-i1146547.gc

Lotech,
Not sure what your price point is, but this one is a really great guitar at a decent price.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Seagull-...91-i1147556.gc

Here's another one.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone...28-i1321998.gc

Jeff

[Lotech]

Lotech,
Not sure what your price point is, but this one is a really great guitar at a decent price.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Seagull-...91-i1147556.gc

Here's another one.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone...28-i1321998.gc

Jeff

Jeff,
My price constraint is at about $200. And, I'm going to have to sell some fly fishing gear to get there.
Thanks for the links. I'm always looking.

[Fly Goddess]

Taylor Guitars! . . Check them out!

wayne

HAD AN OVATION.....Key word..."HAD" still have the Taylor!!!!
Worth every penny and gets much better with age.

If money IS the issue, check out Takamine.

[nighthawk]

HAD AN OVATION.....Key word..."HAD" still have the Taylor!!!!
Worth every penny and gets much better with age.

If money IS the issue, check out Takamine.

Here is an entry level of the make FG suggested:

http://www.amazon.com/Takamine-S35-J...ref=pd_cp_MI_1

You can pick up a strap, picks, gig bag and tuner real cheap. I'm thinking between ebay, amazon and guitar center in Spokaine you will end up with about 120-130 tied up in the end. Don't bother with a dvd as you can get the instructional videos free on youtube.

guitar center has the epiphone pr150 just the guitar for $129.99

[crcaddis]

You can spend as much as you want for an acoustic...but you can do well with a used one in the $100-200 range...My daughter has a sweet little Alvarez Dreadnought that I picked used up on craigslist for $75.. Think its the RD8..not a fancy guitar but it plays well, sounds good, has decent tuners, and it stays in tune.

Whatever you get...take it to a guitar repair shop and have them look at it.....Youll want them to check the neck relief, and the string height at the nut and bridge and adjust it if neccesary. A good set up is money well spent. Cheers.

[garyj147]

A little over a year ago I was bitten by the guitar bug. I had lived on this Earth over 53 years and had never plunked a string, but the wife and I decided to look into acquiring two guitars and taking lessons.

I was advised by a good friend to look at the Blueridge guitars. He had a BR-60 that really sounded good. I found a good deal on a BR-160, and bought it. After nearly a year playing it, the sound is getting better all the time (both the guitar is "growing up" and I am actually learning to play it better!). A week or so after buying the Blueridge, the wife and I found a really nice used Taylor Big Baby in Nashville. It fit her perfectly, and sounds great as well!

We started taking lessons from a fellow named Dan Knowles of Paris, TN in January, 2009. He is a many-time Old Time Banjo Tennessee State Champion, performer, and a well-known luthier. He has his own band, The Hot Band, who perform all around this region. He's also about the best guitar instructor a person could ever desire.

The wife and I feel we have learned a great deal in this past year from Dan; of course, one never can learn everything about playing guitar. But we are able to play some basic chord patterns in a number of songs and are having a grand time doing it.