Ovation 1778 Elite Standard

Not sure when made, but it's made in US. Solid top AA Spruce, OP24+ preamp, Lyrachord mid-depth bowl.

Gold Tuners. Came with hardcase.

I love the sound - very woody and rich, smooth. So damn easy to play, I relax so much when playing it. As far as I'm concerned great for pop, rock and blues. A beautiful sound......

I'd heard about a lot of fret buzzing problems with the Ovation elite since ths action is low, but I've had no problems so far.
No real flaws, and great finish.

I've dropped it twice already and it hasn't scratched up to now, but I guess these things are more a matter of luck than anything else

Never dealt with them.

Been playing for nigh on 20 years now; I own other guitars but would buy another one of these for definite if this broke ! I love everything about it and it IS superior to the Korean models (which I also enjoy, but they're not really in the same class !).

My Ovation is a 1995 USA built guitar. It's a sitka spuce solid top with 17 to 22 frets (17 on the low E up to 22 on the B and E strings. The neck is a 2 piece Mahogany with a Rosewood fingerboard. The finish is a warm tabacco colour with a one piece epaulet. It's equipted with Ovations OP-24I pre-amp (volume, EQ status, Pre-Shape, Mid-shift + controls for Bass, Mid and Treble). No accessories were included, and the case was sold separately by the dealer.

With time, this guitar is sounding progessively richer. From day one it had a warm rich tone well suited to the music I enjoy playing (Alternative Blues/Rock). The instrument lends itself to brighter sound, it's doesn't have a deep resonate bottom end which you'll find with other guitars. From time to time I have played with a PEAVEY Classic tube amp, the sound is clean. Normally I play without an amp.

I had the action lowered to accomodate light strings (very, very minor adjustment), it plays like an electric. Barre chords are no problem!! The finish on all other parts of the guitar was flawless.

I have played this guitar 1 to 4 hours every day for the past 5 years and have not had to have it serviced. It's always properly stored, cleaned and cared for. The finish looks as great now as it did when I brought it home in 1997.

I've never had a problem, what this indicates to me is that Ovation has focused their efforts on quality control - so that the consumer has little or no need for their support.

Before buying my Ovation, I looked seriously at Martin's and Takemine's around the same price range ($1,300 - $1,600). The Martin sounded wonderful, however the neck was not a good fit for my hand and the body was too large. Takemine's in the same price range do not compare to Ovation with respect to quality. I was also surpsied at how many of their guitars were not solid tops. Cosmetically they looked great...........

This guitar was an excellent fit from the first time I played it. What really sold me on it was the neck. Prior to this guitar I found barre chords difficult to play without buzzing. The low action and the width of the neck on this one made barring easy. If this one was ever stolen, I'd buy another Ovation in a heartbeat!!!I've yet to find something that I don't like about it.

In addition to this guitar, I have a PEAVEY - EVH Wolfgang with a Floyd Rose Tremalo bridge - and - a 1972 Ovation 12 string. OVATION has recently announced another addition to their ADAMAS signature series ... with any luck, I'll have one by this time next year!

made in USA 1999.mahagony wood. generally it's 22 easy access frets, but has 26 on the E string.
its an acoustic with fiberglass round back. has a very versatile electronics. 4-band EQ, (hi, hi-mid, low-mid, low). volume control, EQ in/out, notch knob and noych in/out.
the bridge is an acoustic type, can't be easily tuned.
standard tuners. standard scale.
it came with Original Hard Shell Case.

I play many types of music. used it with amp only once. it sounds great plugged and unplugged. when it plugged, the sound is very easily controlled with the EQ.
unplugged, it sounds very rich and warm.
i like it a lot.

the action was great, low as i like (i had a HUGE problem with too low action, wait and see). very easy to play.
i got it new, so there where no flaws on it.
the only problem with it (like all of the Ovation guitars) is the round back. it is really hard to sit with it, without it slips (they tried to work it out, fixing the bottom of the back. didn't really help). standing with it is even harder. i get to a position when the top is right in front of my face!!! a drag!
anyway, i never played on anything more easy to play on.

i play with it for a year and a half. generally, not a problem (exept one... later) it stands just fine, i think it will last for good.

well... here is the story:
i waited 6 months till it arrived the country.
first time I changed the strings, and the guitar started to buzz horribly, and I mean HORRIBLY!!!
it was under warranty, so i gave it back to the store. first they told me that there is no problem with it, and that I have to check it plugged. I'm not that dumb... I had to fight the manager of the store in order to send it to the lab. they fixed it. they just returned it to me after a month and a half.
it is great since then. but i'm never gonna work with those people again!

i play guitar about 5 years. i had a seagull before. i'd defently buy it again, if i could afford it. i love the easy feeling, the deep cut-away and the punchy sound.
the best acoustic I played on.