Ovation 1778T Elite T Series

Finish - Black
Black tuners
Ebony Fretboard / Bridge
Solid Spruce Top
Preamp - Op-40 (orig. Op-pro)
Beefy Individual Piezo Ovation pickup (some have Thin-line Pickup)
2 piece maple neck (soft V profile)

Black is beautiful
Simple but elegant (lot's of ebony for the money)

Sound is definitely growing on me. This is an older model that came with high end pickup and Op-Pro preamp. Bought on clearance since was missing a preamp and truss rod cover. Had definitely been sitting for a while collecting dust until they put it on clearance. Sounded dull but full and deep in the store. Took it home and replaced the tarnished d'addario EXP's w/ some Martin SP 92/8 Phosphor Bronze and the thing came to life. Rich and full, what this guitar lacks in warmth, it makes up with tone that is pure and true. Not as open sounding as my son's more expensive all solid wood Guild GAD-40CE (amazing guitar - mahogany back & sides) or as bright as my daughters Ibanez Artwood 200CE-vv (maple back & sides); but holds its own. Perhaps it is not for everyone; but did not fully appreciate the depth of the tone until I tried some open tunings. The strong clear bass really gives lower open tunings an added dimension. Not muddy like cheap Martins. Prefer the sound to laminate backed Martins that are in the $600-700 price range. Great tone; but can see why some question the ability to project w/o electronics. Guild is much louder. Plugged in the thing just Rocks. Great rendition of sound with more roundness; but still not the warmth. No quacking, just clean full tone w/ with nice harmonics. Voicing is more even than I originally thought (dead strings) however is even better plugged in.

Action was high. Removed shim from bridge to bring it down to spec. clearances w/no buzz to speak of- still could go lower perhaps. Ebony fretboard is like butter. Needed some TLC due to neglect in the store. Hand rubbed finish on maple neck needed refreshing; but is silky smooth and far superior to laminated Martin necks. This is our first "Made in USA" guitar and seems really solid so far. Electronics feel cheap; but original OP-pro looks more substantial. Quintad bracing on the inside is a thing of beauty.
Again aesthetics are not for everyone; but do not like more decorative ovations and enjoy simple varied sound holes. Did I say the ebony fretboard is a joy!

Bought this model for durability and finish seems pretty indestructible so far. Have seen a couple with a crack at the weak point between two of the three large sound holes. Maple neck is like a bat. Strap buttons are oversized. Tuners seem smooth. Stays in tune. Only had it a few weeks think this would be a very reliable guitar.

Awesome. Kim Keller is the man. Had to get a new preamp and ebony truss rod cover (which he threw in for free). Op-pro has different socket; but luckily he sent the whole assembly and answered all my stupid questions. Very knowledgeable and pleasant.

Started with a clearance castaway and ended up with an awesome acoustic with great electronics for $500 (+-). Not sure about the $1400 list price. Definitely worth 1/2 that with the Op-pro; but most of the newer models have Op-30 (same as Op40 without notch filter) and different (thin line) pickup. A lot of different specs on these so be careful - pricing varies. Love the neck very strat-like for an acoustic. Definitely a great guitar. Will not find a more versatile guitar w/ quality ebony fretboard for this kind of money!

Lite Ash Strat
Guild GAD 40CE
Ibanez AW-200CE vv

Solid top with black painted enamel finish. USA made!!This guitar feels more like an electric in my hand. Very fast ebony fretboard. I can't believe my ears. This guitar looks like no other but has a sound superior to most. Case included at musicians friend for $879. Good price for USA made. This guitar is advertised on MF and ovations website with op30 pickup system. Mine was delivered with the OP PRO..How did i get so lucky to get such an upgrade??? I don't know but I'm thankful.

This guitar is suitable for all styles of music. Very rich sound and good bass response. Reminds me of Martins on the Low end and Taylor on the top end. Plays better than either martin or taylor. I love this guitar. I can honestly say that there is nothing I dislike about this guitar. The enamel finish does not color the sound to me. I thought it might but it seems to give the tone some magical property. Plugged in the Op pro preamp shines as well. No feedback noted, just clear resonating sound.

Action was perfect for my style. Not too high and not too low. No buzzing noted on any fret or string. The enamel finish is not for everyone as it is very modern looking and not a traditional acoustic look: which is what i was wanting. Great setup and tuning stability!

Everything feels solid to me. This guitar is very light but still feels like it's built to withstand punishment. Strap buttons are solid. I would definitely gig without a backup.

Haven't dealt with them but hear they are kinda iffy...??

I've been playing for 15 years. I also own USA Fender strat, zakk wylde les paul, and Ibanez RG Series. I got rid of my alvarez and martin in favor of this guitar. this ovation sounds better than both of them and plays better. If this guitar was stolen i'd buy another for sure!!

They're finally using their brains! a tuner should be built in. Now all they need to do is find a way to turn the truss rod with out using an allen wrench. The ebony fingerboard, bridge, and maple neck are a pleasure to look at and touch, what an excellent combo.

Every other guitar I played on the day I bought this sounded and felt terrible, even other ovations (USA and import). I'm not exagerating, I've owned Martin, Taylor, and they're good but this ovation has something, like a magic spell. It just sounds great. It projects and stands out with full bass and high end.

I did have to tighten the truss rod a bit , but Thats to be expected. The bridge height, nut placement, and frets feel perfect. I wouldn't change a thing. Now I overlooked the painted top because everything else about this guitar spoke to me about this guitar. I don't know how it will hold up in the future. But the paint job looks good and feels good (look mom, no fingerprints).

Ovations last a long time, even the cheap ones. I'm not worried about it. I use to work in a music store and this guy brought one in for repair. He had used it for a campfire punch bowl. It stunk of cheap booze and smoke. We sent it back to Ovation and low and behold it came back playable and airomatically acceptable. True story

Good company, good personel, good product. You will pay for shipping both ways. That doesn't bother me.

I'm a 30+ year guitar vet. I've owned just about all brands and styles of guitars over the years. I've played professionally and worked in music stores as well instrument repair shops. "It ain't braggin if you can back it up". I'm here to tell you, this is a great guitar (for me anyway). I play Jazz, Dawg/new grass, and traditional bluegrass and this guitar fits the bill perfectly for all genres. It is black and scary looking, kinda like a mistress of the dark, its not your traditional looking blugrass guiar, but I find the looks are growing on me.

Unique guitar in sound and looks. Wonderful maple/ebony neck and nice electronics.

I've had this guitar for over a year and I don't care for the acoustic sound, I usually play it plugged-in to a Peavey Classic 30 and it has more to offer. I'm not saying it sounds bad at all, I just don't care for it. I've played other Ovations I like better.

No complaints here. Great neck, and a very sturdy instrument. I like the removable shims for the saddle.

I think this guitar would take anything you can throw at it. I would have no concern if this was my only guitar to gig with.

I've not dealt with them.

I've played alittle off and on since 1983 but very seriously for the last three and a half years. I have an 83 guild g-37, a
Seagull Grand which I really like, it's a fun little guitar, also a Fender Tele and an Alvarez RD20C. This Ovation is a nice guitar, just not for me. I will probably sell or trade it for another guitar I have my eye on.

I think you're best looking at the Ovation web site for the actual nuts and bolts specs on this guitar, but it is a dream to play and sounds (and looks) great too. People have reservations about Ovations with regard to - a. neck is too wide and awkward and b. (sing along now!) it slips off your leg. Well the neck on this thing is really fast and very comfortable. They say it's designed for electric players, but I think acoustic players appreciate a comfortable neck too! As for slipping off your leg, well they've put a bit of extra texture where your leg goes and that helps keep it still, but I just wear a strap - end of problem. Anyhow, standing up with this guitar is extremely comfortable and it doesn't have that annoying habit of tipping up to face you like the older Ovations do.

I'm a bit eclectic in my styles of playing, I play rock, jazz, Irish and anything else that takes my fancy. When gigging I play lots of standards too. This guitar copes really well with all of those styles. (I wouldn't bother playing classical on it though) The slick neck allows for versatility and amplified, the pick up has enough settings for you to find whatever sound you're after. Acoustically this guitar is surprisingly loud! I'm not saying loud is in itself a great thing, but I've played multi sound hole Ovations in the past and found them to be a bit muffled - not this one! I also play a Gibson J200 which has a really warm, mellow, round sound, but being a jumbo is also loud; the 1778 has a more active, crisp sound but is much louder than the Gibson.

I haven't had to make any changes to the factory settings and am quite happy with the action and intonation. Like most Ovations the guitar sounds fantastic amplified - and the preamp allows for mid shift and pre shape settings along with bass mid and treble adjustments, so you really can fine tune your sound.
The finish is textured and similar to the stuff you get on the backs of Ovations. It's strong and doesn't mark, you'll either like it or you won't, I do. People invariably comment on the appearence of this guitar - it really does stand out.

This guitar is great to play sitting in your living room but it really comes into its own for gigging. The textured finish is really durable and the laminate neck is as strong as any you'll find. It excells live.

I've had no dealings with Ovation and so don't know about the support offered. The website is a bit uninspiring, but they do give you all the specs on construction and features of their guitars and preamps, so it's worth checking it out.

I've been playing for 30 years. Other guitars - Gibson J200 - Fender Strat - Hofner President. I wanted a guitar that would offer something different to these and the 1778T does; it's like a wild animal fighting to let the sound burst out - it's brilliant live, it's extremely comfortable to play and is highly versatile. I wanted an Ovation because they always sound good amplified, I just never liked the feel of them. Before buying this I tried Celebrities (awful), Legend, Pinnacle, Tangent (similar neck to this but sound tinny)and even the Adamas (which was a massive disappointment). The Elite leaves them all standing for sound quality and ease of playing. I love the feel of it, the body and the neck just 'fit' perfectly and make it really comfortable to play. The sound rings out really clearly and it's very different in looks, feel and sound from all my other guitars. If I lost it I'd go and get another one just the same - it's a great guitar.

2004 1778T Elite
I purchased this guitar in black. The pewter didnt feel right in my hands for some reason.
This is a tight guitar! I've had it for 5 months and play it 2 to 3 hours a day. It just gets better and better. Ovation put a lot of focus into the Ovation 1778T Elite T Series. It's obvious in the workmanship.
Awesome thin, slick, very fast neck.
The ebony fretboard is killer and high quality.
The Ovation tuners never slip. NEVER. The guitar was delivered with outstanding set-up and in tune after a 10 day ground shipment due to hold ups because of hurricane Ivan.
Pre-amp is reliable, tuner is accurate but it does cut off a bit soon.
I like the ebony bridge. I changed the strings to Black Diamond Coated 12's to bring out even more depth in sound and the black strings are the final touch in making this guitar look ultra-fine and stealthy...Very stealthy.
The finish is maintenence-free (a lightly damp cloth safely removes any residue you may encounter.)

I use this guitar for many types of music and find that it is extremely versatile and comfortable.
I plug into a Roland VGA-7 COSM Amplifier, alternating between the Roland Divided Pick-Up and the Piezo in the bridge or using both pick-ups simutanously. The sound of this guitar is paramount. Rich and bold with an ocean of depth. I chose this guitar over the Adamas because it simply sounder better all the way around and I unexpectedly saved money in the process. Maybe it's the spruce top but it wasnt a hard decision. The Elite 1778T is underpriced IMO. TRY IT, you'll be amazed.
The harmonics shocked me because they resonate forever. The entire fretboard is consistent. No fret buzz, no dead spots and very easy to play. Perfectly in tune along the entire fretboard. The rock maple neck is slick as liquid and it does have an electric feel to it. It's very sturdy. The guitar is flawless.
This guitar doesnt NEED sound holes. I assume that the soundholes on the bass side 'might' give it added warmth but I really don't think they're making much of a difference. The sound is coming from the top, itself. This guitar hums!!!

I'll never miss the inlays or the colorful epaulets. It just wouldnt be as appealing to me if it had those cosmetics. I don't want inlays on this ebony fretboard, it's such a beauty.

I'd gig with this guitar confidently with no back-up.
The finish is bullet proof and I have the suspicion that the finish contributes to the sound of the guitar.

I've never dealt with customer service and I really don't expect to.

I've been playing guitar and keyboard for over 30 years. I was introduced to musical instruments at an extremely young age. I will forever be grateful to my parents for THAT. There's never been a greater gift!
If anyone were to jack this guitar from me, I'd definitly JET to a music store or online store to purchase another one before reality set in. It would be a train wreck in my brain to lose this guitar. Steal anything but don't steal THIS. Insurance might be a wise investment.
This guitar was a steal. I certainly wouldve paid $1200.00. It's worth every penny.
I believe that the Ovation 1778T Elite will become a collectors item in time to come. Get one and hang on to it!

USA made
22 frets on high E, 17 frets on Low E (check a pic)
Solid spruce top w/ textured enamel finish (no smudging)
OP-30 3 Band EQ w/ built in tuner (auto shut off after 60 sec)
Thin line pickup
Lyrachord body, 2 piece mahogony neck with ebony bridge and fretboard
Cutaway body...great access past the 12th fret
25 1/4 scale neck
Black tuners 1 11/16 nut width
Case included (at $750)

I play all different kinds of music, minus country and rap, this guitar covers whatever I want to play acoustically. I mostly play unplugged but I do get just as great of a sound when plugged in. The sound of this guitar is richer than any acoustic I've played. The harmonics are even great on this guitar.

The action on this guitar was perfect from the moment I picked it up and played it at the guitar center. As many others have said...this guitar plays like an electric on the neck....great action with a thin neck.

I'm not playing this guitar live but it would probably withstand an ATF assualt. I'm bumped this guitar a few times and every time theres no evidence of it ever touching another hard surface. Not only are the strap buttons solid, they're also straplock buttons...if you have a strap with jim dunlop straplocks on it they plug right in.

Never dealt with the company, not counting on needing to either.

I'm a self taught guitarist of 12 years and I've gone through probably 10 or 11 other guitars (electric and acoustic). I compared this guitar to the other ovations (celebrities, balladeers etc) and nothing touched the sound quality, it sounds so good that even non musicians can hear its quality. The only thing I could really want in this guitar that it doesn't already have is the classy ovation leafy junk around the sound holes (but thats just cosmetic). I'm more into function than looks, don't get me wrong... I DO appreciate a great looking guitar but this one suits my personality to a T. I'll be critical on the guitar here and give it only an 9 for lack of flashy cosmetics....for $750 there could have been more to look at (keep in mind that I'm just being critical...I personally love the stripped look)

This is a great U.S made guitar with a single cutaway "Lyrachord" body, solid spruce top, soundholes near the top of the guitar, and this awesome textured black finish (it's a great way to have a black guitar that doesn't show smudges). It has the OP-30 preamp which sounds awesome and even has a handy (and accurate) tuner built in.

My favorite thing about this guitar is definitely the sound. It has very clear highs but still manages to give more bass than most other better acoustics I've played. The preamp has plenty of settings so you can get pretty much whatever you want when plugged in.

This guitar is excellent as far as playability is concerned. The strings mine came with were far too thick for my tastes, but of course this is a matter of opinion. Even with very light gauge strings, the frets don't buzz hardly at all. I usually play electric or bass and this guitar's neck almost has an electric feel to it. If I could have any complaint about the finish, it seems a little "overtextured" in places but it still looks very unique, which is hard to do nowadays. Overall, the quality of the guitar is very good and what you'd expect for this price range.

This guitar is very solid feeling and I would gig without a backup, though I'll probably only use mine for recording. The finish is fairly tough and it would probably be very easy to touch up even if you did chip it.

I haven't had any dealings with Ovation so I can't really say much for this category.

I usually play electric guitars (I own several Ibanezes, a Cort, a Peavey, and a Dean bass) and I was wanting a very good acoustic that I could practice and record with. This guitar proved to be perfect and didn't break the bank either. I compared it with several other acoustics in the same price range or higher (Ibanez, Martin, Fender, Gibson, etc...) and none had the same balance of playability and feel that this Ovation does. I also love this guitar because of its very unique looks that are practical too.

Just an add on to my last review, heres a great tip for the guitar!
If you are not going to plug the 1778T in while playing, take the top Eq panel out - there is a significant increas ein colume and especially bass. While the guitar sounds great already, this slight loss in weight and the exposure of the eq compartment does make it about 15& louder. Perfect for when u want to mike it up, which I did with a AKG C3000B - it sounded like a bathtub crossed genes with a piano!

Brand new, USA made, maple neck, solid spruce top, OP30 amp etc etc, the specs are as other posts. The neck has a fantastic V profile, perfect for rhythm and lead work. It has a great quartersawn type straight grain, so future warping risk is reduced alot. It has a satin finish, and simply begs to be broken in. While it is fantastic out of the box, after a month of good playing, it should feel like a Ferrari.Stretchy chords are also easier thanks to this. Case with hard case which is great. My electric is a PRS with a thinner neck, and in all honesty, I prefer the neck on this. The bridge is another beauty. The saddle is intonation adjusted so intonation prblems are minimal. Many other acoustics do not have this, and it is essntial imo.
The OP30 is very easy to use. My dad has a Takamine, and while it sounds great too, changing the battery in that thing is a nightmare. This thing just needs a gentle press and the whole thing pops out. Insert batter? and voila.

Ok, I'll be brutally honest. At this level of quality the tone I firmly believe lies with your fingers. While I aim to be as diverse as I can, I am primarily a lead player, and pick every note rather than slur or tap. So the same playing style applies regardless of what I play. I bough this thing mainly to play comfortable leads. Fingerpicked the notes - highs and lows, are all clear, all retaining clarity and sustain. Chords are clear and every note is distinct and even all over the neck. If you have a robust, more traditionalist playing style (DiMeola, Yngwie) you'll love this guitar. Notes just about explode. Plugged in, the OP30 pickup - as with many USA made Ovations, doesnt sound too glassy like some other piezo pickups. but have good bass and treble response. If you know what you are looking for, with a little twiddling, you'll dial in your sound here. Miked up with an AKG C3000B through a VTB-1 tube preamp, the recorded acoustic sound is stunning. You can hear the full tonal renge of the guitar and it really sings. DI'd through the VTB-1 into the desk it is equally clear, but of course more "pingy" while retaining warmth.
Bottom line?... You have no excuses! I've played Takamines, Yamahas, and many other acoustics before settling for this, and it simply tops my list.

Straight out the box, the actin was perfect. I gave an 8 here because the factory standard strings are a bit heavy for mr - 12s. Maybe they could default to 11s or something. There is no string buzz anywhere oin the neck, and as expected from any USA made guitar, the frets are well polished, with no sharp ends.
The finish is upto you whether you like it. I personally dont care what colour a guitar is, so it doesnt bother me. But it does look very cool if you ask me. There were no flaws on the guitar that I noted. It even smells good!!

Looks very durable. Havent had it long so it is yet to stand the test of time. But a abit I have is to oh so slightly bedn the nect to see whether it does effect the action. Not here. It is solid as a rock. While I play it sitting down, standing is also no problem. Looked after carefully, it should ast longer than me and you. Its built to.

N/A Although I like the booklets in the case!

I've been paying for 15 years, and have gear that is simple but very effective - I dont collect anything. I buy equipment that I know and feel will last a lifetime, and that I think sound great. This guitar is one of them. The lack of fancy inlay work reduces the price drastically, without reducing the sound quality. If it was stoled, I'd be a VERY pissed off man, and certainly would get another one. It sounds great, and looks & feels damn sexy. If you are looking for an acoustic that is a breeze to play and sounds awesome, then this is your plank. Definitely at least try one.

US, 2003. Pewter Finish, rest of details have been covered.

Bright, loud, wonderful. Have had it a few months, and mostly play it unplugged. When I experimented with it plugged, I experienced the same problem that another poster here mentioned--it goes from off to too loud. And like that poster also mentioned, we're talking about playing at home, where this can be a slight problem--but not really a problem for gigging. Regarding the plugged sound, remember that I haven't used it this way much, so at this point, I'm not happy. Again, I'm sure it's ME that's the problem and not the ax, but I lose that acoustic sound when it's amplified. I have a lot more experimenting to do in this area, but even so, I think that down the road, I'm going to investigate the merits of swapping its pickup with a top-level Fisher or Braggs. Just having too much fun with it playing UNPLUGGED to worry about this now.

I fell in love with this one at first sight--both the sight AND sound of it. The styling catches EVERYONE's attention, combined with that finish (pewter in my case). Big plus to the finish is that it always looks clean; no fingerprint marks or smudges like on conventional "polished" tops. Ever! Also, tuners are black coated, so again, no smudge marks. Neck is wonderfully narrow, perfect for my hands and taste. Very electric like. Great, great action. I know this sounds crazy, but you actually feel that the folks at big-company Ovation put great care into its construction. Bringing me to my favorite part--that "U.S.A." and serial number stamped into the head.

Hey, with a two-piece rock-solid neck and the finish previously described, this category deserves an 11 rating.

I haven't had any experience with them, but I heard they aren't that great. I also seem to remember that their web site doesn't even have a "Contact us" link! I just don't know.

Been playing 35 years. Own another Ovation, Ibanez, BC Rich (all acoustic/acoustic electrics), a Fender Tele, Fender Strat.

greate features

it really sounds like a dream,,,I have just pligged in a few times and I really love it

I thing fisnish is pretty good, seems like,, I just have had it for 1 month, and I haven't had complain about it

I can't say anything now,, one month is a short time

they are greate people,,, kaman is a serious co.

I have played it for a month,, it's my only guitar I have for now,, I used to have a celebrity,, but it really is uncomparable,,, 2 different things,, usa mades muche better i love everything of this guitar, specially the sound ,, very rich.. and strong..I have comparead sounds with a regular elite or special elite, and I definelety had to sell my elite special,, it souds 60% much better.. I would not change even for a legend or any other,, even adamas

I just got a 2002 1778T Elite Special. Its a Ovation USA and it sounds great. Everyone else already went through the details of the guitar, so i won't rehash it again. The one thing I noticed was that the B-String tuner is real loose, but that may just be on my guitar. I haven't messed around too much with the electronics, since I play it primarily unplugged, but the few times I have gone electric, the volume control is hard to make small adjustments. If you have it on low, its basically playing acoustic, and then all of it sudden it jumps up to real loud. I guess this really isn't an issue if you're in a house or something, but I live in an apartment and I can't go too loud. The new module is really easy to change too. Apparently, the old Ovations, if the battery ran out, it was a huge pain to change, but the new madule, you push one button, and the whole thing pops out. It might take about 2 minutes.

I've played a few other Ovations, mostly the cheaper ones, and this one blows them out of the water. All you have to do is strum it once and you can here how rich the tone is. Even when I play up on the higher frets, the notes still ring very clearly. I can't decide if the guitar has a bright or mellow sound yet, since it really changes depending on which room I am playing in or if I'm inside or outside. I think it might have something to do with the fact that the temperature control in my house varies a lot, and all guitars sound different when they are cold or warm. I haven't really had any complaints with the strings buzzing or anything unless I'm trying to be a jackass and strumming way too hard. I usually play the acoustic rock from all sorts of styles, and they all sound good on this guitar. I didn't give this guitar a 10, since I heard some martins that sounded a lot better than this one, but after a certain quality sound is all about personal preference in my opinion.

With the factory setup the action on this guitar is already one of the best I have ever played on. Of course, this is because I was coming from this crappy Washburn that I have had for like 5 years and it felt like the strings were about an inch and a half off the fretboard. (It really helped me build up some sweet and permanent callouses and finger strength though. My hands make me look like I'm a leper). Anyways, the Ovation although it has low action, it doesnt really buzz at all. That's pretty money if you ask me. The quality of the guitar seems to be pretty good. I've accidentally banged it a couple times, and it hasn't dented or scratched or anything. The finish is definitely weird, but its a cool weird. I have the all black one, and it looks like an a$$kicker. The fretboard is all black (no fret markings) and the body is all black. I definitely don't think it looks that gothic like the other review said, since it is still rounded but it definitely looks cooler than the regular ovations with those wooden leaves around the holes. The textured finish hasn't bothered me that much. The one thing I noticed with this ovation as opposed to the other I've played is that there is a rougher area on the bootom of the body, where it rests on your thigh, so it doesn't slip. I'm not sure if all the newer ovations have this, but the ones that I've played are older, and did not have this rough spot, so it was always slipping off my leg. you really needed a strap to play the older ones.

I haven't performed with this or anything, but I don't see why you couldn't if you wanted to. The finish seems pretty strong, and people definitely do notice your guitar, since it looks so unique. I will assume that the strap buttons are pretty strong, since the strap I have on it now used to be on a les paul that I have and that thing always fell off of that guitar, but it hasn't fallen off of this guitar yet.

No experience with customer support

I've been playing on and off for about 10 years. I have a Fender Strat (its a crappy foreign one, that I picked up off some guy for 75 bucks, but I can take it around and not really care about it. that and its a cool blue color, and I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff), a gibson les paul (which is fantastic, but it's really freakin heavy), that awful washburn from before, and then this Ovation. Since I got this guitar, I haven't touched the others. I would definitely get this guitar again if someone jacked it. Best Feature is it is as easy to play as an electric, and still sounds as great as an acoustic.

Same features as the last review, except this guitar is in the black finish. This guitar is by far the best Ovation I have ever heard, except for some of the top of the line stuff. I love the finish, though at times I think it is somewhat "gothic", being all black. But I will think of it as being classy instead of gothic. The features on this Ovation are superb; ebony wood, AA top, OP30 preamp w/ tuner. Great stuff

Best sounding Ovation I have played for under $2000. The preamp is very nice. Sounds great

The finish is perfect. The rough finish makes this easier to achieve. This is a nicely built guitar. Strap buttons are huge and solid

This guitar has an industrial finish on it. Would probably survive a nuclear blast. Very solid

Kaman is a great company

Guitar was made in 2002, in the US. It is a single cutaway with a medium depth "Lyrachord" bowl, solid spruce top, multi-soundholes with no epaulets (holes only on the upper area), and an ebony bridge with graphite intonated saddle. Entire body is sprayed with a very cool textured finish. It is similar to the finish traditionally found on the back of Ovations, but seems a bit rougher to me, in fact it reminds me of "non-skid" coatings you might find on metal steps. Comes in either black or pewter grey, I have the grey model. The finish keeps it from trying to slide off your leg when sitting, but it can be a little rough on the inside of your elbow.

Neck is maple, with graphite nut, ebony fretboard and large frets. Standard Ovation headstock, front is painted black, with a silver "Ovation" logo. Back of the neck is natural with a very smooth satin finish. Neck feels somewhat thinner than my Celebrity's. Came with D'Addario EXP coated strings.

Has the new OP-30 preamp with built-in chromatic tuner, 3 band EQ, mid shift and scoop functions. The tuner automatically turns off after a minute or so, which is good for battery life, but I have found it to be not quite long enough for me to get tuned up; I have to hit the button one more time. Output jack is located on the end of the guitar below the strap button, not on the back like other Ovations (nice improvement).

Sealed tuners and strap buttons are black, and the strap buttons look like they might take straplocks (they have a small groove around the inside), though I didn't get any mating strap ends with it.

I play rock and blues, and what might be called "country rock" (Eagles, Poco, Marshall Tucker, Jimmy Buffett). So far this guitar sounds great acoustically for all of this. Very nice, full sound great sustain. It rivals my Martin Dreadnaught, if a little brighter. I have plugged it in only for a few minutes, and it has the great Ovation sound, but somewhat fuller than my Celebrity. I bought this guitar for several reasons, but the sound is what really made me fall in love. Even some other customers in the store commented when I was playing it that it sounded really good, and I am not all that great a player!

The action and playability was another major reason I bought this particular guitar. Usually, I can only find something very close, and then have to do a little work once I get it home to get the setup just right. This guitar was set up perfectly already. Nut and bridge heights are nice and low, but not so much as to get buzzing strings with a spirited strum, and the neck is arrow straight. It feels like playing an electric. The thinner neck and large frets make it a very fast playing guitar.

The fit and finish are excellent. The only flaw I can find is that the textured finish inside the soundholes is a bit rough, but it is probably just the nature of the finish. Of course the textured finish may hide some flaws in the wood that may only appear after a time, so I'll see how it holds up. I also think you will either love the finish or hate it, it is pretty different. Most people who have seen it do like it, but a couple of my friends say it reminds them of some Navy issue machinery. I think it has a very high-tech, rugged look. It's cool.

It seems to be very well made and solid. I have only had it a week, so I don't really know how durable it is, but I am very gentle with my guitars, so I think it will last me a good long time. If I played live, I would definitely take this guitar, it just feels like it can take some unintentional abuse, and the thick finish will be hard to hurt, I think. It definitely doesn't show fingerprints or smudges, so you don't have to polish it! It seems more rugged than my other Ovation, which has held up nicely for a couple years, even with me dragging it around to play at friend's houses. Still, I am avoiding the perfect score, because of a lack of data.

I have used the warranty before on a different Ovation guitar, which had developed a bump in the neck. They replaced the guitar with a brand new one within a couple weeks, (once the local store got off their butt and sent it in). On the other hand, the company does not respond to emails very well, and their web site is very out of date, and has almost no customer help information (care and adjustment, online manuals, forums, etc.) The only information on this guitar they have on their web site is in the press release announcing it.

I have been playing for a few years, and own 10 guitars, both electric and acoustic. This is definitely going to be the one I pick up to play for a while, since it is new, but I think it will end up being one of my favorite as time goes on. It just has so much going for it. I played several other guitars the day I bought it, including a $1500 Adamas Carbon top, and other Elites. This guitar had them all beat in sound, playability and looks. It feels so good to play, because of the neck and action, and it sounds so nice I want to play it just to hear it sing.

The new electronics are very nice, I love the built-in tuner. The whole preamp is modular, and uplugs from the side of the guitar, so if it ever breaks, replacement should be easy. The salesman said he had heard that Ovation plans to make upgrade modules with effects, etc, that will just swap in, but the company has no mention of this on their crappy website, so it is only rumor.

Like I said, I really like the unique look and finish, but I know it won't please everyone. I would not recommend buying one of these online or mail order unless you get a look at one in person first. At least buy from someplace that has a "no-questions" return policy.

Pricewise, it is what I consider upper-midrange, and it seems to have the quality I expect for that kind of money. It is definitely a player's guitar and not a showpiece.

If it were stolen, I would find the person and tie them up with the strings wrapped around their privates. If it burned up in a fire, though, I would try to find another quickly!