Ovation 1868 Elite

I purchased my 1868 for about $1300 new and it was worth the price! As the 1868 was on backorder, I insisted that the guitar be unopened and 'set-up' for me when delivered: I wanted to open the factory shipping box 'de-virginize' the guitar myself and not submit it to the hands of a stranger. It arrived untouched and it was everything I had hoped it would be - the best acoustic guitar I've ever played!
Made in Hartford CT USA, this pearl-white super-shallow cutaway roundback is definitive of the fine handiwork that typifies Ovation's artisans. An excellent instrument with OP-24 active electronics, the guitar is a versatile performer.
The included case looks like an SKB, which I customized by carving out a round opening inside on the blue 'fur' cloth nearest the cutaway area to embed/hold a round plastic cylindrical humidifier (it's a neat suggestion I offer that saves storage space for strap/tuner/strings, etc... email me for a photo)
The rosewood neck is set on a 5-piece mahogany/maple layer that is Ovation's signature for their Adamas line. It also has jumbo frets, 24k custom tuners w/Ovation's logo and a v-shaped back that I find to be uncomfortable when playing repeated barre chords, but OK for soloing and open chording. Keep in mind that I'm a keyboard player, not a guitarist!
I had bought some brass Dunlop straplocks for the guitar, but before I removed the stock black strap buttons, I discovered that the stock buttons are StrapLock compatible!! Still, I replaced the black ones with the new brass buttons to match the 24k tuners on the headstock.. stock buttons looked horrendous with gold tuners.

I play jazz and new-age music on my Elite, mostly rhythm and counterpoint. When I record, I've been able to fool seasoned guitarists who guess what brand of guitar I'm playing: I record and perform on the Elite plugged into a Zoom 2020 multi-pedal. I rarely connect the guitar into an amp, rather I plug the 1868 into my 2020 pedal and connect it directly into the PA. EQ on the OP-24 enables me to further customize my sound with my Zoom 2020 multi-effects pedal. With quick, easy adjustments, I can emulate almost any sound from a nylon classical, to a 12 string, to a death-metal electric through a stack of Marshalls... just with my acoustic Elite and the 2020! Piezo pickup, roundback shell and spruce sitka top repells feedback, even when close to stage monitors.

The guitar arrived needing little adjustment: a minor tweaking of the truss-rod and string tuning was all that I needed to do to set-up the 1868. I did adjust the saddle and raised the bridge with an ultra-thin strip of buck leather (supplied by a local luthier)which I later removed because of excessive buzzing. Black plastic side-pieces on the bridge became loose and fell out often requiring a dab of elmers glue to secure it. So far, so good.
The battery compartment is a pain to work with. Thankfully, I only have to mess with it once every 14 months. I prefer to use Adamas Extra Light strings and have noticed significant tonal difference whenever I use another brand.
Only flaw was a bit of excess glue around the epaulets that I easily removed with a toothpick.

This guitar has been my main instrument for every performance I've done since 1992. As the Elite has never broken a string and is almost always in tune, I've never had need for a backup guitar, even in my studio sessions. With as much pick thrashing I do, the finish does not show any scratches, even after seven years of playing.
I've had the misfortune of witnessing my prized guitar falling face-first onto gritty, dirty asphalt while waiting to go on at an outdoor festival concert. Wonders of wonders, the guitar stayed in tune, had no physical damage except for a tiny, un-noticable indentation near the headstock, and the Elite performed flawlessly! The 'oyster-perpetual' Rolex of guitars!

Never had to send the guitar for servicing. I may consider finding an Ovation-certified technician to re-fret the neck, but that isn't necessary yet.

This guitar is a keeper - I'll never sell mine! If you can find one for sale, don't pass it up at any price!
My guitar isn't without its design flaws: It would've been nice to see the guitar offered with a bolt-on neck option or a thinner, flatter neck instead of the "V" shape. The bottom section is too slippery to hold: The textured bottom near the cutaway could've been more abrasive to 'bite' more into the leg to support it while sitting... older models used to come with a strip of of adhesive rubber that could be attached for this purpose: this guitar could've used one. I found that the guitar is not wireless friendly: I had to replace the straight 1/4" plug on my transmitter to a right-angle plug just to accomodate the jack at the bottom of the bowl... would've been nice to have the jack located closer to the strap-button, just in case an Ovation owner didn't know how to solder.
Overall, The 1868 is a really nice instrument, never out of tune after a long gig and very versatile!
You can hear realaudio soundbytes of me and my Elite at http://pwp.starnetinc.com/akiba/atin.ram (emulating electric guitars and jazz rhythm 6 strings via Zoom 2020 multi-effects pedal) and at http://pwp.starnetinc.com/akiba/scorpio.ram

this one is w/ the feathers on it and was made in 1990 I paid full price almost and it was then that I noticed that the dealer sold a 2nd as a first quality guitar. bad boy and it cost him a lot the last ten years. having said that let me say that this is the the guitar to buy if you can only afford one guitar. If you went to do time on the moon then take this one. it sounds great and plays great. it is the best sounding best playing and the best quality guitar I have owned electric or acoustic. I played acoustic for ten years before picking up an electric. I like the slightly compressed loud sound this guitar has and cannot find fault with it at all.. it works well for all types of music.

again it sounds great on many types of music.

this guitar never goes out of tune ..I can let it set and have for weeks and never have to tune. it puts the word quality back in guitars with a capital Q. I really never have seen why it was a second.

I lost my temper a few years ago and while holding this very guitar by the neck at face level ....I slammed the bottom of the guitar{at the strapbotton} into the floor as hard as I could...Im 210 pounds. it fractured the finish and split the top in htree places up to the bridge... but the guitar still works and works well it still stays in tune and it still plays great and sounds great.. I very much regret doing this to such a fine insturment as this. the only thing I can think of that is as durable is maybe an old telecaster. I could never had done this to an acoustic and still use it. most can't even survive a plane trip if not in a airline case.

never had to deal with them but they do make one fine product.

twenty years w/half acoustic and half electric.but even my electric sounds very acoustic to me. I have owned many insturments and amps but this is the best by far when it comes to quality ..it survived the "gorilla tests" being an acoustic guitar snob a few years back {almost ten} I said I would never own an Ovation... that was until I played this one. I have long ago eaten those sorry word's. if you are such ...you do yourself a great disservice by not giving these guitars a chance. I beleive that dollar for dollar they are the best that money can buy .

1991, Made in the USA. Your typical super-shallow bowl Ovation Elite, five-piece maple and mahogany neck, AAA spruce top, gold tuners.
However, the unfinished neck is REALLY a turn-off for me. It accumulates sweat and needs constant polishing. Ovation should have finished it lightly, to prevent this. And the gold tuners, for some reason, accumulate gunk. I don't know why, either -- I polish them over and over, but they keep accumulating it. None of my other guitars have this problem, so it's not me.

As an acoustic boomer, I love my Ovation. Clear, woody and warm, the guitar booms when I play, with a power I haven't seen in other shallow-bodied acoustics. The Elite's tone is clear, the pickup carries it well, and for rhythm guitar work or simple solo fingering, it can't be beat. I typically string mine with Elixir 11-gauge acoustic strings.

No complaints at all. Sturdy as a rock, never needed an adjustment in its years of being owned and played.

I've gigged with it, I've travelled with it, I've done everything with it and it's still happy. It has often been my gig guitar, sans backup. Never broken a string, never had a failure of any kind, never been repaired.

Ovation are really, really good about handling customer questions, but I haven't seen 'em in action, so I can't really vouch.

For the price I paid (which was a steal!) it's a beautiful guitar. I personally think the list price for the 1868 Elite is prohibitive, and wouldn't have paid it, but $500? No problem!
The Elite's a nice, rich, booming guitar, but to be honest, the Celebrity Deluxe gives very similar tone and warmth for a fraction of the price. Save your money, buy a Celebrity Deluxe.