Ovation Ultra Bass

Rosewood fretboard, adjustable neck, with bullet-style truss rod adjustment. Headstock has a 2 level bevel, giving it a egde profile similar to the normal Ovation headstock. Schaller tuning keys. Kahler adjustable bridge. Single Di-Marzio split-P pickup. 1 volume, 1 tone, & 1 mini togle of unknown function, as mine is broken. P-Bass copy with a shaved down lower bout, with a German carve a-la Mosrite on the upper & lower bouts.

Tone is punchy, much cleaner, louder & without the muddiness of my MIM Standard P-Bass.

These were supposedly introduced by Ovation in 1985 & lasted only about a year. The bodies & necks were reportedly made in Korea & assembled in the US by Ovation using the afformentioned hardware. Mine does not have any exterior country of orgin markings, but I have not opened it up or removed the neck yet.

Stays in tune very well, action is comperable to my MIM P-Bass. The neck has a thick gloss varnish on it that has since yellowed, & would be the envy of any '60's Fender.

Mine is beat up, but seems fine. Does not have the "light body" feel that plagues a lot of imports that have that thin body, laminate construction. This has a comperable thickness & heft of a regular P-Bass.

Afraid Ovation does not even list this model on their web site of past models. The Vintage Guitar Ovation article makes a passing comment on this model, & that's about the only thing on the net you'll find.

Overall, this is a great alternative to any of the other zillion P-Bass knock offs out there. The price I paid was worth the hardware alone. Say what you will about it being made in Korea, how many other copies have Schaller tuners?

The over all funkiness of it & shape was what caught my eye. They obviously tried to make a P-Bass copy without getting sued, so it has a look of familiarity, yet it is distinct enough on it's own. A good riff on a classic design. Besides, being a Mosrite fan, I'm a sucker for the German carve.

I would definately by another if I could find one. I doubt they will ever become collectable, unless somebody of noteworthiness comes along & does for this what Chris Novaselic did for the Ibanez Black Eagle Bass.

Over all, a decent P-Bass alternative.

This bass is the Ovation Celebrity electric bass. 34" scale. It has one P-bass style dual pickup. One tone, and one volume. Not really a very balanced design. Solid wood body, probably basswood. Body seems too small for neck. Makes for a light bass, but too neck heavy non-the-less.

Sounds OK. Not very punchy, most likely the fault of the small light body. Also could be the cheap pickups. Mostly midrange and highs. Ok for a starter bass for practice.

Action way too high, hard to get just right. Either buzzes on frets or is high, even with trus-rod adjustment. Frets are nice and big. decent looking 80's style bass, all white with black accents. Would look perfect in a Hair band.

Marginal durability, would be a good bass to destroy at the end of a set. Probably would not play it live anyway.

made somewhere in new england in 1977. 1 volume 1 tone control and a 2 way switch. 2 p-bass style pickups. pretty much a p-bass made by ovation.

I play ummmm rock music. i guess. It dosnt hum much. one of the pickups is muddy another is really brite.

Its in good condition. its a little off balance.

its pretty well put together. probably wont break.

never dealt with them.

my first bass but compared to my friends i like it alot better.