Looks good, plays like a shoe box [and visa versa]

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Sat May 14, 2011 7:42 pm

So theres a lot of guitars that look ghastly, but play like butta. And we all know of some that look tits but play like crap!

As mentioned before, Ibanez JEM's look straight out of the 80s but if you actually sit down and play one you'll find that they are actually great playing guitars!

And theres the Music Man guitars, those were built to play. Never picked up a bad one.
Heres the Albert Lee Music Man, looks not so much!

Played one in CAR and christ thats a great instrument.

And, heres a great looking guitar that plays like a shoe box

These look amazing, but they are impossible to play for me sitting or standing, and every one i've played has neck and fret issues [like not playing the low e on the first few frets bad]

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:00 pm

I love those Albert Lee guitars, I just wish I could afford one

I agree on the ovations, but the contour back ones are more manageable.

I don't get on with compound radius necks, so anything with one of those I'm not a fan of, or super skinny necks - unless its on a archtop with 13s on, for some reason the heavy strings negate the lolly pop neck feel?

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:34 pm

I wouldn't call ovation acoustics good looking guitars. They're flashy, but flashy doesn't always mean good looking. Just look at Ke$ha for a perfect example of this statement. I think those weird leafy things on the top look dumb. I do agree that Ovations play like garbage though. I hate the bowlbacks, it makes it impossible to play one sitting down comfortably without it sliding around. They also always just feel cheap to me.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:57 pm

It's kind of funny that, since ovation in my opinion made some of the best electric guitars ever in their day, yet they're more famous for making wonky plastic acoustics

James · Post by **James** » Sat May 14, 2011 10:53 pm

I would put the ovation acoustic in the opposite category. It looks shit, but I've played one of the higher end models and it was fantastic. The lower priced ones aren't very good at all, and I can't even remember exactly what it was I played (maybe a legend, or custom or something like that) but it was enough to make you ignore the terrible aesthetics.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:12 pm

Once I had a helped a friend pick out a "nice" acoustic guitar, she played all the guitars in her price range before settling on a used Ovation Celebrity (I think). It did sound and play really nice but I still don't know if I could personally put up with the bowlback.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:19 pm

my mate has had an ovation plastic bowl acoustic for nearly 20 years and i hate the look of it and think of bon jovi everytime i see it but it plays like a dream

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:49 pm

I see loads of these old archtop things on eBay. Look so cool, so tempting, but then I remember it probably plays crap.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun May 15, 2011 12:38 am

Half of those old Kay type archtops Are actually really good.

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:28 am

Nick wrote:Half of those old Kay type archtops Are actually really good.

Seriously! I've played a few and I've always been impressed!

I also agree with your earlier post about ovations. Their old electrics are really nice looking and play nice too, but they're known for their shitty acoustics for some reason.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Sun May 15, 2011 10:38 am

I have my eye on this on eBay at the moment: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

You can't beat a spangly, shiny new archtop. It'll probably get a bit more expensive at the end which will put it out of my range, but this thing looks flash. I'd love to get one to play Black Sabbath on.

George · Post by **George** » Sun May 15, 2011 10:53 am

I'd check it out. My Jay Turser 12 string was immense for the money but I just wasn't into the humbucker thing. Sold now but I have a feeling I'll regret it.

Auriemma · Post by **Auriemma** » Mon May 16, 2011 1:38 pm

Once you get used to the round back (its really not that hard, strap in), Ovations are killer, especially the American made ones. I play my Elite-T more than my Martin because it plays and sounds great. My Balladeer 12 string is almost as easy to play as any electric 12 string and easier than most acoustic 6 strings.

But thats the deal with O's... you love them or hate them.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed May 18, 2011 8:26 am

I like the Albert body shape but there's something grinds my gears about the Musicman headstock and the tuner placement and it's stumpyness. i don't think it works with that body at all. I think the body in CAR with a nice 3 ply mint guard would give it the slightly retro push it needs to look properly classy. Maybe a slight dano vibe?