I bought an Ovation Viper today (PICS)

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:13 am

So yeah my Hagstrom sold on eBay so I picked this up today. I decided I hate NGD threads so I changed the title. Pics in bottom post.

Anyway, here it is in the store....Kind of an ugly duck but I couldn't believe the quality for the price. Pickups are exactly up my alley (really bright and jangly) and all the hardware felt top notch and set up well. The neck is beautiful, and the profile seems to be exactly like my Ovation Tornado which is my favorite guitar. The serial number dates it as between 73 and 75.

SurfGreenGibby · Post by **SurfGreenGibby** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:18 am

It's not THAT ugly...maybe the giant knobs. Nothing about it is particularly "viper"-esque, either.

Always good to find a steal, though, and if it does guitar-stuff the way you want it, who cares what it looks like?

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:28 am

It's mostly just the blobby pickguards ovation put on their electrics I'm not crazy about. My '68 Tornado didn't come with one and I prefer it that way.

I actually like the giant oven knobs. The three way switch is also something very unique to the guitar, it's smaller than most and is sort of an inverted cone shape. I always hoped that if I ended up with one of these it would be white like this one:

SurfGreenGibby · Post by **SurfGreenGibby** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:31 am

Yes, that pickguard does look like a bit of pudding about to hit the ground.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 4:56 am

Ooo fuck yeah the white one is nice.

I like the way they look, love the bookscroll fingerboard heel and the angled poles on the bridge pickup.

Congrats on the new guitar, know you've been fond of your '60s Ovation for awhile... then again, I was surprised to hear you sold the Viking but I guess it makes for more variety this way.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:22 am

I haven't made the deal yet, so I still have the Hagstrom for now....I'm slightly torn because I keep going back and forth with wanting to sell it.....I love the guitar for how it looks and sounds, but I'm in a love hate relationship with the way it plays...the tiny neck makes me change my playing style quite a bit and it also has kind of a plinky feel in the right hand that I don't really know how to describe. Despite these faults I like the Viking a lot-I may try to find some other way of buying the Viper by the time I need to pay for it, but if I can't there's no doubt that I will make the trade.

My Ovation on the other hand is rock solid, smooth playing, and quite honestly the best guitar I've ever played (IMHO). This Viper seemed to have most of the things I like about my Tornado minus the awesome tremolo system. It's amazing to me that these guitars (Vipers, Preachers, etc) can be had all day long for under $500....they are seriously under rated. My only gripe is they don't have the "rawk" image, seems like something the bl00z lawyers would have bought back in the 70s. Then again, having something that people have to ask what it is after shows is satisfying enough.

Dannymec · Post by **Dannymec** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:53 am

I've been obsessed with those Vipers ever since I saw Henry from Pennines (now This Town Needs Guns) use one. Though he uses the Viper III
Video of it in action.

[youtube][/youtube]

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 6:24 am

Nick wrote:seems like something the bl00z lawyers would have bought back in the 70s.

I lol'd at this because I get what you mean, but at the same time I can't help but think that there were no bl00z lawyers in the '70s: it was still a young and sexy game. The vintage guitar market practically didn't exist, there were just a few select people paying a few hundred too much for old bursts and pretty much just sticking with the one each. Old pre-CBS Strats were cheaper than new ones, and many guitar manufacturers were trying to build a better mousetrap (rather than just sticking an ugly headstock on a cardboard box propped over a wedge of swiss). It's one of the things I love about oddball '70s guitars, there's a real sense of optimism and innovation in the design of them... they may look crazy, but so did the Strat when it came out.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:02 am

it does look a bit like:

► Show Spoiler

but they're really good guitars, and you know the wee bawbag in the support band isn't going to have one (that's the kind of shallow things that appeal to me). you've been dithering about the hagstrom for ages, i think you'll be glad you did it when you make the deal.

kapepepper · Post by **kapepepper** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:16 pm

which viking do you consider trading?
wold never get rid of my 68 viking, although i have the same porblem as you regarding neck

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:56 pm

It's that one, the II or Deluxe model that people call the Elvis guitar.

Since I'm not going to trade it for two weeks for lower than my old asking price I'll bump my old classifieds thread with a new low price..

Here's the thread if anyone's interested. The guitar will be gone in two weeks unless someone says they want it.

http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40612

kapepepper · Post by **kapepepper** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 6:35 pm

thats a nice guitar and extremely nice price

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:37 am

ugh, so I brought up my Hagstrom today with the intention of making a deal and getting my deposit back....turns out they won't take my Hagstrom for two reasons: 1. the neck is very slightly asymmetrical on the bass side, but perfect on the treble. Doesn't cause the guitar to be unplayable at all, but they'd rather not take on the responsibility of selling it. and 2. The Ovation's on consignment so they can only accept cash and no trades at all whatsoever.

So I've got like a month. I need the Hagstrom gone and this Ovation in my life so it's in the classifieds even cheaper than ever. I did enjoy a lengthy conjugal visit with the Ovation through a 70's deluxe reverb and a swollen pickle. Haet the swollen pickle, but LOOOOOVED the Viper. Sigh

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 3:14 am

Zena Approved

Initial impressions are great. The case came with the key! This thing is pretty much a Telecaster for all intents and purposes. 25.5" scale maple cap neck (I didn't realize the scale length before, but I still like it), bridge is top loading but very snappy and vibrant. It needs some 10's on it, pretty sure it's strung with 9's (bleh). My only gripe is I keep reaching for a tremolo arm because the neck makes me feel like I'm holding my Tornado. I couldn't fathom installing a bigsby or anything on such a pristine vintage guitar so that's out, I just need to appreciate it for what it is. Can't wait to hear it through my twin at full volume.

Can't recommend these things enough, very satisfied with the purchase. I no longer feel it's ugly. It was $485, and a way better telecaster than I could buy for twice the price.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:00 am

I've always liked the headstocks on those, and that case is rad-town.

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:36 am

that is awesome and beautiful (and still ugly)

BillClay · Post by **BillClay** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:44 am

can't believe that would sound like a tele but it looks sweet brah

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:57 am

BillClay wrote:can't believe that would sound like a tele

Everything about it may look different, but most of the key ingredients are there. Controls, bright single coil pickups, bolt on 25.5" maple neck, snappy top loading fixed bridge, single cutaway. It really is twang city.

As odd as it looks, the bridge is probably one of my favorite parts, the black part is made out of the same lyrachord plasticy stuff that the backs of their acoustics are made of and it is so comfortable. Still haven't figured out what the whole deal is with the screw in the back, I'm guessing it raises the bridge so the strings can be changed and then lowers it again to set it up.

Now I need to keep my eye out for a Preacher to fill my double humbucker needs and I'll be all set.

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:59 am

I'd rock fuck out of that, or an Ovation Breadwinner!

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:18 pm

Nick your Viper looks ace. Always hankered after one of those.

The Deacon is a fancy version of the Breadwinner. Love this too. I read an interview with the designer and apparently the whole shape is a play on guitarists calling their guitar 'an axe'.