Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer Acoustic Electric Guitar Review :: Ovation Acoustic-Electric Guitar

features a preamp that’s the envy of every guitarmaker in its class.

Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer

The Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer Acoustic Electric Guitar is meticulously crafted with a bookmatched solid spruce soundboard mated to a super-shallow bowl. The Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer is an instrument of unmatched value: solid spruce top; mahogany neck; hand rubbed finish; a preamp that’s the envy of every guitarmaker in its class. The EQ of Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer is so flexible. EQ on/off, Midshift, pre-shape which cuts the mid and boosts the lows and highs. Bass mid high equalizer control. Volume control. All these buttons gives you almost complete control at a press of a button. This guitar is the most traditional Ovation guitar and the most popular USA-made model. This guitar will definitely withstand live playing, afterall that’s what it was designed to do! You won’t be dissapointed.

Pros

  • a very nice, well balanced sound;
  • the preamp is easy to use;
  • the strings felt lighter;
  • the sound, feel and worksmanship is much better than other acoustic;
  • finish on frets very clean, no finish flaws;
  • looks like it will last.

Cons

  • some owners complained that the spacing between the strings is considerably greater on this guitar;
  • some owners complained about “V” shape of the neck;
  • it does not have the greatest tone when not amplified.

Suggestions

  • you can use D’Addario EJ15 Phospher Bronze’s strings;
  • sounds even better when plugged in;
  • use with DigiTech amp;
  • works best with light-gauge phosphor/bronze strings.

Amps used by users – Digitech RP100

Features + Technical Specs
BracingA Brace
Body TypeS/Shallow Cutaway
BridgeWalnut
TopA Grade Spruce
PickupOP30, Thinline Under-Sadle
HardwareChrome Ovation
Scale Length25 1/4
Nutwidth1 11/16
FingerboardRosewood
Fret InlayPearl Dots
RosetteHand-Inlaid
FinishesNatural, Black, Cherry-Cherryburst

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