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Ovation MCS148 Acoustic Electric Mandolin, Ruby Redburst

 
 
Ovation MCS148 Acoustic Electric Mandolin, Ruby Redburst
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Ovation MCS148 Acoustic Electric Mandolin, Ruby Redburst

SKU: 

182179

In Stock
Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days
List Price: $685.50
Our Price: $529.00
You Save: $156.50 (23%)
Description:

The Truly Modern Mandolin. The Ovation MCS Mandolin is the first designed from scratch as an acoustic/electric. Plugged in, the special design pickup and OP-24+ electronics truly make this mandolin sing. Unplugged, the Ovation Mandolin is rich, throaty and has plenty of punch. The OP-24+ preamp features three EQ bands with the ability to shift the mid band to either a 400Hz or 1KHz center frequency. It also features a Pre-Shape circuit that lifts the base and treble and reduces the "rumble" frequencies below 40Hz. Specs: Body Type: Mandolin Cutaway * Top: Spruce * Bracing: Mando-Quintad * Scale Length: 13 7/8 * Fretboard: Rosewood * Fret Inlay: Dots * Bridge: Walnut * Rosette: Multi Soundhole 5-Piece Epaulet * Pickup: Thinline * Nutwidth: 1 3/16 * Machines: Gold * Recommended Case: MC403

Features:
  • Body Type: Mandolin Cutaway

  • Top: Spruce

  • Bracing: Mando-Quintad

  • Fretboard: Rosewood

  • Rosette: Multi Soundhole 5-Piece Epaulet

Product Details:
Product Length: 4.6 inches
Product Width: 28.4 inches
Product Height: 12.7 inches
Product Weight: 4.1 pounds
Package Length: 35.3 inches
Package Width: 14.3 inches
Package Height: 5.8 inches
Package Weight: 5.7 pounds
Average Customer Rating: based on 3 reviews
 
 
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Review:4.5 ( 3 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

4Awesome puggled in, not the best for just acoustic  Oct 19, 2012
By SinginLady
It's pretty, well built, and plugged in it sounds great. Mine came with a really nice case when I bought it on Amazon. However, maybe it's the plastic back, but the sound just isn't as whole or warm, and I so much prefer my old mandolin for playing acoutic (a fender a-style mando). Still, I play shows, and this is so much better than any pickup I ever had for my other mandolin.

2 of 3 found the following review helpful:

5good sounding, solidly built mandolin  Jul 18, 2011
By K. Nguyen "musicLover"
This is another mandolin in my possession. I had chances to ("own" and) play 6 other mandolins (2 still in my possessions not counting this Ovation). Out of the 7 that I have played, the Ovation MCA-148 is the best to my taste
1) it is very solidly built, sounds more like guitar, clean sound, weights about 3 times as heavy as my Fender FM-53SB (acoustic only, I added a pickup myself, sounds great thru an amp) or my Fender FM-52E (acoustic/electric). The later two sounds truly mandolins (of course because they are).
2) string spacing is more like my acoustic guitar, not too narrow as other mandolins
I got this second hand, like new, so the action is high for my style. Luckily the bridge height can be adjusted by removing shim(s) under the saddly (quite easy procedure). However, the nut action has to be done by a luthier. Once done, it's a pleasure to play this mandolin.
3) the built-in pickup and preamp is similar to what typical acoustic/electric guitar has, very clean.
4) the top does not seem like solid pruce, however, it looks very thick and very solid compared to all other mandos I tried.

I would say the Ovation MCS-148 is a very small size acoustic/electric guitar with 4 double strings to be tuned like a mandolin AND I really like that.
If you never play mandolin and like to learn, this is the one. You won't have to buy another one.
Honestly, if you love the bluegrass sound, then this one is definitely the wrong one to get.

Update after 3 months owning this mandolin: this mandolin is not easily setup for proper intonation when first bought it (note: all new mandolins have to be setup), I had to bring it to a luthier to do the setup. I can setup traditional mandolins (A style, F- style) but not this one because of its fixed bridge.

0 of 1 found the following review helpful:

5cannot wait to plug it in  Jan 13, 2012
By Kent W. thompson "icarusxat"
The picture showed up purple on my computer screen, but the mandolin showed up beautiful, sounds great, and although I will do some tweeking it was already set up rather nicely. Plays great, feels great in my hands, and I am happy I spent the extra few buck to get the Ovation instead of the Applause I was considering.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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