I have had three Ovations. Bought my first Ballader in '73. Went in to buy a Gibson Hummingbird, saw this funny guitar that I had seen Trevor Lucas (Fairport) play, and was smitten. Lost it to theft in '84 and spent a year looking for a replacement. Found another Ballader in a little shop on Exeter (I lived in Glasgow), and soon after found a secondhand Legend. It had had some hard times but had the best tone of the three. I agree that any later Ovations I tried were not as good as these. (The one I got in Exeter had ben on the wall for a few years, which was why it took me so long to find it). I have played these two guitars right up to 2000, when I bought a Tacoma Chief, (love that guitar), still use the Ballader as second, the Legend is out on semi-permanent loan to another performer. One problem I had to get delt with last year on the Legend, (although the Ballader is showing the same tendency), was the appearance of cracks on the wooden face. This I was informed was due to the fact that there was less "give" with the Ovation bowl than there would be in a conventional guitar, hence the wooden front split.
I still live those guys, and alway will.
love, john.