Ozark tenor guitar

Subject: Ozark tenor guitar
From: GUEST,alex s
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 09:11 AM

You've all been so helpful re my 12-string I have another question - what do you think of the Ozark tenor guitar? I'm thinking of getting one.

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: Sooz
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 10:54 AM

So am I

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: nickp
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 11:35 AM

If you are in the UK (Sooz I know you are) I'd recommend the Ashbury from Hobgoblin instead - slightly cheaper, nicer design (my opinion) and a good instrument - I already have one - there's another thread about it and the different tuning options.

Nick

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: Zen
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 12:16 PM

Hi Alex and Sooz,

We have an Ozark tenor and can recommend it highly. It's a small instrument, very well-made with a sweet tone. You should be able to find it from about £175-195. Personally I much prefer it both sound- and design-wise to the Ashbury which I've also tried. But in fairness to nickp these things are very subjective and personal as with all instruments.

Zen

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: GUEST,morrisbrendon
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 01:56 PM

I have one of the ashburys from hobgoblin...the tone is good enough, nothing special. Seems to be made from decent quality wood and the quality of the workmanship is absolutely amazing for the price...overall, very good value, I think. Haven't played the Ozark so I can't compare

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: GUEST,alex s
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 02:26 PM

Once again, thanks to all for your helpful comments. Alex

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: Sooz
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 03:57 PM

Thanks - better go and try them out!

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: jonm
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 05:08 AM

I compared the Ozark and Ashbury back to back in a shop and ended up with the Ozark.

It has a nice tone with a raw edge when you dig in, really cuts through in a session unlike most guitars, it's good and loud but capable of some smoother and gentler dynamics depending on how you play it. It's also smaller, with no apparent trade-off in volume and only a little in bass response.

The Ashbury was more of a one-trick pony, nice tone but less variety depending on how you play. If that tone is the one for you, then fine, but I wanted a little more.

Some minor fit and finish issues with the Ozark, as you might expect with a budget guitar, but basically OK. It fits a half-size acoustic gig bag and Eagle Music do a dedicated hard case for it. The Ashbury will only fit into a standard 000 case or bag.

Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: Will Fly
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 05:18 AM

Having tried both Ozark and Ashbury, I thought the Ozark was probably the better bet. The Ashbury did the job but seemed slightly characterless. In the end, I decided to get neither, and commissioned a luthier friend to make me one. It's based on a Gibson 1920 design, will cost around 4 times the price of the Ozark/Ashbury guitars, and I won't get it for a year, but I think it's worth waiting for. And I have a year to save up for it.

Subject: RE: Ozark tenor guitar
From: GUEST,Woody
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 12:33 PM

Yep I tried both & also went for the Ozark - it seemed sweeter to me but the Ashbury was OK. I'm delighted with the Ozark.