Ovation Optima User manual

Introduction
Congratulations and thank you for selecting an Ovation Acous-
tic/Electric guitar equipped with the Optima®preamp. Please
read this brief manual thoroughly to insure you get “Optima-l”
performance from your new Ovation.
The Ovation Optima preamp represents the cutting edge of
acoustic/electric guitar circuitry. This preamp offers the player
tremendous control and sonic flexibility while maintaining
acoustic “transparency.” In addition, this new preamp in-
cludes a built-in digital tuner - an Ovation first! In other
words, whether in the recording studio or on stage, your
Ovation will sound more “acoustic” and in-tune than ever.
Referring to fig. 1, you’ll see the layout and nomenclature
associated with the control features of the unit. To simplify
the explanation of the functions and features, it’s convenient
to discuss the preamp and tuner functions separately.
Preamp Features & Functions
The Optima’s audio circuitry is studio-quiet with super low
distortion (see specifications table). Tone control is greatly
enhanced with a precise four-band graphic equalizer. More-
over, you can connect your guitar to a wide range of audio
amplification and recording equipment. Since the Optima
features both a low impedance balanced XLR connector as
well as a standard ¼” Hi-Z, unbalanced phone jack, you
can even use your mixer’s phantom power capability to elimi-
nate the preamp’s drain on the battery!
Connections
On the rear of the guitar, near the endpin, you’ll notice two
audio connectors. One is a three pin XLR (mic) type, balanced
output, while the other is a conventional, ¼” phone jack.
Hi-Z Connection
If you wish to connect your guitar to a high impedance (Hi-
Z) acoustic guitar amp or mixer, use a standard, shielded,
¼” guitar cable inserted into the ¼” jack on the guitar. If
you have a battery installed in the guitar, you’re ready to
play (of course you’ll read the rest of this manual first)!
Lo-Z Connection
If you have chosen to connect the guitar to a low impedance
mixer or amp, there are a couple of options. If you have a
conventional, Lo-Z balanced line XLR (or mic) cable, con-
nect the guitar to the amp/mixer and insert a ¼” “activation
plug1” into the phone jack on the guitar. This plug connects
the battery’s current to the preamp circuitry. If you have
purchased an Ovation Lo-Z XLR Activation Cable2, simply
connect your guitar to your amp or mixer and play!
Phantom Power
Here’s another unique Ovation feature: If your mixer or acous-
tic guitar amp has phantom power available (a voltage source
that is superimposed inaudibly on the same wires as the sig-
nal), using the XLR connector on the guitar (with any bal-
anced XLR cable) will direct this voltage to your preamp.
This will dramatically extend battery life, as only the tuner
will require battery current. Even without a battery, using
the phantom powering option will ensure that you’re getting
the ultimate response and output from your preamp. Please
note however, that the tuner will not function without a ser-
viceable battery installed in the guitar.
Controls
Please refer again to fig. 1 to note control names and functions.
Gain
This “retractable” control allows you to set the output level
of the preamp. If you depress and release this knob, it will
“pop” out and allow easy access for adjustment. Clockwise
rotation increases the output level. Depress and release the
knob again and it will return to its original, recessed posi-
figure 1.
tion. This low-profile position helps avoid unintentional con-
tact... your level setting “stays put.”
Battery Low
This indicator will illuminate if the voltage of the battery
installed in the guitar dips below 7.7V. This means you should
replace the battery as soon as possible to avoid degraded
performance. If this indicator is not lit and your guitar has
no output, it likely means that the battery is completely dead.
Either replace the battery or use phantom power (see above).
With average tuner use, expect 100-150 hours of use per battery.
EQ Controls
The EQ section allows you to accent or attenuate certain
frequency bands within the guitar’s audio spectrum. When
all of the controls are in the center (detent) position, signals
pass through the circuit unaltered. Raising an EQ knob above
the center position increases the energy contained within that
spectrum. Likewise, moving the control below the center po-
sition decreases the signals within that band.
The Optima preamp offers ±12dB control over four discrete
ranges of the guitar’s sonic spectrum.
The Low EQ control allows you to increase or reduce the
sound in the bass region. Raise this control above the center
position to add fullness or bottom to your sound. De-em-
phasizing this band results in a lighter, less ponderous sound
quality.
The High EQ control performs similarly to the “Low” control
except that its effect shapes the high frequency, or treble
band. Increase this control for bright or airy sounds, or de-
crease for darker or round tonalities.
Much like the High and Low controls, the two mid-band
controls add coloration to the lower and upper midrange
frequencies. The 600Hz EQ is effective controlling “nasal”
tone qualities while the 6K control can add edge or help
your sound "cut” without loss of musicality.
EQ In/Out
This push-button enables you to engage or defeat the EQ
section. When the switch is in the depressed position, the
EQ is active. Return the switch to the “up” position and the
EQ circuit is bypassed. The bypass of the EQ circuit is de-
sirable in some studio environments where external EQ is
preferable. You can also use this defeat switch to quickly
check the results of your EQ adjustments relative to the origi-
nal sound or even as instant access to a discrete second EQ
“channel.”
Notch In/Out
This switch enables the notch circuitry in the down position
and disables it in the up position.
Notch
A Notch filter is a very special type of EQ. Essentially, it is
an extremely narrow and deep cut of an audio frequency
band. The Optima has a “tunable” notch filter which em-
powers you to select the specific frequency band that will
be affected by the notch. With the Optima’s tunable notch
filter you can “surgically” remove troublesome feedback fre-
quencies which occur due to the guitar’s natural resonances.
The Notch control provides control of the center frequency
of the notch effect. Like the Gain Control it is “retractable.”

Optima®
Acoustic/Electric Guitar Preamp
Owner's Manual
When your monitor or stage levels are too high, and you
hear the guitar starting to feed back, engage the notch cir-
cuitry and simply tune the filter (you’re actually changing
the center frequency of the notch) by slowly rotating the Notch
control until the feedback is eliminated. Full counterclock-
wise, the Notch frequency is roughly 70Hz, while full clock-
wise it is about 700Hz.
Tuner Features and Functions
The tuner built in to your Optima preamp is easy to use,
flexible, and extremely accurate. It is an “automatic chro-
matic” model which, when activated, will display the name
of the note you are playing as well as its tuning status (sharp
or flat). There is an additional function which allows “off-
set” tuning - a quick way to touch up a guitar's tuning. Fi-
nally, to extend battery life, the tuner is controlled by a au-
tomatically timed turn-off circuit. The tuner function is ac-
cessible regardless of whether or not you are “plugged in.”
This means that even when you are playing acoustically,
you’ll be able to tune your instrument precisely.
Tune/Cal
To activate the tuner, simply depress the Tune/Cal push-but-
ton one time. The tuner “OK” LED will flash periodically,
indicating that it is now in the “standby” mode - awaiting a
note to measure. It will remain active for over one minute
(usually enough time to completely tune your instrument).
After this period, the timer circuit will return the tuner to its
“off” state to ensure that your battery will not be unnecessar-
ily depleted. You can activate the tune mode in this way as
often as you need to complete tuning.
Once you’ve enabled the tuner, simply play a note on the
guitar and the tuner LEDs will indicate the note name and
the tuning status. If the note is too sharp, the “Sharp” indi-
cator will illuminate. Similarly, the “Flat” and the “OK”
LEDs will respond to note you play. In addition, if the note
you play is sharp or flat, the LED will flash at varying rates
depending upon the amount sharp or flat. As you move closer
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37 Greenwoods Road
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990146-A
Specifications
Current Draw: 4.7mA @ 9VDC
Flat Ref. Level: -6.1dB
Freq. Response: 20Hz-20KHz (±0.5dB)
Signal to Noise:
Bypass EQ/Notch w/max Gain: -104.3dB
EQ in w/flat setting: - 99.8dB
EQ in w/max High: - 94.9dB
EQ Response:
Low: ±14dB@80Hz
LMid: ±14dB@600Hz
HMid: ±13dB @ 6.6KHz
High ±12dB@10KHz
Notch Response:
Range: 56Hz 105Hz 668Hz
Depth: -31dB -32dB -28dB
Q: 3.3 2.9 2.5
Output: Max. Level @ 5K Ohm: 2V
Max. Level @ 600 Ohm: 1.4V
THD: <.1% (nominal)
Tune "ON" Timer: 64 seconds (nominal)
Low Battery "ON" voltage: 7.7V
to the correct pitch, the flash rate will decrease until you
have reached the correct pitch, at which time the “OK” LED
will illuminate. After tuning each string this way, check
each string a second time. Some strings may require “re-
touching,” especially if your guitar was significantly out of
tune to begin with.
There is another convenient function built in to this tuner.
Occasionally, you might find yourself in a situation where
you must play with other instruments (like an old piano) which
may be slightly out of tune. Simply tune one string of your
guitar to this instrument, then activate the tuner (see above)
and play that string. Wait for the tuner to “lock” on the
pitch (it may indicate sharp or flat). While “locked,” de-
press the Tune/Cal button again. The tuner will now be cali-
brated to “relative” pitch. This approach may also be used
when performing “live” and there isn’t enough time to com-
pletely retune your guitar... You started your first set in tune,
but the whole guitar has gone a little flat... one string a little
more than the others. You can “touch up” that offending string
quickly and accurately. Activate the tuner and play a string
that’s “relatively” in tune. By locking the tuner calibration to
this pitch the offending string can now be accurately tuned rela-
tive to the other strings! This “offset” tuning function is indi-
cated by a double flash of the “OK” LED in the standby mode.
1Activation Plug (¼”)
(Part Number 9659-0) Retail: $3.99
2Ovation Lo-Z Balanced XLR Activation Cable
(Part Number 9658-0) Retail: $19.95
Above accessories are available from the Ovation Ser-
vice Department (800-552-4681).