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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 11
Location: California | Gentlemen,
What can you tell me about a 1977 Legend 1117-4? I believe it is a deep bowl with no on board electronics.
I currently own a 2001 Legend and am quite happy with it despite the abuse I take from those narrow minded all wood guitar playing friends of mine. I just don't get why the hate Ovations so much.
Were there many changes in the Legend, other than electronics, over the years?
Thanks for your help. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Hey Pilgrim,
I have a 1981 1117 Legend, and I can tell you this. She has the most richest, beautiful tone I have ever heard! I also own a 94 Standard Balladeer (also deep bowl)with electronics. Although the Balladeer has a wonderful sound plugged in, unplugged it can't hold a candle to the Legend.
Are you looking to buy the 1117-4? Have you played it? Don't let a little warping scare you off Pilgrim! My Legend has more curves, dips and bulges than Marylin Monroe, and is just as incredible!
Good Luck,
Norse(not much for tech. info, just play from the heart)man1 |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 11
Location: California | Hey Norse(friendliest guy on this board)man1,
I took your advice and got the Legend 1117. The last thing I need is another guitar. But I couldn't help myself.
I am a lefty and it's hard to find quality instruments. Either you have to drive for miles to play one (and then can't A, B it with another because they only have one) or you have to order something sight unseen.
I have a 1777 Legend (2001) mid bowl. Overall I'm very happy with it. But I always wanted a deep bowl. I would have gotten a deep bowl Legend originally but the local Ovation rep said it would be a long wait and relatively expensive.
Then last week, I saw this 1976 left 1117 Legend on eBay. The owner wanted $400. I never bought anything on eBay so I was nervous. But the seller turned out to be a stand up guy. It was his first guitar. He is a session player in LA. The Legend has definitely been played in. He has since gone over to Taylor. Didn't ask him why yet. I will. Anyway, the guitar arrived today.
It is a nice pumpkin color. The ebony fret board has some scalloped spots. Not just the frets but the fret board itself. I've seen that on well used Teles and Strats with the maple necks but never on an ebony fret board. Anything they can do about that? Eventually I will get it refretted. Can they sand down the fingerboard then?
The top has a slight bulge that scares me. Also it has two hairline (surface?) cracks. Paul Templeton mentioned in another post that Legends built in the 70s often had top cracks on the treble side in the lower bout. Crack #1 extends downward 1 3/4 inches from the 5th string. Crack #2 extends downward 2 1/4 inches from the 3rd string. Did they change the bracing on later Legends to avoid this problem?
There is a luthier nearby who is an authorized Ovation service guy. I am going to let him look it over. Are these cracks hard to fix? Does the repair seriously effect the tone of the top? Do you think I should send it back to the factory for the repair? Or should I just leave it alone and live with it? Other than those two cracks (and the scalloped frets) it is in very good shape. I consider myself lucky to find a 25 year old, deep bowl, factory lefty.
Being left handed this is the first deep bowl that I've been able to really play. I've been comparing it to my mid bowl all night. Definately a big difference. Still can't decide which I like better. The deep bowl seems thinner? Yes?
I can tell you one thing though. I wish Ovation never stopped using those neat foil labels inside. Very Classy.
O.K. I'm done. Lots of questions. Any expert answers? |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Hey Pilgrim,
Congrats on the deep bowl! (and thanks for the compliment). I am not as knowledgable about repairs as most of the posters on this board, but I will give you my opinion (and PLEASE, other posters set me straight, or fill in the gaps for Pilgrim).
As far as the cracking, I would feel inside the guitar, to see if they extend through the wood. Chances are they don't or you would probably be experiencing some buzzing. If the cracks are surface cracks, I would let them be, as they won't effect the sound quality at all. I would say the same thing about the scalloped neck, unless they are pitted so deep, that it interferes with your ability to play (probably a three chord player, or one with long nails owned her before you). I would think they could be sanded out since ebony is a hardwood, and shouldn't loose it's color tone (might be a slight color tone difference between aged and fresh wood, but I would think once it's oiled, it would blend in just fine).
Where is the bulge at? I would softly thump the guitar face with a finger/thumb around the bulged area to see if any bracing perhaps came unglued. If you hear a buzz, that might be the case, if it sounds solid, I wouldn't worry about it. My understanding is the bracing has changed from the 70's to the 80's models, and again later on, but
I know of several posters here that have late 70's vintage Ovations that are alive and well today. I would be careful about humidity, and weather changes with your new "O", but no more so than you already are with your 2001 Legend.
I asked a lot of the same type of questions on this board when I bought my Legend. I wanted to "spruce her up" as much as possible. The best advice I received, was to let it be. If there are no structural flaws that effect its playability or sound, consider the bulges, cracks, and indentations as part of your particular guitars character and history.
Happy Playin, and congrats again!
Norse(Deep bowls rule! Hey Pilgrim, try a set of A'DDarrio[or however you spell it] Phosophrous Bronze MEDIUM strings. That Deep bowl will come alive!!!)
[ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: Norseman1 ] |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Hey Pilgrim,
I was hoping some other posters who know more about repairs would share some advice with you. I realized after writing my post, I said you should check the cracks by feeling the inside of the guitar under the face. LOL! Probably impossible to reach back that far (I've done so to check cracks near the soundhole on a guitar before). Probably a mechanic/dentist mirror and a light would work better to investigate. In any case, I am hoping they are only surface cracks.
Good luck again, and happy playin!
Norse(not very smart, but willing to help)man1 |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | If the cracks are in the finish leave them be, they wont affect tone or long term stabilty. If they are actually structural cracks or seam separations (have a pro evaluate this if you aren't sure) you'll need to get them stabilized, as they can get worse over time & become difficult & expensive to put right. The fingerboard may be able to be re-profiled & refretted, but this will depend on how deeply it is worn. If it's too deep the only option is to live with it or replace all or part of the fingerboard.
Don't worry about a slight bulge behind the bridge, this is normal, but it should be slight. Again if you're not sure have it checked by a pro.
Your right about the foil labels, it's a detail that has no bearing whatsoever on the sound or performance of the instruments, but they were way classier than anything since.
Paul
[ October 09, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Thanks Paul,
I feel better about Pilgrim getting advice from someone more astute with repairs than I (and I believe you fill that bill!).
Norse(but I'm learnin!)man1 |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Norseman1
You're doing great, it shows what a love for your subject can do. Isn't it common to all of us that we spend hours with our instruments, looking, adjusting, reading about them, tweaking, cleaning, polishing, playing, repeating the preceding. Is it any wonder our wives occasionally rebel and demand the same attention, then we realize what we are doing with our guitar, they are doing with us.
Bailey |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Yeah Bailey, you're right.......
....my ex-wife tweaked and cleaned me BIG TIME!! |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Thanks Bailey,
Your right, I'm glad my wife hasn't gave up on this old, showing a few cracks, and sometimes a little warped "Legend(in my own mind)"! I definitely require "tweaking" now and then :) .
Norse(and I love the way my wife tweaks)man1 |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Norse and Cliff
Two sides to the same observation, I can definately understand Cliff's state as my son went through a terrible marriage and divorce and ended up raising his two children, one of which is now a soldier at Ft. Bragg. I have been married for 45 good years on the other side of the equation, and gave up playing in bars etc. 20 years ago by choice because the fans were beginning to look like Cliff's type of woman, and I had Norse's type at home. Now that I'm old I can participate again as they don't treat me the same as they used to. Does this make sense?
Bailey |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | Bailey
I think you are wrong. When I was younger and played gigs the bimbos ignored me. Now that they know I am married they are all over the place AND they know my wife plays bass in the band. Explain that ??!??!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?!?!?!?!?!?!? |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | It's called a "three-way"!! |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Bailey,
Your a blessed man. Never quit appreciating what you have!
Norse(like Sipowitz on NYPD blue says "Yea, sometimes we follow our little 'Generals' into battle", [and lose our a**es])man1 |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Al
You have found out that the ladies always want what some other woman has. They can see what a great wife you have and therefore that you must have some secret qualities which I'm sure you do or you wouldn't have such a great wife. Now send me a Breadwinner (subliminal message).
Bailey
:D
[ October 13, 2002: Message edited by: Bailey ] |
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Legend 1117-4