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Location: Jonesboro, AR | I have found a Ovation guitar and dont know anything about them. I could use some help. First the label says Model 1537-X Elite 303266
I found out the serial number dates it a 1984. It is a slot head with gold tuners and did have electronics in it at one time, I think because it has three holes in the top side at the waist line and one on the bottom where you would find the plug. Also the back has a removeable circle plate. Very wide fret board. Could this have been set up as a nylon guitar? What does the X mean? This is in bad shape and would need a neck set. Cracked top. Can a person fix something like this or is it junk? I wish I had pictures but I don't. I forgot to mention that the bridge does not use pins, just holes thru the bridge like what a nylon guitar uses. It has steel strings now and could be why it needs a neck set.
Thank you for any help
wd |
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Location: SoCal | WD, the 1537 has a standard, non slothead, headstock...I have a pre-production one with a serial number of 301004. Yet, the X would indicate a prototype. The 1537 that went into limited production is a steel string that had two knobs (tone and volume) - thus two holes in the base side of the bowl. Later, there was a hole that secured the inside battery box.
So, a little confused on this...will leave it to our more knowledgable members to ask the right questions. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | My guess is that it was an Elite Classical prototype of some sort. |
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Location: Keller, TX | TTIUWP!
Any way to post pictures? |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR | Thank you for all the help. I dont own the guitar but may purchase it. I will try to get pictures. Could this be of any value?
Thanks
wd |
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Location: Keller, TX | The 1537 is known to be one of the better sounding guitars that Ovation has made. Usually demands a premium price...in good condition. One that is beat like your describing usually isn't worth much to resell. Someone at the tour had one that was pretty beat and the factory told him they would have to replace the top and bowl, leaving him with a new guitar and old neck. Definately not worth it.
Basically, if it has a price that you are willing to pay for the sound that it makes, buy it. Replacing a top can be pretty expensive. If it is as beat up as you say, don't expect to buy it and hope to resell it for a profit.
There are probably better condition Balladeers available for less. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | It depends on how bad the top is. If it just has finish cracks, a regular 1537 may be worth $500 or so, but this appears to be an oddity. Maybe someone put a different neck on it, which may be too bad. |
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Location: Orange County, California | I emailed him back channel. I'm interested in the project if I can actually get this one.....
Stephen!!! :mad:
:D :D :D
Let see what the pics and the mothership say ok? |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR | Not a cutaway and does not have the standard guitar round sound hole, Leaf holes (?) on treble and bass sides. And slot head. Neck looks original but does not have any markers on the fret board, the best I recall. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Prototypes can be "valuable" but not so much in a monetary way. More historical. Many of them didn't work out, probably why there wasn't a Classical Adamas Elite issue.
If its as I imagine it would hold some real "interesting" value!
Go Fred! |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR | Are neck sets hard to do on these guitar? |
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Location: SoCal | On Ovations (from what I've been told), neck resets are actually bowl bends, where the body is heated up and bent to the desired angle. I've never actually seen this done.
We've seen nylon string Elites before (I've got photos of at least 2 that I've seen come up on ebay). There was one for sale 4-5 months ago at a music store with an online pressence. It sold pretty quickly just after we became aware of it. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Moody, I'm pretty sure the bowl bend in only required on the old shiny bowl guitars with the wooden neck block. Bolt-ons, K-bars and the rest should be adjustable at the attachment point. But what the hell do I know, I'm just an idiot who stores leftovers for a living. Dave |
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Location: Orange County, California | Certainly not for the mothership. I've never heard of a luthier screwing one up, but I've heard of a few that wouldn't work on a "plastic guitar"... :D
Lets see what it is first. John Budny said he's never heard of a slothead 1537, except for some pics of a classical that "resembled" a 1537, so no definitive answer there. Could've been a custom order, or fiday afternoon employee project. I don't think the factory even implies that they have kept perfect records. Where's Bill when we need him!? His opinions are entertaining if not enlightening. :D My hope is that it might have been a 1537 at one time. |
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Location: SoCal | Tup, you are absolutely correct in the "bowl bend" thing. My mistake, but what do I know, I'm just a small time thug who's been hit in the head too many times...... |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR | I dont know a lot about Ovations so here is the question. Is the top bracing the same on the nylon model and the steel string. The top is not bowed up but the neck looks like it is seperating at the heel.
thx
wd |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Guitars DESIGNED for steel strings and guitars DESIGNED for nylon strings will usually have different bracing patterns. A digital camera could clear up the mystery very fast. Dave |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR | Im still thinking about this project. Just got back from looking at it again. I notice something new every time I look at it. The saddle on the bridge is in 6 pieces, not one single piece. There are marks on the bridge as if nylon strings had been tied on it. Does the multi piece saddle mean anything special. As always all the help I can get is helpful and appricated.
Also, two holes in the back on the treble bout, two plugs??
Thanks
WD |
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Location: SoCal | Dave's right. A pic of the bridge could clear this up..... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Multi piece saddle is standard. I'm guessing normal bridge that someone tied nylons on. The two plugs are for the mono and stereo output, also standard. Dave |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR | OK I have pictures in the gallery, what do you think? |
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Location: NJ | That thing is SWEET!!!
(but it should have nylons on it, tho . . .) |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR | Here is a picture  |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Strange, but beautiful. I'm not so sure it should have nylons. Maybe it was a prototype for a Folklore-type Elite. |
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Location: SoCal | Definitely very cool. And definitely a nylon string guitar. The bridge is a classical bridge and the tuners are the same. Ovation has built several nylon string 1537's. They pop up every once in a while.
What makes this one unique is that it's a supershallow bowl. Every other one I've seen has been a deep or mid depth bowl.
But definitely a nylon string...... |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | WD, buy it. String it up, with nylons, take it in for an action job, and report back.
Or someone front him the cash. We need this one captured.
BTW, how much they askin'? |
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Location: NJ | I'd LOVE t'gig w/that . . . |
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Location: East Tennessee | That is cool. :cool:
Probably a 2" neck. If it was 1 7/8" I would love to play it. |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR |  |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR |  |
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Location: SoCal | It probably is a 1 7/8" neck. It's a Country Artist neck, with an Adamas black walnut fingerboard.
Like the Adamas Country Artist built for Glen Campbell (I'm going to be seeing that guitar tomorrow afternoon), it's built for performing plugged in. I doubt that the acoustic sound is anything to write home about. |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR |  |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I agree with Paul. I didn't notice the flat fretboard the first time, so it isn't a Folklore, which had the radiused fretboard. It has the gold tuners, like on the Classic, though, instead of the chrome ones they put on the CAs and Folklores. |
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Location: NJ | This thing is REALLY cool!!
Where there many made??
This may be my new "contender" fer a NylonGuitar . . . |
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Location: SoCal | I'd bet a buck that this was a one of a kind guitar... see the "x" next to the model number? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It was made as a nylon string. Did you buy it yet? If not are you? If not give us the number. |
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Location: Orange County, California | :eek: Wow!!
Very Pretty!!! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Don't let this one disappear. |
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Location: Burbank | Is this a cedar top? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I think it is, looks that way and Nick would have made it that way going for the "classic" vibe. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | WDFoto, you buy this thing yet? |
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Location: Orlando, FL | It looks beautiful. Very curious about the sound. Did you buy it?? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | C'mon. Quit asking questions and buy it or let someone else here buy it. |
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Location: Houston, Texas | Originally posted by wdfoto:
This is in bad shape and would need a neck set. Cracked top. Can a person fix something like this or is it junk?
wd Where and how bad is the crack? And the electronics are missing, huh? It's a shame someone tried to put steel strings on it. |
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Location: Jonesboro, AR | Thank you all for all the interest in this guitar. Yes, I did buy it. I am thinking about sending it back to Ovation for an estimate on repaires. I have emailed Kim Keller and he thinks it can be repaired. I just hope I dont put to much money into it. He said that the electronics are $300 and would not say what the other repairs would be until he sees it.
thanks
wd |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Congrats. You have an extra special guitar. Many of us think that $1000 for a "regular" 1537 is a bargain, so that might help you judge what a one of a kind 1537 would be worth. If you decide not to spend the money, offer it up as is on this board. I am sure you will get some takers. Keep us posted. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Congrats! Now, what does it sound like? |
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Need old Ovation help!!!! PICS