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Location: Chehalis, Washington | I'm checking into this guitar to see if it is the one that was stolen last December. So far, I'm about 95% sure it is. What I know for sure:
It's the same year, model, color, and preamp (1994 model 1869 CCB w/OP-24 preamp).
It has rosette cracks in approximately the same location that mine did.
It has a fret buzz on the low E caused by some lifting of the neck. I'm not sure whether mine was lifting or not, but it DID have some upper-end fret buzz on the low E string.
The seller says that he's selling it for a "customer" who's had it for "8 to 10 years." If you bought this guitar new, wouldn't you know how long you'd owned it?
It has a fitted case with NO OVATION LOGO on the outside. My case was fitted, black interior, but had no markings on the outside at all, unlike most O cases.
I bought mine new from a local shop in January 1995. The salesman said that they'd had it in their store for three or four months. The serial number of this guitar places it in the 1994 production year, about 2/3 of the way through the series, which I assume would mean it was made about August or so - just in the right amount of time to get it to a guitar store in Tacoma with 3 or 4 months left in the year.
I don't know how many of these were produced in 1994, but I have to assume that there couldn't have been a ton of them. It was a SSB 6-string in a bright red finish with a $1799 list price, that I do know is far from Ovation's most popular model. I'll be checking with the factory tomorrow to see if they can do a search on the serial number and find out where it was originally sold to. If it's the same store I bought mine from, we have a winner.
Long story short, I'd appreciate if OFC members held off bidding on this one until I can confirm whether it's my guitar or not. If it is, I'm not sure if the police can confiscate it or if I'll end up needing to buy it from this seller.
I'll update as I find out more for sure. In the meantime, thanks to all! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Good luck. We should probably keep the serial numbers of all our guitars stored somewhere safe in case of theft. |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Good luck. We should probably keep the serial numbers of all our guitars stored somewhere safe in case of theft. Standingovation's serial number registration is good for that. :) |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | I found out too late on that one - my other guitars are already registered on Dave's site! |
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Location: Denver Colorado | While we're on this sour subject....
Not to be sacreligious, but... has anyone ever used one of those "seller's mark" or "security" pens to make a mark inside their guitars? It's a type of pen that doesn't leave visual ink - it can only been seen under a blacklight, as I understand it.
So now that you've brought this up.. I have to share the second half of the story about my selling my pearl white 12 string in 97...
The music store that sold my guitar was scammed by the next buyer. IIRC, the buyer passed a check that made it through checksystems (or something like that) but the clerk didn't get an ID.. so the check wound up coming back as stolen. The music store lost out on that one - a $1,200 stolen check.
So... if anybody hears of any pearl white 12 out there floating around... heads up! I'd love to track that guitar down. I'm sure that music store owner still has the serial number around (he was mighty pissed).
Sally |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | edensharvest, I'm quite sympathetic.....but how can you PROVE it was your guitar if you have no record of the serial number???? Just curious. I think it would be hard to get someone in a position to do something to believe you. If you had a serial number, and pictures, it might be possible.
(note to self, make sure one has updated record of pictures and serials of MY guitars)
In any case, good luck.
Roger |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Wow, it migrated from Washington to Tennessee and then surfaces on ebay! Didja call the store? Did you contact ebay? What did they say? Did you contact your local police when it was stolen? Did you call them now? If it was in NYC, I'd go to the shop for you.
Anyone here mark their guitars? How do you do it? I just keep the serial numbers and pictures. But I think putting in my name in an obscure place wouldn't hurt |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | I have the record of the original purchase (unfortunately without the serial), a recorded statement in last December with the police stating the condition of the guitar, and several eyewitnesses that can testify to both. IF the serial number shows that it was sold to the store I bought it from and that it was the only one sold to them that year, that should be compelling enough to at least require an investigation.
Like I said, if the police can't actually do anything directly, I will purchase this one and verify for myself (if I can get it in my hands I'll know for sure). |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Originally posted by an4340:
Wow, it migrated from Washington to Tennessee and then surfaces on ebay! Didja call the store? Did you contact ebay? What did they say? Did you contact your local police when it was stolen? Did you call them now? If it was in NYC, I'd go to the shop for you.
Anyone here mark their guitars? How do you do it? I just keep the serial numbers and pictures. But I think putting in my name in an obscure place wouldn't hurt I'm waiting to contact either the police or ebay about this one until I verify the serial number with the factory on Monday.
The store doesn't have the serial number on my file, though they do have the original purchase information (somebody REALLY goofed).
John Budney at Ovation said that he can pull records if I have the serial, so I'm going to try to find the record of distribution to the store from Ovation.
I am going to look into marking my guitars somehow. Any brilliant ideas would be welcomed. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hmmmm, maybe using a mirror like the kind most of us use to look inside our guitars to check the bracing. You could write you initials upside down on the inside between the bracings.
Just a thought. |
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Location: SoCal | has anyone ever used one of those "seller's mark" or "security" pens to make a mark inside their guitars? I have a Thunderhead where someone carved his initials... |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | How was it stolen from you? |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Originally posted by an4340:
How was it stolen from you? Our house was broken into twice in a week, back in the begginning of December. They wiped us out of my guitars, computer, tv, movies, cameras, everything. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The police in Brooklyn will mark whatever valuables that you want to have marked. They keep a record. But man, if someone pulls up to your house with a moving van, and hauls it all to tennessee probably not much you can do ... except find out who this store is fencing for ... I wouln't know how to do it, but man, I'd love to talk to the seller ... in person. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Tell me about it. I'll probably end up just buying this one from the seller and going from there. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | You are going to buy ANOTHER guitar???
Wait til I tell my Wife!! :eek:
Ok, seriosly the pic of the preamp seals it for me. I remember the dust in the corners. It really does look like your guitar.
Hear anything on the Serial number yet? |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Man, you got to at least talk to this seller and tell him your suspicions and ask for his help.
I think it would be bad for your karma to buy this thing. It's not right. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Never been a big karma guy, but I'll bite. What are you thinking is bad about buying this?
Oh, and Mike, I agree. Not only that, but the way the strings are wound on the tuning pegs - the last time I restrung it I did a terrible job tightening down the string on the low A - just like this one looks!
I'm still working on the serial number. John Budny gave me some basic info to work with, namely that it was sold in October 1994 to a company called Spitzer Music, which I'm trying to find out if is affiliated with the American Music store that I bought mine from. I do know that no warranty card was registered for this one, which I hadn't sent in on mine either (I know, DUMB!). |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | First of all, if it was stolen from you, and I think it was, it's like having your bike stolen, and then paying the thief to get it back. It's just wrong, the guy steals from you twice. I'd just find out who the seller is and tell him what happened, that you know its stolen and at least have the satisfaction of telling him to go to hell, if he won't give it back, or at least tell the person selling it for him to go to hell.
Then you can start fresh, and buy a new guitar untainted by this incident. Otherwise, you'll always have this guitar, that looks not to be in pristine condition, to remind you that you've been punked. It will eat at you. Best to start new, and eventually time will let you forget.
And if you catch the punk, have the cops throw the book at him. And if he's connected to someone in your neighborhood, knock down their mail box or throw a bag of chicken bones in their drive, or both. Do it so they don't see you. I know, turn the other cheek, but God didn't say let people abuse you and that you have to take it. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | I truly appreciate your thoughts. Believe me, the idea has certainly occurred to me before.
Originally, my thought was to just move on and start from scratch with a new guitar. The trouble is, this one was something very special to me - I bought it when I was 15 and it was my life savings to that point. I can't and won't go out and purchase another one just like it - that would be lame. I'm looking at getting a 12-string made that matches it instead, but, I would still love to get my guitar back.
As far as paying for it twice, my insurance company finally cut loose with a reimbursement check to cover the cost of replacement; it's not like putting money out of pocket twice.
It's strange, but I almost feel like you would if one of your kids was kidnapped - you don't give them up and start over with new ones. And, getting this in my hands to verify that it is actually mine is probably the best chance I have of getting our local cops to do anything about pursuing the guy for it.
Now knocking over mailboxes...that's not a bad idea, except this particular lowlife probably doesn't have one.
I'm still pushing the cops to catch the guy. They know who he is, and the Seattle PD has a warrant out for his arrest on trafficking charges already, so, if the local cops ever get their act together, they'll nail him. And, he's a repeat offender, and this is his last break.
My only concern with just telling this guy off for good, is if he is involved knowingly and not just complicit in this, he'll pull the listing and dissappear and I'll lose a good possibility of getting something to happen about this.
Thank you again for your thoughts. I will consider seriously what you've said. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Now this is interesting. The guitar was bid up to $355, and has now had a bid retraction and is down to $112. The bidder listed "entered wrong amount" as reason for why he retracted.
Out of curiosity, is "guanaro" an OFC'er?
Definitely some weird stuff going on this one... |
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Location: Upper Left USA | There.
Is that better?
I've always wanted one of these! |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Mike,
I have to ask:
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Bottom feeding! |
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Location: New Hampsha | Originally posted by MWoody:
Bottom feeding! Mike!
PULL DOWN! :eek:
YOU'RE TOO HIGH!
PULL DOWN! :eek:
Bottom Feeders are NOT supposed to feed at that Altitude! |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Like ol' Larry?
 |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Larry shot himself in the chest with a shotgun about a decade later... |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Okay, got an email from the seller with a hi-res up close picture of the cracks on the rosette:
THIS IS THE ONE!!!
It has four hairline cracks on the upper right-hand side of the rosette, just above the waistline, three grouped together, and one a bit higher up towards the neck. EXACTLY THE SAME!
I'm going to try to contact the police and see what they can do, but I'm not figuring on much. I'll just have to buy this from the guy and work backwards.
Mike, STOP BIDDING! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Your insurance company has the right to your property now, since it paid for the stolen items. Talk to your agent or adjuster and tell him or her what is going on. You do not want the insurance company to find out you have a guitar that was reported stolen somewhere down the line. Also they can help in the theft recovery. Don't just buy it back and not do anything to catch the theif. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I am glad you have ID'd the evidence!
My high bid is the one you see. I'm deflating as you speak.
If this post had theme music it should speed up! Since he's in Tennesee I suggest something out of Smoky and the Bandit!
Unless you have a picture of the cracks when it was in your possesion it is still undocumented.
Now I can go back to Trawling... |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | What Mark says. |
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Location: Midland, MI | East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'
We gonna do what they say cain't be done
We got a long way to go and a short time to get there
I'm east bound, just watch old Bandit run |
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| Well the seller is honest enough to call the fret buzzing. SO this poor guy must have bought it. I'll bet he purchased this from someone who is only "once" removed from the crime itself. Going to be very hard to motivate any police agency for this. I sure wish you luck. And yeah I wrote my serial numbers down in my lyrics pad that I keep in the music room back when you first posted about this.... The sad truth is the case is a nice leather case so it will probably get stolen right along with my guitars! Going to make a second copy to place elsewhere.
All the best. IN upstate NY I can help ya!
Randy |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Makes a lot of sense. I'm contacting the detective assigned to our case in the morning to see if he has any revelations. If not, I'll buy this one and then decide what to do.
Thanks to you all for the advise and support. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If the detective (actually he should be called a "useless") won't do anything at least contact the seller and tell him what happened, and ask him to help you. If he doesn't, ask him to tell the people on down the line that they should do the right thing and contact the police. Tell him that on the wheel of karma it will get back to him and this is his chance to set things right. |
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Location: SoCal | It's entirely possible that the guy selling the guitar paid good money for it and is honest. I posted 3-4 months ago about a buddy who had an Ovation Patriot stolen almost 30 years ago and it showed up on ebay (he knew because he had it converted to a lefty and recognized the conversion). He told the seller about it and the seller reduced the price so my friend could buy it. But we were pretty certain that the guitar had changed hands a number of times and the seller didn't know the guitar's history. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I'm thinking the Seller is being forthright and has nothing to hide.
I think the game plan should be aquire the instrument, contact all involved with what you did and let each follow up as they deem necessary with your full disclosure.
Salesman, Law Enforcement and Insurance Agency should be OK with that. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Won the auction - $667.00 total. I'll report back when I get it in hand and make sure that it's the one, then I'll be filing a report with the police, insurance, etc.
Thanks again, all! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Congrats, I guess. Don't know quite what to say when you are successful in buying back your own guitar. Look forward to your report, especially it's the same guitar and you find out any history since it left your house. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Keep us posted. I hope you catch the punks. |
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Location: CT | I have a friend who bought a Carvin on eBay. Put it back up for auction 2 years later, and got a reply from a previous owner it was stolen from him. Obviously he thought it was a scam, but after many days of back and forth calls and emails, the guy produced police reports with serial nubers etc. Long and short of it, my friend sent it to the guy, no cost, even paid the shipping and lost a lot of money, because he felt it was the right thing to do. If only everyone was this honest. . . . |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Hate to be cynical but I hope the original owner at least sent your friend the insurance money he likely received after it was stolen. Otherwise the original owner would have successfully pulled a fast one as well - cash plus his guitar back! |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Seriously! It never fails to amaze me how many potential scams are out there. Makes me almost (I said ALMOST) sympathize with the insurance companies. Given that mine just finally is cutting checks after five months and $400 in attorney's fees may cloud my perception slightly...
I did just hear about a car dealership who had a corvette for sale back east last year, and when the dealer checked the VIN number, he found out that the car had been stolen. He contacted the police, and they were astounded that it had turned up. They contacted the owner, and he too was amazed. Seems it had been stolen from him in California right after he bought it new...in 1967.
You never know when something will turn up!
Back on topic, the guitar is supposed to ship tomorrow, which means I should have it in hand before the weekend. (I hope, I hope, I hope...) |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Well, I posted this in another topic, but for anyone who was looking, I got the guitar on Saturday, and it's not the same one I lost.
It's close - freakishly close I might add, but the wood grain is different, the case is not exactly identical (and doesn't fit my key) and its little marks and dings are in different places.
Consequently, I am going to list this up for sale again, and keep trawling every place I can for mine. Thanks for all your input and assistance on this. |
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Ebay Alert: Possible Stolen Guitar!