FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.
RNickels
Posted 2011-07-28 1:52 PM (#276018)
Subject: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Got a 1984 Ovation 1538-5 12 string that needs some love and attention. This guitar came by way of a friend who wanted to unload it as the gigs he was running no longer required a 12 string and it had been sitting in his closet for several years.

The guitar is in very good shape but has been a player, not a museum piece. There are some small nicks in the gorgeous wood binding and the frets are starting to show some wear, especially the first few, but they really could just use a good cleaning more than anything.

The bad news: it appears that this guitar may need a neck reset. It is definitely playable in its current condition and perhaps someone more skilled than I will be able to adjust it to where it needs to be without having to do a full reset, but sadly I am not skilled enough and don't have the extra scratch to send it off to the Mothership.

Asking price is set at what I paid my buddy for the guitar, 1200 plus shipping, which is a deal even considering the potential repair needed. Comes with an old brown case which is in decent shape. I would also consider trades for a natural 1987 Collector in good to very good shape. Shoot me a PM or reply to the thread if interested :)













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AstroDan
Posted 2011-07-28 3:15 PM (#276019 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 486

Location: Suisun City, Ca
I can attest that hese are nice 12ers... (Thanks Patch!)

Good luck with sale.
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RNickels
Posted 2011-07-28 4:53 PM (#276020 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Will update on this in a few days, just dropped the guitar off with Mike Lull Guitar Works here in Bellevue, he doesn't believe the neck needs a full reset and is going to work on it.

When I get it back I'll update the posting :)
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Charlie Ramon
Posted 2011-07-29 5:00 AM (#276021 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 709

Location: Germany
These are really very nice guitars. I prefer my 1538 over my 12-string Adamas. Warm and rich tone. But I tune it down one step to reduce string tension. Good luck with the sale.

Karl
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RNickels
Posted 2011-08-03 12:38 AM (#276022 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Got the guitar back tonight and what a job they did fixing this issue. After careful consideration it was determined that the neck did not in fact need to be reset and that it was straight and true.

A shim was removed from under the saddle and 1/32" of wood was removed from the seat underneath the saddle. A full setup and a new set of strings later and the guitar plays like BUTTER! This is seriously the easiest playing 12 string I have ever laid my hands on.

As the guitar no longer needs repair (and to cover the cost of work done), the price is now set at 1400 and I will cover your shipping costs to the lower 48. If interested please shoot me a PM or reply to this thread. Still interested in potentially interesting trades, especially for a 1987 Collectors edition in very good condition plus a little cash on their end, or if anyone is looking to get rid of a Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar.
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RNickels
Posted 2011-08-12 3:55 PM (#276023 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Guitar is still available, shoot me a PM with ideas and deals, maybe we can work something out :)
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RNickels
Posted 2011-08-20 4:13 PM (#276024 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Guitar is up on Craigslist, gonna head to eBay soon, shoot me a message if interested!
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RNickels
Posted 2011-09-06 4:15 PM (#276025 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Last bump before this hits eBay, price for OFC members dropped to 1300 shipped, this really is a fantastic guitar!
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noah
Posted 2011-09-06 5:25 PM (#276026 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673

Location: SoCal
Was the bridge just routed too shallow in production or is it the natural age progression of a wood top bellying? How much of a break angle is left at the saddle after removing the shims and lowering it even more by routing the bridge? Plays like butter, but how does it sound now?
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RNickels
Posted 2011-09-06 5:53 PM (#276027 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Originally posted by noah:
Was the bridge just routed too shallow in production or is it the natural age progression of a wood top bellying?
I think it's a little bit of both. Mike had said that he thought it was routed too shallow to begin with and there is a little bit of bellying going on from age. Laying a ruler across the top results in and almost perfectly flat surface but there is some small bulge under the bridge.

Originally posted by noah:
How much of a break angle is left at the saddle after removing the shims and lowering it even more by routing the bridge?
I'll have to look at this when I get home tonight, but it looked good to me, lots of room for adjustment still.

Originally posted by noah:
Plays like butter, but how does it sound now?
Sounds exactly like what you would expect a 1538 should sound like. Warm, rich and full sound, with a TON of volume. This thing BOOMS! Several members played it at the NW OFC gathering last week and can attest to the sound of this one!
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RNickels
Posted 2011-10-11 12:46 PM (#276028 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Guitar still available at 1300 shipped! Shoot me a PM, great guitar that needs a new home :)
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AstroDan
Posted 2011-10-11 1:16 PM (#276029 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 486

Location: Suisun City, Ca
Wow! What a steal. Someone should jump on this. If I didn't have one (I did pay a bit more) I'd be on it like a duck on a Junebug!
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RNickels
Posted 2011-11-01 1:23 PM (#276030 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Pains me to do this but this guitar needs a new home, 1200 shipped gets this under your Christmas tree. You won't find another 1538 at a better price I can promise you that :)
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bvince
Posted 2011-11-01 2:59 PM (#276031 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618

Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :)
Wow! ...I'd be tempted a lot more if it wasn't black. I love the natural AAA Sitka Spruce tops they used for these guitars. I can only imagine what it sounds like after having played my 1537.
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2011-11-01 3:26 PM (#276032 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664

Location: SoCal
You know, I was just thinking that you almost never see an Elite 12 string in natural. It's always in black (not that there's anything wrong with that)....
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Damon67
Posted 2011-11-01 7:11 PM (#276033 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
You know, I was just thinking that you almost never see an Elite 12 string in natural. It's always in black (not that there's anything wrong with that)....
:)

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AstroDan
Posted 2011-11-02 1:42 AM (#276034 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 486

Location: Suisun City, Ca
Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
You know, I was just thinking that you almost never see an Elite 12 string in natural. It's always in black (not that there's anything wrong with that)....
How about burst?



These are great 12ers and this is a steal!
Can't believe it's still here!
Hmmm... Do I need another?


Naw :)
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bvince
Posted 2011-11-02 6:40 AM (#276035 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618

Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :)
Now THAT I really like! I do like the natural walnut binding better though. I guess with so few of them having been made, one can't really be very picky about fine details. I guess someone is lucky just to be able to own one of them.
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AstroDan
Posted 2011-11-02 12:51 PM (#276036 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 486

Location: Suisun City, Ca
I think the burst with the walnut would look great. Mine has the ivroid, but with Paduk (sp?)...
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bvince
Posted 2011-11-03 7:27 AM (#276037 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618

Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :)
I think I'd try out some black or dark brown vinyl pinstriping over that Ivroid to see how it looks. (:
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RNickels
Posted 2011-11-11 2:44 PM (#276038 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
One day crazy special price on a very "11" day. 1100 gets this shipped to your door, if you were on the fence about it now I've dipped this under what I paid for it cause it needs to go. Got my eye on something cool and need some funds!

1100 shipped on 11/11/11!
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bvince
Posted 2011-11-11 3:41 PM (#276039 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618

Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :)
TEASER!!!


(Just say no Bryan...Just say no.)
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hwebster
Posted 2011-11-11 9:41 PM (#276040 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 489

Location: California
That is a beautiful guitar! someone is going to be happy with the sound also. Vince? are you still thinking about it?
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RNickels
Posted 2011-11-11 9:52 PM (#276041 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
You know you want to! I'm a peddler of fine 12 strings, am I not?
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Beal
Posted 2011-11-11 9:52 PM (#276042 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
what does butter play like?
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jay
Posted 2011-11-12 12:00 AM (#276043 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249

Location: Texas
what does butter play like?
Parkay
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bvince
Posted 2011-11-12 11:31 AM (#276044 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618

Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :)
Well I DID think about it. But I still haven't sold my 08 Collector's yet. I haven't gone to Ebay with it yet, and now I'm considering just hanging on to it until I get the right offer. I'm NOT desperate to sell it. I DO like that 12-er though.
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RNickels
Posted 2011-11-23 2:07 PM (#276045 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
No longer looking for a Rickenbacker bass for trade... picked that up last week ;)

Guitar is still for sale at 1100, let me know if interested! Your Christmas tree will thank you!
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bvince
Posted 2011-11-28 11:10 AM (#276046 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618

Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :)
Nice guitar Charlie! I wish I was in the buying mode. Just picked up a long-awaited classical.

Good Luck on the sale.
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RNickels
Posted 2011-12-09 2:49 PM (#276047 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Guitar is still available and waiting for her new home. Christmas is around the corner ladies and gents ;)
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RNickels
Posted 2012-03-12 12:56 PM (#451806 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.


Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364

Location: Bellevue, Washington
Hey folks, this guitar is still available for sale if anyone is interested. Just shoot me a message!
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bburg
Posted 2012-03-12 2:04 PM (#451807 - in reply to #276018)
Subject: Re: FS/T: 1984 1538-5 that needs someone to love.



Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 1137

Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh)
I can't believe that it's not sold yet, the price is a steal. Anybody out there who knows how many of those were bult? That can not be too much. I am too broke these days, can't do it, I've to maintain control......... AARRGGHH!!!!

Bernie
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