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Posts: 4238
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I find myself in Bethlehem, PA on a regular basis as my in-laws live there. Since I don't live anywhere near a decent music store, I often visit the GC there on the off chance they've got a good special going on. For years now, I haven't purchased a thing there. Being 15 minutes from Nazareth, they tend to be a little Martin-centric, and I don't know Martins well enough to really make an informed purchase. (Though if you ever get the chance, you absolutely MUST visit the factory!)
Anyway, since I wasn't getting any interest online in the MM-68 I'd been trying to sell, I figured I would see what GC would give me for it. I took it in, they took it away to check it out, and though I know no one else ever does this in a music store, I wandered into the acoustic room to bask in a couple dozen Martins and several pieces from other manufacturers.
Now I knew from experience that this place only stocked import Ovations, so I wasn't really shopping. (We've ALL heard that before....right?) Anyway, after scanning five or so Celebrities, I turned 180 degrees and found this staring me in the face!
Long story short? They took my offer for the mando before they knew I was interested in this one, so I had that credit available. I talked the price on this one down close to 20%. I now own a 25YO, beautiful 1659 Custom Legend 12-string for the price of a new Celebrity!
The pics tell the story; other than a slight bridge bubble (no big deal) and needing a replacement stacked knob (already on its way from Kim), it's all but flawless. Whoever had it all this time took care of it. I can't even find any pick scratching. (I thought I had, but they buffed off with one application of Dunlop 65.)
And WOW does it sing. The thing is a freakin' piano! It's balanced and rings like a bell, only louder.
All the way back to the house, I kept thinking my wife's gonna kill me. As I played it for her and the kids that night, she said she thought it was the prettiest Ovation I've found yet. I'm not entirely disinclined to agree with her. ( I know, double negative..........who cares?)
I've misplaced my camera, so I had to take these shots with a borrowed camera with the guitar on the floor where I work. I'll post better ones on my OFC page when I get my act together.
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Spectacular guitar! I have no doubt that it sounds as wonderful as it looks.
Interestingly, my wife was the same way when I showed her the 12 string (Big Blue) in the store that I was in lust with. She really pushed me to get it. Wives can be so wonderful. Just ask Witko. His is a saint..... |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Nice. So is the Balladeer 12 going to be for sale soon? |
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Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Patch,
It gorgeous!!!! Great find. Congradulations!!!!
Nice Pics too!! |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Very, very nice. Congratulations! I've been wanting to snag one of these for a while now. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | <> |
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May 2006
Posts: 4238
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Nice. So is the Balladeer 12 going to be for sale soon? Oh man am I agonizing over that question. That one's been with me for a long time, through all the good and bad. One minute I think "It's just a guitar." The next I think I'd rather rip my arm off.
I think I'll reserve judgment on this one until I go mad with it. And we all know what happens when a person goes guitar mad. :p |
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May 2006
Posts: 4238
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
<> Looking through my window again Jeff? |
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Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | Stunning... better than Viagra. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Absolutely Beautiful! Congrats! |
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Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Sue-Wheat! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Just because I only have one 12 string, it doesn't mean that you can't have more. If you need justification for two 12 strings, let me know and I'll work on it. I have a couple of 6 strings that I keep just for sentimental value. There's no need to worry about being practical over this.
(I've got to go now to click the UPS refresh button again.) |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | This is why we keep going back to GC, in hopes of finding something that might have been traded in by a punk rocker wannabee whose uncle left him some plastic backed guitar that was stored under the bed for 30 years. I love stories like these! The right time at the right place. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Beautiful, Patch! |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Very very nice!
We say it over and over but Ovation/Adamas 12's are the best! |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | A classic! |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | Wow, that is nice, Patch. Great grab. |
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Posts: 194
Location: Las Vegas, NV | Very nice, Patch! And a nice change in background from the red blanket (just kidding, Damon). |
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Posts: 5576
Location: big island | attaboy, patch! VERRRRRRYY nice. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Whoa... Beautiful, Man :cool: |
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Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Good Get, as we say...wot? |
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September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I am jealous Patch...well not about the guitar although it is gorgeous, but my wife is not supportive of me owning multiple guitars.
On the other hand, she is supportive of airplanes and motorcycles, so I guess I will forgive her and stick to just a few guitars.
Congrats on the find. |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Gorgeous.
Like Courtney Cox lying naked across the hood of an Aston Martin DB3.
You wouldn't know where to put your hands first. |
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October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by schroeder:
Gorgeous.
Like Courtney Cox lying naked across the hood of an Aston Martin DB3.
You wouldn't know where to put your hands first. over my eyes.
never mind...wrong courtney! |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Like Courtney Cox lying naked across the hood of an Aston Martin DB3.
You wouldn't know where to put your hands first . ."
Around her slender & supple neck.
(while I'm screaming "Get OFF my my f@ckin' car before you scratch it, you scrawny skank!!") |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| She wasn't always scrawny. Dancing in the dark? |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Yer right.
Back then, she was just "shapeless" . . . |
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Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Very very very very nice indeed |
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November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | NICE Patch, enjoy! |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Bootifull! Great grab Patch! You make me proud! |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | That is an awesome find. I love those guitars. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4238
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Thanks for all the comments guys. I still can't believe I blundered into this at a backwater GC.
About my wife's tolerance; that's a story for another thread I plan to post just as soon as I get my projects back from the factory. We have a very specific rule that has stood its ground thus far, though if my collection gets too much larger, new rules may be written. :rolleyes: |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| gotta change your sig, guy ;) |
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Look what I found hanging in a GC in Bethlehem, PA