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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I recently picked up a 1537 on pure inspiration and Ebay fever. The instrument has several issues but is a candidate for a total Factory refresh which should provide excellent results.
I am in the process of trying to accomplish a bunch of things and really don't have the time and energy to complete this soon. The condition is well documented in the posts on this subject and I have an album in the gallery. More high res pics can be sent as well.
My Ebay cost was $280 with a local pick up. I don't beleive the factory repairs will be under $500 but this will include removing/re-attaching the neck, bridge replacement, sand down and refinish the top, replace the epaulets, refret and sand down the fretboard, refinish neck, Pickup gives 1/2 the string signal,etc.
The result will be a brand new 1537. Yes, you could try to find a very nice one and possibly under $900 but this would be a perfect 10 when completed. We know what our Customer Service can do. I haven't shipped it yet so I don't have an exact estimate.
If it gets a repair estimate you can't live with I'll buy it back.
Until I change my mind, $310 ships it to the Mothership (and not your garage) for an estimate. You will pay for the refinish and it is yours.
I will not ship it to a Luthier or DIYer. I firmly believe that anything less than a Factory redo would be sacreligious.
If I don't pass it on soon I'll just have to wait and follow through myself.
Here's an opportunity!
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October 2005
Posts: 5333
Location: Bluffton, SC | Wow, is that tempting, Woody...I was holding out with thoughts in another direction but that's got me very interested... |
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Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | OOOOH,SOOOOO tempting. Dammit, what did you have to go and do that for. Some itches are hard to scratch. Ya got me thinkin'. Probably be gone 'fore I make up mind. :) |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | I've been playing my 87 Collectors and GC RI lately, but every once in a while, I pick up my 1537 and think "damn, this is a really great guitar"... Somebody should buy Woodrow's and make it good. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I've owned two 1537s. They sound incredible.
I sold them because of 1- 11/16 nut width and neck profile. I like wide, fatter necks (much like my women)
When I owned these guitars, more than once, I walked into a room thinking a guitar-player guest was playing one of my other "high-end" guitars... only to discover, yet again, just how great the 1537 sounds... |
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October 2005
Posts: 5333
Location: Bluffton, SC | You guys are not helping... |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Weas, you should really recuse this guitar.... |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Wease....listen to us.
You get a 1537 back from the mothership in "like new" condition. I know it can be done because I sent them one on it's death bed with the instructions to make it "showroom new"
The factory did not disappoint. |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | The truth is there are a finite number of 1537's in existance, and very few in 10 out of 10, like new, mint condition. This is one of only two opportunities (Stephen!! :mad: ) I've been aware of to get one at a good enough deal to make it financially feasable to fully restore it to truely new, factory-fresh, condition. The real bonus is that the 1537 is an amazing playing & sounding guitar. I mean there are very few guitars at any price or brand that sound this good. |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | OK,
Tony's talking about "fancy finish options"... Somone better get serious or this is going to wind up being the ugliest, best sounding elite on the planet :D :p :D :p |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | "going to wind up being the ugliest, best sounding elite on the planet"
It's pretty close. There's some fret buzz and a crack in the soundboard that I'm sure diminishes some output but it has a warm tone. I lowered the tuning one step after dinking around and the bottom end really opened up.
You guys keep talking like this and I'll end up keeping it! :p |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | All I said was maybe a purple reverse burst? in an email.
Fred's response was:
Don't make me kick your a$$ Calman!!!
No AaaahBaloney either!! :-D :-P :-D :-P |
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October 2005
Posts: 5333
Location: Bluffton, SC | PURPLE REVERSE BURST! :eek:
Yikes - I'm just not sure I can stand by and let that happen! ;)
Woody - pm sent. This is a bit exploratory so if anyone else here is interested, please don't let me stop you. |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Woody, Can/would the factory install stainless fret wire?... |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I know this has come up before. I can't remember the answer so you'd have to ask Customer Service.
I think it one of those additional tooling and work for a 5% improvement.
I should hope to live long enough and play hard enough to wear out more than two frets, LOL. |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| I had always assumed stainless fret wire was denser, and used on an ebony fretboard would transfer the maximum string signal to the soundboard...might be worth it, and last longer than nickle-silver.. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Here's a stupid question. Is this guitar and the 1718 that much different other than the preamp? |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by jpcannon:
Is this guitar and the 1718 that much different other than the preamp? YES. I can't explain it. You have to hear it for yourself. There is something very magical about the 1537.
Dave |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Different factories made then. 1537 was at Moosup and the 1718 is New Hartford if memory serves me well. |
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March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Strange and Wonderful things happened in Moosup... |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Ok,one OFC'er has expressed his 1537 Jones and if it doesn't work out for him I will have to make the tremendous sacrifice and keep it for a later restoral.
Life is tough. :D |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Jim,
Here's my preliminary review from trying both of them. The 1718 is a great, full sounding guitar. Warm, rich tone, sustain, etc. The 1537 is just MORE. It's kind of like driving a $50000 Mercedes (1718), which is as nice a car as anyone really ever needs, and then sitting in a $300000 Mercedes (1537). The only suitable reaction is "uh, yeah, wow!"
I'll agree with Dave (I know, that's a risk) that there's just something unique about that 1537. The top of mine is alot darker than the 1718 - maybe a different finish, wood grain, or maybe it's just aged differently, but it has a strikingly beautiful honey-golden color to it, and it really sounds like warm pouring honey, for lack of a better analogy.
Check it out:
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April 2004
Posts: 245
Location: France | Woody, I send you a mail |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | The 1537 also has the wood body binding, the black walnut fretboard, and the layerd headstock and heel cap. Just on looks, it's the most organic looking Ovation ever built. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | The 1537 has the plywood from the waist up. Not sure 1718 has that. Dave |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | The other thing I noticed is that it has the headstock overlay that extends down under the nut and the first 1/4" of fretboard. I don't know if that can affect the tone, but it's different than just about every other Ovation I've seen.
1537 also has the brown bowl, instead of the black one. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Thanks Andrew. Very nice picture. BTW, did you have to rent an old Wal-mart to store all of your guitars?? It seems like one house just wouldn't be enough space! :D :D |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Don't forget the floating fretboard extension. This would have a significant effect on tone...in a good way, except when you were fretting up there,
Wayne |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Yeah, except in a previous life some nitwit glued mine down. Still sounds beautiful, and they did at least a passable enough job to not get glue on the guitar top and make a mess.
Jim, no Walmart needed - I've currently got 10 guitars (6 O's, 2 A's), a mandolin, and a violin all strategically placed within a 3-bedroom apartment.
The 1869 is on its way to England, I'm sending the 1881 to my dad next week, and the 1624 is spoken for and the 1718 is going up for sale next. In the end, I'll end up with only 7 guitars total, one of which is my old Mexican-made nylon. All that, my wife, two kids (and one on the way), and enough furniture and stuff to fill a 2000 square foot house.
We're cozy! |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Kim introduced me to Sears' Green Goblin Latex...would be a great St. Patrick's Day guitar.
Andrew, there is a good chance that CyA remover would remove (at least soften) the underlying glue. I have used it a lot on the catalyzed polyester that is used and it doesn't even dull the finish. |
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November 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Orlando, FL | Okay, gentles, fill me in. I've never ever let any factory put a new top on an old guitar. Aside from that no god/God-fearing person would commit such an attrocity, the sound just isn't right when all that seasoning is lost. Then again, I've never considered it with an Ovation before either. But if we're gonna go there, why not just ask 'em to toss a sheet of graphite on the top and turn it into a pseudo-Adamas while they're at it? (Don't kick at me, I'm just thinking aloud.) Add an OP-24, and it'd be about right, no?
Seriously, if they're going to replace the top, it's going to be a different guitar. Heck, the luthiers I've spoken with say that the quality of the wood itself isn't even remotely the same these days. So.. edujamicate me? Thanks! |
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December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Welcome John,
You've got it... it's going to be a different guitar. But you will have the same neck :)
If a top is damaged and can't be salvaged, why not retop the guitar. You might even end up with your neck on a new guitar. Sure all that seasoning is lost, but otherwise you have a guitar that can't be played. I would not want to be in either situation.
As far as a graphite top, if you wanted it and the Factory could do it, why not. The graphite top is going to yield a different voicing then a wood top. I guess you'd have your neck on a new Adamas. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | As far as this 1537 goes, the top will not be removed. My understanding is the neck is removed and the top finish and bridge is sanded away with the 14' by 1' sanding belt.
Then the repair and finish process starts over with a top that is minutely thinner. the newer finish will need to cure and the top may need to break in again but it is still a 25 year old top.
When the top is unrepairable you end up recycling the neck, for this I'd just retire and hang the instrument. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Sometimes it's worth it to replace the top. I've got an old GC 12 string at the factory getting a whole new body. I could have had the factory just re-do the top, but I wanted it to have A bracing for a much much better sound. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | When's it due back Paul?? |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | I'm hoping before Christmas.... |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Phase 1 is complete!
The 1537 is on it's way to Mother via UPS.
Phase 2 will be the estimate for repair in which the prospective new Owner can back out or lay claim to a brand new 1537.
I hope they haven't run out of brown paint... |
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November 2002
Posts: 3667
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | I might have to "rise off the bottom" on this one....... |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Phase two begins as the project is now...
Out for Delivery
PS - Check the post count. If we were Bowling it would mean two rounds! |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 972
Location: PDX | Originally posted by MWoody:
PS - Check the post count. If we were Bowling it would mean two rounds! Actually, it would indicate that you didn't know how to keep score ;)
_____
gh1 |
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May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Question,
I know Blueridge guitars use an aging agent on their soundboards during the finishing stages to give their guitars the look of a vintage Martin (to some degree of success).
I wonder if the same could be done to help give this restored 1537 a more "vintage" or aged look as it surely had before restoration?
Just a thought. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by gh1:
Originally posted by MWoody:
PS - Check the post count. If we were Bowling it would mean two rounds! Actually, it would indicate that you didn't know how to keep score ;)
_____
gh1 |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | A couple of years ago I noticed that my IQ, Golf score, Bowling average and Blood pressure were all the same number so I quit sports...
Norse, I would be agianst the artificial toning. It would look better now but later it wouldn't be appreciated |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Mothership received:
http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/processInputRequest?HTMLVersion=5.0&loc=en_US&Requester=UPSHome&tracknum=1za99f690320898994&AgreeToTermsAndConditions=yes&ignore=&track.x=15&trac k.y=8 |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | The other W2 must've been at the factory today. |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | About the toner...my 1112-4 is at the factory right now and I spec'd the vintage toner for the top. I should have it back in a few weeks and can give impressions at that time. It's the finish that was put on the 30th Ann. CL. Perhaps Tony could comment on this, he being the resident expert on this model. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | The 2003 Collector is "vintage tinted" and I like that one. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | The 87 Collectors has a "vintage toned" top. Looks good. But my 1537 as aged to a slightly different tone.
I thought about having my GC 12 string's new top stained with vintage toner, but to be honest, I'm looking forward to watching the top yellow over the years...
A lot of the yellowing in guitar tops is in the finish. Several years ago I had a '68 Deluxe Balladeer top refinished at the factory. When the top was stripped and sanded and refinished, it was not as dark as it had been. To be honest, it was a beautiful honey toned shade. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Phase III begins:
Repairs at Mother's and the anticipation of great things! |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Woodrow, did they give you an estimate yet? Would you be willing to share what it was? I am thinking of sending my 1718 in, but it's not near in as bad of shape as that one was. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Weaser is the new Owner and recipient of "The Bill"!
I beleive he is sweating and grinning and squirming as we type! :D
I present to you: Factory Repair GAS! |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I can almost see him with his instrument in hand right now.... |
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November 2002
Posts: 3667
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Perhap a new acronym: FREEGAS- Factory Repair Exacerbated & Elevated Guitar Acquisition Syndrome? |
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1537: Here's the Deal