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Location: Upper Left USA | I am still waffling on this one.
Beat 1537
It has names carved into it, finish cracks, wood cracks, bowl cracks and so many little issues...
...it's just beautiful! |
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Location: SoCal | Almost need a new top on it..... |
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| That would be the ultimate camping/beach/pass around the camp fire/practice guitar! A deep body that you do not have to worry about scratching. Still looks alright for this purpose. I'd bid $250 on it bet you'd get it. Good luck I am on a double neck quest and I have been finding all kinds of nice guitars for sale in here and on the bay. Always seem to find them when your trying to keep the blinders on ya know.
Randy |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | A 1537 as an "ultimate camping/beach/pass around the camp fire/practice guitar".
There's just something inherently wrong about that, isn't there? |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Like seeing a Mona Lisa paint-by-number? |
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Location: PDX | Looks like a great project for you Mike. I hope you can clear it with the boss.
_____
gh1 |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Go for it Woody! You need this one! Great deal!
(am I returning the favor yet?)
:D ;) :D ;) :D |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I haven't experienced 1537 GAS before, this is kinda weird. Whayt width do you think that neck is? |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | It'll be a 1 11/16" neck. If it's different, it would be the first one I've seen. |
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| I don't know....I am using my Custom legend as my Campfire/pass around on the beach/practice guitar right now. That is a 1K instrument. This deep bowl I'll bet sounds real close and at $250 bucks I wouldn't do a thing to it. How can you ever loose? I had the ultimate Practice guitar in a non electric deep bowl Legend. But it was in good shape I always worry about scratching it up outside. Like I do with the Custom I use now. This one has the multihole design, a deep bowl, and the old adamas electronics to boot. Very cool instrument. Always wondered what these elites sound like with the deep bowl. Go for it! If you fix it it can only be worth more.
Randy |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Mike, with all those 1537s at the NW gathering, you didn't get GAS for one? I'm surprised. I've had several people say that mine is the closest thing to an electric and you seem to prefer the electrics. |
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Location: Alabama | All this waffling is making me hungry. Please buy this and keep me out of trouble. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Kind of sticky around here, ain't it!
Need some Maple Viper, er syrup? |
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Location: East Tennessee | Woody.
Go For It. :D
BTW. You need to increase your music store interventions. This will help. |
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Location: Alabama | You should do it - stop me please - I already have a 1117 that needs a little help and a breadwinner that needds a lot of help and eventually one of your custom pickguards. |
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Location: Alabama | I will go away from the computer now and sing softly "baby baby let me sleep on it.... i'll give you an answer in the morning". |
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Location: Houston, Texas | I'm not sure how playable this one is in its current state. The gap between the floating fretboard and the top appears to be a bit large and it appears as if something is wedged in there. I can only imagine what the frets must look like.
How much magic can the mothership do with something like this? It's so rough, including what appears to be a little piece off one of the ears of the peghead, that I'm not sure they could do it justice and still have it be a 1537. |
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Location: Parrish, FL | StephenT28 had a 1547 that was in this kind of shape that he had the factory work over. From what I recall about his comments, he got back a very nice guitar....but it was $$$$$$ |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Guitar came back like a showroom floor newbie but it cost me $650 to get it done....it was perfect and it was worth it. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Assuming it cost in the $600 range for repair, that still totals at around $850 for essentially a brand new 1537....that's a hell of a deal.
Oh....and for the $650 I had brand new re-issued two knob electronics put in the guitar...so if the electronics are good on the 1537 listed it would probably be several hundred less. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | The biggest possibility would be a whole new top, which would be somewhere around $400 I think. Then again, wouldn't that kind of ruin the "special" quality of the guitar?
What can they do to fix the crack in the bowl? I've never seen one with a crack like that one that wasn't completely busted to pieces. Looks like a straight-line impact, but the preamp knobs are still intact...
As for factory magic - there's none better! It's amazing what they can do. |
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Location: closely held secret | It's very tempting. Unfortunately the seller didn't show any close-ups of the worst top damage which looks like it may be associated with the bowl crack.
Still tempting, though.
Woody or Andrew - go look at it! It's over by Enumclaw. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I did discuss the instrument with Bob, the Seller. He says he's been watching this dialogue too!
I don't think it's a project I can complete myself and I'm really not wanting to fix it up to the 80% level. The damage in the upper bout will need a patch and there is something wedged under the floating fretboard. Too many uncertainties for me and I need to focus on the upcoming projects.
I find some pride in the fact that it was rode hard all these years and held up! The Owner has passed on and evidently got a lot of use out of it. Could we ask for more? |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Ok.
I spoiled the BIN. We'll see what happens.
I think I really want to give it a try and refresh it enough to play for a while.
The Factory will eventually get their hands on it. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Does the BIN go away when you bid close to it? I just blew a deal last week by trying to get close to the BIN. It looks like this one is still playable and you may be able to make it presentable. I hope the top is salvageable. The wood binding may be impossible to duplicate if the top has to be replaced. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | The BIN disapates once the Reserve is met.
If the top does get replaced how would a Tourtise or Koa binding look. It would be the 1537 design characteristics I would want and not so much to copy all aspects.
For that matter how would inlaid epaulets on a new top with the 1537 bracing and bowl characteristics go?
Well, enough heretic talk for now... |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | The only thing heretical would be to claim that a Taylor sounds better...
Hope you get that one Mike (and I get to play it eventually!) :D |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | I've started with a lot worse than this critter. Granted, The Wizards @ The MotherShip will perform the necessary miracles, on demand, but it would be fun to resurrect the beast, under the umbrella of The Shadetree Luthiery. |
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| actually, I'm kinda glad the BIN is gone.... my mouse finger was getting really itchy, and considering my gas bill for the past 3 months is around the 2k mark, had I clicked SWMBO would have had me sleeping w/Daisy(our dachshund).
personally, with all it's character and battle scars, I think that preserving it in it's current appearance(reseal the top, biscuit the splits from inside) and making it playable is the way to go on this one.
GH |
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| Woody keep the top if at all possible. It's got to sound better than a new one.. :) |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Check out mine on the gallery section...she's in rougher shape than this one, but sounds absolutely wonderful!!! Think of it as a Patsy Cline addition....she may not win many beauty contests, but she's all heart, and man can she sing!!! |
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Location: Upper Left USA | SHTBIN!
(shoulda-hit-the-buy-it-now) :rolleyes: |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Yep. Lots of time left on this one. Someone may take it lots higher now. I said the same about the 30th Anniversary CL I missed a few days ago, but I think I'll be happier with Randy's. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Mine!
I can't decide which I hate worse; indecision or procrastination.
I'll just have to get back to you all on that... |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Geez, I don't feel QUITE as bad about my recent FleaBay larcenies now! Great catch, Ol' Boy!!
I don't except you'll respond to this soon, since you're probably in transit to the seller's place, as this is written!
Congrats,
Chris |
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Location: GA USA | At least you're not waffling any more. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Congrats, Mike. Tough to find a better acoustic. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Good get. I'm pretty sure that's the cheapest I've ever seen a 1537 go for. You'll like it. Dave |
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Location: Hiram, Georgia | congrats, I love mine! |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I just picked it up from the Buyer. It will need to make a trip to CT eventually since I'd hate to screw this one up. We'll see how much play time I can get with it in the mean time.
This guitar looks like the perfect candidate for a "John Cameron Swazey - Ovation takes a lick'in" comercial.
I'll post some pictures as I'd like to document it.
It still sounds great and plays well. There's a crack in the top and the "Moody" frets could use replacing. Dead strings and ample Mojo... |
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Location: SoCal | "Moody" frets = 1st 3? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
"Moody" frets = 1st 3? On a good day ... |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | On a, ahem, jazzy day... |
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Location: Upper Left USA | The best part about making smart comments is knowing that there is a cadre of friends that will pick up on it!
I have a winner here! I could play this guitar as is for quite a while and get a lot out of it. A little buzz from the, er, 2nd and 3rd frets if I don't ocompensate but all is well. I removed some wood from under the floating FB and it is breathing fine.
A very "LX" like sound and I like the light "V" shape of the neck. Took a look under the hood and I see the shape of the braces and the ring that connects the Top to the Bowl. Nice stuff. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Anybody else have extra parts on theirs?
I've put pics in the Gallery for the ongoing saga.
Came up with a ZAPF'S Music pick in the case. Aren't they out of Philedelphia? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Did the Starbucks card come with it? Since it's a Seattle guitar, it would only make sense. |
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Location: ranson,wva | its still a great looking peice mike..bet she has a sweet sound..jason |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Did the Starbucks card come with it? Since it's a Seattle guitar, it would only make sense. Clearly you're not completely from "here"...NOBODY give away Starbucks - costs too darn much!
I'm really curious why anyone would intentionally cut and fill a piece of wood under the fretboard like that...bored? stupid? |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Buckwheat is a nice touch. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | We've seen a couple with the gap filled in with glue or silicone sealant and one with the fretboard screwed down to the top, so the shim was somewhat smarter. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | For Sale or Trade:
Vintage, custom, shim for 1537. I don't know anything about shims but this one is in mint used condition. Blurry photo upon request.
I thought the Buh'wheat was a winner too! |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Hey Woody,
Why don't you just pry that ugly little piece of maple off of the body by the "tone" knob and send it over to me. Somebody must have glued that on there and it shouldn't be there....
The REAL 1537's only have them on the volume knob where mine is.
Looks like a wonderful project |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Did I ever send you the veneer to cut and paste? |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Speaking of the RHPAW 1537.
I picked it up for $280 and it is fairly playable. The needed repairs will run at least $400 to my estimate of $650, or more! What the end product will be is a New 1537.
What does it need?
Epaulets, Bridge and Soundboard finish removed
Soundboard split repaired
Neck removed and refinished
Ear repaired
Fret-board sanded and re-fretted
Bowl crack repaired
Electronics refreshed (one side of piezos is weak)
I could do this on my own for cheap (farm out fretwork) and have mediocre results or I could just pay and end up with a new/old 1537 for about $1000.
I wasn’t really looking for this model until it popped up and I am in the middle of other projects.
An option is to send to the factory and get the estimate then let someone else take over. I have a feeling that if I bring it home it will have to stay!
Right now it’s a beautiful $300 guitar! |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Oh, what to do, what to do, what to do. Michael, you're waffling again, but dealing with ambiguity is often a healthy & educational experience.
Whatever you do, it will remain, intrinsically, a great instrument. It's win-win, all the way. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I like seesquare! He makes me use that big book with all the words in it!
BTW, how come the word "Thesaurus" isn't in one of them?
The RHPAW is strung one step lower right now and has a great tone. |
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Location: ranson,wva | well michael if you decide that you ever want to let her go i think she would look good with my natural finished collection..jason |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Sounds about what I would have figured for fix-up work, but if you do go that way guaranteed it'll be better than new by the time they're done with it. I still need to catch up with you and do some guitar-sharing!
Hey, come to think of it, are you going to CMS this year? We could always catch up there... |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Yes! |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Where are the details...I am thinking of going this year. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | CMS |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Jeff, if you're thinking of going - do it! You will absolutely not regret it. It is one of the most awesome experiences for praise musicians, vocalists, and techs available. I went two years ago, and unfortunately missed last year.
Wild horses couldn't keep me away this time! |
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Location: closely held secret | If you haven't been before I do recommend it. I enjoyed it the first three years I went.
Unfortunately, it's gotten too big for my tastes, and lost the intimate feel it originally had.
It is encouraging to see they're getting back to more workshops on skills and worship rather than the best ways to 'sell yourself'. |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Wouldn't you know it....I am at a "banker" conference in California on those dates. RATS!!!
Thanks for the info...maybe next year. |
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1537 with low BIN