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| Hi folks,
This is probably my 3rd time in as many years on this fine forum concerning selling my 1537. I chickened out the 1st 2 times. Some of you may remember this guitar. I'm ready now, if you are.
It's a black 1537 Elite, the 1st one made in '84, ser.# 302670. I picked it up at the factory new way back then. Save for the following issues, this guitar would pass for a 2006 model.
1. Four 1" or less finish cracks below the bridge. This is due to the fact that I kept it cased for close to 2 decades fully tensioned (my bad)and the bridge started pulling up. I had a luthier (not Ovation) repair same. He re-glued the bridge by drilling two new screw holes, and used matching wooden plugs.
2. A small, hardly visible finish crack that runs from about 2 inches above the bridge (directly under the strings) to the beginning of the fretboard.
3. The little wood marquetry triangular volume control pointer is missing. The eq one is there.
4. On the neck, directly behind the 2nd fret are 3 tiny finish dings of about an 1/8th of an inch or less. These are very minor, you can barely feel them, but truth in advertising, right?
Other than those issues, if you saw this guitar hanging on the wall at a music store you'd think it was new.
I used to have pictures of it posted in here in a gallery, but in looking around, I couldn't find the gallery. Is it still here? Otherwise, I'd be happy to send pics to anyone interested.
I'd love for someone here to get this guitar. It's truly amazing. It has a very rich tone plugged or unplugged. And I'd really rather not do the ebay thing. And I know that there are many folks here who appreciate these guitars for what they are.
Make offer, or e-mail me for pics. Thanks. |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Frank,
Yes, your pics are still in the gallery. Go directly to the ovationfanclub.com and you should see a green bar to the left. You'll find the gallery under member access.
You have a very nice guitar. Too bad about the bridge. Nice repair though. Can't believe you are selling it, even if it is a little used guitar. Great sound seldom found on lesser instruments.
If I didn't already have one, you would have heard from me directly. i already let one black 1537 get away and this one is calling my name, but I must resist! :( :eek: |
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Posts: 32
| Sailor,
Thanks for the tip on the gallery. I do now remember that "secret" entry, I forgot about it.
I can't believe I'm selling it either, and I promise you I'll regret it.
Way back....in the 60's, about my 4th guitar was an extremely rare find, of course I didn't know it at the time. It was a stereo Gretsch White Falcon, the early ones that were exactly like a Les Paul. All gold plated, and in mint condition. I paid $125 for it, and laughed all of the way to the bank when I eventually sold it for TWICE that.
I'd say it's easily worth 5 figures now. Oh...the ones that got away!
Thanks again |
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Location: south east Michigan | Here' a little help Frank...
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Sad you have to sell Frank.
What are you asking for it? |
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Posts: 32
| Hi Stephen,
I don't really have to sell it, I just don't play anymore. It's strange, I used to play professionally, and then I just stopped cold turkey. I went into midi and just dropped the guitar. Figuratively speaking that is. :-)
$800 |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Well, I have the only other black 1537 that I know of and it looks and plays great.
$800 is a good price. Someone will snatch this one up I am sure. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Ooooh, the black is pretty! It might be nice to own a black guitar. But I don't really need two 1537s. |
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Posts: 32
| Hey Designzilla,
You wrote:
"But I don't really need two 1537s."
Are you sure? Then you'd truly be stereo. You can play more than one guitar at a time can't you? I'm sorry, I just assumed that you too were polyambidextrous. My fault. :-)
Frank |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Seems a little high in price considering the bridge work/issues.
jmho.
Norse(let the verbal lambasting commence)man1 |
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| Norseman,
Do you think it's high? I'm asking seriously.
Actually, at least in my mind, the issues are relatively minor all in all, considering that otherwise I doubt there's another 1537 anywhere in better overall condition, unless some collector cased one new and left it alone.
I used to know a guy in Bristol Tenn. Va., some of you may know him, Joe Morrell, of Morrell's Music. I used to teach guitar there way back in the 70's. He was always buying special issue Martins and leaving them cased upstairs. I'd bet he had a hundred, and still does from what I hear. Cash in the bank.
Back to this 1537...What do you folks think...is $700 more like it? I'd like to know how you folks weigh in on this. Thanks |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I paid $1000 for mine, which has no issues and Noah did a great job in getting it to near mint condition. I thought he was being generous, but recent sales have been lower. I got fed up with ebay and was glad to have one at a fair price. The one on ebay now looks awfully good and the guy says he is expecting $700. It is almost there. |
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Location: SoCal | You know, the prices of 1537's have bounced around a lot over the last few years. I paid $750 for mine back in '93 and felt good about it. I've since seen them go for a low of $450 to a high of about $1600. I've always found this interesting since they seem to compete sound-wise, with guitars in the $2000 plus range. And quality-wise, they are top of the line.
It would take at least $2500 to buy mine, if I'd ever consider selling it in the first place. |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Frank,
I think $800.00 is a little high, but my Great Uncle was Jack Benny too!
It just kills me that I could have gotten a pristine 1537 two summers ago for $500.00, and settled for a $275.00 1711 Balladeer (which is very nice by the way) because I couldn't afford the extra $225.00 at the time. Now I find myself comparing every 1537 to that particular situation.
I would guess your price is probably on the money...I guess the input from posters whom actually own a 1537 would carry more weight than my own, and judging from their responses...I withdraw my "priced a little high" statement.
Norse(too high for me...yes, too high for the market...no)man1 |
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Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Gee....you guys are getting me thinking. Maybe I should offere to trade my 1537 for some primo Adamas, like a new U681T or some such....that would be a fair deal wouldn't it?
Well.....maybe not....better keep it for a while longer. Someone is bound to discover it is actually worth $5000 one of these days, then I can get a couple of "O's" and an "A" or two huh?
Mark, you need to get over and check it out though so you can thoroughly brag about it to the members of this board and help drive the price up. |
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Location: SoCal | You known, there are guitars that I'm happy to sell when the opportunity arises and it means newer or different guitars will come my way. But then there are guitars that are keepers, that even tho' I aquire other, similar, guitars, I won't get rid of those keepers. Currently, my keeper collection includes
1537
Adamas 1 12 string
87 Collectors
Custom built 1773 LX (arriving Friday)
Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladeer
GC 12 string (gift, never to be sold)
But I just got done selling my 68 Deluxe Balladeer (to a great home in Germany -- strange how it looks better in Karl's pictures than it did on my wall), and I'm about to sell my '83 Country Artist cutaway (watch this space over the weekend).
But I guess my point is that there are some guitars, like the 1537, that I wouldn't sell to get an Adamas 6 string. Somehow, I'd find a way to afford the A and keep the 1537. |
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Location: SoCal | Paul, well said. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | i have a near perfect 1537, i can't say mint because it has been played and if you looked very very closely, you can tell it's not new...
I wouldn't even consider anything less than $1150... |
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Location: SoCal | Jeff, I thought you sold one of your two. Are you selling your last 1537? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Paul,
I did sell one of the two. And no I'm not selling the other, I was just suggesting that if I were, I wouldn't even consider selling it for less than that. |
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| 750 going....going.....come one you guys, you know you want this thing.
$750 will take away this prized axe. Case and shipping to normal proximities. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Normally, I would be jumping all over this beautiful guitar. Someone should buy it.
But with 3 hours to go till my 1581 arrives, I can't seem to get interested... |
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Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Somebody needs this guitar! At $750 it's a steal! If I did't have one, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Though I gotta admit, I'm tempted anyway, the black is beautiful!
This would be a fantastic Christmas/new year present for somebody. |
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Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Hey Waskel....my 597 got delayed until today, so I hope to see it also within the next three hours. Pretty cool......
I intend to pop it open in the office and maybe treat everyone (well I hope they think it is a treat) to a couple of Christmas caroles.
Merry Christmas. Have you figured out how we can "Goldwing" somewhere with our guitars yet. Maybe a packit rak for golf clubs would work? |
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Posts: 123
Location: Braman, OK | Having never tried a 1537, I feel left out. I just acquired an Adamas 1597 on the Bay for $950, and I LOVE IT. How does the 1537 compare, sound and action-wise? Is it really comparable to an "A?" |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I've never tried an Adamas, so I can't compare. I'm working in that direction. |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by cardinalflyer:
Hey Waskel....my 597 got delayed until today, so I hope to see it also within the next three hours. Pretty cool......
I intend to pop it open in the office and maybe treat everyone (well I hope they think it is a treat) to a couple of Christmas caroles.
Merry Christmas. Have you figured out how we can "Goldwing" somewhere with our guitars yet. Maybe a packit rak for golf clubs would work? Jeff, hope it arrived safely and makes you very happy!
As far as getting them on the bikes... everytime I think about it, Arlo Guthrie's monologue before " The Motorcycle Song " keeps coming to mind... |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Well, I just took delivery of my W597 off of ebay on Wednesday. My observations on playing the two side by sid are:
1) The A597 is much lighter. The satin or rubbed Urethaned neck feels more organic and for some reason thinner than the 1537. Maybe just a perceptions as dimensionally they appear close. The A has a different bass sound. Very deep and grunty(is that a word) with the mid's and high's having a more metallic ring to them. The harmonics come through like crystal. Very crisp and defined and very clear. The top feels more fragile, but that is likely the thinness of the CF soundboard versus a hefty slab of wood. The A makes a nice finger drum. It does not project it's sound as good as the 1537, but does better than 3 other traditional dread's I played it with (low end Martin, Carvin C850, Guild). The A out shouts them all whether finger picking or strumming.
2) The 1537 feels like a solid heafty piece of equipment. The top is very firm compared to the wimpier feeling of the A. The sound of the "O" is truly like everyone says...like a cannon. This guitar is like listening to Tennessee Ernie Ford singing 16 tons. Total power and control, but very deep and earthy. I was having trouble with this as I played the two as the A actually feels like it digs down deeper, but the O definately has power in the bass side. Can't explain it. Just two different bass sounds. Like the A, the O has clearly defined harmonics with each note of a chord punching through and being individual heard, yet completely and fully part of the mix. Again, next to the traditional dreads mentioned above. It was no contest. The 1537 caused the other three to cower in humiliation, while the A just sat there and said "yeah...that's my older big brother you slime-bags" (well that was my imagination talking anyway). The 1537 is a loud, clear, but very earthy sounding.
Someone said that an A sounds like a piano. My wife concurred with this. There is a bit more edge to the A than the O.
The actions are very close on the two (after I pulled the shims out of the A). I measured them at the 12th fret and while I can't remember what my dial caliper said, it was within Ovation specs and they were within 1/64th of each other. Both felt light. If anything, I am having a bit of trouble with the A as my small hands seem to bump the high E string from time to time.
The electronics on the A are superior when using the XLR input. Very nice guitar sound when phantom power is applied with no EQ or effects. Through the 1/4" jack they are about the same although more flexibility in the A's electronics package.
Bottom line is if I ignored electronics and went in blindfolded to pick a guitar and both of these were put in my hands (before me spending time with them that is), the 1537 would get picked for all factors. It feels like quality, sounds like heaven and just has a heft and feel of the action that make you think this is a high end instrument. The A would be a second choice, but not because it is less, but just because in my rather subjective opinion, the 1537 is superior to a fantastic guitar. I tend now to fret and worry about the 1537 but truth be known, it has been a trooper reliability wise. It has never broken a string, failed in the Electronics or caused me any issues. The finish cracks came after the case got bumped while hauling it around for camp fire songs in Yellowstone, so who can blame the guitar for that.
So...my wordy response is the A will now be my regular beat around working axe, and the O will travel less and be used more acoustically than plugged in from now on. No real reason, but the sheer joy of the sound.
Okay...that is my perception of the two instruments since I have them. Truth is...love them both, and they will probably be my last two AE guitars for many years, unless I upgrade to a newer A. The price value of my W597 made my buying choice. Used $899 in fairly good shape. I might at some time trade it up for the U681T or another A, but I am roundbacks forever just because I like the way they feel and sound. |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Comparing my 1537 and my Adamas II, the A has much better action and I prefer the satin finish neck.
Tonewise, the 1537 is a little mellower across the range. Bass is not as punchy as the Adamas either. Adamas is (little bit) brighter.
Both strung with new Adamas 1818's.
That's all my ear. YMMV. Actually very similar in sound. I prefer to play the Adamas. I prefer to listen to the Elite due to the SLIGHTLY warmer sound. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Nice reviews. Jeff, maybe you should bring your A and O over here. Then you could do a comparison of a few others. I wish we had a store here that carried Adamas, or even some higher end Ovations, so I could do my own comparison and drool over some guitars instead of the keyboard. |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Or Mark, You could bring a couple of your favorite "O's" and sit by the gas fireplace and jam, or plug in down in the music room. I can still slam the drums around a bit (very mediocre, but hey...) too, and we have a nice Roland XP60 if you are wanting keys. And I WILL let you play with my Adamas. |
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Location: closely held secret | Nicely done, Jeff. My comparison would be different, mainly because I would be comparing different guitars (Adamas II vs Legend and Elite LX instead of W597 vs 1537).
After playing for quite a while last night with my wife listening, we came to the conclusion that I make a lot of mistakes when I walk in after a 2 hour drive home through heavy rain and holiday traffic on a dark night and try to seriously play the guitar. Other than that....
The 1581 is so much more guitar than I am player. I've noticed that the better guitar I play, the more noticable my mistakes become, which is good, it's making me play cleaner. The nuances this guitar is able to produce are like nothing I've heard from any guitar I've owned. It sounds and feels incredibly alive and responsive. Tonally, yes, it's clearer, more bell-like than the 1777, but... the range of tones I've discovered is much wider than my woodtops. More emotional, if you like. From whispering to shouting. Somehow, it doesn't seem quite as 'loud' as the 1777, but the tone carries better (?). The low end is deep and resonant, without being overwhelming. The mids and highs are very balanced and every note rings clear.
I love the sound and feel of my woodtops, kind of a warm meal in front of a fire on a snowy day kind of comfort. Comfortable and familiar. God willing, I will always have a couple of Ovations around me, for that 'woody' sound. But this A is definitely going to provide me with years of fun, just trying to get good enough to deserve it.
If only the 1537 was a cutaway... I would go for it. I get bruises on my hand trying to go too high on my 1759 as it is... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Unfortunately, Jeff, I have too many favorite Os. Coincidentally, I think my daughter also has a Roland keyboard, but I think it's a something 2000. Great fun to play on. I hauled it to Portland and set it up in her dorm room. She has thanked me many times because it made her very popular.
Looks like I will have to haul the 1537 and something else (probably my 1713) over to Portland via Hermiston.
Waskel, great review also, but I have a different observation. I play a lot of barre chords and play sloppily because my audience (me) doesn't pay much attention. The 1537 is so easy to play that I get a decent sound out of many notes that would be dead with any other guitar. As a friend said, it plays better than most electrics and sounds better than most acoustics. Then he said he couldn't think of an acoustic that sounded better. I'm anxious to compare it to an Adamas. Merry Christmas to all. |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Well guys...I tell you what. Let's make it fair and we will just meet in the middle. OH WAIT, I am in the middle. That settles it then...my place high noon...Adamavations drawn.... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Waskel:
If only the 1537 was a cutaway... I would go for it. Silly Wabbit. Get a 1547...the cutaway version of the 1537. Same awesome sound and playability! :cool: |
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Location: SoCal | You guys talk about the differences in various guitars... I'm a firm believer that a basic collection of guitars should include a steel 6 string, a nylon string, and a 12. After that, there are variations on the theme, ie, 1537 v. Adamas v. GC DB, etc...... All have a place in our hearts and our collections and it's worth it to try to own as many as possible. |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
I'm a firm believer that a basic collection of guitars should include a steel 6 string, a nylon string, and a 12. And a wide neck, a narrow neck, a cutaway, a noncutaway, a deep bowl, a mid, a contour bowl, a 12 fretter, a center hole, a multihole, a wood top , a fiber top, an XLR, a k-bar, a slotted headstock, a sunburst, a black, a 5-ply trim, an abalone trim, an inlayed rosette, a walnut fretboard, an ebony fretboard, a rosewood fretboard, an LX, a 3 piece top, a 2 piece top, open gear tuners, schallers, pings, shiny bowls, walnut bridges, ebony bridges, gold hardware, chrome hardware, ... |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | ...and to little Weaser, a BW Ltd... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | You have the right idea, Dave. I was driving my daughter home this morning telling her how I'd like a Legend to round out the collection, then an 87 Collector's to commemorate her birth year, and a 1 7/8 neck (may as well get both a steel and nylon string). After a few of those, I added, "and then I need an Adamas and I sure like the new ones Al posted." |
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Location: SoCal | picky picky picky...... |
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1537 needs good home