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Posts: 4233
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I once had a beautiful Custom 1768 Elite. I had every intention of keeping it for a long time, but someone managed to talk me out of it. Then it got damaged when it shipped. The buyer couldn't wait forever for UPS to cough up a refund, so I refunded his money, and sent the guitar home to New Hartford for a new top and bowl.
I chose an unorthodox top-wood, but designed the guitar around the original, ornate neck of the Custom Elite. It was going to be gorgeous.
But a small oversight led to the original neck being not quite suitable for the finished bowl. So it got a new neck instead less than two weeks before it was finished.
It may not be a 1768 anymore, but GOOD LORD!
LOOK AT THE THING!
I took some chances with this particular wood for a top. It's solid, not laminated. But it has rewarded me with a marvelous tone. It's slightly different from other Ovations: Very crisp, lots of punch with a flat pick and almost chime-like when finger-picked. No harshness in the trebles or mushiness in the basses, just a nice balanced presence. I've played lots of very fine guitars, and this one can hold its headstock high. I'm telling you now, it sounds bloody fine!
And now...at last....here are the specifics:
--It's topped with Solid AAAAA Quilted Maple. (That's right, 5 A's)
--It sports a deep, non-cutaway, hand-laid fiber-glass bowl.
--It has a standard-issue Adamas II neck with a walnut fingerboard and maple inlays.
--The headstock and heel plate are triple overlaid with maple, ebony, then walnut.
--The logo is inlaid ebony and maple.
--The epaulettes are inlaid.
--It has a brand new OP-Pro Studio Pre-amp.
Folks, this thing just stonks! It's almost impossible not to stare at.
John and Kim, you guys are the BEST!!!!!
The weather was terrible for photos today, but I did my best. You can find these photos and more HERE.
Enjoy the ride....
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March 2010
Posts: 486
Location: Suisun City, Ca | Holy.... Wow!
Good choice! Congrats Patch.
When are you gonna offer that one up? Put me on the list... |
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Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | It is certainly eye-catching. It would be crazy cool on stage under the lights for a performer. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Quilt-a-liscious!
That is stunning. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Wow! That is beautiful. (I snagged a few of your pics for my screen-saver)
  
But that is impressive! |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Awesome top! |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | WOW!!
Very nice. I'm glad it made it's way to you in one piece. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | That top looks alive! Wonderful execution, Patch! Its a keeper. Gotta love those customs! |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Musta got that top wood from the Hamer rack. Looks as good on your O as it would on a Talledega. PRS probably just turned a little bit green, too. Congrats on a very unique piece. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4233
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Thanks guys. I forgot to mention; I swapped out the original pearloid tuner buttons with some of Al's Custom Rosewood buttons. I was saving them for when the original rosewood neck came back, but now I'll have to buy another set sometime next summer. (I've already started talking with John about what to do with that 1768 neck. It's just too nice to trash.) |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | needs a matching peghead verneial and trc. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4233
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Speaking of the TRC, I didn't realize that this neck used one. (The 1768 neck didn't have one.) But John knows me well enough by now to have picked very wisely. I like the way carved TRC matches the bridge. |
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Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Holy Schnikey!!! |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Very Nice choices Patch. And great work once again by the shop. That top looks like water in a stream. I would like to see that same wood as the top layer on the headstock also (: |
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May 2007
Posts: 166
Location: Veedersburg, Indiana | WOW!!! All I can say is WOW! Patch, that is absolutely stunning! Enjoy. |
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May 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Bellevue, Washington | Bet you're glad someone didn't wait for that refund now eh? ;)
NICE GIT!!! |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Interesting to the eye, but how does it sound?? |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Interesting to the eye, but how does it sound?? Happy to help out here Brad.....from the 1st post!
Originally posted by Patch:
it has rewarded me with a marvelous tone. It's slightly different from other Ovations: Very crisp, lots of punch with a flat pick and almost chime-like when finger-picked. No harshness in the trebles or mushiness in the basses, just a nice balanced presence. I've played lots of very fine guitars, and this one can hold its headstock high. I'm telling you now, it sounds bloody fine!
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I stand humbled & corrected. |
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April 2008
Posts: 288
Location: New Hampshire, USA | That top is so gorgeous it looks fake! |
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August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Wonderful, Patrick!
I hope it sounds as good as it looks. Enjoy...
Bernie |
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January 2005
Posts: 206
Location: N.E. Pa | Wow! Breathtaking... |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Looks good enough to eat! |
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Posts: 185
Location: Long Island, N.Y. | Holy mutha!! Congrats! I know what your doing right now.. Enjoy it patch. Very happy for you :) |
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March 2008
Posts: 354
Location: nashville | They should call this the 1681-3D quilted maple. It looks like it is jumping out of the page. |
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December 2008
Posts: 1455
Location: Texas | Gorgeous guitar, congrats Patch! How the heck do they cut the wood to bring out that amazing appearance? I'd love to see a raw board just to see what it looks like… however they do it, the result is stunning! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Congrats Patch, that's a looker for sure. |
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December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Wow Patch! That is an amazing guitar, Congratulations! |
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July 2010
Posts: 187
Location: Nahant, MA | Very nice indeed! Mother has turned out some amazing customs lately. Just beautiful. |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | ripples on a pool of liquid gold... wow! |
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The guitar that was never meant to be...well...Came To Be Anyway!