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Location: northern virginia | Do any of our learned have an opinion on what this might be? It appears to have an Adamas II neck, a wood top, "carved rope" Adamas binding, stereo jacks, and an unusual set of knobs and battery door. And to add to the mystery, there is no label inside the bowl:
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Location: Colorado | Could be one of those "employee" built guitars or just a custom order. Interesting list of "options", but the one that strikes me is the Adamas rope binding. I like it and the outie epaulets. Have you played this thing? |
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Location: Utah | I think an OMG is appropriate for this one. :eek: |
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| Very, very cool. Probably either a proto, custom or one-off, maybe employee special as Todd said. Bet it sounds great. |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Where'd you find that? Cool. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Wood top Adamas with sound ring, cool!
The knobs look to be old radio style and the battery box circa the 70's.
Definately a worthy unit. |
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Location: Paris/France | Basically, it's a 1681 wood top with outies.
I don't remember a non cutaway Adamas with this kind of epaulets... :confused:
It's probably a custom order as it has already been said.
Did you looked inside the bowl if there's any mark or serial number on the brace??
Very nice and interesting guitar.
J :) |
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Location: Atlanta, GA. | What year did the "manhole cover" first appear? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by cholloway:
What year did the "manhole cover" first appear? Around 77/78 |
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Posts: 86
Location: northern virginia | Thanks for all the helpful comments. I'm considering purchasing it, but want to feel reasonable sure it is not a post factory parts guitar...the knobs still have me scratching my head, though. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | The pots would tell you more than the knobs. Knobs are easily replaced for many reasons. Just because someone sais it's all original, it's hard to say where that "all original" line is drawn. |
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Location: SoCal | What I noticed was that the battery holder is not Ovation original, and for the knobs (and I don't know about the pots) is that there are no markers by the knobs. It would make me think that the guitar was intended to be an acoustic only but the saddle IS Ovation original (or at least looks just like it)..... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The only question for me would be how does it sound and is it worth the asking price based on how it sounds/plays. |
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Location: northern virginia | I think I found its twin or a close relative, here:
http://www.ovationtribute.com/Ovation%20News/Amelia_2008/Amelia_200...
(the ninth picure down - the 1537 prototype).
I was very very close to driving a few hours each way to purchase this beauty, but after consulting my checkbook - in light of the vintage 1681 I bought last month - I'm sad to say this would be too much of a stretch for me...so I guess I'll need to just drink heavily to cure my case of GAS for this one.
However, I do hope it ends up in the hands of someone that will cherish it, so I'll let the cat out of the bag - it's on the Raleigh NC Craigslist, here:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/2122439283.html
Happy Holidays to all |
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Posts: 3969
| Elginacre's 1537 proto? Could be. I'd forgotten that one had the Adamas sound ring. The externally accessible battery compartment on this current one, though, makes it look like an after-market addition. Also, never mind the "radio" knobs, their position is different from and doesn't line up like it would on a factory install. Still cool.
(Damn, I'd forgotten what I looked like with a stache...) |
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Location: California | Wonder what the condition of the wood top is, any close up pictures from the lower epauletes area. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I wouldn't get too worked up about the knobs, it's what's under tham that's important. Should be two black boxes, look inside and see.
Probably a factory proto for the Elite or Super Legend as it was being called at that time. Somebody should jump on this one, it's pretty rare. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | The one on that Ovation tribute pic with Elgin acres had fiberglass laid up in the finish of the top to keep it from cracking. I still have that guitar, sounds great! It almost worked. This Raleigh guitar appears to be from the same time frame, probably just a normal finish. If I could see it I could tell more about it but I'd really have to say for that price it's really hard to go wrong.
Suprised that there wasn't a pic of Caravan Rooubishe, that was the first Amelia event that he attended.
Now who's gonna buy it? |
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Location: Paris/France | I don't know if he would accept to ship to France... :rolleyes:
J :) |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | I would buy it in a heartbeat if a member in that area would help with shipping it here. |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | Sorry Wayne,
Little over 6 hours away and 12 inches of snow fell since last night. Afraid I can't do it :(
T'n'T |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | S'alright, Tim...that's a little too far out of one's way, especially in a snowstorm. |
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Location: California | Did anyone else contact the seller? if so, what did you find out? |
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Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | I've tried it a few times, but without any success.
Maybe the link is blocked for overseas buyer.
Bernie |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | It sure LOOKS like it would sound good. 'Guess we'll have to wait for who ever buys it to let us know Aey? |
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Location: Paris/France | I had a very good contact with the seller but he prefer to sell it locally as it's easier for him than to ship to France.
I'm a little bit disappointed but I do well understand and I hope that this nice guitar will finally land in a good OFC home... ;)
J :) |
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Posts: 497
Location: California | The person got back from the holidays and returned my messages. The factory proto WT Adamas with sound ring is in its way to the factory! New electronics and adjustments will put this one in a nice shape. I am really excited about playing this guitar.
So, this could be one of those prepoduction prototypes with the Adamas ring; but don't know how many of these are out there, besides the one Beal owns. I was able to find some information about the 1537's prototypes,Elite/Super Legends:
moddy, pi and Beal posted in a thread the following:
moody, p.i.
Member
Member # 77
posted November 18, 2005 03:25 PM
I just got off the phone with Nick Mackin, who was one of the main guys behind the 1537's. He told me the following:
1. R&D started in March 1979
2. The first 18, which were prototypes, were built in the last quarter of 1982
3. Production started in January 1983. 5 were built that month.
4. 13 were built in February and 40 in March.
5. A total of 1082 were built in 1983.
6. The production of 1537's continued in Moosup during 1984, building 20-25 per month.
7. Production moved to New Hartford in 1985.
So now we know that 1082 were built in 1983 and between 240 and 300 were built in 1984, for a total not exceeding about 1400 total production of 1537's.
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Sleepy Bones Lee
******
Beal
Member
Member # 7
posted November 19, 2005 06:06 PM
The first 18 would be exactly like the rest of production I'd think so they're out there somewhere. There were a few with the Adamas ring, Sam has/had one of these. It would include the cty and 12 strings.
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I wonder how many of the Adamas ring were made?
Hector |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | nice grab |
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| Excellent, congrats! Full report when you get it. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Congratulations Hector! It's good to finally see some good luck come your way, especially after all that you went through with with your 1537. I hope this guitar ends up as good as it looks like it will. Make sure you have a good case for it (: ... come to think of it, Patch still has a very nice black one in the for sale section. |
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Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Hey Hector, Congrats! I've tryed to contact the seller a few times but without any success.
I'm glad it'll come to the family here.
I'll want to read a review on it here, okay?
Bernie |
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Location: northern virginia | Sweet! I'm thrilled that it is going to someone that will cherish it. Good deal! (literally!) |
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Location: Nashville TN. | that age it should sound amazing |
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Adamas experts & Ovation historians - what is this?