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September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | I thought I'd get some opinions from you guys. I've got a lead on a 1537 for sale out of state (I can't see it personally). The guitar had a sticker on its top because a previous owner supposedly "threw it down" once. This person's relative, who is selling the guitar, has not touched it in nearly 20 years! But I convinced him to take the sticker off and assess the damage.
And it looks fairly insignificant to me. Here is a closeup:
And a survey shot:
Supposedly, it's about a 2" mark that starts faint near the rim, skips an area, and culminates in the deeper 1/2" spot lower down. The guy says it's to the wood in that spot, but I don't really see it in the macro photo. To me it looks like a finish crack only - from blunt trauma to that specific spot. This gentleman is NOT a guitar player at all and does not know about guitar construction, so it's not really an informed opinion.
What do you all think?? The guitar is priced at $750 which is fair and other than this mark, it is supposedly "as new." |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Maybe close enough that another member can check it out for you.
Pics look pretty clean and it is a good price. |
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October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | From what I can gather (from reading old posts here), this is one of the better (if not the best) Ovations made, so $750 sounds good.
It looks like the damage is very minor (finish scratches).
The repair: OK... On an 'O' this is fairly easy as a DIY.
- If its a paint mark or light scratch, you can rub it out with McGuires X polishing compound with a little elbow grease and its gone.
- If its a ding (deep scratch), its anywhere from rubbing it out (above) to light sanding, filling with cyano-acrylate (high quality superglue), building a small mound, sanding it flush, finish sanding it with like 1200 grit, then buffing with McGuires.
A couple hours work. I know, I've done it.
You could always send it back to Ovation in Conn. for repairs too. Not a cheap alternative, but it will come back better than new.
INFO
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Model 1537 Elite
years made: 1983-1985
6 String Acoustic/Electric
Body Type: Deep Bowl
Top: AAA Sitka Spruce
Scale Length: 25 1/4
Fretboard: Black Walnut
Rosette: Wood Epaulets
Nutwidth: 1 11/16
Machines: 24k Gold
New it listed for $1195-1295 |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | That wouldn't keep me from a purchase. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Clean the wound, drop a little Cyano glue in, finish off with 2000+ abrasive and it will be hard to find the spot without knowing it was there.
Then pack it up and send it to me for my Birthday... |
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October 2005
Posts: 5330
Location: Cicero, NY | At that price it wouldn't keep me away either.
(And tell that guy that it doesn't matter what kind of strap is on it, if you're standing with a nice guitar (or any guitar for that matter), you keep your hands on it!) |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| With that tiny amount of damage (easily fixed as already described) and at that price you'd be crazy not to get it. |
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Thanks for the reassurance on my gut feeling. This fellow is not guitar savvy but seems honest in a Kentucky kinda way (I'm from Jersey; it's like another culture to me). ;)
He is also not a computer user so I'm lucky to swing this deal as it is. I will save the comments about how to fix the dings, and hopefully I'll be able to share the results in a couple of weeks once all is said and done.
Thank you OFC buds! |
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October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Jersey? Then we expect you and that beauty at the OFG gathering in 3 weeks! |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Unless that wound compromises the integrity of the top, I wouldn't even mess with it. Get the guitar. you'll never look back.... |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I'm with moody. Grab it. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I'm with moody. Grab it. |
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Yes, grabbing it is the plan. He's checking with UPS to figure out how much it will cost to ship. I had to give some advice on how to package it... I am crossing fingers. I've done this many times (both inbound and outbound), but I hope he uses common sense.
With this guitar I'll have a top of the line round hole (1719-4) and epaulet style (1537-4), both deep bowl non-cuts. Fun. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Have you bought it yet? |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Roger,
if this is the guitar, that was one big label to cover that small of a ding. I contacted them when it was first posted about a month ago, but since I have no guitar funds right now I had to pass on it. Good luck with the purchase.
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Yup that's it! Actually there are two blemishes in that area and the sticker covered both. He was afraid to remove it, but I convinced him that any serious buyer would probably shy away unless they could confirm the state of things. I guess it came off easily. |
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1537 with minor damage - opinions?