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Location: New Jersey | Hi folks, I saw a used 1769 Custom legend from Guitar Center-they had no pics, so I asked them to send me a few. It was listed for $699, and the salesman is telling me it has a crack in the top. According to him it was going to cost him $300 for his guy to repair it. He told me he would sell it me as is for $399. Here is a pic of the top. Does it look like a case of a seriously dry top and/or does it look like a $300 or less repair job? My goal was to eventually get either a US Custom Legend or a US Custom Elite. Cash is a bit short since I just paid for my Celeb 247, but if this is worth it for around $300-400, I would try to get SWMBO to give me her blessing.
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Location: New Hartford CT | I would keep looking. Unless you get an actual hands on test drive, don't buy a guitar with a serious crack. That one looks really bad and I see plenty of nice Ovations on ebay more worthy of your hard earned money.
It's not so much the cosmetics of it; it's common to have a nice sounding beater guitar handy. The top is a soundboard and a serious crack can wipe out a lot of tone. That's why it's a good idea to test drive and make sure it sounds OK. YMMV |
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Location: New Hartford CT | Maybe someone has that picture of Willie Nelson's guitar? Just a crack or two on that one |
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Location: Texas | "Willie Nelson's guitar? Just a crack or two on that one"
If I am not mistaken, through the years, Willies guitar has undergone quite a bit of internal re-structuring by a luthier in Austin. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Besides that, I don't think anyone is bragging on the tone of Willie Nelson's guitar. Probably has all the warm tonal characteristics of a plywood Esteban. It's simply a prop for Nelson to convey an "everyman" image to the public. |
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Location: sitting at my computer | Scanman, I'd pass and keep saving up for one that doesn't have "big headache" potential. IMO most salesman's estimates of how much it'd cost to repair are woefully optimistic! YMMV Willie's just in the process of "opening up" his guitar... by adding another sound hole!  |
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Location: Indiana | darkbarguitar - 2012-03-25 10:08 AM
It's simply a prop for Nelson to convey an "everyman" image to the public.
Or... it's a faithful old friend Willie has traveled and performed with for decades. It's "his" guitar and he's comfortable playing it. Willie doesn't give a rats behind what anyone thinks of Trigger. |
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Location: Utah | It might be worth $100 if the case is in very good condition. Then you could part it out. The crack looks pretty bad to me. |
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Location: California | Keep looking. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Jonmark Stone - 2012-03-25 12:06 PM
Willie doesn't give a rats behind what anyone thinks of Trigger.
Right.....that's his gimmick, IN MY OPINION. Since neither of us know him, we'll just disagree, I suppose. |
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Location: Texas | "anyone is bragging on the tone of Willie Nelson's guitar" Its the prismatone pickup. Reeds Baldwin, Nelsons Martin...or a new Yamaha (w/Sams Prismatone recreation) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh_LPCH9hB4 Same sound... "Prop" "everyman" ? A little harsh. No one calls Setzers often used Gretsch that Steve Miller gave him back in the day a prop. Maybe it is a preference? When I met Nelson in the late 70's, his surroundings were very "everyman" like. I worked security for a concert of his in the early 80's and he hadnt changed his demeanor a bit, on or off stage. Very easy to get along with. He didn't come across other than someone who hung out in very casual settings and enjoyed being "loose". I certainly never got the feeling he was trying to convey anything to anybody. |
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Location: New Jersey | Folks, thanks for all your input- yeah I'm gonna pass this one up. I didn't notice the first time around, but in one of the other pics, one of the pearl tuners is missing-this O may have a bit more abuse than I'm being told. I'd rather hold out for a natural finish anyway, and it gives me more time to look around at what I can sell to offset the cost of a new Git. |
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Location: Flahdaw | This is getting WAY away from Scanman's topic, but....
IN MY OPINION, The point that he has had a lot of bracing and structural work on the guitar to even keep it playable says something TO ME. The guitar was in trouble even back in the 70's. Here is a video from 1980
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTPL1WPJqjs
where the guitar looks virtually identical to how it looks today...over 30 years later. If he is going to get all that structural work done on it to keep it playable, the hole in the face of the guitar could have been repaired as well, BUT he knew better than to mess with the image of himself playing an old beater..."the good ol' boy, just gettin' by on tips and handouts, riding the rails to the next dusty town." If he showed up at the next concert with a brand new shiny Martin, his loyal followers would be very disappointed, even if it sounded and played 10 times better. That ol' beat up guitar is his schtick, and he and his publicist KNOW it.
Don't' get me wrong...there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's great marketing. But still just marketing, in my opinion,
Edited by dark bar 2012-03-25 2:30 PM
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Location: Indiana | darkbarguitar - 2012-03-25 1:16 PM
Since neither of us know him, we'll just disagree, I suppose.
DB, you have no way of knowing what I am aware of regarding Willie...
Willie is Willie. You can believe it or not, but Trigger is not a prop. He loves to ride that bus and he loves to play live and he'd be doing it whether we knew who he was or not.
Edited by Jonmark Stone 2012-03-25 3:37 PM
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Location: Flahdaw | Thanks, yeah I know I can believe it or not, and I don't believe it. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I had 20 guitars... But I brought the Painted T to the PNW Gathering.
Coulda brought the Sweet T or an Adamas or a Flame T... But I brought the unique one.
Nowadays I have been playing a Red Flame GCXT with a Crack in it.
Which brings us back to the Original Topic...
That is a Nasty Crack. But if the guitar still sounds good and plays well, it might be worth $400
(hopefully with a case).
You would have to play it, which I am guessing that you have, and decide from there.
If you humidified that guitar for a while, that crack might close-up a bunch.
(That crack on my GCXT closed-up a lot with some humidity)
You will always be able to see that crack, but if the guitar sounds good... Who Cares?
A little bit of Sharpie marker goes a long way, then you are good to go!
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Location: SoCal | There was a show, a special on, about 14 years ago that had older country stars playing and telling stories. At one point, Glen Campbell was playing Willie's guitar and he even commented on how great the tone was.
As to the hole in it, I've always believed (only based on the photos) that it's not pick wear but damage of some sort. It hasn't changed in 30 years and the edges are too sharp. But that's an opinion and I honestly don't know. Might be that the pick wear weakened areas around the top and the edges snapped off..... |
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Location: Texas | Paul... I looked it up and he takes it to a guy in Austin by the name of Mark Erlewine Here is a picture of him treating the deterioration... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2883763787_2a7ae9237a.jpg?v=0 |
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Location: SoCal | Now that's cool... |
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Location: NJ | absolutely pick wear and that boys and girl is the reason that you need to practice good technique. Obviously willie has a really lazy right hand and scrapes the top of the guitar with his pick or at least he did scrape the top until he no longer has a top |
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Location: New Jersey | Actually Arthur, I did not play the guitar- it's in Illinois and I'm in Jersey. I have bought numerous items including my Ovation Celebrity and both my Parker guitars from GC without playing them first. Normally I would never do that, but Guitar Center has a 30 day money back deal, so nothing to lose really. Every item I've bought has been at the least exactly as described, and in a couple of cases even better. I was almost willing to give it a shot if the price was a bit lower, and if my guitar guy said he could fix it for a decent price. The deciding factor for me actually was the missing tuner- I'm thinking if a high end guitar is in this bad shape, what else could be wrong with it? I'll just keep looking. Green isn't one of my favorite colors anyway.  |
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Location: Massachusetts | ..."the good ol' boy, just gettin' by on tips and handouts, riding the rails to the next dusty town."
That made me laugh - thanks!
Bob |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I met Willie and his wife Connie when they lived in Evergreen, CO. My first wife knew Connie even better as their kids were enrolled in her class (she was a school teacher) and she often drove them home. This would have been in the early 80's. We were in their house a few times. If anything, it leaned a bit toward the underfurnished side of decorating. A bare mattress on the floor was regularly used by some of his friends staying at the house. There were also lots of guitars leaning against the walls or sitting on top of their cases. He was about as unpretentious a star as there ever was. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | So Brad, back in the 80's did you get to share some of Willie's famous stash? |
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Location: SoCal | stephent28 - 2012-03-26 3:23 PM
So Brad, back in the 80's did you get to share some of Willie's famous stash?
He' probably never smoke weed with Willie again.... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | He probably can't answer that one and maintain his FBI clearance. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Willie's got a 40 yr old wooden bong he calls "Mr. Bubbles" with a hole in the base, signed by lots of famous people. He still uses it everyday.
Edited by dark bar 2012-03-26 6:51 PM
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Location: Tennessee | Is imitation the greatest form of flattery? If so, Scott Emerick's got something for Willie ... and this is good for watching a cool tune, too. Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, and Scott Emerick Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, and I've tried it, my friend. |
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Location: New Jersey | You guys are killin' me here. So I guess I should ask....what would Willie do? OK the 1769 is no longer in my sights; however I am now looking at three other possibilities. One is a 1988 Custom Legend model 1719. I should be getting pics soon. Only thing is the serial number is there inside the bowl, but not on the back of the headstock? Don't all USA models have the serial stamped on the headstock? The sticker or plate inside the bowl is missing as well although the serial number is 6 digit and starts with 376 If I remember right. Also looking at a C779LX with an iDea preamp in place of the original and a missing truss rod cover (sigh) and the third guitar is a 30th Anniversary model. Decisions, desicions. Oh and my SWMBO doesn't know I'm looking at these...yet.
Edited by Scanman413 2012-03-26 7:58 PM
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Location: sitting at my computer | "Don't knock it..." hee hee - Willie just grins. "however I am now looking at three other possibilities." GAS is a persistent bugger ain't it?! "Don't all USA models have the serial stamped on the headstock? " Nope, my 1617 Legend's serial # is on a small white sticker inside the bowl. Don't know about the 1719s though. "Oh and my SWMBO doesn't know I'm looking at these...yet." Lots-O-Luck!!! |
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Location: New Jersey | Sorry for all these questions, but I'm kind of new to Ovations- this Gas is nasty! Another guitar has worked it's way into the mix- this is a 2007 Collectors BCS. Some minor fret wear on first 5 frets-just high E and B, and some pic scratches. Asking price is $800. The Wife now knows what I'm looking to do, and she is OK with it! WOOT! She likes this BCS model- I just want to make sure the fret wear issue is not a biggie. Going to send pics to my tech to see what he says. Old Man Arthur I saw your YouTube video playing the 2007; any input you could give would be great.
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yeah... Once you get one Don't Sell It.
I didn't like the VIP preamp.
Now I have a VIP sitting on my shelf that I can drop in my OP-Pro cans.
I should have just kept the 07C and put a OP-Pro in it when I wanted to...
Hindsight is 20/20.
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Location: New Jersey | Thanks for the reply Arthur- any particular reason why you didn't like the VIP? |
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Location: New Jersey | Well I bit the bullet on the '07 BCS. My tech says the fret wear is minimal and he can do wonders with the pic scratches. SWMBO approves and likes the guitar- So I get my USA model! Does anyone know how many of the Collector series models are usually made? Mine is #185.
Edited by Scanman413 2012-03-29 3:07 PM
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Scanman413 - 2012-03-29 6:50 AM
Thanks for the reply Arthur- any particular reason why you didn't like the VIP?
You have to plug-it-in to use the Tuna.
Plus, with the various "Images"... I only use one.
Like I said, I now own a VIP preamp that I sometimes (rarely) drop-in my guitar.
I think that the VIP is really made for recording or gigging with a Real sound system.
I play on the street corner through a Roland battery amp...
When I play indoors I still use a CubeStreet or a MicroCubeRX.
Nothing fancy, no XLR to the mixing board.
I have a VIP and an OP-Pro Studio in cans on my shelf.
I sometimes use the Studio outside because of added volume and clarity through the Roland because of the Drive knob and "Expressor" slider.
But not so much the VIP... (I usually just use whatever is in the guitar at the moment)
But I think the "plug-in for Tuna" was the most annoying thing about the VIP for me.
But it is not a Bad preamp... I would have preferred a Studio.
If I had had a Studio preamp back then, I would still own the 07C.
and Congratulations!
(I was searching around, but I couldn't find the count... But I think about 500 were made)
Edited by Old Man Arthur 2012-03-29 3:23 PM
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Location: Tennessee | Congrats. I've got #220.
Yeah, having to use a plug to turn on the tuner is a PITA sometime, but I REALLY like the way the preamp sounds when I'm plugged in and/or playing out. The longer I have this guitar, the more I like it. ANd it really looks cool with the blackout treatment everywhere. |
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Location: Flahdaw | I really liked the VIP when I tried it out. Haven't tried a Studio. I use a Snark tuner anyway, so I don't care about plugging it in to use it. OMA...I might buy your VIP if you don't like it. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | The 07C is a nice guitar. The plug in to tune bugs me, but tuner I prefer now is "Cleartune" which is an ap on my iPhone. It gives a much better reading of where the actual tuning is than the built in tuner on the VIP. I'm liking the sound on my VIP more and more, although I always end up using image #3. |
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Location: New Jersey | I tried looking up some info on the VIP on You Tube, and the only video I found was in Italian. Unfortunately, my Grandmother passed away 20 years ago... I did find the PDF of the the user guide on the tribute website. And OMA you were fairly accurate- 582 were made- why not a round number is anyone's guess. The only feature I'm not totally sold on are the black tuners- I think I would have preferred either pearl or amber ones. Someone had amber tuneers on a guitar I think in the for sale section and they looked nice. But who knows- I may dig the black ones. I'm easy! |
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Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | darkbarguitar - 2012-03-29 4:44 PM I really liked the VIP when I tried it out. Haven't tried a Studio. I use a Snark tuner anyway, so I don't care about plugging it in to use it. My only complaint about the VIP is that it can drain a battery faster than any other guitar that I've ever owned. |
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Location: New Jersey | They list the battery life as 27 hours. Not sure how that plays out for "normal" use. |
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Location: Colorado | Ah - now I know why Bard you got into the bankruptcy business....Willie, Uncle Sam, IRS.... hey - there's an idea for a song |
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Location: Colorado | Sorry - Brad. |
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Custom Legend 1769- opinions?