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Joined:
March 2012
Posts: 5
Location: The historic city of Bath, England | Wow, recently scored an Elite 1718, natural top, dates to 1990, with OHSC, in virtually NOS condition. Really quite rare here in the UK. It belonged to a jazz banjoist who bought it new and hardly ever played it. He passed away recently and a friend, a noted UK luthier, sold it along with his other instruments on behalf of his widow. It's absolutely gorgeous both visually and playing-wise. It's got the Adamas type soundholes and marquetry surrounds on a spruce top which is a lovely honey colour. Non-cutaway, of course - somehow a cutaway on a flattop just doesn't look right to me, and being an old-fashioned fingerpicker I rarely play past the ninth fret. I've noted all the other comments about deep-bowl Ovations - you know, they slide off your lap when seated, they roll upwards when played on a strap standing, they quack, etc. Well, as I type this I've just completed almost three hours on the 1718 at a gig, standing up, and although my fingers are a little sore (haven't played that long at a single sitting for months) I can't fault the Elite at all. I've put Martin Bronze 11s on it and it sounds wonderful both unplugged and amplified. Gotta be close to my perfect electro-acoustic.
How do other members feel about this model?
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | The 1718 is outstanding! Congrats on snagging such a fine guitar!
So allow me to be the first to suggest PICTURES!  |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | How do other members feel about the 1718? I think it's fair to say that we feel very good about it..... |
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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Recently I got for a friend of mine a 1718 in sunburst on German ebay. The auction ended up at a very, very good price (750 euro if I recall correctly). Well my friend was kind to let me try this beauty and I have to say that these guitars are AMAZING in all aspects. I like these Elite alot !! Moreover the guitar is in immaculate condition. Here is a pic taken with my cellphone ... that does not do justice to it.
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 119
Location: NH | Congrats on your score lenliechti ! You know what they say.... Unless you have pictures, it didn't happen. 
Wow, marenostrum, that sunburst is absolutely gorgeous! Those epaulets just pop against that sunburst. Unless you already have one of these for yourself, I'm not sure I could've passed this along to a friend. |
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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | These Elite are really gorgeus. Congrats to lenliechti for his new baby !!
@Guit
Unfortunately I don have such a beauty or similar. But I got myself a LX elite back in 2008 (single bass epaulete) does it count ?  |
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Joined:
March 2012
Posts: 5
Location: The historic city of Bath, England | Thanx for the encouragement, guys. That sunburst one is truly lovely but I have to admit that for me the toned natural top just has the edge. It's an amazing colour, not far off that of my natural Epiphone FT-110N Frontier from 1966 which is twice its age. These were the pics on eBay that made me buy the beast.
Edited by lenliechti 2012-08-15 3:04 PM
 (Ovation Elite 1718 1990.jpg)
Attachments
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 Ovation Elite 1718 1990.jpg (52KB - 1 downloads)
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Joined:
September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | I enjoy mine...well, it belongs to my Son now.
Mine...his is a 1989 with a brown bowl (the only brown bowl O I have) that I got from kotadawg when I came back from my last deployment to Iraq.
I have a bunch of cutaways and I'd been wanting a deep bowl, full body Elite for a while when he was gracious enough to let me take it off of his hands.
My Boy plays it all the time.
It does sound awesome and is a beautiful guitar.
I might get some threats here but I've heard the 1718's sound darn near as good as any 1537.
Congrats on your find. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Talking about 1537's.......
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ovation-Elite-Acoustic-Guitar-With-... |
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Joined:
September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | I saw that a few minutes ago.
I wonder how much it'll go for.
It would be a nice player, crack or no crack.. |
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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | maremagnum - 2012-08-10 4:36 AM Recently I got for a friend of mine a 1718 in sunburst on German ebay. The auction ended up at a very, very good price (750 euro if I recall correctly ). Well my friend was kind to let me try this beauty and I have to say that these guitars are AMAZING in all aspects. I like these Elite alot !! Moreover the guitar is in immaculate condition. Here is a pic taken with my cellphone ... that does not do justice to it. Gorgeous! 
Willa
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