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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Okay, my next item up for sale, a beautiful natural-finish Elite 1537.
This one was an eBay rescue, the fretboard was in terrible shape. And when I received it, it had picked up a finish crack running under the strings from the fretboard towards the treble epaulet. The epaulets were curling and cracking badly. But it sounded oh-so-good, and the sweet honey aging of the top is fantastic!
So off to the careful hands at the Mothership it went. They revived the fretboard, dressed and leveled the frets, and they sanded down and resealed the top. The finish crack is still faintly visible if you look at it real close, but it’s sealed and not going anywhere. They also replaced the bridge and the epaulets, which is why you’ll see from the pics they are the newer style. But the beautiful 30-year-old top and it’s great color and sound were preserved! Other than the sealed in crack, there’s not a scratch on it! For those of you that have had work done at the factory, you know what kind of shape this is in. They put a lot of love into restoring this one!
For more history on the 1537 Elite model, visit http://www.ovationgallery.com or http://www.ovationtribute.com or simply search the archives here.
Model 1537, 6-string acoustic
2-knob “Adamas style” pre-amp with stereo outputs
Multi soundhole, 30-year-old AAA Sitka Spruce top
Brown deep textured bowl
3 ply wood binding, walnut bridge
Glossy 5-piece neck with 3-ply headstock and walnut face
Black walnut fretboard with walnut Adamas triangle inlays
Gold Schaller tuners
1 11/16” nut width, 25 ¼” scale, Quintad bracing
Original brown hard-shell case in good condition
Serial number dates to 1983
I’m looking for $1400 shipped/insured to the continental US. Shipping to other destinations negotiable.
Thank you for looking!
David
Edited by dvd 2014-02-14 1:12 PM
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | You just can't beat a 1537! They are great guitars! |
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November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Boy, they do some amazing work.
Worth every penny. And 30 years? You can't buy time, period.
Good luck with the sale. I have one, too, that probably needs "the treatment". Somebody goofed with the stereo jack, so it's only mono. I'll live.
Edited by seesquare 2014-02-14 8:19 PM
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Posts: 489
Location: California | I Love this model, neck is comfortable and the sound is great. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Thanks for the feedback, guys! It's definitely a classic.
One correction, the crack goes to the bass epaulet, not the treble epaulet. I tried to capture it in the 3rd photo.
My price is negotiable, make me an offer. But I'm not looking to make any trades right now.
Thanks! |
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Posts: 98
Location: Des Moines, Iowa | WOW! Nice... and I've kind of gathered from around here and some other places, that the 1537 is kind of the Elite of the Elites, no? A tad bit more than I'd want to spend right now and especially after I just dropped $550 on my first Elite model (1868), so probably a bit too early to jump into another one, but... maybe if you're not real anxious to sell right away AND the price comes down a bit...
Dang it... you're making me review my finances, savings, and future financial obligations....
No, I can't... at least not right now. Now I'm going to ask what is probably a stupid question, but maybe not... how often does a really sweet and well preserved vintage 1537 that is for sale come along? Just wondering how long I might have to wait if I passed on this one, shooot... the wife would surely kill me, but what a way to go, eh? HA! She thinks I only paid $300 for the 1868 I bought, though I'm not sure where she got that from....cause I'm just a...
SillyLittleBoy
P.S. AND... I'd probably better wait until I've at least played another Elite before I even think about getting something like this. My new Elite arrives on Thursday... I'm excited! |
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Location: Suisun City, Ca | SillyLittleBoy - 2014-02-18 6:51 AM Dang it... you're making me review my finances, savings, and future financial obligations.... No, I can't... at least not right now. Just wondering how long I might have to wait if I passed on this one, shooot... the wife would surely kill me, but what a way to go, eh? HA! She thinks I only paid $300 for the 1868 I bought, though I'm not sure where she got that from....cause I'm just a... SillyLittleBoy Too funny! I know the feeling. You see these relatively often, but not in this kind of shape. Remember, it's always easier to ask for forgiveness,than it is to ask for permission. |
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Location: Tennessee | 
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Location: SoCal | stonebobbo - 2014-02-18 3:23 PM
It's going to be on Witko's tombstone.... |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Price drop to $1300 or make an offer. Thanks! |
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Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | No trades huh? I could offer a Patriot plus a 6778LX, but cash is not available right now. Now if I cheated on my taxes to get a big refund..... |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Go ahead and cheat. We won't tell. |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | New low price of $1200 shipped/insured to the lower 48. Other destinations negotiable. |
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Posts: 98
Location: Des Moines, Iowa | Moody p.I. - I resemble that epitaph. That one really made me laugh, because I'm not really one to lie. I'm just not good at it AND I've got a really good woman, so there's really no reason to do so. She was excited for me when I got my new Elite, which cost me $300 ($550 actually including shipping).
I know when I get that first Adamas, should I ever... it'll probably only cost me... another $300. Wouldn't that be sweet if it were true!
Oh... and might I add my voice to the adoring crowd.... "OOoooo.... Ahhh...." I don't think can swing that one for $300, even if I was lying. From what I've gathered the 1537 is kind of the Elite of the Elites, no? Almost a wood topped Adamas guitar, no?
Very nice... |
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Posts: 158
Location: South Windsor Connecticut | It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ..
Well you guys know. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | If you didn't take the garbage out once, you're ALWAYS forgetting to take the garbage out!
If you didn't clean the garage once, you NEVER clean the garage!
If you're first guitar cost you $300, that's what they ALL cost you.
BTW - We never had this conversation... |
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Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | OMG! I can't believe no one has picked up this guitar yet.
Willa
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Location: Utah | Willa I am dying on this one! |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | New low price of $1150 shipped/insured to the lower 48. Other destinations negotiable. |
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Posts: 755
Location: Muenster/Germany | Destination GERMANY? I already have a shiny 1718 and I wonder If there´s a great difference between these two guitars...what would you say? |
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Location: SoCal | There is..... |
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Posts: 5330
Location: Cicero, NY | Hate to do it but I have to agr...well, let's just say that there's real potential that Moody isn't TOO wrong here.
(There absolutely is. The 1537 is in a class of very few in this guy's opinion and just do a search to get others) |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Wow. From Weas, not being too wrong, is a high compliment!
At least it is when he references me........
The 1537 was hand built, using better materials than the 1718. It was built in the same factory as where the Adamii used to be built. After the first year and a half of production, the 1537 became the 1718 and production was moved from Bloomfield to New Hartford. Materials were cheapened to fit a cost level. Still a good guitar, just not nearly as good. There were only about 1500 1537's built. All of them steller..... |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | What do you know.... I'd never put together that these were made in Bloomfield rather than New Hartford. Thanks, Paul.
I've never shipped overseas, but I'm sure there are people here who could point the way. PM if you are interested and we can sort the details. |
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Location: Jet City | I thought they were built in Moosup, or at least part of the process (finish maybe)? |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Maybe it was Moosup. After all these years, can't remember. I suppose if I went thru my files.....
Did a lot of research on these guitars about 8 years ago. |
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Location: Jet City | I think I remember a gas station dude commenting on how my 1537's burst finish was done by a gentleman named Nick Macklin (sp?) up in Moosup.
I might be wrong too. |
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Location: SoCal | I don't think you're wrong. Nick is retired and living in Florida now. I spoke to him on the phone when I was working on this project. Nick built a wood topped Adamas just to see what it would be like. Charlie was unhappy with it because multi soundhole guitars were Adamas guitars w/ carbon fiber tops. Not wood tops. But the reception of the guitars was so good that they went into production.
Edited by moody, p.i. 2014-03-14 3:13 PM
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Location: Jet City | Googles much faster than waiting on your brain. Here's where your quest started.
http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=19025&...
What a great example of old-skool OFC banter, but if you can't read through 8 pages to get to the answer, here's what you finally posted...
"Just got off the phone with Nick. Hold on to your hats, but he estimated that they might have built as many as 1000-1500 1537's. He doesn't have any exact records, but he said it was a very popular guitar and everybody and his brother wanted one when they came out.
Oh, and somebody asked me what number I was guessing? I'd say, about 1000-1500....
But that number may also include the entire run at Moosup. The Elites were moved to New Harford in mid 1984.
Looking at the serial numbers for 1983 production we can guess that Ovation built just over 11,200 guitars in 1983, or about 936 per month. The 1537's first serial numbers were 301001 (I think that this is what I was told years ago). This would put production starting in about August 1983. If my 1537 was number 30214xx (I'm not trying to be coy, I can't remember the exact number and I'm too lazy to go look), then it was probably built in late September 1983. A WAG? Yeah, but it's probably the best I'm going to be able to do."
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Location: SoCal | Thanks Damon. I've got a printout of that somewhere. It was a fun time. The OFC back in those days was a fairly large group of people who came to know each pretty well. Regardless of what some people have said in the past, it really was like a neighborhood bar. It's much more "dignified" now. Not a bad thing, just different...... |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Dignified?? I would love to see it as it was then!! |
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| PM sent |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Still available! |
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Location: SoCal | nerdydave - 2014-03-14 6:50 PM
Dignified?? I would love to see it as it was then!!
Read the thread that Damon linked to on the 1537...... |
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Location: Utah | Is there a mono output which has all 6 strings? For the stereo output is it 2 mono jacks or is it one stereo jack? |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Hmmm I've only ever used it in single mono mode, with all 6 strings in the mix. Maybe somebody else can answer the 2nd part of your question. There are two outputs so I suspect 2 mono outs. |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Ah, found a thread that addresses this: http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=18595&...
So either a single mono cable for mono out. Or a stereo cable that splits out to two mono lines, one for each channel. You can't use two mono cables to achieve stereo output.
Also, a question was asked about the action. It's just a hair shy of a penny ( 0.061" ) at the twelfth fret with two shims remaining under the bridge.
Edited by dvd 2014-03-28 11:54 PM
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Did you guys ever get those manuals for the 1537?? I could look around. I might have one you could copy if you wanted. |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Sale pending! |
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Location: SoCal | As to "It's much more "dignified" now". Miles and Al, as owners and administrators, started to clamp down on certain aspects of the posts (i.e., words that we would not necessarily use in public, some outrageous but funny sarcasm, etc.). From what I saw, Miles took the lead on this. Some agreed, some didn't even to creating their own email group outside of the OFC. Hard to find a balance but we all have to remember that a lot of our posts are still out there on the internet from at least 10-11 years (probably also in the 'Vault' . Now, with Fender's abandonment of U.S. Ovation/Adamas/Hamer we, as a forum, are even more in the spotlight. |
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Location: Utah | Purhase pending!  |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | I played a 1537. It sounded "woody" or "dusky" when compared to my Adamas (for lack of a better term). Not the bright clear sound that I am accustomed to. I don't know whether that is good or bad? I realize personal preference is what it is all about but am still slightly confused! But it should did have resonance and volume!! |
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Location: Utah | I played a 1537 once here in my little home town. It was on consignment at a small local guitar store. It did have a woodier tone than the O's we owned at the time. The seller only wanted something like $450 for it but I had no idea what a fair value was, so I waited a day to do some research and it was gone!
My Patriot (1976 round hole A brace) also has a woodier tone than my modern O's and A's, so I'll be interested in seeing how the 1537 compares to the Patriot. |
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Location: Right now? | Fly, did you get this guitar? I hope whoever buys this guitar REALLY wants it. SO nice.
W. |
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Location: Utah | Willa, the check is in the mail!
The mothership re-fresh on it makes this one very interesting to me. No it isn't 100% original any more, but I am confident it will be as good as a brand new guitar after their attentions. So for me the value is not reduced by the refinish and the different epaulettes, it is increased. |
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Location: SoCal | I am confident if you are getting the guitar from Willa that this not a problem. More based on a previous comment "woody" or "dusky". The 1537 has a 'floating' fretboard that some individuals, fearing that their fretboard was lifting used CYA or a screw through the fretboard to clamp it down. I personally got a 1537 where someone used a screw...didn't sound at all like a normal 1537 until I repaired the damage and allowed the fretboard to "float'. The 1537 that I have now was not damaged by the last owner and the basement had a fair amount of humidity. :} |
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Location: SoCal | Sorry, although my comments are true for a guitar that Willa might sell (good knowledge and disclosure), I would say the same for the seller DVD.
"how often does a really sweet and well preserved vintage 1537 that is for sale come along?" I would say not very often. I was fortunate to get a pre-production 1537.
I have never played a production 1718 but I have a 1718-X Garris (prototype of slim line saddle). A brighter sound v. 1537 but excellent acoustic and balance.
Probably a lot more 1718's out there and good value for the price. It was as close to brand new as it was a year 1991 that I got from Beal fourteen years later in 2005. |
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Location: Utah | Most of my guitars just became obsolete! What a nice guitar this one is. As new condition, but with a great sound after 30 years of being played. Thanks DVD! |
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Location: Baton Rouge, LA | Mr. DVD,
I have a 1537 that is in need of some reconditioning. If I may ask, how much were the repairs on your guitar?
Thank you,
evvignes |
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Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Regretfully, it is a moot point. The factory in New Hartford has been closed. You might post in the general forum for alternative repair recommendations. |
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Location: Colorado | Call John Budney |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | What good will that do now? Does John have a repair shop? |
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Location: SoCal | Damon: "Looking at the serial numbers for 1983 production we can guess that Ovation built just over 11,200 guitars in 1983, or about 936 per month. The 1537's first serial numbers were 301001 (I think that this is what I was told years ago)."
The 1537 that I got from Beal is 301004...Moody, at the time, said it was a pre-production so ?? not aware of what would be the first production serial. |
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Location: SoCal | I said that??? And you believed me???? Oh boy......
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