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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Atlanta, GA | When I was taking lessons back in the late 70's the shop I was going to had the 1657 Anniversary for sale new. I use to play the one on display and have loved that guitar ever since. It has been a long time since I played seriously, but lately I have the urge to play again and thought about trying to find one of these old guitars.
My question is, how is the 1657 thought of after all these years; has it held up well and is it still desirable to own? 2nd question is how much should I expect to pay? I have seen a couple sold on Ebay for $300 - 400, but I am not really comfortable buying on auction. Any comments would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
Blake |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 231
| Blake, I have the acoustic only 1157 Model Anniversary, and it looks as good as the day it was made. Soundwise, it's a real monster, too. I think they are very desireable, and are way under priced, IMO. They can still be found in great condition for 400-500 dollars. |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Welcome to the board, Blake66. The 1657 is a very fine guitar, and could be considered one of Ovation's best wood-top models. It is basically a deep-bowl Legend design with an amount of bling in-between a regular Legend (like a 1617, which has a plain bridge and no abalone purfling or rosette) and a Custom Legend (like a 1619, which has carved bridge and truss rod cover [depending on the neck truss rod style], and abalone purfling and rosette).
Those old Legends sound great, as they have very high quality soundboards, a bracing pattern that results in very good volume and tone, and their age means the tops have had plenty of time to season and "open up" resulting in even better tone than a new one.
$300-400 would be an excellent price for one of these, even with minor cosmetic issues like pick swirls and maybe a finish ding or two. I've owned or currently own these particular guitars and they're definitely ones I play most often.
You can get good deals on eBay, just make sure to ask plenty of questions and get lots of pictures. I've bought and sold more than a dozen guitars on eBay and only had one problem with a mis-represented guitar. Because I paid with PayPal, and because I kept copies of correspondence with the seller and documentation of the condition of the guitar, I successfully disputed the sale and got my money back pretty quickly frm PayPal. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Atlanta, GA | Thanks for the good information....I am definitely am in the market for a good 1657 in the $3-400 range.....the comments here make me even more excited. Thanks again.
Blake |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Blake,
Do a search for what we call the Lennon reissue, a Legend Ltd or the Patriot...AAA spruce, A brace, deep bowl. Check out what others (archive, vault) said when they got the Lennon reissue.
The Anniversary is an outstanding guitar. I came within an hour or two of buying Roundback's Anniversary for his asking price...only pulled back because I am working on prying away a special guitar from a San Diegan.
I have bought two, each time talked into letting others take custody. If not now, an Anniversary is one that I will get. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 231
| Tony, when you get ready for one, give me a PM. I'm not saying that I will let it go, but if I happen to be looking for something special, who knows. It's really starting to grow on me now. I don't play it as much as I do my old Legend, but it's as good they get, IMO. Extremely light for an Ovation, too. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | "I'm not saying that I will let it go"
That's the tough part of selling a guitar. Suddenly, you start to really appreciate it again. I have driven back from the post office after shipping a guitar asking myself why I sold or traded it.
Will know soon...as I told Mike, there is a Hamer Monaco (Monaco, not Monaco Elite) that I am trying to pry away from the current owner.
However, if anyone else gets in front of me...GREAT as I have more guitars than I can play now.
Mike is an experienced seller, well respected. He has an excellent Anniversary for what I feel is a very fair price. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Atlanta, GA | Thanks....I am really looking for the 1657 Anniversary. |
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1657 Anniversary Question $