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| Of all the wood top O's I've played and owned, I like the sound and feel of my 1617 Legend the best. But I also have to admit that I'm a sucker for bling. So, I'm jonesin' for a 1619 Custom Legend. What do you folks think is a fair price for a mint (and I mean MINT) 1619-1, with OHSC (not that I have a line on one or anything)? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | They had one in a store here for $845, but I didn't ask what they actually sold it for. I'd guess it was a mid 70s. Not mint, but maybe 8.5. |
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Location: Huntington Beach, California | I too love the 1619's. They have such a warm tone and great "twang". I've been looking for one now for a little while. Anyone who gets a line on one, please let me know (thanks Mark).
The 2007 Vintage guitar book puts a value of $500-$700. I think one in mint condition would likely to for $750. |
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Location: Central Florida | When it comes to Ovations (or really any guitar for that matter) it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. A couple of recent cases in point: I saw a near mint 1651 Legend Ltd sell on Ebay for $575. A few weeks earlier, I'd seen another auction for the same model in similar, if not slightly better, condition that sold for only $299 (wish I'd scooped that one up!). Around this same time I also saw two different auctions for a couple of near-mint 1619-4 Custom Legends. One sold for $825, which based on my experience is slightly on the high side of average, while the other sold for just over a grand! It's extremely unusual for used, non-Adamas, Ovations to sell for four digits. Don't know if this is a sign of a trend (maybe people are finally starting to realize how much bang you get for the buck with used Ovations), or just a fluke. Right now, I'm hoping for the latter as I'll soon be in the market for a good 1619 or 1651 myself. :) |
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| Thanks for the input. The one I came across has what seemed to me a darn steep asking price ($1600), even if it is in truly mint condition. Now I know I'm not crazy. My thinking was in the $800 range. The person selling it has a whole slew of O's and A's, several for sale, but isn't a member here. If anyone's interested let me know and I'll forward along his contact info.
Jeff & Jeff, the three of us might wind up competing for the same guit at some point soon! ;) |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | "What's a good price for a used guitar" is a very tough question. The rule of thumb is that they are always cheap when you're selling and expensive when you are buying.
I would start by considering the price of a NEW Custom Legend and work your way down from there. You want a used one in mint condition and in sunburst, which is the rarest color of the big-3 and sought after because it sounds somewhat better than the black or natural. So is $1600 unreasonable? Probably not. It's the xmas season and you could probably christian the guy down to under $1500.
Dave |
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Location: CT | I dissagree Dave. The -4 finish sounds slightly better than the -1. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Have you compared them exactly side by side, only difference being the finish? I have.
I can tell you it's true that the sunbursts are superior. And thyere is a very good explanation why. It has to do with the way it's painted. The 'burst process adds more paint to the outer few inches of the perimeter of the top. It acts as a very subtle "damper". When you play a guitar, your arm rests against the top in one spot and "dampens" the vibrations in that spot only. And this assymetry sets the whole top slightly out of balance. One way to combat this (on a natural finish) is to make the top ever so slightly thinner in the area that your arm would rest. The other solution would be to ever so slightly dampen the vibrations around the entire perimeter using a material like, oh, I don't know, maybe PAINT? There is a flip side to this, the sunbursts have ever so slightly less volume than the naturals. But the sound of the sunburst is a bit more balanced and pure. A trade off most people are willing to accept.
Dave |
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| ...you could probably christian the guy down to under $1500 :D :D The new political correctness? :D :D
I totally agree that any particular thing's "value" is what a person is willing to pay for it. I'm just not willing to part with a solid 4 figures when I could get an Adamas, or that FD on the 'bay right now, or even (this goes on another board) a new high-end blingy Tak for about the same.
I'll just bide my time, and ready myself for a "war" with the 2 Jeffs. :D ;) |
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Location: south east Michigan | Hmmm .."christian" used as a verb.
Very creative. |
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Location: CT | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Have you compared them exactly side by side, only difference being the finish? I have.
Yes (well, almost), but maybe its the volume thing that was throwing me off (also, the strings were not identical). I know there is more paint on the sunburst, so would just jump to a conclusion that a top with less paint would vibrate more freely. Anyway, of the two I heard together, I liked the natural. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | If you got a nice looking piece of wood, why paint it? (I guess you can tell I like the natural better) |
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Location: CT | I can hear the finish from here!!
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
If you got a nice looking piece of wood, why paint it? You paint it to make it sound better. DUH! Ever notice that all the finest sounding Steinway grand pianos are painted black? Hmmm ...
Hey, I can understand that you might prefer the looks of a nice natural finish guitar. That's fine. If you don't want to paint it, you can achieve almost the same result by just illuminating it with colored lights. Seriously. The heat from the lights will cause the molecules in the wood fiber to vibrate at a slight faster rate and offset the damping effect of holding the guitar under your arm. This is absolutely true. Haven't you noticed that guitars played on stage under hot lights (by professional musicians) always sound better then yours do at home? I rest my case.
Dave
PS - Brian, Brian, Brian ... Don't waste your time engaging in a war of photos, because you're gonna lose ...
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Location: CT | I'm not interested in photo wars Dave, just photos! Put more up, I love it! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I've run out of Ovations to photograph ;) |
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Location: CT | Maybe you should buy this one. I haven't seen many of these around, is this Dot Inlay Custom Legend a production guitar? I like it!
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Location: Phoenix AZ | That actually looks kinda cool. Need to wear one of those Falco "Puttin On The Ritz" suits.
Dave |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Brainslag, measure how thick that bridge is at the high E string and let me know. |
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Location: CT | Ok, I'll do it tonite. |
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Location: Lebanon, TN | For those seekers of "da bling" - coming shortly this wekend will be some GAS inventory. I need to do some rationalization after expanding the "A" portfolio with the acquisition of a lovely 1885 from Glenn. I also have a plan for my 45th birthday that I need to fund, and so some quality items will be posted here and on Ebay (eventually) in the next couple of days.
In the context of this thread there will be:
1. A vintage 1619-5 with added Op-Pro upgrade.
2. A 1719-CM30 40th Anniversary (also OP-Pro equipped)
3. U-681T - Yes a rare opportunity to grab that elusive 12fret - slot top. |
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| Stuart - PM sent. |
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Location: Atlanta, GA. | Bling is good!
1619
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | GO for the UTE g8r, I saw that you kept going back to it in Orlando. Of course the 1619 is mighty fine too! |
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| I had AL's(slydog's) Ute over here visiting for a couple of weeks... I almost cried when it left.. nothing else in the house stood a chance against it.
GH |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Christianed.....
You guys have never read any books by Kinky Friedman? You need to. |
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Location: Tennessee | I wish they'd've voted him in in Texas. |
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Location: NJ | they've done worse . . . . |
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| GO for the UTE g8r Beggin, you're a bad influence. And you thought Mrs. g8r had a low opinion of you before for supportin' that other team... :D |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | If you are still looking for one, here\'s one on e(whatever)...
No TRC, but lots of Abalone....
[just trying to be helpful] |
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Location: CT | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Brainslag, measure how thick that bridge is at the high E string and let me know. 9/32" Mark, and yes it is tapered. |
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| Thanks, OMA. I'm all over it! |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Hey, I'm not sure there is any proven validity to the paint theory, but it has been truly been argued very well and my hat's off to you for the comments. I have a different theory however ...
I think it's a better idea to buy one of each color and create your own opinion (: |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I emailed jeffeman about the one on ebay, g8r, so you might have some competition. He tried to buy the CL in Boise, but it sold.
Thanks, brainslag. I never got a decent measurement of mine before I sanded it down, since I couldn't find a ruler that started right at the end. I suppose I should actually buy one. Anyway, mine wasn't tapered and it was 1/8 thicker than my other Os and at least 3/8 inch thick. |
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Location: Central Florida | Originally posted by g8r:
Thanks, OMA. I'm all over it! g8r, I can't speak for jeffeman, but I won't get in your way on this one. It looks like a great guitar, and I'm sure it sounds awesome, but I've never been a fan of sunburst on an Ovation. If it were natural or black, I'd be all over it. Good luck! |
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| Thanks Jeff. Stuart Miller has a black beauty he's about to offer here at a fantastic price (see page 1 of this thread). PM him right away - you'll be glad you did! |
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Location: Central Florida | g8r,
Unfortunately, Stuart's guitar won't work for me because of the OP-Pro upgrade. Being left handed, I have to seek out factory leftys, or older, right handed Ovations with the control knob(s) located by the neck heel. If it weren't for that, it'd be just what I'm looking for. |
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| Aah, Jeff I should've read your sig more carefully. Sorry that one didn't work out. But if I come across one I'll let you know. |
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Location: Lebanon, TN | okay boys, fresh one up on the bay. Bad photo, but might be a candidate for a refurb at the mothership.
1619-1 up on Ebay |
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| Thanks, already on it like flies on stink. |
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Location: Central Florida | If all goes well, I may have just found my Custom Legend.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=33019616003...
I'm watching this one real close, and if the bidding doesn't get too out of hand, I'm gonna go for it. Just wish it wish it wasn't so close to Christmas -- that may end up being the spoiler on this. |
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| Outstanding, Jeff. Best of luck. I just won mine today. Full report when it arrives. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Happy for you G8r. I look forward to the report with Photos...
Cuz the photo is the ad ain't too revealing. |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | Way to go g8r, can't wait to see tha pics. Did you talk to the sellor before you purchased it? Like OMA said, it was tough to see anything. Enjoy! :D |
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| Thanks OMA & Beggin'. I traded several emails with the seller. He didn't have more pics (claimed to have borrowed a camera for the listing). He says the guitar is like new, he used it a little for studio work, neck & frets are supposed to be like new, top has a few light pick marks. At the price I got it for, even a trip to the spa will come out cheaper than some of the other ones I've seen.
I'm shipping him a hard case for him to send the guitar back in, so it'll take a couple extra days before I get it back, but pictures and a full report will be coming as soon as it gets here! |
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Location: Central Florida | Congratulations g8r! Looks like you scored quite a guitar -- and at a super price! Looking forward to your review. I sure hope I can grab the one I'm watching for a similar figure, but with my luck... :rolleyes: |
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What's a 1619 worth?