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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | I haven't been around much lately. A few years back I decided I had gone far enough with the Applause collection (at 65) plus a half dozen Ovations. I cleaned house. Sold every last one. The last one to leave, however, was a 1983 Collector's Prototype.
Tremor posted a craigslist link in 2010 about a trashed 1983 Kaman Prototype in California. I worked on the guy for what seemed like many months before he relented and agreed to ship. I don't remember much about it's "as found" condition other than a missing rosette. I'm sure there were more problems. I think I might have given him $200.
Of course one of the upscale abalone rosettes would be pricey. A short time later, an ebayer posted a 1983 Collector's edition neck for $100. I asked what happened to the rest. He confessed it died in an alcohol related fall. I bought the entire smashed guitar with original hsc for $125 I think. I salvaged the rosette for "my" guitar, and kept the case. I rebuilt the OUI casualty with pieces of Stew Mac binding and a newer style rosette courtesy of J. Budny. Sold it for $200 I think.
That was 2010. Fast forward to 2019(?)...not sure. Anyway, this prototype was the LAST Ovation to leave me. I did dump it because I had bought a 1947 Gibson L-5 and it was worth it to me to clean house to pay for it. I dumped it for $300! I grimaced a little but they come, they go.
Last month I decided I needed a bowl in the herd. I went out looking for a 70s 1111, basic as basic. 1111-6 (white) would have been delicious! But I went snooping through old Paypal transactions, wondering if maybe I could hook up with the Prototype again.
The buyer had it in his closet and he was/is unemployed. I am NOT a carpetbagger and had no intention of taking advantage of the situation. We agreed on $500 plus shipping. He made some profit, I got my guitar back, it's all good. It arrived today, still with the same strings I had on it. He changed the pearl buttons to a slightly fancier set, but included the originals, which I will reinstall. I repaired the massive crack back in 2010 but it is still very visible. Not much I can about that.
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Wonderful story and a great reunion. Glad you're back. Go ahead and post a pic of the L-5. I'd love (others probably too) to see it..... |
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Joined: October 2012 Posts: 1018
Location: Yokohama, Japan | A great honorable story for a one-of-a-kind O!
moody, p.i. - 2021-01-28 2:47 AM
...Go ahead and post a pic of the L-5. I'd love (others probably too) to see it.....
+1 on the L-5! Congratulations! |
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Joined: May 2008 Posts: 1553
Location: Indiana | Nice.
Yea, I'd like to see the L-5 as well.
Good to see you. |
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Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | That guitar is the third prototype. Finished Dec 15, 1982 |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | Here's some pics. It's clearly been used. Even though I've had it almost exactly 2 years, I haven't "quite" found the right strings yet. I don't remember what I had early on, but eventually went to 14-59 bronze. That was a bit much. It currently has 12-53 John Pearse silk bronze. They seem a little mushy on this guitar. I suspect I will end up with 13-56 D'Addario PB or something else cheap and plentiful.
This guitar smells soooo funky. They need to bottle it. Every time I open the case, it's like finding it in an attic.
It sported a DeArmond monkey on a stick for decades. The tan line is visible in person. It has a very nice repro guard and one of the Klusons has been replaced with the closest thing available (pretty darn close!)
It must have been refretted at some point and the fretboard planed, as they shaved off one corner of one of the inlays. Collateral damage for a true board with good frets.
I think I paid $4200 for this, which is way below what other L-5s are bringing, but this one actually shows wear, unlike most of the unaffordable ones I've seen for sale. It was a boatload of money for me, but I paid the card off in 2 or 3 months I think, from flipping, ebay, etc. I was on a mission to see how quickly I could do it. The only things I've done to this is install an ebony bridge that's a little nice and a little better fit. And I plugged a bad strap screw hole in the heel. Other than that, i don't think I've so much as run a damp cloth over it. No need. It's fine. A little dirt is honest. I'm a moderator on the Gibson forum and one of the 'inside' guys at Nashville was good enough to look it up in the ledger...shipping records, whatever it is. It was hand written in the book on May 13, 1947.
I suspect this one will be here a long time. It does it's job well, and it's there when I'm in the mood for it. My other "major" jazz box is a 2003 Heritage Super Eagle (18" body!). I am toying with the idea of getting rid of that just because of the sheer size and maybe finding a 50s ES-175 with one pickup and stringing it flat. |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Very cool. Thanks..... |
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Joined: May 2008 Posts: 1553
Location: Indiana | That's a beauty. Nothing sounds (or smells) like an old L-5.
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Joined: October 2012 Posts: 1018
Location: Yokohama, Japan | Aural, visual (and aromatic?) mojo. Thanks for sharing ksdaddy! SssssWEET! |
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Joined: March 2005 Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Beal - 2021-01-28 4:37 PM
That guitar is the third prototype. Finished Dec 15, 1982
The anniversary of my birthday... Yay!
BTW, nice L-5 too.
Edited by cholloway 2021-01-29 10:44 AM
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Joined: July 2005 Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Paul: that L-5 requires Jazz Chords |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | elginacres - 2021-01-29 1:55 PM
Paul: that L-5 requires Jazz Chords
I'm sorry but my 3 Chord conversion book doesn't talk about those. Jazz chords? |
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Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | yeah, they have latter AND numbers, and funny symbols too
Edited by Beal 2021-01-29 4:35 PM
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Joined: May 2006 Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Very cool story! And I love the Gibson! |
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