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February 2008
Posts: 14
| Nearly spotless...The only blemish is a noticeable ding on the Low-E edge of the neck, between the nut & first fret. It measures approximately 3mm X 2mm. I don't notice it when playing. A drop or two of lacquer would fill it.
The electronics are scratchy, and should be probably be replaced; I don't use an amp, so it hasn't been an issue for me.
I've got too many guitars, and nylon just isn't my thing. Price is $500 plus shipping. Here's the listing from where I bought it...
http://www.guitar-museum.com/guitar-5366-OVATION-1614-4-ACOUSTIC-EL...
Thanks for looking. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | The Folklore is a steel string guitar. |
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February 2008
Posts: 14
| Sorry, I thought I'd seen it referred to as the Folklore. Obviously, I'm not up on the Ovation lexicon.
Thanks for the correction. |
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February 2008
Posts: 14
| Here are some better pics...
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April 2008
Posts: 498
| The guitar you have pictured both above, and in the purchase photos IS a Folklore. if it is currently strung with Nylon strings I would question its stability and possible structural issues...
Nylon strings will not provide the tension that the bracing and guitar are designed for, and will probably result in pretty poor tone and projection.
try stringing it up with a set of d'addario lights or special lights, and if you hear no creaking or cracking when you do it, all is good.
do an interior inspection of the braces using a small mirror, and by reaching around inside first though.
if anything's loose, or looks repaired, I'd send it to the guys up in CT for evaluation prior to trying to sell it.
just my .02 though,
Glenn |
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February 2008
Posts: 14
| Interesting.
Do you know if there's any difference between a "1614" and a "1614-4?" Looking at the Ovation archives page, the 1614 is described as you say...but they didn't list the 1614-4.
Assuming you're correct, I'll try a set of steel strings & see how it does. I may end up keeping it after all!
Thanks for your info. |
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May 2008
Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | The -4 designates the top finish as "Natural". |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Doc,
I didn't mean to belittle you but I know many people when they see a slot head guitar they assume it is meant to be strung with nylon strings. When that guitar you have is strung with steel strings I'll bet you're going to say WOW.
As far as being knowledgeable on Ovation guitars, I know as little as anyone. You have a really nice guitar and if I were you I would try restringing it and playing it for a while. The old Folklores' are a great instrument. |
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April 2008
Posts: 498
| Doc, that's a nice one that you have there, and if all is good structurally it should be a boomer!!!
that's a hand laid fiberglass bowl, with a really nice top, and the preamp on the shoulder.
if you got it with the nylons on it, I'd just make sure everything's tight inside, and thump the top in various areas to make sure that you don't hear any loose braces..
then string it up with your favorite brand of steel strings or phos/bronz combos... a 12 fret to the body Ovation is (almost) always a spectacular guitar!
I don't think you're gonna want to sell it when you get the right strings on it....
while you're changing the strings... don't forget to change the battery for the preamp while you're already in there... turn the little screw on the bass side waist 1/4? or 1/2? turn cc and the battery holder should come out easily.
Glenn |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | You won't damage a Folklore by putting nylon strings on it. If you like the way it sounds with nylons then that's all that matters.
To be honest a 12 fret nylon with 1-7/8 nut and radiused fretboard is kind of a nice idea.
If you're looking to sell it, advertise it as a steel stringed guitar because the pool of potential buyers for steel string is quite a bit larger.
Good luck, Dave |
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February 2008
Posts: 14
| Well, this has been an education.
I checked out the bracing with a mirror...everything looked & felt solid. Changed the battery, & re-strung with a set of Martin SP phosphor bronze lights I had laying around.
Much better. Electronics are also better. This is obviously how it was meant to sound.
As to selling...not just yet. I think this may grow on me. :^)
Gentlemen, thanks for your insights and advice on this. It's much appreciated.
Cheers!
Jim |
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April 2008
Posts: 498
| I wasn't implying nylons would hurt the guitar, and have seen several slotheads that have been strung with nylon simply because the owners didn't know any better, or assumed because it was a slothead it should have nylons on it... but I HAVE seen repaired folklores and slothead steel string gits that have had nylons or low tension strings on them to hide faults or structural issues.
Doc's folklore looks great, doesn't show any cracks or bulging, and should be good to go for a new set of strings of his choice.
Glenn |
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January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Something strange about the headstock of the 1614 folklore.The josh white and folklore had brass inserts in the slothead section for steel string.If you look at the inserts in the pic of the headstock it has the fatter plastic looking inserts that would be on nylon or classical models.I wonder if the neck has been changed because it should have the smaller brass inserts..I would not put steel strings on that plastic insert.. |
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January 2002
Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | folklore headstock with brass inserts
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April 2008
Posts: 498
| the 1114, that I purchased from another member here, who purchased it from another member here, and which I believe currently is vacationing in California and possibly has had some chiropractic work performed while in the Laboratory of Dr. Mwoodenstein... had the same plastic overlays... and I questioned that as well, and basically the answer I got was.... "parts is parts" though the metal shafts with the brass bushings made more sense to me as well...
I think the overlay/nylon barrels on that one were even white... and it was definitely a 1114-4
Glenn |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The big posts and little posts were both used for Folklores. This is probably right when it was reintroduced so they used the nylon keys. They'll be fine with steel strings, may get a little chewed up over the years but no big deal.
Secondly, you can never have too many guitars. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | 77 Folklores had the fatter posts. I think they changed the next year. Makes it a bit harder to string, but it works.
I got mine cheap because of the exact same confusion discussed above. The prior owner tried to put nylons on it and could get the strings to stay tied at the bridge. |
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February 2008
Posts: 14
| Hello again, everyone.
Well, I've been working with it for a few weeks, and I just can't get used to the fingerboard width. I strung it up with mediums, by the way...and no trouble. It sounds MUCH better. It's a great guitar, but it's just not for me. I put it on the 'Bay yesterday, so if anyone is interested let me know.
Thanks, folks. Here's the listing...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESEL... |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
You won't damage a Folklore by putting nylon strings on it.
Thank you Dave. |
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FS: 1977 1614-4 (Folklore)
