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Location: Jacksonville, FL | Hi to all.. new member here. I think I've posted once or twice a few months ago when I picked up a 1979 1515 model (12-string... a real beater but fantastic sound!). Father's Day is this Sunday and my loving bride of 20 years asked if there was anything I've been looking at the I wanted (in the area of 6-strings). Funny she should ask... just yesterday I came across a 1614-4 with OHSC for under $200. I knew nothing of the model - other than the fact that it has a beautiful neck & slotted headstock, and the diamond inlays... which even to a novice Ovation-fan (like myself) is a sign of a decent instrument. What got me was the booming tone... the strings have probably been on it for years and it blasts tone like no other Ovation I have ever picked up.
Unfortunately, it isn't perfect. There is a repaired crack where the top of the neck and headstock meet on the underside - but looks well-glued and does not separate. The tan OHSC looks like it went thru a hurricane (and has the the rust brown interior). The hinges and latches are in good shape, tho. Lastly (and the mainly cosmetic) is one side of the headstock's tip is broken... an Evander Holyfield model, as someone else referred to this issue of a chipped "ear".
I do not have the serial number, but it is made in USA with the foil label, the electronics were clean and overall the top, neck and body are in fantastic shape. None of the typical top finish cracks or checking seen on so many Ovations. I do not know how old it is but hope to discover this tomorrow once I have the serial number (I'll be making payments on it... thanks to a tough economy and strained budget). If anyone has input now on when the silver / metallic labels were present on these models, it would be appreciated (Apparently this model was in production from 1972-1983 -???). Thanks for you input! I hope to be here on the forum more (I am a senior member on the Westone forum and active on the Electra Forums, also). |
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November 2012
Posts: 13
Location: Jacksonville, FL | ~ forgot to mention that the action was pretty high on the guitar. Talked to a luthier who said that Ovation models often have shims under the Piezoelectric pickups, and if removed, it would make a difference. Feel free to advise if this is incorrect info - thanks! |
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Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Yes the factory ships new guitars with several shims under the saddle. But you should check to be sure there are shims in this one. If not, and if the truss rod is currently adjusted properly, the guitar will need a neck reset to get the action back to spec. On some models they do a "bowl bend" rather than a neck reset, with the same results of the action corrected. |
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November 2012
Posts: 13
Location: Jacksonville, FL | ~ Thanks, Fly. A neck reset is discouraging, but I have yet to purchase the guitar and will examine it more closely later today. I have read that a factory neck reset runs about $300. Is there any way to measure or determine if the guitar still has the shims under the saddle without removing the strings & pickup? Thanks again - I appreciate the response and input. |
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Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | If the saddle still sits well above the bridge, there are probably still shims in there. I don't have guitars handy to tell you how much space you should look for between the bridge in front of the saddle and the bottom of the strings. If it looks like the strings would hit the bridge if you lowered the saddle 1/16th, then you probably don't have any shims to work with.
Another way is to run a straight edge along the fretboard to the bridge. If the straight edge hits the top of the bridge, you probably don't need a neck reset. If it hits below the top of the bridge, especially if it points to the body of the guitar, the neck has pulled toward the body and needs to be reset. Check for a hump at the 12th fret where it joins the body and bow or warp in the neck while you're doing this. |
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Location: Flahdaw | I would bring a package of strings with me to give to the owner if you end up not buying it. Remove the existing strings and guarantee whether or not there are any shims. For $5 it would be cheap insurance. (also do what Mark suggests, even tho it KILLS me to agree with him...) |
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Posts: 13
Location: Jacksonville, FL | ~ Thanks, guys. I'm guessing some of this is Introduction to Guitar level information... but I need all the help I can get. (I have spent the last 30 years saying I was going to make something of those summer lessons as a teen... and now I'm doing it). There aren't words to express the level of gratitude I have for your input. Thank you so much! - Mark / drsyn67 |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | darkbarguitar - 2013-06-13 9:50 AM
I would bring a package of strings with me to give to the owner if you end up not buying it. Remove the existing strings and guarantee whether or not there are any shims. For $5 it would be cheap insurance. (also do what Mark suggests, even tho it KILLS me to agree with him...)
It only hurts me to agree with Bob, but the package of strings sounds like a good idea. At least he didn't tell you to wear a pink shirt.
If you have a few minutes, google guitar neck resets or get on the StewMac or similar site and do a little reading about how to tell if you need a reset. There will be pictures that explain issues much better than I can in words. |
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November 2009
Posts: 152
Location: Corpus Christi, TX | This link will tke you to fretsdotcom a good place for guitar information
http://frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/NeckAngle/neckang... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Thanks, Glen. That's the "similar site" I was trying to think of. |
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November 2012
Posts: 13
Location: Jacksonville, FL | Just came home with the 1614-4. Odd thing though... the headstock is NOT slotted! The neck has the ebony fretboard with diamond markers, the large black truss rod cover (like the Folklore in the OvationGallery (dot) com site), the striped neck - but it has Chrome Ovation tuners (not black knobbed). The serial number puts it as a Jan-Sept 1977 production model. Curious if anyone else has the same instrument with the differences listed here. Once I clean the fretboard, polish frets and give it a good cleanup, I'll post photos. Thanks. |
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November 2012
Posts: 13
Location: Jacksonville, FL | And then the humbling began... I didn't think I suffered from dyslexia, but now I wonder: This is a 1612-4 Custom Balladeer. Apparently not as "sought-after" as the Folklore models, but its only worth what someone will pay for it  It came home with me for $140 w OHSC. I just feel like a complete idiot that I transposed the numbers. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | That is still a good deal.
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Location: sitting at my computer | drsyn67 - I didn't think I suffered from dyslexia, but now I wonder: Happens dyslexia. :-)(-: arthurseery - That is still a good deal. +1 Bummer it isn't what ya'd wanted but... vintage Custom Balladeers are pretty nice Os too. Hopefully that headstock/neck crack was well repaired. This might be another one worth trying some 'low tension' strings on. There's a slim chance that the serial number sticker might, maybe, possibly still be laying around inside the bowl. I'd at least get a penlight and have a look around. How's that for optimism?! |
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November 2012
Posts: 13
Location: Jacksonville, FL | Thanks all. Its definitely a 1612-4 - the silver label is intact and serial number label are there (#096696). I wasn't sold on it being a Folklore - I just mis-ID'd it initially. I'm happy with it - just embarrassed. |
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Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | Smokin' good deal. I wouldn't be embarrassed by anything on that one! |
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November 2012
Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | You're very brave to buy this. If I see a crack repair where the headstock meets the neck, I would pass it by. But that's just me. I'm no luthier and I'm not familiar with the kinds of glues used for these repairs. It seems to me that a repair like that is iffy at best though. I'm sure you'll get many great years from it though! But like someone said above, I'd use light tension strings only. Even with the repair, I think you still got a great buy. |
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September 2012
Posts: 811
Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | GCates - 2013-06-14 8:37 AM
This link will tke you to fretsdotcom a good place for guitar information
Thank you for the link. I was just looking for it to understand how to set up my 1614-4.
I'm in the process of repairing a broken brace and sunken top.
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=34...
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Buying a 1614-4 tomorrow
