|
|
Joined:
November 2015
Posts: 6
| Dear Members:
Trying to understand the model of an acoustic Ovation to buy for a amateur playing.
Owner says plays fine, some minor damage.
If any member can help us estimate the yr. or model, we'd appreciate the help.
There is no sticker, model number, or labels on it anywhere. Looks like it was just idol for a few years.
Will try to attach a picture.
Thanks,
 (ovation unkn1.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
 ovation unkn1.JPG (15KB - 1 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Looks like an "experienced" 70's 1111 Balladeer. You can get an idea of secondary market worth by looking at them on ebay, reverb or craigslist. The Balladeer was the most affordable Ovation model...so there are plenty of them out there. And...an excellent guitar! No frills. Deep bowl. Big acoustic response. Very little separates them acoustically from the Custom Legend, other than $$$ and visual enhancements
 (balladeer.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
balladeer.jpg (57KB - 0 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1802
Location: When?? | @Jay >>>Very little separates them acoustically from the Custom Legend, other than $$$ and visual enhancements<<<
I fully agree. I still have an 1112 CB that I bought new in the early 80's and it has always produced full acoustic tone and projection as much so as its Custom Legend counterpart of the day. Just less visual glitz and bling.. with the 1111 SB even a bit less decorated than the 1112 CB.. yet actually superior (IMO) to the resonance of the 1127 Campbell from essentially the same generation. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 704
Location: moline,illinois | jay - 2018-11-20 12:48 PM
Very little separates them acoustically from the Custom Legend, other than $$$ and visual enhancements
I beg to differ,balladeers use X-bracing,Custom Legends at least the ones before fender took over are A-braced which provides a different balance of tone,Custom Legends also have AAA spruce tops that have improved Tonal qualities compared to the standard A grade tops of the balladeer,both have deep bowls and a big sound but the Custom Legend is a far superior instrument IMHO
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2011
Posts: 755
Location: Muenster/Germany | 2wheeldrummer - 2018-11-21 6:43 AM
jay - 2018-11-20 12:48 PM
Very little separates them acoustically from the Custom Legend, other than $$$ and visual enhancements
I beg to differ,balladeers use X-bracing,Custom Legends at least the ones before fender took over are A-braced which provides a different balance of tone,Custom Legends also have AAA spruce tops that have improved Tonal qualities compared to the standard A grade tops of the balladeer,both have deep bowls and a big sound but the Custom Legend is a far superior instrument IMHO
I fully agree. Legends, Balladeers and Folklores have a great sound but the Custom Legend has a wonderful TONE, that´s the difference. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2011
Posts: 755
Location: Muenster/Germany | The rosette of this guitars is missing.. I wonder if it sounds different with the now bigger soundhole. Just remember the Santa Cruz Tony Rice guitar.
The top looks good on the pic. These old guitars can become good friends for a long time, everyone should have one like this. Mine is an old custom legend 12string with more repairs and cracks than myself, but I LOVE this guitar.
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1802
Location: When?? | @2WD - >>>I beg to differ<<<
And I hear your beg. You are the Custom Legend master.. no doubt (still love that green Caddie!) The only actual CB/CL side-be-side toggle comparison I have ever made was between an 1112 and a 1619. I had the CB for a couple years before the CL, and thought that the CL would acoustically surpass what I already liked in the CB.. but it didn't.. at least not enough to appease my ear, and especially for the cost difference. Appearance, yes. Sound, no. So I traded off the CL for a fresh 454 short block and kept the CB (still have it). But later, through the generational evolution between the two, the CL models obviously pulled far ahead while the CBs actually, IMO, lost much of their original footing. That's what I meant in comparative "of the day".. the era of the guitar in the original post above. Now getting more into a latter realm, what you said in an earlier post a while back about the 1769 being such an enjoyable guitar for you has been bouncing in my mind ever since and I have been on the lookout to snatch one if I can find a deal. What I really want is a 1669-4.. but, as you know, that's a whole different hunt.
Edited by Love O Fair 2018-11-22 3:05 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 704
Location: moline,illinois | Love O Fair
I don't know if I'm the Custom Legend master I only have 7 at this point,LOL,I have owned a few others I sold in pursuit of Adamas models but still love CL's and consider them the best traditional guitars(center sound hole) ovation made during there heyday.
Doing an apples to apples comparison of two guitars is subjective at best,an 1112 custom balladeer is acoustic only and I have noted old guitars without the very heavy electronics of that era have more resonance IMHO also different people like different balances in guitar sounds,an X braced acoustic only guitar will probably have more punch than a heavy beast like an 80's 1619 but the A bracing to me provides a more balanced sound across the whole guitar.
A 1669 would be a very cool guitar they only did that model for a couple years during the early 80's and from my understanding the cutaways were hand made until they went into the production model 1769 and those who have had one give it great reviews,keep your eyes open you'll never know what might show up or if your feeling especially rich and catch me at a moment of weakness you might talk me out of my 1769 CGB  not likely but you can try.
Edited by 2wheeldrummer 2018-11-22 7:42 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1802
Location: When?? | @2WD - >>>Doing an apples to apples comparison of two guitars is subjective at best<<<
Exactly. To each's own ear. That was just the way it happened to pan out for my personal taste on those two, and what you said about the electronics/non-electronics and bracing probably had a lot to do with it as well since I was going mostly by acoustic response (I think.. long time ago).
>>> if your feeling especially rich you might talk me out of my 1769 CGB<<<
Yesterday there was $142 in my wallet. I think it's still there.. but I'll hold off on the shipping address for now.
Edited by Love O Fair 2018-11-22 9:13 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 250
Location: Seattle | Not all early legends had "A "bracing according to Damon's earlier comments
Copy paste of his comments from 2017 on the topic:
"Well technically, the 1117 in question is a Deluxe Balladeer. They changed the model name to Legend the following year, but yes it had a variation of the VT bracing that I'd not seen before. I like the A-bracing better too, but this one was a sound cannon for sure. Very loud.
Since I didn't see any examples of bracing called VT-9, I named it that"
For the record.
My very early (+/-1972?) 1117 Legend has this non A bracing and chrome hardware not gold. Having said that, I love this 46 year old guitar....and I remember I spending a lot for this non pick up guitar. $395 list in 1971 equals $2,446.66 in 2018.
Edited by kentrookie 2018-11-22 9:36 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 704
Location: moline,illinois | Yes I have read that they used a few different bracing patterns on the early legends,I used to have a 1977? 1117 legend with the VT10 bracing pattern.
FWIW the discussion above was about Custom Legends which as far as I know used the A brace pattern from the mid 70's through about 2005 when they went to the lx series.
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 250
Location: Seattle | Yikes.....I will read all the words go forward. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 704
Location: moline,illinois | kentrookie - 2018-11-23 12:17 AM
Yikes.....I will read all the words go forward.
No Worries the thread has already been sidelined from which guitar is it in the pic
now we just need to talk about what color sounds best and we'll have a party |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2015
Posts: 6
| OFC members:
Thank you very kindly for your help in approximating and estimating the model of the guitar in the photo. I appreciate the help very much. Thanks for your quick responses. I have learned some good tips on the guitars from your comments in the thread following. Best Wishes, Pete |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 138
Location: Birmingham, AL | kentrookie - 2018-11-22 9:35 PM
$395 list in 1971 equals $2,446.66 in 2018.
Now that's a shame 
You don't even think about stuff like this. That means the 1119 that I bought in 1975 would be approximately 4000 list price plus some change today. It wasn't that hard to buy back then and I made $1.95 an hour. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | -1s sound best |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | elginacres - 2019-11-13 5:23 PM
-1s sound best
Don't even get me started on what color pick sounds best...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 704
Location: moline,illinois | elginacres - 2019-11-13 7:23 PM
-1s sound best
I prefer the +1s the -1s sound like something was subtracted
To get the best tone your pick color should match your top color LOL
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | "$395 list in 1971 equals $2,446.66 in 2018."
Not really an investment, it appears. |
|
| |
Trying to ID older model acoustic, w/mod pickguard
