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Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Hello everyone. I am looking at a beautiful 1985 model 1537 Elite. It is great looking guitar. Anyone in the group own one? I would like to know if they have had any problems, and what they think of them. Thanks....Paul Hebert |
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Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | The problem with Elite 1537's in putting them down once you've started playing them. They're great guitars with no problems.
Check out this link. They've got the name wrong but the guitar right.
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Ovation/1537-Custom-Elite--01.html
You seem to be having a bad case of GAS lately. That can be a good thing. |
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Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | My review is the one under Paul's. They are a great guitar.
And I got the best price! bwahahahaaha
Bradley |
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November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Moody, the elite is such a beautiful guitar. I have been looking for one in good shape. I should have it soon. Massive GAS attack here!...Paul Hebert |
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Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Paul,
I will say one thing about the 1537 that I noticed. I think someone else here posted the same observation.
This guitar really projects outward. To REALLY hear how good it sounds you either need to play about 4 feet from a reflective surface or listen to someone else play while you listen.
This is really one of Ovation's finest!
Bradley |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Bradley, that's an interesting observation. I play guitar with a buddy who also plays an Elite. His guitar always louder to me than mine. Ovations, as good as they sound when you play them, sound better 4 feet in front of them. |
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November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Guys, one thing I really like about this model Elite is the look. It has a classic Ovation look. The full body, deep bowl look and sound that I love. I can't wait to get it...Paul Hebert |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Paul:
Don't forget the wood body binding, black walnut fretboard, multi layer peghead face and heel cap, and select AAA spruce top. |
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February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Is the 1985 model still a "two knobber"?
Bradley |
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November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Yes, it is a two knobber just like my Adamas. My Adamas is a 1981 model. I have always like the wooden volume and tone knobs. It is simple, and it works great for everything I have needed it for...Paul Hebert |
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | The 1985 Ovation Info catalogs that I have list the 1985 models as being identical to the 1983's, but somewhere in there they went to a rosewood fingerboard and the OP 24 electronics. |
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September 2002
Posts: 9
Location: WA. USA | Wow this is GREAT!
YES, I AM the proud owner of a 1983 STEREO ELITE!
(I don't have it handy, But I think the serial number is 1850).
Each and every one of you has described this guitar to a 'T', But I'm surprised noone has mentioned that this is a TRUE Stereo guitar! The under saddle peizos LOOK like any other, except for the dual jacks which plug into a TRUE STEREO PREAMP.
The guitar came with a stereo "Y" cord, which except for the shielding looked a lot like an effects 'insert cable'. (1/4" Tip/ring/sleeve plug, to 2, 1/4" tip/sleeve[mono] plugs), for plugging into 2 seperate channels of a stereo mixer or amp. And when played, the E,G,A, would come thru on the LEFT channel, While the B,D,bigE, came over the RIGHT channel!
Beleieve it or not, I recieved mine thru 'Devine intervention'. The short story is that I hadn't played much in years, But an injury caused me to take a stab at writing for a career change. As I plucked away on a cheap 'Carlos' flattop, I often thought how much I missed the old 'Balladeer' that had served me so well in my Army days, Knowing I couldn't afford another at the time. Then one afternoon while sitting in the local tavern, a guy came in who was passing thru and needing to sell a couple of his 'prized possesions'. One was a custom built Martin D-35 that he wanted 15 grand for, and the other was this Ovation Elite (W/Case!).
However, The Ovation had been accidentally left stored in his car trunk for almost 3 weeks one summer in a parking lot in, (get this!), PHOENIX AZ.!! The case top was blistered, and when I looked at the ax, the clear eurothane finish on the top was cracked, bass to treble, in about 15 places between the neck and lower bout. resembling a kind of sick 'Tiger striping'!
He guiltily asked for $100.00, stating (logically), that the tuners, case, and other hardware could easily recoup twice that amount were the ax in fact hopeless. Of course, I agreed and bought it on the spot!
That was in September 1995. I took it home, spent almost a week, and a full bottle of 'Old English' lemon oil cleaning her up , and slaking that ungodly thirst until I got up one morning and saw that all the oil from the night before had finally NOT dissapeared, and the dampened sponge inside was still damp. Then I went to work...
That 5 peice Mahogony neck, and 'Kaman "K-Bar" truss meant that I had to deal with less than .003" or so of excess relief a fret 5. With absoloutely ZERO twist, or roll!! The frets were in good shape, as was the machine head.
(I daresay I know of NO OTHER company with a neck so well engineered that could survive this kind of abuse, and be made of WOOD!!!)
Other than the cracks in the top's finish, There was a minor bit of lifting on the bottom sound hole appulet. But all the Binding, purfling, inlay, neck finish and wood knobs, remained perfect.
In spite of the cracking, The top showed no signs of 'Bellying'. When Ovation quoted me a price of "around $600.00 to 800.00" to refinish the top, I decided to wait a while.
About a year ago, I had the oportunity to play 2nd guitar for a local celeb on the rise at the state fair's Main concert stage, which was equipped with a brand new 5000 watt 'JBL' concert PA system.
I plugged "LuLu",(aptly named, eh?), Left channel into my TRACE Acoustic, TA100R, and her Right channel into another identical Trace I'd borrowed just for this occasion.
Then each amp's "Pre EQ" XLR Output went to seperate channels on the engineer's 32 Channel STEREO mixer.
Then I let the bass player find the 'sweet spot' for feedback, which I dialed out using the TRACE's notch filters.
The guy I was backing up loved this ax almost as much as I do, So he was gracious enough to open the show with John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane", and the next to last song was Clapton's "No Alibis".
Five Thousand watts.... Stereo.... Ovation... 2 hour show............... Welll....
I'd like to say: "I saw GOD" But at least I KNOW he HEARD me! (and NO, 'LuLu' is NOT for sale!)
Thanks for letting me share this with you all! God Bless;
Doc H |
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November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Doc, thanks for the story. I am glad you got to save the Elite. My 1981 Adamas 1 has the same stereo electronics. I can't wait to get my Elite!....Paul Hebert |
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Any 1537 Elite owners out there?
