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January 2006
Posts: 16
Location: PNW | Hello to all... First time posting here but am a member of several other guitar forums.
I was going to stop in and get some picks at our local GC the other day and... staring at me from the wall, looking forlorn and lonely was something I just couldn't ignore. As a former Ovation 12 string owner (1980's), I sold it to finance some keyboards. A move I always regretted. My chance for redemption had just presented itself. After an extended tryout and inspection, I find my self the happy new owner of a 1984 Ovation 1655. This guitar is in remarkable shape for being over 20 yrs. old and plays like butter. Both neck profile and action are very user friendly. Couldn't be happier with it. I do have a question, however. Can anyone tell me which Sunburst this is? Is it Honey? Any other facts/opinions you can offer about this guitar are welcome as well. With that I'll leave you with a couple pics and bid you all the best...
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Welcome. Looks like it's in great shape. I'll defer to some of the experts on here to give you the color. Try the Ovation website under History and Archives. When you find your model, they have some of the available colors down on the lower left. I could have checked in the time I typed this. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Welcome to the camp Dexter!
You don't come across a burst like that very often.
Very nice! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I checked and couldn't find a 1655 listed. They don't have every guitar in the list, so you may have a rare one. |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Welcome to the OFC Dexter!
Very nice guitar indeed. Unfortunately, I'm quite illiterate when it comes to 12-string guitars, but I definitely like what I'm seeing -- based on the photographs. Congratulations! :) |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | 1655 is the Custom Balladeer 12 String; price list shows 1981-1983 ($780 in 1981, $805 in 1982 & 1983. Similar in appearance to the Glen Campbell without the fretboard binding.
I call the finish dark sunburst. Just got in a a/e GC 12-string (1618) which is a 9.8. Also, have a 1118 acoustic (also a 9.7 or 9.8)
Beautiful sounding and playing guitars. |
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November 2004
Posts: 286
Location: North Idaho | Welcome aboard. 1984 was a good year. Here's a good link for a color chart:
http://www.ovationtribute.com/Ovation%20&%20Adamas%20Colors/Ovation... Ovation colors at bottom of this page
See page 12 on : 1984 booklet for model info on 1655
EDIT: flippin URL linkage won't work on first link |
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January 2006
Posts: 16
Location: PNW | Thanks for the input so far. I don't have a shot of the label but... It's a Custom Balladeer, model 1655. Best I can tell, the Ovation site says they were introduced in 1982 but the serial number (319xxx) indicates it was made in 1984. In addition, I was pleased to find the previous owner(s) were kind enough to pass on the original docs, wrench, keys, etc. in the storage compartment of the case. The manual indicates it was registered on 3/14/1984 (written in the back). I love the rich, dark brown to amber sunburst. Were it a Gibson, it would be their Tobacco Sunburst. Despite looking, I've yet to find what Ovation calls this finish color. Hopefully one of you fine folks will be able to educate me. I'm truly enjoying this 12 string. It is well balanced with loads of sustain yet seperation and very low playing effort for a 12. Kudos to Ovation...
Addendum/edit: Wow, more responses as I was writing this. Thanks tdeej, good link. I see they simply called it 'Sunburst'. Imagine that... |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | That is one beautiful guitar. :cool:
Is it a deep bowl? |
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January 2006
Posts: 16
Location: PNW | Yes, it is a deep bowl. Nice full sound. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Back in those days, it was just labeled as "sunburst". I don't believe that they had different types of sunburst. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | For some reason, I seem t'remember seeing TobaccoBurst used somewhere a long time ago . . . |
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June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | What Moody said... |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | That's the Tobacco burst version.
I know that over the decades the grading of wood for tops and availability has fluxuations.
That looks like a AAA top at least! |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | never know what wood they used but the 1655 is listed at A |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I'd call it Tobacco Burst also, but I think Moody is correct that back in the 80's it was all labeled as sunburst.
The top is A grade spruce, however there's a lot of variation in the grading. |
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January 2006
Posts: 16
Location: PNW | Thanks for all the input. I have discovered it was, indeed, just called 'Sunburst'. Other options were Natural and Black. The top has a lot of silking, apparent in the lighter parts but not so apparent in the photo. The top is very consistent in character with no sudden variations or anomalies. Amongst all my other guitars, I would say this is one of the better tops. So much for the theory that lesser grades are used for sunburst models as they mask a multitude of sins. This one is very beautiful and compelling to look at. In addition, I love Ovations sense of proportion from the lower to upper bouts. Owning OM's, Dread's, etc. I like this shape very much. |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Cool. Nobody does a burst better than the boys in Hartford. Most don't come close. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I have to agree on the body shape remark as well. Love the proportions of O's |
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