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Location: Foothills of Mt. Rainier | Hey OFC folks,
I was out visiting with one of my old music teachers today and guess what I found...a really nice...close to mint...Ovation Preacher Deluxe. I wandered into his drum studio while he was with a student and there it was just hanging on the wall. Sort of a walnut brown solid body with all gold hardware on it and neat inlays.He came in after a while and we talked briefly about the guitar. He said it had been in its' case for many years so he thought he should air it out a bit. He said it had a great neck on it also but that the Preachers had some quirks. I did not ask to play the guitar as he had a drum student waiting for the room. I am very interested in this guitar. Would some of you knowledgeable folks fill me in on this model Ovation and what a ballpark price area low-high this guitar falls into. I rarely see Ovation guitars and this one is nice....it needs to be mine. I would like to play it and then make him a "fair" offer for it. I needs your help. Thanks for helping me to improve my Ovation collection.
longing for an old O in the foothills,
Washington Bob |
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| most of the quirks with a pd are electronics related with the active preamp... it is an 18 volt system, and the parts for the pcb are old mil-spec for the most part and hard to find work-arounds when dicey.
if in fine working condition, and if the controls and pots are not deteriorated they are a pretty nice electric with lots of tonal possibilities, they have a phase switch on each pickup, and a notch filter as part of the preamp as well.
Glenn |
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Location: San Bernardino, California | Correction: They have a series/parallel switch for each pickup. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | At the risk of hijacking the thread, do the other solid body 'O's have similar electronic shortcomings? |
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Location: Jet City | Not the UKII. |
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Location: Jet City | FWIW, my first electric was a Preacher, not the active electronics that the deluxe is, but a great guitar. The neck is great indeed. I traded up to the UKII a couple months later.
I'd plug that puppy in, and if it seems right.... |
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Location: Yorkshire, England | The electrics on my Breadwinner, obviously having the same type of active circuit, failed quite soon after I got it over from the States. I just had to replace everything with a passive set up. I'd agree that if everything is working OK on the Preacher take a chace with with it. It would be very near impossible to predict when/If/how/why the electrics may fail in the future. (If ever) |
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Location: Scotland | Originally posted by muzza:
At the risk of hijacking the thread, do the other solid body 'O's have similar electronic shortcomings? The PD has almost identical electronics to the Deacon/Breadwinner, which were highly innovative and very effective, though admitedly a little quirky and out of step with the needs of the average guitarist. The only difference is the addition of Series/Parralel switches on the PD6. For some reason the PD12 didn't get the extra switches.
Onboard active electronics on solidbody guitars have always had difficulty with acceptance in the market place, and the PD is typical of that. So I don't think it's fair to consider the PD as having "shortcomings" in it's electronics. Other than the Magnums all other Ovation solids had passive electronics, but that didn't make them any more successful at the time in terms of sales. |
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Location: CT | For some reason the PD12 didn't get the extra switches. ..and they can't be modified to do so, I tried. The pickups have different part numbers. Probably the same guts and windings, but only 2 leads come out of the PD 12 pickups, while the PD6 has 4. |
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Location: Foothills of Mt. Rainier | Hey OFC friends,
As a newbie here I hope I might be forgiven for a few mistakes in forum guidelines...written or unwritten. I certainly do not mean to ruffle anybodys feathers as I certainly do appreciate the good information and advice I receive here. I will check Vintage Guitar for some pricing information. Thanks again for all of your advice and I hope I am able to add this one to my Ovation collection.
Bob |
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Location: NW Washington State | Bob- check your PMs. |
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Location: Utah | Wash-Bob, I bought my daughter a near-mint Preacher Deluxe for her 16th birthday. It is a really really nice electric guitar. Lots of versatility in sounds you can get out of it. It's a bit heavier than modern electrics, but satisfying to hold nonetheless.
Is it against forum rules to post prices? Until told otherwise I'll refrain from posting what I paid, which I consider to be a very good deal from my perspective.
eBay prices seem to run about $700 to maybe $900 for excellent condition Preacher Deluxe with case, at least that's where it was a few months ago when we bought.
Before you hand over the cash, take a look at the case, and for sure plug in and play the guitar. |
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Location: Foothills of Mt. Rainier | Thanks everybody for all of your thoughts and emails...I sincerely appreciate the help. I am looking forward to getting to play this guitar next week and see how it sounds and feels to me. As for its' looks...I just want to own it.
all my best,
Washington Bob |
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Location: San Bernardino, California | One thing to definately check for is that the tone control works all the way through it's range. That seems to be the most common failure. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Washingtonbob:
Hey OFC friends,
As a newbie here I hope I might be forgiven for a few mistakes in forum guidelines...written or unwritten. Pray tell, what prompted this sentence? Did I miss something? 
Being a relative n00b myself and after reading the guidelines and initially being fearful of stepping on some 'sensitive' toes, I've determined that you can step up to the 'line' but anticipate some flak if ya cross too far over it.
The participants here have been ever so helpful. But there IS a pecking order as in any organization. But to be fearful of the results of a sincere input or question is NOT a reason to apologize to anyone! |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Edit time expired...
As to ol' electronics, there are suitable, if not superior, replacement parts to repair 99% of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation circuitry.
I have over 40 years of electronic experience, from special purpose vacuum tubes, 1st gen solid state devices through 2nd gen 'puters. Although I'm no longer interested in electronic repair, there are those that can resolve FET and subsequent circuitry issues.
Day-um, is there a full moon out tonight? I'm getting a wolfish grin... |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I never liked preecheurs, I wouldn't take it off the wall. BUT if it's talking to you you better take it home.
There aren't any rules here except don't mention Al's mauve shirt and Cliff's llama. At laest not in the same sentence. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I'm with Mauvais B. on this. I like the Preacher Deluxe as I really think those pickups work best with the active circuit. I have a Preacher I picked up from some guy that used to own a gas station, and it has Viper pickups in it. A WORLD of difference. I would think a Preacher with UKII pickups would rock too for the more "humbucker" sound, but the stock Preacher pickups just never "did it" for me. |
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Discovered a long lost Preacher Deluxe....need advice
