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Location: Southern California | Was at Guitar Center for something else today and on the way out I noticed a black Black 2071 Ultra hanging on the wall. I actually had been in GC looking for something with a little more oomph than my Big Baby Taylor as I went to a jam last Sunday and could barely hear my own guitar (I'm a total acoustic guy, no current need for electronics). So, acoustically this Ovation would probably not be the answer (I A/B’ed them and they were about the same volume). But man oh man did that thing play sweetly and sound nice. The neck fit me like a glove (is this what they call the LX neck?) and I could not make a mistake when I was playing it. The contour bowl was very comfortable. It looked to be in excellent shape and the salesman told me it was he who took it on trade and that it was obvious that the women who brought it in had taken care of it. I showed it to the in store luthier and he said the neck was straight and that it looked to be in great shape. They want $349 for it, w/case. The salesman said that he thought that it was a 1991 but I know the contour bowl wasn’t around then so I know thats way off. Plus, the serial number is 7 digits 7025339. It was made in Korea, assembled in Connecticut. The only fly in the ointment was the strings on it, they were really old and cruddy, I thought that I might get tetanus from playing it. The salesman said that they could change the strings if I put a deposit on it and I said that I wouldn’t put a deposit on it until I could play it with new strings and though the salesman was a nice kid we just kind of went round and round a bit and I told him that I would sleep on it.
I’m off to do some more research here but chime in if you have any thoughts on this model and if you think thats a fair price. I plugged it in and all the electronics (OP-Pro) seemed to work (at least in my limited experience with electronics). Also, if this guitar doesn’t come to fruition for me let me know what other models might have that similar neck profile, I just loved it.
Rob |
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Location: Tennessee | Hey Rob. I bought one of those 2071's and agree with you. I think they must be from around 2008 or 09. Mine actually lives on the other coast at my daughter's house now, and I'm always pleasantly surprised and how good it feels and sounds for what it is. I get to play it a few times a year for a few days when I'm back there. Even took it out and played it at an open mic and it worked great. Mine is sunburst, but aside from that the same guitar. It reminds me a lot of my 07BCS guitar .. The neck shape and body shape are the same. The 07 is an order of magnitude better, but that's expected. You can definitely tell the 2071 is a Korean built guitar, but hey, the Koreans are pretty good at making guitars these days. They came though New Hartford for QA and final tweaking, so they're a hybrid of sorts. As for the price, with a case it doesn't seem out of line, but get them to throw in a few sets of strings, a capo, some Dunlop 65, etc. Enjoy! And you're gonna be really pleased with how it sounds with fresh strings. ;-)
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Contour bowls didn't come out until 2005 and some of the Ultras after that had solid tops. I remember playing one that I thought sounded as good as anything. There is no way to tell how old it is from the serial number on a Korean guitar. No one seems to know what the Korean system was for serial numbers. The price is probably in the ballpark. It's hard to tell unless you go through a bunch of completed listings on ebay or the used guitar ads on Guitar Center and find some of the same guitar. |
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Location: Southern California | @stonebobbo Thanks for the input. I wish that this one were sunburst like yours as I'm not normally a fan of black guitars (show too many smudges). I'm going to mull it over a bit more. The nice thing with Guitar Center is the 30 day return policy if in the unlikely even that I don't bond with it.
@Mark in Boise. Thanks as well. I do think that I read somewhere that the 2071 had a solid top but it seems that Ovation has reorganized their website recently and the archived models page is 'coming soon' so I can't confirm that. I took a look at current and sold Ebay sales and while they aren't numerous the price seems to be in the ballpark for being offered by Guitar Center (they generally price things a little high but there is probably some wiggle room).
For example, this sold in December http://www.ebay.com/itm/OVATION-Ultra-2071-/151192204064?hash=item2...
and this is for sale currently http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ovation-2071-ULTRA-Mint-Condition-Internati...
I would have jumped on that Sunburst and I prefer the natural wood to the black. So, some decisions have to be made but I enjoy the hunt.
Rob
Edited by sretsbor 2014-02-13 11:57 AM
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Location: Tennessee | 2071 has a AA grade solid Spruce top. |
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Location: NW Washington State | If you go to guitarcenter.com, click on Used Gear, search for 2071, you'll see a natural 2071 for $299. |
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Location: Southern California | @numbfingers Thanks for the heads up, I'm going to check it out!
Rob |
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Location: Seattle | From the PDF I just happen to have (pulled from the old ovation web site).
Top AA Sitka Spruce
Bracing Scalloped LX
Fretboard Rosewood
Fret Inlay Pearl Dots and Diamonds
Bridge Walnut
Rosette Classic Ovation Abalone
Pick-up OP PRO with Ovation High Output
Nutwidth 1 11/16
Machines Chrome Ovation
Finish Black or Natural or Sunburst
This is the one that convinced me that contour was for me.
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Location: Southern California | Thanks Kentrookie. Wasn't sure if the fretboard on the one that I saw yesterday was ebony or rosewood that had been stained ebony. How long have you had yours and what finish do you have? Also, I'm sending you a PM.
Thanks. Rob |
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Location: Southern California | Just got some info on the used $299 2071 at Guitar Center and it's at their Kirkland, WA store. I got some photos and an in hand description and they said it was a 9 out of 10, straight neck, clean, and no funky smells (i'm real sensitive to smoke, moldy smells, etc). It'll cost me about $25 to have it shipped to me and then I'll have the standard 30 day guarantee. Very tempted.
Rob |
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Location: Tennessee | If you're surveying the market, look for a 2171 too. They have the inlaid rosette but pretty much the same otherwise. I have one of them too and actually like it better than the 2071.
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Location: Jet City | Rob, that's 5 minutes from me. If you'd like, I can look at it this weekend if it's still around and let you know my thoughts on the condition
Edited by Damon67 2014-02-14 2:37 AM
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I was going to suggest having someone near Kirkland check it out, but it's probably better to have them ship it to you and have 30 days to check it out. |
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Location: Southern California | @Stonebobbo Thanks for the 2171 suggestion. As if I needed more cool Ovations to check out on the Internet! 
@Damon67 Thats a very nice offer. I also pm'ed Kentrookie as he has a 2071 and lives in Seattle and he said that if he was in the area that he would test drive it as well. This is for sure the nicest guitar forum on the Internet.
@Mark in Boise I agree, 30 days would be the ultimate and with the guarantee I have nothing to lose but it would be great to have someone put their eyes and hands on it first to see if something major is amiss and nip it in the bud.
Thanks folks. Rob
Edited by sretsbor 2014-02-14 10:30 AM
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I was going to nominate Damon, but for some reason I didn't see his post, although Bobbo's was there. Best of both ideas. Better watch out, though. If Seattle gets an inch of snow everything shuts down. If it ever opened back up after the Superbowl parties.
Since you are in Southern Cal, you should get your hands on a few other Ovations and try out some of the Adamas guitars. Much better than looking at them on the internet. |
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Location: Seattle | Checked out ok. +1 |
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My head just got turned by a 2071 Ultra
