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Joined:
December 2015
Posts: 293
Location: Katmandu | I'm in the market for left-handed Ovation Custom Legend preferrably in natural and non-cutaway. Price is negotiable depending on the model and condition. I recently missed picking one up from Japan, which I regret, but the fretboard over the body looked very collapsed.
Edited by leonardmccoy 2026-05-30 3:46 PM
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March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | 12 fret or 14 fret? |
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Joined:
December 2015
Posts: 293
Location: Katmandu | moody, p.i. - 2026-05-31 10:02 AM 12 fret or 14 fret? I hadn't considered that. Are there even 12-fret Custom Legends? I guess a 12-fret Ovation Folklore would also be interesting, but I have never seen one for southpaws. You mostly see 14-fret Custom Legends. |
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December 2017
Posts: 116
Location: Gardnerville, NV | Only 12 fret Custom Legend I've seen is the 1658 Custom Legend 12 String. I had one, but I felt cramped playing it, however they are a cannon as far as sound goes. I sold it and got a 1659 14 fret one. |
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Joined:
December 2015
Posts: 293
Location: Katmandu | An opportunity to pick up a factory-lefty Ovation Folklore 1614-4 - how rare! - may present itself. Unfortunately, it suffered a neck crack which, according to the seller, was professionally repaired. At least the result of the repair doesn't look too bad in the picture. Apart from that, it was played and toured with heavily, with which I have no problem. The electronics are in working order. Anything else to look out for regarding a Folklore from 1976 besides fretboard fall-off over the body extension, which may be less of an issue for 12-fret Ovation guitars, and string action or neck relief? The item for sale is yet to be priced. What's your estimate?
Edited by leonardmccoy 2026-06-05 8:32 AM
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October 2005
Posts: 4088
Location: Utah | I would check for bellying of the top behind the bridge, and fret condition. If it has neck binding, be aware that the plastic shrinks with age and cracks. The result is that the ends of the frets may poke out, or someone may have filed the ends in, which can result in the 1st and 6th strings falling off the fret if you don't press down vertically.
I've had (still have) some older O's with the shrunken neck binding which still olay fine. When it is time to refret, the binding really should be replaced too. So it is an added cost. But well worth it to get nice binding. |
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Joined:
December 2015
Posts: 293
Location: Katmandu | The European seller came back with a firm price of what converts to USD 1,083 for the 1976 Folklore. I politely declined given the condition and damage.
I'm especially confused by the photo showcasing the damage to the bowl. Perhaps you folks have a better idea what we're looking at here.
The string action is low at 4/64th. Almost no bellying and minimal neck relief.
Here's the offer with further photos: https://www.woodstockguitars.dk/en/product/ovation-1614-folklore-lef...
Am I foregoing this rare lefty Ovation for no good reason?
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4088
Location: Utah | I've seen those kind of neck finish cracks on Ovations. It appears those do not involve the wood, so they are merely cosmetic and can be easily repaired by wicking in some medium cyanoacrylate glue. Thin wicks great but can stain the wood. Then use acetone on a rag to smooth out the surface.
The bowl damage looks ugly. I don't have the knowledge to repair it, but I expect it can be greatly improved with the right skills and materials. One of the photos of the bowl looks like maybe some stress marks, which might be from being dropped or hit. Idk, but it concerns me without seeing it in person.
If this were a righty guitar, I would say the price is quite high unless the guitar were pristine. With the bowl damage I would think about $400-$500 might be the right price for a righty guitar. Something like that, maybe less, to account for the cost of repair. Being lefty there is some premium. If it were me, I'd pass. Shipping will be expensive, too. |
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WTB Lefty Ovation Custom Legend
