|
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I'm checking into this guitar to see if it is the one that was stolen last December. So far, I'm about 95% sure it is. What I know for sure:
It's the same year, model, color, and preamp (1994 model 1869 CCB w/OP-24 preamp).
It has rosette cracks in approximately the same location that mine did.
It has a fret buzz on the low E caused by some lifting of the neck. I'm not sure whether mine was lifting or not, but it DID have some upper-end fret buzz on the low E string.
The seller says that he's selling it for a "customer" who's had it for "8 to 10 years." If you bought this guitar new, wouldn't you know how long you'd owned it?
It has a fitted case with NO OVATION LOGO on the outside. My case was fitted, black interior, but had no markings on the outside at all, unlike most O cases.
I bought mine new from a local shop in January 1995. The salesman said that they'd had it in their store for three or four months. The serial number of this guitar places it in the 1994 production year, about 2/3 of the way through the series, which I assume would mean it was made about August or so - just in the right amount of time to get it to a guitar store in Tacoma with 3 or 4 months left in the year.
I don't know how many of these were produced in 1994, but I have to assume that there couldn't have been a ton of them. It was a SSB 6-string in a bright red finish with a $1799 list price, that I do know is far from Ovation's most popular model. I'll be checking with the factory tomorrow to see if they can do a search on the serial number and find out where it was originally sold to. If it's the same store I bought mine from, we have a winner.
Long story short, I'd appreciate if OFC members held off bidding on this one until I can confirm whether it's my guitar or not. If it is, I'm not sure if the police can confiscate it or if I'll end up needing to buy it from this seller.
I'll update as I find out more for sure. In the meantime, thanks to all! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Good luck. We should probably keep the serial numbers of all our guitars stored somewhere safe in case of theft. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Good luck. We should probably keep the serial numbers of all our guitars stored somewhere safe in case of theft. Standingovation's serial number registration is good for that. :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I found out too late on that one - my other guitars are already registered on Dave's site! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 176
Location: Denver Colorado | While we're on this sour subject....
Not to be sacreligious, but... has anyone ever used one of those "seller's mark" or "security" pens to make a mark inside their guitars? It's a type of pen that doesn't leave visual ink - it can only been seen under a blacklight, as I understand it.
So now that you've brought this up.. I have to share the second half of the story about my selling my pearl white 12 string in 97...
The music store that sold my guitar was scammed by the next buyer. IIRC, the buyer passed a check that made it through checksystems (or something like that) but the clerk didn't get an ID.. so the check wound up coming back as stolen. The music store lost out on that one - a $1,200 stolen check.
So... if anybody hears of any pearl white 12 out there floating around... heads up! I'd love to track that guitar down. I'm sure that music store owner still has the serial number around (he was mighty pissed).
Sally |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | edensharvest, I'm quite sympathetic.....but how can you PROVE it was your guitar if you have no record of the serial number???? Just curious. I think it would be hard to get someone in a position to do something to believe you. If you had a serial number, and pictures, it might be possible.
(note to self, make sure one has updated record of pictures and serials of MY guitars)
In any case, good luck.
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Wow, it migrated from Washington to Tennessee and then surfaces on ebay! Didja call the store? Did you contact ebay? What did they say? Did you contact your local police when it was stolen? Did you call them now? If it was in NYC, I'd go to the shop for you.
Anyone here mark their guitars? How do you do it? I just keep the serial numbers and pictures. But I think putting in my name in an obscure place wouldn't hurt |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I have the record of the original purchase (unfortunately without the serial), a recorded statement in last December with the police stating the condition of the guitar, and several eyewitnesses that can testify to both. IF the serial number shows that it was sold to the store I bought it from and that it was the only one sold to them that year, that should be compelling enough to at least require an investigation.
Like I said, if the police can't actually do anything directly, I will purchase this one and verify for myself (if I can get it in my hands I'll know for sure). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Originally posted by an4340:
Wow, it migrated from Washington to Tennessee and then surfaces on ebay! Didja call the store? Did you contact ebay? What did they say? Did you contact your local police when it was stolen? Did you call them now? If it was in NYC, I'd go to the shop for you.
Anyone here mark their guitars? How do you do it? I just keep the serial numbers and pictures. But I think putting in my name in an obscure place wouldn't hurt I'm waiting to contact either the police or ebay about this one until I verify the serial number with the factory on Monday.
The store doesn't have the serial number on my file, though they do have the original purchase information (somebody REALLY goofed).
John Budney at Ovation said that he can pull records if I have the serial, so I'm going to try to find the record of distribution to the store from Ovation.
I am going to look into marking my guitars somehow. Any brilliant ideas would be welcomed. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hmmmm, maybe using a mirror like the kind most of us use to look inside our guitars to check the bracing. You could write you initials upside down on the inside between the bracings.
Just a thought. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | has anyone ever used one of those "seller's mark" or "security" pens to make a mark inside their guitars? I have a Thunderhead where someone carved his initials... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | How was it stolen from you? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Originally posted by an4340:
How was it stolen from you? Our house was broken into twice in a week, back in the begginning of December. They wiped us out of my guitars, computer, tv, movies, cameras, everything. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The police in Brooklyn will mark whatever valuables that you want to have marked. They keep a record. But man, if someone pulls up to your house with a moving van, and hauls it all to tennessee probably not much you can do ... except find out who this store is fencing for ... I wouln't know how to do it, but man, I'd love to talk to the seller ... in person. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Tell me about it. I'll probably end up just buying this one from the seller and going from there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | You are going to buy ANOTHER guitar???
Wait til I tell my Wife!! :eek:
Ok, seriosly the pic of the preamp seals it for me. I remember the dust in the corners. It really does look like your guitar.
Hear anything on the Serial number yet? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Man, you got to at least talk to this seller and tell him your suspicions and ask for his help.
I think it would be bad for your karma to buy this thing. It's not right. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Never been a big karma guy, but I'll bite. What are you thinking is bad about buying this?
Oh, and Mike, I agree. Not only that, but the way the strings are wound on the tuning pegs - the last time I restrung it I did a terrible job tightening down the string on the low A - just like this one looks!
I'm still working on the serial number. John Budny gave me some basic info to work with, namely that it was sold in October 1994 to a company called Spitzer Music, which I'm trying to find out if is affiliated with the American Music store that I bought mine from. I do know that no warranty card was registered for this one, which I hadn't sent in on mine either (I know, DUMB!). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | First of all, if it was stolen from you, and I think it was, it's like having your bike stolen, and then paying the thief to get it back. It's just wrong, the guy steals from you twice. I'd just find out who the seller is and tell him what happened, that you know its stolen and at least have the satisfaction of telling him to go to hell, if he won't give it back, or at least tell the person selling it for him to go to hell.
Then you can start fresh, and buy a new guitar untainted by this incident. Otherwise, you'll always have this guitar, that looks not to be in pristine condition, to remind you that you've been punked. It will eat at you. Best to start new, and eventually time will let you forget.
And if you catch the punk, have the cops throw the book at him. And if he's connected to someone in your neighborhood, knock down their mail box or throw a bag of chicken bones in their drive, or both. Do it so they don't see you. I know, turn the other cheek, but God didn't say let people abuse you and that you have to take it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I truly appreciate your thoughts. Believe me, the idea has certainly occurred to me before.
Originally, my thought was to just move on and start from scratch with a new guitar. The trouble is, this one was something very special to me - I bought it when I was 15 and it was my life savings to that point. I can't and won't go out and purchase another one just like it - that would be lame. I'm looking at getting a 12-string made that matches it instead, but, I would still love to get my guitar back.
As far as paying for it twice, my insurance company finally cut loose with a reimbursement check to cover the cost of replacement; it's not like putting money out of pocket twice.
It's strange, but I almost feel like you would if one of your kids was kidnapped - you don't give them up and start over with new ones. And, getting this in my hands to verify that it is actually mine is probably the best chance I have of getting our local cops to do anything about pursuing the guy for it.
Now knocking over mailboxes...that's not a bad idea, except this particular lowlife probably doesn't have one.
I'm still pushing the cops to catch the guy. They know who he is, and the Seattle PD has a warrant out for his arrest on trafficking charges already, so, if the local cops ever get their act together, they'll nail him. And, he's a repeat offender, and this is his last break.
My only concern with just telling this guy off for good, is if he is involved knowingly and not just complicit in this, he'll pull the listing and dissappear and I'll lose a good possibility of getting something to happen about this.
Thank you again for your thoughts. I will consider seriously what you've said. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Now this is interesting. The guitar was bid up to $355, and has now had a bid retraction and is down to $112. The bidder listed "entered wrong amount" as reason for why he retracted.
Out of curiosity, is "guanaro" an OFC'er?
Definitely some weird stuff going on this one... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | There.
Is that better?
I've always wanted one of these! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Mike,
I have to ask:
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Bottom feeding! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Originally posted by MWoody:
Bottom feeding! Mike!
PULL DOWN! :eek:
YOU'RE TOO HIGH!
PULL DOWN! :eek:
Bottom Feeders are NOT supposed to feed at that Altitude! |
|
| |
Ebay Alert: Possible Stolen Guitar!
