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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I recently picked up a 1537 on pure inspiration and Ebay fever. The instrument has several issues but is a candidate for a total Factory refresh which should provide excellent results.
I am in the process of trying to accomplish a bunch of things and really don't have the time and energy to complete this soon. The condition is well documented in the posts on this subject and I have an album in the gallery. More high res pics can be sent as well.
My Ebay cost was $280 with a local pick up. I don't beleive the factory repairs will be under $500 but this will include removing/re-attaching the neck, bridge replacement, sand down and refinish the top, replace the epaulets, refret and sand down the fretboard, refinish neck, Pickup gives 1/2 the string signal,etc.
The result will be a brand new 1537. Yes, you could try to find a very nice one and possibly under $900 but this would be a perfect 10 when completed. We know what our Customer Service can do. I haven't shipped it yet so I don't have an exact estimate.
If it gets a repair estimate you can't live with I'll buy it back.
Until I change my mind, $310 ships it to the Mothership (and not your garage) for an estimate. You will pay for the refinish and it is yours.
I will not ship it to a Luthier or DIYer. I firmly believe that anything less than a Factory redo would be sacreligious.
If I don't pass it on soon I'll just have to wait and follow through myself.
Here's an opportunity!
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5333
Location: Bluffton, SC | Wow, is that tempting, Woody...I was holding out with thoughts in another direction but that's got me very interested... |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | OOOOH,SOOOOO tempting. Dammit, what did you have to go and do that for. Some itches are hard to scratch. Ya got me thinkin'. Probably be gone 'fore I make up mind. :) |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | I've been playing my 87 Collectors and GC RI lately, but every once in a while, I pick up my 1537 and think "damn, this is a really great guitar"... Somebody should buy Woodrow's and make it good. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I've owned two 1537s. They sound incredible.
I sold them because of 1- 11/16 nut width and neck profile. I like wide, fatter necks (much like my women)
When I owned these guitars, more than once, I walked into a room thinking a guitar-player guest was playing one of my other "high-end" guitars... only to discover, yet again, just how great the 1537 sounds... |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5333
Location: Bluffton, SC | You guys are not helping... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | Weas, you should really recuse this guitar.... |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Wease....listen to us.
You get a 1537 back from the mothership in "like new" condition. I know it can be done because I sent them one on it's death bed with the instructions to make it "showroom new"
The factory did not disappoint. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | The truth is there are a finite number of 1537's in existance, and very few in 10 out of 10, like new, mint condition. This is one of only two opportunities (Stephen!! :mad: ) I've been aware of to get one at a good enough deal to make it financially feasable to fully restore it to truely new, factory-fresh, condition. The real bonus is that the 1537 is an amazing playing & sounding guitar. I mean there are very few guitars at any price or brand that sound this good. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | OK,
Tony's talking about "fancy finish options"... Somone better get serious or this is going to wind up being the ugliest, best sounding elite on the planet :D :p :D :p |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | "going to wind up being the ugliest, best sounding elite on the planet"
It's pretty close. There's some fret buzz and a crack in the soundboard that I'm sure diminishes some output but it has a warm tone. I lowered the tuning one step after dinking around and the bottom end really opened up.
You guys keep talking like this and I'll end up keeping it! :p |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | All I said was maybe a purple reverse burst? in an email.
Fred's response was:
Don't make me kick your a$$ Calman!!!
No AaaahBaloney either!! :-D :-P :-D :-P |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5333
Location: Bluffton, SC | PURPLE REVERSE BURST! :eek:
Yikes - I'm just not sure I can stand by and let that happen! ;)
Woody - pm sent. This is a bit exploratory so if anyone else here is interested, please don't let me stop you. |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Woody, Can/would the factory install stainless fret wire?... |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I know this has come up before. I can't remember the answer so you'd have to ask Customer Service.
I think it one of those additional tooling and work for a 5% improvement.
I should hope to live long enough and play hard enough to wear out more than two frets, LOL. |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| I had always assumed stainless fret wire was denser, and used on an ebony fretboard would transfer the maximum string signal to the soundboard...might be worth it, and last longer than nickle-silver.. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Here's a stupid question. Is this guitar and the 1718 that much different other than the preamp? |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by jpcannon:
Is this guitar and the 1718 that much different other than the preamp? YES. I can't explain it. You have to hear it for yourself. There is something very magical about the 1537.
Dave |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Different factories made then. 1537 was at Moosup and the 1718 is New Hartford if memory serves me well. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421
Location: Orange County, California | Strange and Wonderful things happened in Moosup... |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Ok,one OFC'er has expressed his 1537 Jones and if it doesn't work out for him I will have to make the tremendous sacrifice and keep it for a later restoral.
Life is tough. :D |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Jim,
Here's my preliminary review from trying both of them. The 1718 is a great, full sounding guitar. Warm, rich tone, sustain, etc. The 1537 is just MORE. It's kind of like driving a $50000 Mercedes (1718), which is as nice a car as anyone really ever needs, and then sitting in a $300000 Mercedes (1537). The only suitable reaction is "uh, yeah, wow!"
I'll agree with Dave (I know, that's a risk) that there's just something unique about that 1537. The top of mine is alot darker than the 1718 - maybe a different finish, wood grain, or maybe it's just aged differently, but it has a strikingly beautiful honey-golden color to it, and it really sounds like warm pouring honey, for lack of a better analogy.
Check it out:
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 245
Location: France | Woody, I send you a mail |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15686
Location: SoCal | The 1537 also has the wood body binding, the black walnut fretboard, and the layerd headstock and heel cap. Just on looks, it's the most organic looking Ovation ever built. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | The 1537 has the plywood from the waist up. Not sure 1718 has that. Dave |
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1537: Here's the Deal
