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Location: SoCal | Maybe it was Moosup. After all these years, can't remember. I suppose if I went thru my files.....
Did a lot of research on these guitars about 8 years ago. |
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Location: Jet City | I think I remember a gas station dude commenting on how my 1537's burst finish was done by a gentleman named Nick Macklin (sp?) up in Moosup.
I might be wrong too. |
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Location: SoCal | I don't think you're wrong. Nick is retired and living in Florida now. I spoke to him on the phone when I was working on this project. Nick built a wood topped Adamas just to see what it would be like. Charlie was unhappy with it because multi soundhole guitars were Adamas guitars w/ carbon fiber tops. Not wood tops. But the reception of the guitars was so good that they went into production.
Edited by moody, p.i. 2014-03-14 3:13 PM
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Location: Jet City | Googles much faster than waiting on your brain. Here's where your quest started.
http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=19025&...
What a great example of old-skool OFC banter, but if you can't read through 8 pages to get to the answer, here's what you finally posted...
"Just got off the phone with Nick. Hold on to your hats, but he estimated that they might have built as many as 1000-1500 1537's. He doesn't have any exact records, but he said it was a very popular guitar and everybody and his brother wanted one when they came out.
Oh, and somebody asked me what number I was guessing? I'd say, about 1000-1500....
But that number may also include the entire run at Moosup. The Elites were moved to New Harford in mid 1984.
Looking at the serial numbers for 1983 production we can guess that Ovation built just over 11,200 guitars in 1983, or about 936 per month. The 1537's first serial numbers were 301001 (I think that this is what I was told years ago). This would put production starting in about August 1983. If my 1537 was number 30214xx (I'm not trying to be coy, I can't remember the exact number and I'm too lazy to go look), then it was probably built in late September 1983. A WAG? Yeah, but it's probably the best I'm going to be able to do."
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Location: SoCal | Thanks Damon. I've got a printout of that somewhere. It was a fun time. The OFC back in those days was a fairly large group of people who came to know each pretty well. Regardless of what some people have said in the past, it really was like a neighborhood bar. It's much more "dignified" now. Not a bad thing, just different...... |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Dignified?? I would love to see it as it was then!! |
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| PM sent |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Still available! |
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Location: SoCal | nerdydave - 2014-03-14 6:50 PM
Dignified?? I would love to see it as it was then!!
Read the thread that Damon linked to on the 1537...... |
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Location: Utah | Is there a mono output which has all 6 strings? For the stereo output is it 2 mono jacks or is it one stereo jack? |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Hmmm I've only ever used it in single mono mode, with all 6 strings in the mix. Maybe somebody else can answer the 2nd part of your question. There are two outputs so I suspect 2 mono outs. |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Ah, found a thread that addresses this: http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=18595&...
So either a single mono cable for mono out. Or a stereo cable that splits out to two mono lines, one for each channel. You can't use two mono cables to achieve stereo output.
Also, a question was asked about the action. It's just a hair shy of a penny ( 0.061" ) at the twelfth fret with two shims remaining under the bridge.
Edited by dvd 2014-03-28 11:54 PM
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Did you guys ever get those manuals for the 1537?? I could look around. I might have one you could copy if you wanted. |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Sale pending! |
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Location: SoCal | As to "It's much more "dignified" now". Miles and Al, as owners and administrators, started to clamp down on certain aspects of the posts (i.e., words that we would not necessarily use in public, some outrageous but funny sarcasm, etc.). From what I saw, Miles took the lead on this. Some agreed, some didn't even to creating their own email group outside of the OFC. Hard to find a balance but we all have to remember that a lot of our posts are still out there on the internet from at least 10-11 years (probably also in the 'Vault' . Now, with Fender's abandonment of U.S. Ovation/Adamas/Hamer we, as a forum, are even more in the spotlight. |
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Location: Utah | Purhase pending!  |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | I played a 1537. It sounded "woody" or "dusky" when compared to my Adamas (for lack of a better term). Not the bright clear sound that I am accustomed to. I don't know whether that is good or bad? I realize personal preference is what it is all about but am still slightly confused! But it should did have resonance and volume!! |
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Location: Utah | I played a 1537 once here in my little home town. It was on consignment at a small local guitar store. It did have a woodier tone than the O's we owned at the time. The seller only wanted something like $450 for it but I had no idea what a fair value was, so I waited a day to do some research and it was gone!
My Patriot (1976 round hole A brace) also has a woodier tone than my modern O's and A's, so I'll be interested in seeing how the 1537 compares to the Patriot. |
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Location: Right now? | Fly, did you get this guitar? I hope whoever buys this guitar REALLY wants it. SO nice.
W. |
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Location: Utah | Willa, the check is in the mail!
The mothership re-fresh on it makes this one very interesting to me. No it isn't 100% original any more, but I am confident it will be as good as a brand new guitar after their attentions. So for me the value is not reduced by the refinish and the different epaulettes, it is increased. |
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Location: SoCal | I am confident if you are getting the guitar from Willa that this not a problem. More based on a previous comment "woody" or "dusky". The 1537 has a 'floating' fretboard that some individuals, fearing that their fretboard was lifting used CYA or a screw through the fretboard to clamp it down. I personally got a 1537 where someone used a screw...didn't sound at all like a normal 1537 until I repaired the damage and allowed the fretboard to "float'. The 1537 that I have now was not damaged by the last owner and the basement had a fair amount of humidity. :} |
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Location: SoCal | Sorry, although my comments are true for a guitar that Willa might sell (good knowledge and disclosure), I would say the same for the seller DVD.
"how often does a really sweet and well preserved vintage 1537 that is for sale come along?" I would say not very often. I was fortunate to get a pre-production 1537.
I have never played a production 1718 but I have a 1718-X Garris (prototype of slim line saddle). A brighter sound v. 1537 but excellent acoustic and balance.
Probably a lot more 1718's out there and good value for the price. It was as close to brand new as it was a year 1991 that I got from Beal fourteen years later in 2005. |
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Location: Utah | Most of my guitars just became obsolete! What a nice guitar this one is. As new condition, but with a great sound after 30 years of being played. Thanks DVD! |
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Location: Baton Rouge, LA | Mr. DVD,
I have a 1537 that is in need of some reconditioning. If I may ask, how much were the repairs on your guitar?
Thank you,
evvignes |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Regretfully, it is a moot point. The factory in New Hartford has been closed. You might post in the general forum for alternative repair recommendations. |
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FOR SALE: Ovation 1537 Elite
