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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Well bottom line, down the road it will be MUCH MUCH EASIER to find a W597 that a 1537. 1537's just don't show up very often cause most owners won't sell them.
The 1537 has a beautiful rich warm woody tone that you won't find on too many of the O's. It is definately closer in sound to a good wooden guitar than the W597.
Like Dave said, you won't go wrong with either one but after you have a 1537 and the GAS sets in, a W597 will be much easier to find and add to the stable.
By my count, there is maybe 1 or 2 of the 1537's on ebay a year. The W597's show up 1 or 2 a month. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | OK...I am done,
The 1537 sells itself....doesn't need me pushing it's virtues. Search the archives for 1537...plenty to read and plenty of opinions.
Good luck. |
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Location: SoCal | These are both great guitars. I own a 1537 and played a W597 a year ago up in Hollywood. If I didn't own the 1537, I would have bought the W597.
The above analysis on the 1537 is spot on. It's got a very warm, woody sound. Very deep. The W597 is a brighter guitar but also has a very deep sound. Similar to a degree, but one's warmer, the other brighter. Depends upon what you're looking for.
I've seen 1537's on ebay to the tune of 4-5 per year. No more. I'm not certain I've ever seen a W597 on ebay, but Al has some in inventory (assuming his web page is up to date -- never assume that with Al). Just to confirm, the W597 is a textured top Adamas similar to the original Adamii, but with an ebony fingerboard and abalone inlays. Cutaway, with a 5 piece neck. Look at Al's website to see some pics. They were built for the overseas market. If you're going to buy one, deal with Al. Can't go wrong and he never closes.
I don't think you could go wrong with either guitar. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hmmm, maybe it is the Q597's that I see on Ebay all the time. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Moody, That's the beast, but the one I played (and am looking at on eBay) has a natural graphite crossweave top and they were sold domestically in 2002 and maybe later. And thanks, bright is a good description of the sound. |
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Location: SoCal | Probably. The W597 is fairly rare. And quite honestly, I like it quite a bit more than than an US built, regular production Adamas offered in the last few years. Better looking, and I felt it had a bigger sound. The only one I held and played had the older style preamp, which, as most of you know, work great. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Designzilla,
I have not played a W597, though there are certainly folks on this site that have played both.
The 1537 was essentally an Adamas prototype that became the very first Ovation Elite and features like the 5 piece neck and playability will feel very similar to the Adamas in general. I owned a SMT and the necks are similar in feel. The 1537 does have a glossed neck, which may be different from the 597(I'm guessing its neck is oiled.
The 1537 is accepted as one of the very best sounding Ovations. It has a beautiful round, warm and balanced tone. Sustains forever. Volume to spare and great projection. Our ears are subjective critters, but few will disagree about the quality of the acoustic tone.
Plugged in, it is simply one of the best sounding wood tops I have heard. Period. My friends who play Taylors/Gibsons and Martins all give this guitar its due...(plugged and unplugged)
The fit and finish are top notch..AAA Quartersawn Sitka Spruce Top. It has a 5ply real wood binding of walnut/maple and paduak.Resin impregnated Black walnut fretboard. Maple inlay fret markers and gold leaf "Ovation" on head stock with 24k gold schaller machines. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Jeff, there we go repeating ourselves again! Now repeat after me....we only need to hit the "add reply" button once....we only need.....
By the way, the 1537 is both mono and STEREO which is kinda cool for recording or if you have 2 amps to play live.
Just last night I ran it through my Acoustasonic SFX on the left and the Vox Valtronix w/chorus on the right!
HOLY #^*&#@__&@$, two hours went by in what seemed to be 10 minutes. Lots of fun! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | as concerns the double posting...my browser has been failing to load the page when posting replys. When I resend...there's my post twice???? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Oh yeah,
The 1537 has both mono and stereo jacks, that when engaged apperantly cause Stephen to lose time. |
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Location: Tampa, FL | Unless I'm mistaken (pretty good chance of that) the W597 is the CVT 6-string Adamas. I believe what Moody is referring to is the textured top W597 (W597-T??) that Al P. shows on his website as a made for export special. If Godzilla saw an Adamas over at D-world I think it would probably be a plain vanilla crossweave top Adamas. Much like what is up on ebay today. I recall seeing a couple of these a month. Almost always see at least 1 every time I look. |
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Location: SoCal | Designzilla,
I'd grab the 1537… but what do I know, I just bought one. My decision was based on the descriptions from current owners. |
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Location: SoCal | Noah, you shoulda asked me to play mine before buying one sight unseen. You'll probably hate it. To be charitable, I'll take it off your hands for $175. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Chatman is right. W597 is a standard cross weave CVT. Not even in the same league as the 1537. The CVT might be a better gigging guitar - more durable than a wood top, cutaway, better pre-amp. But other than that, hands down I buy the 1537. The sound is just incredible. SMT and CVT tops do nothing for me. There are about 15 or so people on this board that own 1537's and how many do you think have ever parted with one because they didn't like it? Other than the greedy few that own more than one, I can't think of any. |
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Location: San Bernardino, California | http://search.ebay.com/w597_Musical-Instruments_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfro... |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Standingovation:
Other than the greedy few that own more than one... I own two, but neither have arrived. Al's should be here Tuesday. The one from Canada (eBay) has not shipped yet. Just could not pass up that one on eBay. It will make a good trade one day. |
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Location: SoCal | Look on Al's webpage under the same model number, W597-8. Beautiful guitar. Much much better than what is sold in the U.S. under the same model number. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I think Al disguises the model numbers for IRS purposes (just kidding). Dave |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I think we have overwhelmed Designzilla with the out pouring of comments and advice. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Stephen,
you got mail (PM) |
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Location: Orlando, FL | OK,cut that out!! You guys had me sold on the 1537 and I had to check out W597-8 on Als site. Very nice! But come on, now you're really confusing me! This can't be as nice as the 1537, can it? And the price? And Stereo? No more NEW suggestions, please! Unless it's something really cool... |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Have you seen the new ford mustangs? |
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Location: Orlando, FL | How do they sound compared to the 1537? |
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Location: SoCal | Mustang GT w/ my 1537 in the back seat. Be still my beating heart. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by Designzilla:
How do they sound compared to the 1537? Both have nice low end... |
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Need a little Emily Post assistance
