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Location: Carle Place, NY | My '83 1537 Elite developed a pronounced acoustic buzz. I couldn't figure out what was causing it so I brought it to my local luthier who also couldn't find the source. I noticed later that the tapered end of the floating fingerboard was slightly warping down, although it did not appear to be touching the top of the guitar. I put a small square of thin cardboard under that part of the fingerboard and that seems to have fixed the buzz. Anyone have a similar problem with an Elite or Adamas with the floating fingerboard?
BTW-I have a very early model, #301269. Anybody have an earlier serial number? According to "The Book" Charles Kaman personally tested the first 300 or so that were made. Truth or myth? |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Mitchrx:
Anyone have a similar problem with an Elite or Adamas with the floating fingerboard?
BTW-I have a very early model, #301269. Anybody have an earlier serial number? According to "The Book" Charles Kaman personally tested the first 300 or so that were made. Truth or myth?
CHK signed the labels of first few hundred Adamas, then CWK2 took over. As far as I'm aware neither Charlie or Bill signed the Elites.
I've seen a couple of Adamas guitars where the floating fingerboard extension has warped a liitle and touched, or almost touched the top, causing a buzz. The fingerboard extension is a convenient place to slip in a flatpick, which will damp any buzzes just like your cardboard fix. |
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Location: hatzic lake, bc, canada. | ive got #301241 aint no signature in there. |
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Location: NJ | Yours was probably finished on a Friday afternoon and it was a good "Golf Day". :cool: |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Mitch,
Those 1537 are just junk. Let me help you out brother, I'll send you a very nice CC65 and $50.00 for your shipping costs. I'll take that firewood off your hands for ya!
No buzzing on that CC65...she looks and sounds great!
Norse(got your back daaawg!)man1 |
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Location: SoCal | My 1537 was about th 1400th off the line. The serial numbers started at about 301000. I've never had a problem with fingerboard warping. But in California, with low humidity, that's not a problem we face. Let us know how you ultimately solve the problem. |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Gee Paul, I thought I had the ultimate solution for Mitch :eek:
Seriously though, I have been considering the possiblilty of selling a few guitars, a boat, and a slightly neurotic Jack Russell Terrior, so that when another 1537 becomes available at this site (or ebay), I am in position to POUNCE!
Norse(snd I've never actually played one)man1 |
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Location: SoCal | Norsey:
Watch ebay. These absolutely wonderful guitars have been going for almost no money ($400-$600) on ebay. These may be the bargin of the decade. |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | I agree Paul, I watched one that LOOKED and was reported to be in mint condition, go on ebay last fall for about $500.00. I really need to free up the cash, so I can pull the trigger when a 1537 comes up again.
God willing, I will own one within the next few years!
Norse(in the meantime, I am very pleased with the O's I have)man1
1117 Legend (Pawnshop: Anniversary gift from wonderful, beautiful wife. The most inspirational guitar I have EVER played. Absolutely love the deep bass, and rich tones. If I write a song, it ALWAYS happens on the Legend)
1635 PaceMaker 12 (Trboy,you da man! Great guitar plugged in OR acoustic. Beautiful harmonics, great tone and presence. Everything I thought a vintage Ovation 12 would be! Favorite 12 for solo's)
1711 Balladeer (ebay: my "Steady Eddie" for plugging in with a 6. Not deep, but VERY even, clean, crisp, easy to play, and sounds great.)
CS255 12 (ebay: some physical problems, not much unplugged, but she sings BEAUTIFULLY plugged in! Really "fills in the gaps" when playing with the worship team.)
CC65 12 (Mistergolf 007: May not have the presence of her USA deep bowl sisters, but I have to say, she is the easiest 12 string I have ever played/barred. Great for learning new songs on. Solid, good looking, a great 12 for a beginner... like my daughter...I hope!)
Pretty good start for a guy who two years ago, thought Ovations were cheap & tinny sounding (this derived from my vast experience; I once played a friends $100.00 Celebrity with dead strings for about 5 minutes, fifteen years ago.).
Some learn quicker than others...but we all eventually learn. |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Norseman, we all lust for what we don't have. In reality the 1537 sounds different, but not necessarily better than your 1117, which IHMO is one of the best acoustic sounding O's ever made. I'm not sure if all 1537's were made the same, but mine has a thicker neck profile than my 1619 CL. I find the 1619 easier to play and for that reason I play it more. The piece of cardboard did do the trick for the buzzing. I was just wondering why, even though the floating fingerboard allows the top to vibrate better, Ovation would use it for the top-end models when it could cause a very unpleasant sounding buzz. |
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Elite 1537 buzzing
