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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | I tracked down a beautiful 1869 that had everything I was looking for:
- excellent condition
- a newer preamp (OP-50)
- a good price; I got it for $750 shipped which seems a little high, but the cheaper ones I've seen were not in as nice condition and had older preamps.
- the carved bridge was a nice plus
I got it at Dave's Guitar (a good shop in my experience), and surprisingly the guitar was owned by previous forum members: Randy22 said "It was mine until I traded it there. I bought it used from a forum member, and had it shipped to the mothership to add the carved bridge. Really nice playing/sounding. I miss it, but have a one in/one out rule." And if Randy took the time to have the carved bridge added, I imagine the guitar was very well cared for. It was described by Dave's as Excellent+ condition and the pictures sure look that way.
I really look forward to receiving the guitar, and I'll post a review when I get it. I'll throw on some strings for New Standard Tuning (C, G, D, A , E, G low to high), which I haven't used in a while.
One thing I'm wondering is would it be worthwhile to upgrade the preamp sometime in the future? On my 2005 Collectors Edition, I had the OP-Pro w/XLR which was really nice, but the OP-50 has more options to tweak the sound. The OP-Pro Studio and VIP-5 look interesting though.
Anyway, here are some pics:
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 119
Location: NH | Wow Nice get. I like it.
Congrats! :cool: |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4055
Location: Utah | My experience with VIP and Studio preamps is that they are superb, yet they work best in different guitars.
The Studio was amazing in all of my wood topped Ovations. I'd suggest the Op Pro Studio for your 1869. The plain Op Pro is fine but I don't think it would add to what you already have.
The VIP in my 2080 sounds incredible. But when dropped into any of our wood topped O's it didn't really add much. The VIP dropped into my daughter's Adamas Ute did great things, too. So the VIP to me seems more suited to the Adamas than the Ovation.
Interestingly the Studio didn't seem to add much to any of the Adamas.
If you swap preamps be sure that the connector in the can matches the connector on the preamp. Look at the bottom of your preamp and you'll see either 7 or 8 copper tabs. Those mate to the connector in the can and must be the same count. Older preamps have 7 tabs, the newer models have 8 tabs.
If you buy a new preamp order it from Al. The ones I've purchased through him all came with a new can as well as a new preamp. The can is super simple to swap out. All it takes is a phillips screwdriver and about 2 minutes of time. |
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Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Ooooo... aaaah... nice Mark! Congrats!
Originally posted by MarkF786:
One thing I'm wondering is would it be worthwhile to upgrade the preamp sometime in the future? On my 2005 Collectors Edition, I had the OP-Pro w/XLR which was really nice, but the OP-50 has more options to tweak the sound. The OP-Pro Studio and VIP-5 look interesting though.
FWIW - Ya might consider getting an LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI instead. No guitar mods necessary. Plus, you could use it with any of your other AE gits. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Nice looking git-fiddle.
As far as swapping-out the preamp (you need to swap the can too)... But Why?
The OP-50 is the top-of-the line before the OP-Pro series.
Just cuz they came out with another series doesn't necessarily make it better.
The OP-50 has a 4-band EQ, a Mid-shift, and a Notch Filter... What more do you want?
BTW-- I have a bunch of OP-Pros, a Studio, and a VIP... (all are interchangeable)
But my S771 came with an OP-30 and I think that it sounds better than the Pros.
I thought about swapping out the can on the S771 so that I could use the Pros, but why?
It sounds nice just the way it is.
(Plus, it cuts-out the sound when you use the tuna... I don't know it the OP-50 does that) |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | an OUTSTANDING guitar. keep the OP50
the only thing better on an Op PRo is a larger volume knob. other than that, the Studio maybe, might, could possibly be, slighly just a little tad bit better, but maybe not. in my opinion, you'd be wasting your money. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 92
Location: San Francisco, CA | Congrats on your new axe!
I really love my '90 Model 1869. I use a sound I particularly go for that Paul Simon came up with (Concert in Central Park).
Here's the setup: 1869 > BOSS DM-2 Analog Delay > BOSS CH-1 Super Chorus > Fender Vibro Champ amplifier. In Paul's case, he played his Custom Legend into his DM-2 and then into a Roland JC-120 with the Chorus on. My setup nails that sound.
Enjoy your great new guitar!
Bill |
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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Congratulations, Mark. Love that lovely red.
;)
Willa |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15668
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by 6L6:
Congrats on your new axe!
I really love my '90 Model 1869. I use a sound I particularly go for that Paul Simon came up with (Concert in Central Park).
Here's the setup: 1869 > BOSS DM-2 Analog Delay > BOSS CH-1 Super Chorus > Fender Vibro Champ amplifier. In Paul's case, he played his Custom Legend into his DM-2 and then into a Roland JC-120 with the Chorus on. My setup nails that sound.
Enjoy your great new guitar!
Bill Why go thru all that gear. I plug my guitars directly into an amp or sound board. I keep the board/amp flat, and bias the tone a little towards the bass.
That's why Ovations are so good. If I wanted to use all that gear, I'd just use a Tailor..... |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | Thanks for all the feedback on the preamp. I was thinking the OP-50 might be as good as, if not better than the OP-Pro. |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | The guitar arrived today and looked to be in great shape, but like any used guitar I buy, I field stripped it, cleaned all the parts, and reassembled it.
- With all the parts removed, I gave the body and front headstock a cleaning & polish with Virtuoso cleaner and polish.
- I oiled the fretboard (and slightly the back of the neck) with Fret Doctor bore oil. The fretboard was looking almost like rosewood, but once it got a little oil in it, it clearly looks like ebony now.
- I polished the frets, all of which had very little wear.
- I polished all the gold-plated parts.
- I cleaned the inside of the guitar.
- I did some other sundry tweaks.
- I put new strings on it.
I'd swear the guitar was brand new! Judging from the serial number, it was made in 2002. Not bad for a 10 year old guitar!!!
I'm glad I went with this guitar because I'm a stickler about keeping my guitars in great condition and well maintained, and this one was a beauty to start with. It's only flaw was a slight ding at the top of the headstock (good luck finding a 10 year old guitar without that) and the saddles have a lot of notches in them, though none of them seemingly perfect for even string spacing; it's made me even wonder about getting a new saddle/pickup to start anew with the string notches.
Unplugged, she sounds like I remember a good Ovation to sound; harpsichord like, and due to the Super Shallow Bowl, more mid/high focused; not as fat as a Martin or Taylor though. At the moment I don't have an acoustic amp so I plugged her into my computer (Apogee converter -> Mac -> Logic Studio -> Adcom amplifier -> B&W CDM1 speakers) and she sounded very nice. I'm thinking of picking up a Roland AC-60 which seems perfect for my needs.
The action on the guitar seems perfect, without any shims under the saddle. She plays as smooth as an electric guitar. I haven't checked the relief in the neck, but it seems good. Intonation is spot on.
At the moment, I have her strung with standard strings (EJ16's) but in the future I'll be putting on some strings for New Standard Tuning; that'll likely require some tweaking of the truss rod and widening of the nut slots, so I left that for another day. For now, I'll get used to her in standard tuning.
Wow, what a great guitar. I wonder if she'll be my one and only Ovation. I have taking a strongly liking to her (as you can tell with my calling the guitar "she").
Mark |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | "I wonder if she'll be my one and only Ovation."
Too bad there's not an emoticon that is laughing hysterically! ONE Ovation??!! You're new around here, aren't you? Hehehehe - ONE Ovation! |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15668
Location: SoCal | Actually, I seem to be going back to one Ovation -- my 1537.... |
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
"I wonder if she'll be my one and only Ovation."
Too bad there's not an emoticon that is laughing hysterically! ONE Ovation??!! You're new around here, aren't you? Hehehehe - ONE Ovation! I'll already own eleven other guitars, each filling their own niche. I've owned many more. Now, i try to avoid duplicates in function.
I could imagine maybe one or two Ovations at most: deep contour and/or an Adamas. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by MarkF786:
I'd swear the guitar was brand new! Judging from the serial number, it was made in 2002. Not bad for a 10 year old guitar!!! Is she #571173 ?
She's a California Girl. Here she is before I sent her to the Mothership for Randy. Hadn't seen her with the carved bridge until now. Take care of her.
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | Yup, that's her! |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | small world... or a big club, one or the other. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 242
Location: Pewaukee, WI | Glad it stayed in the 'club'. Nice hearing from you Noah!
As for the saddles, those are inexpensive and easy to replace. Just contact John or Kim.
Randy |
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Incoming: 1869 Custom Legend
