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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Hi
Are all USA made guitars supposed to have a serial number stamped on the back of the headstock? also should they have the little plate screwed onto the front of the headstock with "LX" on it?
I'm loooking at guitars on ebay and sometimes they have none of that, I'm always a little sceptical...
Like this.. http://www.ebay.es/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220868025851&...
Thanks for any input :) |
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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Hiya Martinez,
Older Ovations have the serial number on a sticker inside the guitar up by the neck. As far as truss rod covers go, it all depends on the type of neck reinforcement on the guitar. If the truss can be adjusted from the headstock end, it will have a TRC over the adjustment nut. Otherwise, any adjustment is made inside the bowl and there is no need for a cover on the headstock.
The LX designation only applies to guitars with the LX bracing pattern. Any other bracing, and the TRC will be standard for the given model.
Speaking of which, I had an Elite exactly like the one you linked. It was a lovely instrument, but I bought it with a purpose. After a trip to the factory, it now serves as my mandocello. :D
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September 2011
Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Thanks for the reply. What an amazing instrument!!
My only worry about buying on ebay is paying for what I think is a USA guitar only to find it's from Korea....
Are there any signs, marks, fretboard designs, or anything I should be on the lookout for to make sure?
Apart from finding a guitar I want, then posting it here to see if it's real!! :-)
Thanks |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4080
Location: Utah | An LX guitar will also have LX in the model number. That ebay auction in the link is not an LX guitar. The model number doesn't have LX in it, and there is no truss rod cover.
As far as I know, the LX guitars all have the LX neck. The LX neck has the truss rod adjusted from the top and thus it must have a truss rod cover.
Also, that guitar in the auction does not have an OpPro, Op30, OpPro Studio, or VIP preamp. The one in that auction has a square preamp, which I believe predates LX. Someone else may be able to provide more authority on LX preamps, but I think you should see one of the kidney shaped preamps in an LX guitar. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | It says right in the ad it's a late 80's Elite with an OP-24 preamp. The LX models didn't come out until 05-06.
If your specifically looking for an LX, that ain't it.
However, the guitar in that auction is a damn fine example of a US-made SSB. |
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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Sorry, I should be clear, what I'm looking for is a USA made guitar not a Korean one, if it happenes to be an LX then great...
It seems the fretboard markers are a bit of a different shape on the USA guitars...? at least that can give me a clue.. |
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Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | It's harder to tell on newer guitars, at least for me. On guitars from about 5 years ago and older, the easiest way for me to distinguish an Elite (USA) model from a Celebrity (Korea) model was the fret board extension. The Elites extended longer and pointed further toward the center of the soundboard.
Another method of distinguishing was the 5 piece neck with the stripes down the back for the US models, but that didn't apply to Balladeers made in the US. |
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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | "Another method of distinguishing was the 5 piece neck with the stripes down the back for the US models"
Thanks that's a great tip! |
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Posts: 364
Location: Bellevue, Washington | Another thing to note on the older elites at least is the shape of the soundboard end of the fretboard. This is getting harder to use as a gauge since the newer korean AX and TX series guitars have switched to the standard style but combined with the other advice in this thread you can make a pretty educated guess at whether or not you've got a korean made guitar on your hands.
The older elites used a full slope design like the one pictured in the guitar listed above. The korean made guitars had a hump in the middle of the slope at the bottom of the fretboard.
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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Wow man that's some advice! Thanks! |
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Joined:
September 2011
Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Ok, believe it or not, this is from the same buyer, a little above my budget but....I guess from what I've read, a real USA guitar..?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ovation-1778LX-Elite-USA-acoustic-electric-guitar-1778-LX-/220872850605?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252B UA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D8%26pmod%3D220868025851%252B220868025851%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D3410413805022966859#ht_3831wt_932
Why do I get a funny feeling if a guy sells one (original one posted in this thread) then has another straight after for sale..
:-(( I hate being untrusting/paranoid, maybe I've lived in Spain too long :-(( |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by martinez:
Why do I get a funny feeling if a guy sells one (original one posted in this thread) then has another straight after for sale..
:-(( I hate being untrusting/paranoid, maybe I've lived in Spain too long :-(( He didn't sell the 1868 either, now He has two Ovations listed.
If I sell one, I still have others to list too. |
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September 2011
Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Fair enough mate, I guess you're right. Email sent asking why the 1868 didn't sell, (both to him and the bidder), we'll see..
It's bloody hard when you really wanna get you hands on your first Ovation!! I'm sure many people here have been in my position!!
Thanks for all help so far! |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Utah | The 1778LX is a very fine guitar. That price seems in the ballpark, though I have no idea what the foreign market is.
My big question would be why the pics show the original hard case but it doesn't come with the guitar? |
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Posts: 161
Location: Atlanta GA | Another rule I use in general is, If it has the screw hole "dots" on the bridge, it's not a US model. There may be exceptions to this but I don't know of any. Using this method I can spot an off shore guitar from across the room. |
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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Bellevue, Washington | Originally posted by Watchme22:
Another rule I use in general is, If it has the screw hole "dots" on the bridge, it's not a US model. There may be exceptions to this but I don't know of any. Using this method I can spot an off shore guitar from across the room. I can think of a couple USA models that have these. Some of the 1537's and 87 Collectors had em, the 1157 Anniversary model that I'm staring at on my wall right now has em. But yeah most don't. |
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Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Some USA 12 strings (Pacemaker,Legend 12's) had dot covered screws also.
12 strings pulling on a bridge is alot-O-force... :eek: ;) |
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Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Originally posted by martinez:
Ok, believe it or not, this is from the same buyer, a little above my budget but....I guess from what I've read, a real USA guitar..?
Why do I get a funny feeling if a guy sells one (original one posted in this thread) then has another straight after for sale..
:-(( I hate being untrusting/paranoid, maybe I've lived in Spain too long :-(( If you do feel insecure on ebay - why looking for a Guitar you know absolutely nothing about on ebay?
Here, no offense, but wouldn't it be easier to look for the guitar of your dreams on this board? You could start a "in search of" thread with all the details on your wish list as well. And there are a few european members on this board, which might have what you are looking for.
Best regards,
Kurt |
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Serial No and "LX"
