I've decided to sell my 1978 1617-4 that I rebuilt. (Serial #: 154266) This guitar features a torrefied Sitka spruce top wtih forward X-braces that are tapered and scalloped torrefied Sitka spruce that gives the guitar a bright, punchy sound. (See: Banjo Killer? The scoop on forward X bracing for greater guitar volume.)

Here's the link to the rebuild thread: 1978 1617 Legend Rebuild...

To save you from having to slog through the build thread, here's a list of the work I did to ths guitar:

New torrefied Sitka spruce top and braces. (Tapered and scalloped, forward X-brace pattern)
New pearloid rosette.
New ebony bridge.
New OP-Pro pre-amp.
New mono jack.
New saddle/pick-up.
New Dunlop gold strap buttons.
Refinished neck & head stock. (polyurethane finish)
New gold foil Ovation head stock logo.
Leveled ebony fret board.
New neck binding & side marker dots.
New EVO gold frets.
New TR cover & gold screws.
New unbleached bone nut. (it's been rounded and polished since the pics below were taken)
Like-new Schaller Custom Legend gold tuners with pearloid buttons.

Basically, it's a brand new 40-year-old guitar with upgraded electronics and it comes with a brown Ovation hard shell case.

The action of the low-E is .093" at the 12th fret with one tapered shim (.022" - .036") under the saddle. I'm including an extra thin phenolic shim (.019") and and an extra tapered shim so that the action can be adjusted to suit the buyer's playing style.

The guitar currently has new Elixir 80/20 Extra Light strings. I would not recommend anythin heavier than light gauge strings on this guitar.

The guitar does have a couple of visual warts. I never filled the holes left in the bowl by the old electronics. This doesn't affect the sound. These can be seen in the pics below.

I'm asking $850 USD + shipping & insurance.

Dan

Now, imagine a wood-bowl Custom Legend. Then, imagine a wood-bowl Custom Elite.

That's what I'm going to build. A wood-bowl Custom Legend and a wood-bowl Custom Elite.

Mine will be built along the lines of the vaulted-back lutes from days of old -- all solid wood.

Alvarez offered a limited-edition round-back guitar, model-number DY-92, which was sold in the mid-80s, and based upon the old lute-back style of guitars. They are very rare and do not come up for sale very often. The pic I posted above is of a DY-92.

My wood-bowl Custom Legend and Custom Elite will be solid-wood rosewood, mahogany and maple bowls with torrefied Adirondack top guitars.

The Custom Legend will be A-braced and the Custom Elite will be Quintad-braced.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah69/bluesman19591/Ovation%20repair/P1020538_zpsn27n6m7e.jpg

But I must say that I did have a guitar with additional soundholes right there and the effect was very interesting, like a stereo sound.

I was able to source a couple of plugs for the holes used for the old preamp system.

I'm not sure how much difference in sound a 3/8" and a 1/4" hole makes.

I can't hear any change, but they do make the guitar look more finished.