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September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | My first Ovation was a 1985 1755 Custom Balladeer 12. It was a High School graduation present from my parents. I played Chuck Mangione's "Feels so Good" on it with a band in a jazz concert senior year. Later, in college I would jam on it in the dorm stairwells, savoring the massive natural reverb.
Inspired by Al Di Meola's acoustic record "Cielo e Terra," I wrote a few intricate solo pieces on it. Then it played a role in one of my original bands that played in NYC's Greenwich Village (i.e. The Bitter End) one summer.
And after one of those gigs, it was stolen from the hatch area of my 1981 Toyota Celica as I imbibed with friends. :( And that was the last I saw of it, of course, or any other 12 string for that matter.
So when I found a 1985 1755 in stock at Elderly, I snagged it instantly! Wow. Nothing special, perhaps, compared to fancier O's and A's. But it represents a turning point in my life, that of a young man discovering his musical chops and inspiration.
Hope it turns out to be a good tool for some new inspiration too...
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | If it brings you nothing more than fond memories, you did well. I'm sure you'll get much more than that out of it. I don't use my 12 enough to justify it, but everyone needs one. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I have an '85 1755 also. It was the first year for that model and the quality of the spruce that the factory used back then was very high. It is a beautiful instrument with perhaps not as much bling as a Custom Legend. However, unlike the 6 string Balladeers at the time, the bracing in the top is identical to the Legend and Custom Legend 12 strings.
This model represented a really big change for 12 string Balladeers. New for this model was the Kaman bar neck, standard (no slot) headstock, 14 fret neck attachment and 3 band equalizer pre-amp.
Even though it's 22 years old, the action on mine is low and easy to play. The top has aged to a nice golden color. I got mine from the original owner who bought it at the winter NAMM show.
These are becoming hard to find in nice condition. Good grab!! |
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Mitch,
Curious to know the serial on yours. Elderly calls the one I bought an 85, but it could be an 86. Either way, there is always the chance in hell that it's MY old guitar. I will never know! I have only one picture and it's from a distance.
I'll post a clip when I get the guitar sorted out. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Did you get the original one new, and did you fill-out/send-in the Warranty Card??
If "yes" to both above, the card (with s/n) is probably still on file (although, they're probably "filed" by s/n . . .) |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Good Goin` Roger, is it in pristine condition, incl. case also ?
Vic
..playing intricate solo-pieces on a 12 string, I can n`t even do that on a six... |
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September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Cliff, I was an 18 yr old with no sense of time or clue about things like warranties... but that is a great idea nonetheless. I need to dig to see if MAYBE I have something that documents the guitar.
Vic, I was not all that good, but I did write a few solo guitar pieces on the 12 way back when - actually the song "From Gray To Black" on my YouTube site was one of them. Curious to see how I can play it now, some 20 years later! |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Nice grab. Sometimes the middle of the line "nothing special" guitars are the most special. |
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September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Yes that is true Beal. In fact, some of the most special ones are those that have "been there" with you along the way. I fear that I have diluted that sense a bit by buying and selling so many damn instruments... I have not allowed some of them to age with me and gain that elusive sentimental value. Trying to rectify that by holding onto more of 'em now. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Roger, dude... When you get your 1755, go find yourself a stairwell... And remember. :cool: |
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September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Arthur, you sound like you were there with me bro. You just GET it. I'm very touched. :D
All the stairs in my house are carpeted. :rolleyes: It's hard to "go back." |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by rpguitar:
Mitch,
Curious to know the serial on yours. Elderly calls the one I bought an 85, but it could be an 86. Either way, there is always the chance in hell that it's MY old guitar. I will never know! My SN# is 350419. After taking it out of the case to check the serial # I had to play it for a while. Amazingly, it hasn't been used for 2 months yet the only out-of-tune string was the high G. What a sound! Ovation makes a fantastic 12 string!! |
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Joined:
September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | We're VERY close! My serial is 350613. Just 194 guitars later. How do you know it's an '85? The reference here says 303020 - 356000 was 1985, but on OvationTribute.com it says that range covers 1985-1986. And that makes more sense, since there is no 1986 listed on the OFC site serial number reference.
Not that it matters, but I like to know these things when possible. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | I thought all the 12 strings back then had the same bracing pattern. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | when in doubt always go with the earlier year. |
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October 2004
Posts: 256
Location: chicago | Roger,
Interesting that you too were influenced by Als Cielo e Terra. Just played that song at a gig I did this last saturday at a jazz club we played...Think we are the only two people who bought that amazing piece of art.Jeff
www.guitarsoffire.com |
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September 2007
Posts: 153
Location: New Jersey, USA | Jeff,
That's so cool! I read an interview with Al where he cited that album as one of his very favorites. It's really unbelievable composing on that record. Very dissonant, beautiful, haunting music. A fine example of reverb drenched Ovation acoustic guitar. I saw him live on that tour with percussionist Airto Moreira too.
To be honest I used the album as a backdrop for numerous um, "sessions" with my freshman year college girlfriend. :)
Fantastic that you actually performed a piece from it! |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by rpguitar:
How do you know it's an '85?
Not that it matters, but I like to know these things when possible. The guy that I bought it from got it at the '85 winter NAMM show. It was a new model. He bought it with the expectation that it might be a collectors' piece. He barely used the guitar, but it developed some ripples in the wood along with some minor finish cracks just below the bridge. As such, it was no longer in collectors' condition. Some of the finish cracks grew a bit while I've had it so now it stays in its humidified case.
I was admiring the quality of the spruce last night. It's really impressive. Since your serial number is so close to mine I would expect that yours must have some beautiful spruce also. I hope that you enjoy it. |
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Back to my Roots: 1755
