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Prototype returns

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ksdaddy
Posted 2021-01-28 12:16 PM (#554919)
Subject: Prototype returns


Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608

Location: Caribou, ME

I haven't been around much lately. A few years back I decided I had gone far enough with the Applause collection (at 65) plus a half dozen Ovations. I cleaned house. Sold every last one. The last one to leave, however, was a 1983 Collector's Prototype.

Tremor posted a craigslist link in 2010 about a trashed 1983 Kaman Prototype in California. I worked on the guy for what seemed like many months before he relented and agreed to ship. I don't remember much about it's "as found" condition other than a missing rosette. I'm sure there were more problems. I think I might have given him $200.

Of course one of the upscale abalone rosettes would be pricey. A short time later, an ebayer posted a 1983 Collector's edition neck for $100. I asked what happened to the rest. He confessed it died in an alcohol related fall. I bought the entire smashed guitar with original hsc for $125 I think. I salvaged the rosette for "my" guitar, and kept the case. I rebuilt the OUI casualty with pieces of Stew Mac binding and a newer style rosette courtesy of J. Budny. Sold it for $200 I think.

That was 2010. Fast forward to 2019(?)...not sure. Anyway, this prototype was the LAST Ovation to leave me. I did dump it because I had bought a 1947 Gibson L-5 and it was worth it to me to clean house to pay for it. I dumped it for $300! I grimaced a little but they come, they go.

Last month I decided I needed a bowl in the herd. I went out looking for a 70s 1111, basic as basic. 1111-6 (white) would have been delicious! But I went snooping through old Paypal transactions, wondering if maybe I could hook up with the Prototype again.

The buyer had it in his closet and he was/is unemployed. I am NOT a carpetbagger and had no intention of taking advantage of the situation. We agreed on $500 plus shipping. He made some profit, I got my guitar back, it's all good. It arrived today, still with the same strings I had on it. He changed the pearl buttons to a slightly fancier set, but included the originals, which I will reinstall.

I repaired the massive crack back in 2010 but it is still very visible. Not much I can about that. 

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moody, p.i.
Posted 2021-01-28 12:47 PM (#554920 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15651

Location: SoCal
Wonderful story and a great reunion. Glad you're back. Go ahead and post a pic of the L-5. I'd love (others probably too) to see it.....
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arumako
Posted 2021-01-28 2:42 PM (#554921 - in reply to #554920)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1018

Location: Yokohama, Japan
A great honorable story for a one-of-a-kind O!

moody, p.i. - 2021-01-28 2:47 AM

...Go ahead and post a pic of the L-5. I'd love (others probably too) to see it.....

+1 on the L-5! Congratulations!
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Jonmark Stone
Posted 2021-01-28 2:48 PM (#554923 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns


Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1553

Location: Indiana
Nice.
Yea, I'd like to see the L-5 as well.
Good to see you.
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Beal
Posted 2021-01-28 4:37 PM (#554926 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
That guitar is the third prototype. Finished Dec 15, 1982
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ksdaddy
Posted 2021-01-28 4:55 PM (#554927 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: RE: Prototype returns


Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608

Location: Caribou, ME

Here's some pics. It's clearly been used. Even though I've had it almost exactly 2 years, I haven't "quite" found the right strings yet. I don't remember what I had early on, but eventually went to 14-59 bronze. That was a bit much. It currently has 12-53 John Pearse silk bronze. They seem a little mushy on this guitar. I suspect I will end up with 13-56 D'Addario PB or something else cheap and plentiful.

This guitar smells soooo funky. They need to bottle it. Every time I open the case, it's like finding it in an attic.

It sported a DeArmond monkey on a stick for decades. The tan line is visible in person. It has a very nice repro guard and one of the Klusons has been replaced with the closest thing available (pretty darn close!)

It must have been refretted at some point and the fretboard planed, as they shaved off one corner of one of the inlays. Collateral damage for a true board with good frets.

I think I paid $4200 for this, which is way below what other L-5s are bringing, but this one actually shows wear, unlike most of the unaffordable ones I've seen for sale. It was a boatload of money for me, but I paid the card off in 2 or 3 months I think, from flipping, ebay, etc. I was on a mission to see how quickly I could do it.

The only things I've done to this is install an ebony bridge that's a little nice and a little better fit. And I plugged a bad strap screw hole in the heel. Other than that, i don't think I've so much as run a damp cloth over it. No need. It's fine. A little dirt is honest.

I'm a moderator on the Gibson forum and one of the 'inside' guys at Nashville was good enough to look it up in the ledger...shipping records, whatever it is. It was hand written in the book on May 13, 1947.

I suspect this one will be here a long time. It does it's job well, and it's there when I'm in the mood for it. My other "major" jazz box is a 2003 Heritage Super Eagle (18" body!). I am toying with the idea of getting rid of that just because of the sheer size and maybe finding a 50s ES-175 with one pickup and stringing it flat.

 

 

 

 

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moody, p.i.
Posted 2021-01-28 5:00 PM (#554929 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15651

Location: SoCal
Very cool. Thanks.....
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Jonmark Stone
Posted 2021-01-28 5:37 PM (#554931 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns


Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1553

Location: Indiana
That's a beauty. Nothing sounds (or smells) like an old L-5.
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arumako
Posted 2021-01-28 5:58 PM (#554932 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns



Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1018

Location: Yokohama, Japan
Aural, visual (and aromatic?) mojo. Thanks for sharing ksdaddy! SssssWEET!
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cholloway
Posted 2021-01-29 10:42 AM (#554938 - in reply to #554926)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2791

Location: Atlanta, GA.
Beal - 2021-01-28 4:37 PM

That guitar is the third prototype. Finished Dec 15, 1982


The anniversary of my birthday... Yay!

BTW, nice L-5 too.

Edited by cholloway 2021-01-29 10:44 AM
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elginacres
Posted 2021-01-29 3:55 PM (#554944 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns


Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 1609

Location: Colorado
Paul: that L-5 requires Jazz Chords
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2021-01-29 4:22 PM (#554947 - in reply to #554944)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15651

Location: SoCal
elginacres - 2021-01-29 1:55 PM

Paul: that L-5 requires Jazz Chords

I'm sorry but my 3 Chord conversion book doesn't talk about those. Jazz chords?
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Beal
Posted 2021-01-29 4:34 PM (#554948 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: Re: Prototype returns



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
yeah, they have latter AND numbers, and funny symbols too

Edited by Beal 2021-01-29 4:35 PM
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Patch
Posted 2021-02-02 2:19 PM (#554999 - in reply to #554919)
Subject: RE: Prototype returns



Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221

Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent

Very cool story! And I love the Gibson!

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