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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 2
| Hello all:
I could use some advice if it's free. My dad, who is a long way from here and getting a little senile has just purchased a Ovation Elite 1537 for $850. The case was included in the price.
Over the phone, Dad told me that he loved the sound when he played it (best he ever heard and he plays latin style stuff.) Problem is, the next day the seller drops it off and now Dad doesn't think it sounds the same.
It's still a good guitar - but now he gets excessive vibration - and isn't $850 a little steep for this model? The fellow told my Dad that it was worth $1500, he asked $1000 and Dad got it for $850.
Normally I wouldn't interfere. (Guitar appreciation is subjective and I have a Seagull that I wouldn't sell for $1500.) But dammit, Dad is getting old and I want to make sure he gets proper satisifaction.
Sure would appreciate any advice you guys might have. TIA |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | The 1537 is one of the most sought after Ovations. They have sold recently between $750 and $1200. People here who have them will tell you they are worth twice that.
It is hard to hear how this guitar actually sounds while playing from behind. They sound incredible from the front.
If the guitar is in very good condition, he got a great deal. It's a keeper...
What kind of virbration is he getting?...String buzz? Loose tuner nuts? Bridge/saddle? Internal? Pre amp, jacks, wires? |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 640
Location: boulder | Hi Xavier,
Depending on the condition of guitar, $850 is well within reason for that model. Fans here love them, and I am one of those. This model has a very woody sounding tone. Can't explain it, but I bet your Dad heard it the first time he played it. The excessive vibration may be an easy fix, depending on what it is. try tightening the nuts that hold bridge on, and any inside nuts, screws, connections, etc I would say, figure out what the problem is, then decide whether it is a a worthwhile price.
Do a search for 1537's here, see what others say, i love mine, hope this helps peace mike |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | You can find out a lot by doing a search for 1537 on this board. $850 is pretty good if it's in good shape. If it's buzzing on the frets, it probably just needs a shim put back in. I don't know how the guitar could have changed in one day. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | One of the top 5 or so guitars Ovation has made IMHO and the price is well within reason.
What area does your dad live in? There is a good chance there is an OFC member nearby that could help him out and maybe get rid of the buzz. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 2
| Man, you guys are incredible! I only posted an hour ago. Thanks for all the responses.
Well I do feel a little better now, though I'd like to drive up and see it myself. I did google the guitar and thought I saw a number of $700 for mint condition.
I too was puzzled by the change after one day. Again, I'd just have to hear it but I guess he's hearing the strings. I don't see why the seller would have changed anything (especially strings). And I know Dad hasn't changed the tuning yet.
He lives in Owensboro, KY. I doubt if I could talk him through a shim adjustment, but I'm much happier about the purchase after hearing from you guys. (After all, you can't all be the seller.)
Heck, I may even decide to get one myself. Thanks again. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | $700 in mint condition would get snapped up in a heartbeat around here. Maybe the seller was like some Ovationistas around these parts and wouldn't think of putting a 1537 in somebody else's hands without fresh strings on it. Also have your dad check the nuts on the tuning posts ... if they work a little loose they can cause a racket.
Dad's got a good ear. 1537 is arguably the best wood topped Ovation, period. He'll enjoy the guitar a lot. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | If you googled a mint 1537 for $700 snap it up and put it up for sale in the OFC. You will make a quick profit.
A mint 1537 would realisticly go for between $1200-1500.
The last several 1537's to be put up on ebay were pretty beat up. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | I played my 1537 on the porch last night while my wife handed out candy. As much as I love my new/old 87 Collectors (and I do!), my 1537 would be the guitar that would be pried from my cold dead hands at the end of the road. It would take a lot more than $2k to buy it from me. A whole lot more.....
On a side note, the serial number on mine is about 1400 after the first one was built. I never thought about it before, but mine wasn't the 1400th one built, as there were other USA built O's in those numbers. This begs the question, how many 1537's were built that first year of production (1983)? |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | I played on the porch last night while my wife handed out candy. As much as I love Snickers (and I do!), M&M's would be the candy that would be pried from my cold dead hands at the end of the road. It would take a lot more than $2 to buy them from me. A whole lot more..... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | We only had 6 trick or treaters, so I picked out all the Baby Ruth bars and ate them until I was sick. Then I turned out the lights and went down the basement and played my 1537. Better than Baby Ruths. My wife wasn't home so I couldn't compare it to playing with her. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Wives are generally a little softer, often a bit more demanding, and always much more expensive....... |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Good G-d, MiB, I can't believe you left that one hanging out there. ;) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | That was a deliberate soft pitch, cruster. Moody was the only one to take a swing. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Another good thing about guitars is they never have a bad additude, and they don't mind being picked on. (: |
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September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I know ... That was stale, but I couldn't help myself. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | On the Chet Atkins / Jerry Reed cd, Sneakin' Around, Atkins does a tune called Gibson Girl....
"She was hiding in the closet, the day my wife walked out on me....." |
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Elite 1537
