The Ovation Fan Club
The Ovation Fan Club
Forum Search | Statistics | User Listing Forums | Calendars | Albums | Language
Your are viewing as a Guest. ( logon | register )

Random quote: “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” -Plato



Jump to page : 12
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
'87 Collector - Why So Good ???

View previous thread :: View next thread
   Forums Archive -> The Vault: 2008Message format
 
Gallerinski
Posted 2008-12-09 8:57 AM (#7791)
Subject: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996

Location: Phoenix AZ
To me the 1987 Collector sounds better acoustically than any other wood topped collectors series guitar. I've heard at least 6 of them and it's not coincidence that they have all been good. WHY? It's the same bowl as other models, same top as others, etc. etc. how did the planets line up for this one in particular (and why the hell did I sell mine)?

Toby
Top of the page Bottom of the page
dweezil
Posted 2008-12-09 9:16 AM (#7792 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336

Location: Brighty in Blighty
I don't know but I want one!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Patch
Posted 2008-12-09 9:34 AM (#7793 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221

Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent
We're not the only ones who think it's worth something, and mine's going nowhere any time soon.

Top Dollar Warning
Top of the page Bottom of the page
G8r
Posted 2008-12-09 9:51 AM (#7794 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969

Originally posted by Gallerinski:
I've heard at least 6 of them and it's not coincidence that they have all been good. WHY? It's the same bowl as other models, same top as others, etc. etc. how did the planets line up for this one in particular...
1. They found some leftover 1537 mojo in a storage closet.

2. The "supplier" from the 1537 days got out of jail and went back in business with some extra-potent "product" (this might be the same as #1).

3. The tonewood they used was a limited stock somebody had set aside as special and then forgotten, and had been aging away in a section of the building with just the right combination of temperature & humidity before being found again.

4. Beal took an intense interest in their design & production (he wanted to look really good in his new boots for the publicity shot for this guitar) and so everybody involved paid extra attention to detail.

5. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, everything just clicks.

EDIT: Patch, I don't think that price is at all unreasonable if it's in very good-to-excellent condition. There ya go, Toby, go rescue this one.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Gallerinski
Posted 2008-12-09 10:07 AM (#7795 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996

Location: Phoenix AZ
I think $1500 is about right, but I'm not the price police. I'm not interested to buy one again, but it always struck me as cusious how this model sounded so good. Same with the Book Elite which is the same guitar just 9 years younger.

Contrary to most of you, I prefer the 87C/BE sound over the 1537. I don't know, the 1537 and I just never bonded and I ended up selling all three. Nice guitars, no doubt about that.

Toby
Top of the page Bottom of the page
cliff
Posted 2008-12-09 10:16 AM (#7796 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
". . everything just clicks . ."

Kinda' like the Original SlotHeads did.


Ovation DID that . . . every once in a while.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
moody, p.i.
Posted 2008-12-09 10:24 AM (#7797 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15651

Location: SoCal
It's not something that I understand either. My 87C is far from original and it still has "that" sound that's so good. Perhaps it's the quality of the wood?

I do think that $1500 is a very fair market price for that guitar. It's that good....
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Jeff W.
Posted 2008-12-09 10:24 AM (#7798 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039

Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
. . . . "Shiny Bowls."
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Waskel
Posted 2008-12-09 10:27 AM (#7799 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840

Location: closely held secret
Yup to all the above. Pure luck that I found mine for little more than half that, on the Tampa CL of all places. The 87 and the LAVKoa are the two I play most often.

I'm just glad D'zilla is an honorable man and didn't decide to keep it when he picked it up for me!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
an4340
Posted 2008-12-09 10:59 AM (#7800 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389

Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands
I've only played one Col '87, and it was great. Why, I don't know, obviously the materials, design and builders just clicked that day.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
MusicMishka
Posted 2008-12-09 11:10 AM (#7801 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563

Location: Blue Ridge Mountains
I loved my '87-5: it was rare and mint and had a great sound: offered to the OFC @ $1195 it failed to sell...sold on Ebay for a BIN of $1395...a certain member wih is DYING to own a '87 turned it down because of the -5 color...whatever floats yer boat, it's cool...
It now resides in Greece and I have had a chance to buy it back...but I'm moving onward and upward...Book Elite hopefully by Christmas... :rolleyes:
Top of the page Bottom of the page
dweezil
Posted 2008-12-09 12:01 PM (#7802 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336

Location: Brighty in Blighty
Now who could you be alluding to? ;)
Top of the page Bottom of the page
lanaki
Posted 2008-12-09 12:18 PM (#7803 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575

Location: big island
at the first southern jam back in june of '07, i got the chance to play some phenomenal ovations, including a 47RI and a UTE plus a few high end taylors. musicmike's '87C is the guitar that most impressed me out of the whole bunch. dunno why either! i thought perhaps he owned a magical freak/fluke out of the lot. couldn't believe he'd sell it. seems the entire run of those is special.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
ProfessorBB
Posted 2008-12-09 12:34 PM (#7804 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881

Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains
Interesting thread. Don't have an 87C nor a 1537, but I do have two prototypes from about the same era (1982 and 1984) that may have wood tops similar to the 1537 and possibly the 87C. When compared to similar SSB-sized production models (1567 and Adamas 1881), all with identical strings, these two prototypes are noticeably different, so much so that others have commented on it. The difference is in tone, possibly midrange clarity, but I'm not sure I can accurately describe it. I have to attribute this to the wood tops, and possibly the OP24+ in the 1547 proto.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Patch
Posted 2008-12-09 12:47 PM (#7805 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221

Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent
Don't mis-understand me; I think the ad I linked to is asking a fair price as well. Though like Wabbit, I got mine off Craig's List for much less. (It was so rarely used that it still had the original strings on it! The closest thing to "new" that "used" could possibly get! ;) ) These are phenomenal guitars and completely deserve their reputation.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Mark in Boise
Posted 2008-12-09 1:01 PM (#7806 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750

Location: Boise, Idaho
I got a pretty good deal on mine, too, but it has a significant finish crack. It's a great guitar, but I can't say that it is "better" than the 1537 next to it, or the 30th CL. All 3 have their differences and all sound excellent to me. The 87 will go to my daughter in a couple years, so I'm already thinking about a replacement. If Dave and Miles would have waited to sell the Books, that would have worked. Maybe the price will be down by then. Probably not.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
MusicMishka
Posted 2008-12-09 1:30 PM (#7807 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563

Location: Blue Ridge Mountains
musicmike's '87C is the guitar that most impressed me out of the whole bunch. dunno why either! i thought perhaps he owned a magical freak/fluke out of the lot. couldn't believe he'd sell it. seems the entire run of those is special.
Randy, I really never planned to sell it...but things change...
I have good info that the Book Elite will be just as nice or nicer...I'm looking forward to it...
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Damon67
Posted 2008-12-09 1:49 PM (#7808 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6992

Location: Jet City
I know where there's a black 87C for $850 if anyone's interested. I've been eyeing it for a couple months, but I no longer am in "need".

Send me a PM if you're interested, and I'll direct you there.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Beal
Posted 2008-12-09 1:53 PM (#7809 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
They were the coolest. The 750 something natural ones, and the 100something black ones but the really cool ones are the 22 super-bear claw ones made at the end of the run. And then there is the matching 12 string.............
Top of the page Bottom of the page
sligoman
Posted 2008-12-09 2:01 PM (#7810 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 283

Location: Portland, OR
I guess any difference in sound would have to be in the wood. Or here's another thought. They're so nice to look at and own that maybe that concept applies to the makers as well. Maybe the folks that put these together put in extra effort because of what they were making. Kind of off the wall but something I hadn't thought of before. Maybe we think of these guitars as end products and don't consider the variety of effort that goes into their making. They sure had a top flight design.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
G8r
Posted 2008-12-09 2:07 PM (#7811 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969

Let's not forget the one and only bursty!


Although I'd kill for a BCS!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Damon67
Posted 2008-12-09 2:08 PM (#7812 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6992

Location: Jet City
Bear Claw? WOW! I didn't know that.

ANyone here have one?
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Patch
Posted 2008-12-09 2:15 PM (#7813 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221

Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent
I'd jump for a BCS as well, but I'd do back flips for that 12-string! :eek: I didn't know there was one! Where are they? Inquiring minds wanna know!

g8r, don't ever bring that burst one into my presence. I'm not sure I could explain such a mysterious disappearance to the police. :p :cool:
Top of the page Bottom of the page
G8r
Posted 2008-12-09 2:19 PM (#7814 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???


Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969

Matching bear claw 6 & 12 - dare to dream!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Patch
Posted 2008-12-09 2:27 PM (#7815 - in reply to #7791)
Subject: Re: '87 Collector - Why So Good ???



Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221

Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent
Originally posted by g8r:
Matching bear claw 6 & 12 - dare to dream!


Doggone it g8r! Now how am I supposed to sleep tonight?
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Jump to page : 1 2
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
Jump to forum :
Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

This message board and website is not sponsored or affiliated with Ovation® Guitars in any way.
Registered to: The Ovation Fanclub™ Copyright (c) 2001
free counters
(Delete all cookies set by this site)