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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Well, thanks to Tony C, the stable just grew a bit larger with the addition of a couple new workhorses.
I received a 1537 and a 30th anniversary CL in marvelous condition this afternoon and after letting my babies get use to the new climate and temperature for about 4 hours, tuned them up and gave them a brisk workout.
The 1537 is one of the warmest O's I have ever played. Sound is very reminiscent of an all wood guitar. Plays fairly easily and sounds terrific.
The 30th anniversary CL is beautiful to look at and plays extremely easy. Doesn't sound quite as robust as the 1537 but I think it is a little easier to play.
Haven't plugged them in yet to make any comparisons but based on the unplugged sound I doubt seriously that I will come away disappointed with either one.
I also thought the sound on both of them came alive even more after playing them for another hour after I had taken a break.
Very happy with these new puppies. Should keep me busy until the new 12 fret slothead Adamas shows up to become my new favorite.
Thanks Tony for making my decision easier and for such a smooth transaction. You are the West Coast AL ;) .
Stephen |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by stephent28:
The 1537 is one of the warmest O's I have ever played. Sound is very reminiscent of an all wood guitar.
Stephen, NOT to pat myelf on the back ... BUT ... I think that was EXACTLY what I told you in an email, right? How could I be so smart ??? Well, actually the 1537 is a no brainer and just about any schmuck would easily recognize it.
The thing that bugs the shit out of me about the 1537 is HOW did Ovation do it (the great woody sound) and WHY did they stop after a few years? The 1537 is one damn great sounding guitar and if more people HEARD it, instead of a lot of import and shallow bowl crap, the Ovation reputation for quality guitar sound would be miles better than it is today. Bill once predicted that in 15-20 years the 1537 will be sought after just like the slotheads are now. I have no reason to doubt that he's right. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Go ahead...pat yourself on the back ;) .
Why do you think I seek you out for advice. :D
Now if I could just get you to part with a 12 string slothead at a price that didn't require a 2nd mortgage!!!!!
Stephen |
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Location: Vancouver, B.C. | please excuse my ignorance, but what is the model name of the 1537? I am new to the world of Ovations :p |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | 1537 is Elite. But you have to be careful, there are "Elites" and then there is the "1537". The 1537 was the first and best Elite. Deepbowl, non-cutaway, 2-knob adamas stereo electronics, etc. For some insane reason they only made it for a few years. Then the details and style changed, but the name "Elite" continued and there are maybe a dozen variations of the modern "Elite". Don't get me wrong, all Elites are nice but not a one of them comes close to the original 1537. That guitar has some serious mojo. |
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Location: Tennessee | The closest thing Ovation is making today is the Elite 1718 ...
Elite 1718
It is a deep bowl, non cutaway guitar. No 1537, but a damn fine instrument nonetheless. |
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Location: Central Florida | I asked this not too long ago, but I'll go ahead and ask again anyway... Is there any discernable difference in sound between the hallowed 1537 and a 1718? I've never played a 1537, but I own a 1718 that was built in 1989, and it sounds and plays great. Looks basically the same as the 1537, except mine has ivory binding around the body as opposed to the wood binding on the 1537, and OP24 electronics instead of the two-knobber stereo configuration. So, looks aside, is there any real difference in how the two compare sonically?
Jeff |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Jeff. I have not played them exactly side by side. But I have spent a lot of time on a 1718 (friend used to own one) and also on my own 1537. To me, there is most cedrtainly a difference. The 1718 is LOUDER and BRIGHTER, is the only way I can describe it. The 1537 sounds like WOOD. I know those are stupid terms to throw around, but I just can't put my finger on it. The 1537 sounds like a fine wooden box guitar. I've got two "wood" guitars and the 1537 is the closest thing to them. It's just got some kind of karma. Almost scares me. I don't play plugged in so I could not tell you how the OP-24 compares to the (ex-) 2-knob shoe-box. |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Also, the 1537 has the floating fingerboard over the top like an Adamas wereas the later ones do not.
Wayne |
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Location: NJ | the 1537 came from Nick Mackin who was the head of the Adamas operation in moosup Ct. Nick told me that he thought the Adamas was a great guitar but always wanted to see what would happen if you made one with a wood top. He did and Charlie K was not a happy pup. He told him that they were building carbon fiber guitars and should not be worried with wood tops. Nick used real wood binding, and made a few prototypes and released them to the sales force, in a few months they had a ton of orders for these "wood top Adamas" guitars. they needed a name, Ford had the car named and elite at the time and Nick thought that would work, so the elite was born. |
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Location: SoCal | I never knew that about the history of the 1537's. |
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Location: SoCal | From what Bill told me, there were two prototypes with tear drop fretboard inlaids...couldn't find the picture of Campbell playing one, Bill's got the other...inlaids and Adamas II bridge on the prototypes.
From what I understand, initially N-19-82WTSL (WTSL for Wood Top Super Legend.)
Any one have pictures of the WTSL? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It's in the book somewhere. The one Glen has has the two inlays both pointing to the bass side. Mine has the points going to each side of the fret board. Both of these have wood binding but the ad2 bridge. There were a couple wood tops built using the Adamas ring attachment (instead of the industrial duct tape). I think Sam has/had one of these?
I agree with Dave that the 1537 has more acousticness that a 1718. Just all those little things Nick and his crew would do vs a production line(and no negative implied or intended here). |
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Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by Tony Calman:
...From what I understand, initially N-19-82WTSL (WTSL for Wood Top Super Legend.)...
Hey, isn't that the tail number from W2's GV-SP?
:D |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hey John, isn't it time you changed that tagline to include the Hamer? |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Tony, Glen's Elite proto is pictured on page 82 of The Book and it clearly shows the custom inlay.
Also, there was a 1537 proto on ebay a while back (Dave's?) that had the name "Legend Elite Prototype" on the tag.
Wayne |
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Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by stephent28:
Hey John, isn't it time you changed that tagline to include the Hamer?
For kicks and giggles I've thrown a bunch in. :0 |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Wayne, The one with the "Elite Legend Proto" was not mine. I think that might have been the Nutmeg one. Mine was a very "stealth" auction. Poor description and crappy photos. That's how I stole it for such a rediculus price ($430). I should feel guilty, except that I'm usually the one who pays way TOO much for stuff, just because I want it so badly. It was about time I got a deal. And a Sunburst one at that! |
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Location: SoCal | re: Glen's Elite proto is pictured on page 82
wondered about that the 1st time looking but the tag to the picture threw me off..."Glen Campbell loved the Adamas from the first time he played one."
thanks |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | A GV, yeah I used to love when they pulled up and had to pick up people for a little trip to the left coast. "Top it off, Captain?" |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | $430?? Nice catch, Dave!
Tony, I remember wondering about that pic the first time I saw it...didn't know about the Elite prototypes at that time...isn't this site great?
Wayne |
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Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by cwk2:
A GV, yeah I used to love when they pulled up and had to pick up people for a little trip to the left coast. "Top it off, Captain?"
I've always liked the Hawker 400XP, but the looks of the 400A/Premier I are...nice.
My wife's employer has switched from older Gulf's to Falcon's, I guess. Haven't gotten a ride in once since the changeover, although she's gone on a few trips. I always get the short end...
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Location: Central Florida | This is a very interesting thread. If I may ask a dumb question here, what exactly is a floating fingerboard? Does that mean it's not glued to the top? Gee, now I'm startin' to feel bummed about my 1718... it's still my workhorse though!
Jeff |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Jeff, I didn't word that wery well but I was referring to the portion of the fingerboard that extends from the fourteenth fret out over the top. On the Adammi, at least the earlier ones that I am familiar with, this section is not glued to the top. There is about a 3/16" space between the fretboard and the top in this area. This supposedly allows the top to vibrate more freely and the 1537 shares the feature with the Adamas.
That being said, if you love your Elite the way it is then that's the main thing...play on!
Wayne |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes, that is what floating means. The other side is that playing any notes up there sound really thin whereaz on a glued fretboard they will sound much better.
Jeff, it's splitting hairs again, but then that's what so much of this guitar-homo stuff is about anyway. The 1718 is a great instrument.
Tha Falcon 50 is a nice ride too. My wife loves them but I told her she couldn't have one. So now she wants a CLS500. I think I need to get my want list going again, just for balance, you understand........ |
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Great thread here guys. I own a 1718 and love it. It's my workhorse. But it's always good to get the dirt on some of Ovation's best kept secrets, like the 1537 apparently.
Standing Ovation (is your name Dave?), I have an FD14 and I believe you have 1 as well. It has a very woody sound. Is the 1537 similar?
Jim |
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Location: Tennessee | I got away easy ... lady stonebobbo wanted a new table and chairs for the kitchen. She got 'em in a heartbeat. Ball's back in my court but please, hurry, Al, I need to get that OFC guitar on order before the tables turn, so to speak.
Back to the 1537 ... I got mine a few months back and it indeed is an awesome guitar. The floating fretboard, the AAA top, the handcrafted nature of the line, and the walnut fingerboard all contribute to the unique sound put out by the guitar. It doesn't sound like anything else I have. But that also goes for other guitars in the stable ... for instance, my 2000 Collectors has a sound and feel that I really, really like. It's sound is different ... not better, not worse, just different, and very pleasing (to me) in its own right (even though it is a panelmeister). To me, it actually plays better and easier than the 1537, but that's simply a matter of individual likes and feel. At the end of the day it's a neverending search for tone and feel, and there's always another guitar on the horizon to call your new favorite, and a lot of old ones to fall in love with all over again. |
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Location: SoCal | Re: "It doesn't sound like anything else I have. But that also goes for other guitars in the stable "
That's what drives us to keep adding to the "stable." To me, that is what Ovation has that other makers don't.
A friend once remarked about how wonderful it is that we can be so subjective into what is the best when all of them are so great. I really haven't found an Ovation that I didn't like. |
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