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Location: Location Location Location | I've read the discussions here on various occasions, and have seen pictures of these, but just wondered what makes them so good. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | rumors and myths.........
and of course the fact that it lives up to both! |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | I was having so much fun with the '93 that I clean forgot I had a 1537. Off to play it - will report back. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Brooklyn:
I've read the discussions here on various occasions, and have seen pictures of these, but just wondered what makes them so good. It sounds like a Martin.
Dave |
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Location: Jet City | The sound. |
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Location: SoCal | I don't know that it sounds like a Martin, but the quality of sound is there. It's got a lot of range from deep to high, and it's got clarity, where ever on the neck you're playing.
Since I got my rebuilt 87C back, the 1537 doesn't get played as much, but every time I think I should sell it, I pick it up, and know that it's not going anywhere..... |
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| Bottom end - deep.
Highs - crisp.
Volume - loud.
Mojo - in spades.
I would compare it very favorably to my Adamas 08C, almost equally except for that distinct sound of a CF top, and it easily beats out my other wood top O's (even my 87C, Paul).
Mine's not leaving. Ever. |
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Location: SoCal | Mojo.
Agreed..... |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Originally posted by Brooklyn:
I've read the discussions here on various occasions, and have seen pictures of these, but just wondered what makes them so good. It sounds like a Martin.
Dave |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Got a bit carried away 3 hours of 1537 and would like to say I agree totally g8r, the thing just sings and is a well balanced / full voiced tone machine.
That was fun, gotta go back to the wood shed. |
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| What does it make her to sound so different from the other Elites?The deep bowl? |
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Location: SoCal | When the 1537's were built, they used the finest materials, the best woods, and there was serious care taken with them. In mid 1984, the production of them was moved from Mooseup CT to the factory in New Hartford. At that time, the content of them was "lessened", for lack of a better word. The quality of the wood tops was downgraded slightly, the wood body bined was deleted, the black walnut fretboard was changed to rosewood, etc. The resulting guitars, the 1718 Elites were damned fine instruments, but they weren't 1537's..... |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I'll still argue that the 1537 might be the finest sounding wood top O. And it more than most others, really you to be in front of it to appreciate the tone... |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I might agree with you Jeff W.
They were great, sound really good.
They way they were constructed was special and only lasted a few years before becoming productionized. There is only around a thousand of them and they have stood the test of time. |
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Location: Jet City | I think the -1 finishes (at least mine) have the nicest burst of all the Os too. Nick did a great job.
I AM very biased though. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I'd agree with that too |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Can't wait to see mine again. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I think the birch ply in part of the top may have had something to do with the good sound. |
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Location: SoCal | I like the "mojo" answer best..... |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | There was a tank in Moosup where the mojo was kept. Every guitar got a quart. When production moved to New Hartford the tank didn't get moved. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | :D :D |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I am in! I got one!
Put on new strings and old knobs last night an made my fingers sore. Yes!
As for Mojo:
Sometimes the Artesians around here tap into a few Mojo pockets and it gets into the water pipes. Tacoma had a real outpour in the 50's but it is a spurious and unpredictable event.
I don't know what they have been putting in the Seattle water lately, but it ain't right!
Back in the 80's they used to channel most of the Stupid out of the Olympia (State Capitol) water and shipped it out in the beer. When that stopped they moved the Plant to California, still waiting on the permits to start filtering though. |
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Location: Location Location Location | Uh oh..Now that I've tapped into the joys of this 1537 beast, I can see it's not gonna be easy to pry one out of someone's happy clenched fists...not without some big serious hard cash..
Maybe not even then.. |
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| Be patient and alert - the occasional one pops up. I've seen 2 or 3 so far this year on eBay. Even one with "issues" is worth getting. And the Mothership wizards can make anything right. |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Originally posted by g8r:
Bottom end - deep.
Highs - crisp.
Volume - loud.
Mojo - in spades.
I would compare it very favorably to my Adamas 08C, almost equally except for that distinct sound of a CF top, and it easily beats out my other wood top O's (even my 87C, Paul).
Mine's not leaving. Ever. This one puzzled me. I have had my 08C for several months now and I would have never thought to compare it to the 1537. Both exquisite to be sure, but they sound so entirely different from each other.....Great guitars both they are (in my best Yoda imitation). |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | They can be had, but if you see one be quick.
Yes you're right, most owners will never part with their 1537, me included. |
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| Originally posted by JeffreyD:
Originally posted by g8r:
...I would compare it very favorably to my Adamas 08C... This one puzzled me. I have had my 08C for several months now and I would have never thought to compare it to the 1537. Both exquisite to be sure, but they sound so entirely different from each other.....Great guitars both they are (in my best Yoda imitation).
That said, the difference in actual sound is striking. The 1537 is more "woody", perhaps a bit warmer, while the 08C has that distinct "punch" you get from the CF top.
I'd be interested in others' interpretations. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | "The 1537 is more "woody", perhaps a bit warmer"
As in Phat like me but friendlier? |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | [/qb] I was thinking more along the lines of tonal balance and volume. Both of these guitars have incredible balance across the ranges all up and down the fretboard, and they're equally loud.
That said, the difference in actual sound is striking. The 1537 is more "woody", perhaps a bit warmer, while the 08C has that distinct "punch" you get from the CF top.
[/QB]
Then we are in agreement. Different but dynamic each. A perfect "if I were to only have TWO acoustic guitars" argument...a 1537 and 08C. |
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Location: SoCal | The 1537 and 08C may be great "if I could only have 2 guitars" choices, but then the 87C has a slightly different sound from the 1537. And have you ever played a center sound hole A braced deep bowl Legend? Another sound altogether. Too many choices and currently, not enough money! |
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| "...but then the 87C has a slightly different sound from the 1537."
Got one! :D
"And have you ever played a center sound hole A braced deep bowl Legend? Another sound altogether."
Got one, too! :D
Some great ice cream flavors, there.
"Too many choices and currently, not enough money!"
Ain't dat da truf! |
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Location: Jet City | I ain't gots me a 87C yet (or a book for that matter), but I sure do agree with the rest. The deep bowl, A-braced, kbar Legend is my second fav, right behind the 1537. They're right about the same year too (going back to my 'favorite era' topic and my love of the 80's)
The 1778LX has a great tone too, but the volume just doesn't seem to be the same.
Then of course there's the Adamas, but that should be in it's own category. |
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What Makes the 1537 So Desirable?