Interesting Longneck on eBay
red-twins
Posted 2016-03-29 5:42 PM (#523258)
Subject: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
February 2013
Posts: 176

Location: Cologne/Germany

There is an Ovation on eBay.com, obviously a Long neck, but labeled as 1768 and with standard Elite fret markers. I know there was an early advert of Longnecks showing the same  fret markers, but so far never  heard they were used. There is no serial number on the back of the headstock, so I assume this guitar to be even older than my 1994 Longneck...And that would mean it probably is one of the oldest longnecks ever built.

I would like to ask the seller, but I cannot place a question, possibly because he does not sell to Germany. Would someone here mind to do me a favour and ask for the serial number?!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ovation-Elite-1768-long-neck-guitar-made-in-U-S-A-/222067753679?252

 

Thanks, Georg

 

 



Edited by red-twins 2016-03-29 5:47 PM
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2wheeldrummer
Posted 2016-03-29 6:19 PM (#523259 - in reply to #523258)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 714

Location: moline,illinois		I sent the seller a message asking for the serial number and if it was a custom model since it doesn't say DS768 longneck on the label like you would expect.I'll let you know what he replies
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2wheeldrummer
Posted 2016-03-29 10:08 PM (#523263 - in reply to #523258)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
February 2014
Posts: 714

Location: moline,illinois		The seller replied with serial number 478079 which puts it at 1994,according to the FAQ section longnecks were started in 1995 so this could be a pre-production model.
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red-twins
Posted 2016-03-30 2:20 AM (#523265 - in reply to #523263)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
February 2013
Posts: 176

Location: Cologne/Germany

just saw your post on the bay before coming back to the OFC, thank you!

I know that it is said they only started in 1995, but I myself own one with SN 483...., so mine dates also from 1994. Mine has the same electronics and looks as the one on the bay, but is correctly labeled and has the correct  fret inlays.

The one on the bay is even older, yet both might be early attempts....

My 1995 CCB has the serial number on the headstock and the next generation pickup.

Would be nice to have this one, but on the other hand, it does not  really make sense. I already have five....

Again, thanks for asking him!

BTW, I think I asked you before 2WD, would you mind to send me a photo of your DS 768, since I collect everything about Longnecks I can get!?

 



Edited by red-twins 2016-03-30 2:21 AM
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Beal
Posted 2016-03-30 1:27 PM (#524277 - in reply to #523258)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch		What do you want to know?
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red-twins
Posted 2016-03-30 5:40 PM (#524290 - in reply to #524277)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
February 2013
Posts: 176

Location: Cologne/Germany

Well Beal, thanks for the offer, so I take a chance...

At first: I actually own five Longnecks, and easily it could be more... very hard for me to let one pass that's on the market.
I still keep looking for them and I collect pics from the www and any information I can get hold of.

Most interesting are those that do not fit into the official building period and looks.

Mostly you find the information (e.g. Ovation model reference in the FAQ section of the OFC) that they were built between 1995 and 1999 as DS 768 in natural finish and CCB and from 2000 as DS 778 with mid bowl until 2001, only in natural. But there was a 2004 DS 778 on Reverb, and I have also found pics of at least two lefties.

And there are a few old sunbursts as well, as are black ones:
I, myself, do own a DS 778-5, from 2007, bought in New York last year, and there is another black one from 2009 actually on ebay (without fret inlays at all).

I do also own a 2001 guitar, with the looks of the DS 778-4, but with a deep bowl and abalone fret markers...

So I guess, they are all custom made...?!
As I got it so far, the factory did a lot of special wishes, so why not these as well...
----
But probably the first/oldest Longneck ever is the one on this photo, with the epis not inversed and with standard Elite fret inlays...  where is this guitar!?

here again:


Earlier this week I saw the "Longneck" mentioned  in the opening thread on ebay US.
It is similar to the one on your photo, labeled "Elite 1768", natural finish, inversed epis, it has got the standard Elite fret inlays, but it obviously has the longer scale...
The SN dates this one in 1994.

I also own a 1994, handwritten labeled as DS 768-4, which already has the standard looks of the later models, but the older preamp and the SN still inside, not on the headstock.

- - - -

So, really, I do not have a single question, but am interested to sort this all out....

Beal, I do not expect a long answer, but you asked 

Kind regards, a german fan

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Beal
Posted 2016-03-31 9:27 AM (#524310 - in reply to #523258)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch		I think the first 5 we made were the Bleen Adamas. I have one and Timm Kummer has #1 that I sold his wife for his birthday. I guess that was in 94
Steve Sutton and I got the idea to do this at the Music Messe after watching Gordon Giltrap trying to tune a little parlor guitar down to C, the strings flapped everywhere. I said there has to be a better way and the rest came from that. There was thoughts to make it in a wood tp as well and there were several versions of that as it got rolling. Safe to say you know them all better than me by now.
the concept was to keep 14 frets clear, but have it tuned down to D, but with normal tension on the strings. to do this you have to add two frets so I moved the bridge back, effectively making it a 12 fret guitar, even with 14 clear of the body. Everyone knows 12 fritters have a warmer sound so we got a bigger warmer sound, 14 frets clear, and with 14-60 strings you can go down to C or B. I just play mine with EJ17 strings and tune to D, and when needed, capo 2 and have a regular guitar. I left in 98 and didn't know about the shallow version or any of the others from overseas.
I have a 2080 custom, a book, the Bleen Adamas, and an Adamas 2 12string, we made about 5 of those for Melissa but it didn't seem to hit the hot button.
It's a great guitar and i've sold several to friends and given several away as well. And I bought this one too. Thanks for pointing it out.

Edited by Beal 2016-03-31 9:29 AM
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red-twins
Posted 2016-03-31 11:28 AM (#524315 - in reply to #524310)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
February 2013
Posts: 176

Location: Cologne/Germany

Thanks a lot Beal for sharing these memories!

That's much more than I ever expected or hoped for.

I only do not know the bleen Adamas. Google does not help....  Is it the guitar Preston Reed is often shown with?

Again, thanks a lot for taking the time. Much appreciated.

Georg

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Beal
Posted 2016-03-31 11:47 AM (#524316 - in reply to #523258)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch		We made a couple for Preston after the first 5. One of his might have been bleen. There was an orangish one. I think we made him 3 all together. They didn't have all the holes in the upper bout so he could use it as a drum better.
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red-twins
Posted 2016-03-31 2:45 PM (#524321 - in reply to #524316)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
February 2013
Posts: 176

Location: Cologne/Germany

Okay, thanks a lot Beal.

I guess your 2080 Custom is similar to StephenT's twin pair, I know the Book Longneck, and I do have a photo of a black 12string Longneck Ovation...

but not from a 12string Adamas. If you don't mind...do you have a photo of yours?!

Anyway, nice to know the story of how and where (Germany ) the Longneck was 'born'.

Regards, Georg

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Beal
Posted 2016-03-31 3:24 PM (#524322 - in reply to #523258)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch		yeah my 2080 was 6 months before T28's. it has a pointed pegged where as T's are pretty much straight Mine also has a big fat walnut neck, and a flat ebony fb. better for slide Also the electronics are the one with the 5 settings. Fisherman did those using 5 different mics on the same guitar. on mine I went up and he redid it using the 5 mins but on my 2080 so it is actually that guitar that models the sound.

its the one I was using in the NAMM video

Edited by Beal 2016-03-31 3:25 PM
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red-twins
Posted 2016-03-31 4:14 PM (#524323 - in reply to #523258)
Subject: Re: Interesting Longneck on eBay



Joined:
February 2013
Posts: 176

Location: Cologne/Germany		saw the vid before but did not realize it was a Longneck.... 

Edited by red-twins 2016-03-31 4:16 PM
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