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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 43
| Just bought an Ovation Viper 3.Same story as most of my O's.It has been hanging at my local Guitar Center for about 3 years.I always looked at it but,seeing as I'm not a big electric guy,I never thought much about it.Did some research and everything I read or heard said to grab it,they are rare.Anyway,I go to the store and ask the sales guy how long it had been there.He lies and says "A couple of months".Asking price is 799,I say I have 500,and the sales guy proceeds to "Call Hollywwod".They actuly say that then pick up a phone.Pretty wierd.Hollywood says 599 and I say O.K.,if it has the case.It does.Got it home and laid it out and I'm stunned.This is like a giant Telecaster,but much better built.The quality of everything is top notch.I played it with my friends 1000 $Stratocaster,same amp,swapped guitars with both of us playing both guitars for awhile.We both agreed the Strat looked, played and sounded cheap and flimsy compared to this thing.1979-80 Viper 111 Natural.Pics soon |
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July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Awesome. I've always wanted to play one. Congratulations. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I'd like to find one of those. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
I'd like to find one of those. Why? |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I passed on one a while ago and have been kicking myself ever since. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Another one of those best kept secrets. Get one while you still can. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Say Ultrafan, what body wood is your Viper III? Mine is ash and this contributes to its heavy weight. I haven't weighed it to be exact, but handling one against the other, it feels close to a typically heavy Les Paul, and certainly more than either an ash Strat (I have three) or ash telecaster. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Congrats on the Viper III, I've always wanted to try one, see how it sounds compared to a regular Viper.
My Viper is a barnburst (grey burst), so I don't know what wood it is but, it's far heavier than any other Viper I've played.
I'm interested to see the pics! |
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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 43
| The wood is "Swamp Ash".Very easy to identify by the giant grain pattern.They made these in maple also,much tighter grain and heavier than the ash.
One of the great things about this guitar is the scale length,25.5 inches.The 12th fret is in the middle of the neck. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | 
Suggestions as to what this wood is?
Sounds like it may be Swamp Ash on Ultrafans description!!
Not sure of the weight.
AJ |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Mine looks the same, AJ, but I don't know if the log was yanked out of the mud which I recall reading somewhere was the distinguishing characteristic of swamp ash. My recollection is that underwater submersion of the log for a long period of time added more color to the grain. |
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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 43
| Aussijames,that is the exact same guitar as mine.The body's look like twins.My S/N is 16876.Now everybody can see what a gem this thing is.Form follows function at its best.And yes,Ash from a swamp,so i'm told by web research of guitar woods.There is a guy on Youtube that does a great review of this guitar. |
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Viper 3
