Ovation 1651

1980 Ovation 1651, made in Connecticut, 20 frets, solid spruce top, acoustic/electric, active elecs, maple & mahogany neck with walnut on the headstock, no cutaway, gold tuners, thin neck, original hardcase...

I'm quite partial to heavy strings and with this guitar, I get that deep sound I love. Sure, it's no Martin, but this guitar sounds incredible. Playing acoustic rock, it fits the bill. I'll have this guitar forever.

Well, I like to play the top of the neck and augment with tons of power chords, and since the action is set SOOO low, it seems to work out. I do need to have the electronics worked on a bit, seems after 23 years, they've done their job and need a little love. Ovation gets a call from me, and soon.

The most reliable guitar in my collection. I use it live and for recording, and have yet to have a problem. Other than that damn battery, I'd change nothing. When using this guitar, I have no backup...blah blah blah

Ovation customer service people are the most friendly on the planet.

blah blah blah

I believe my Legend 1651 was made in the early 80's, but I am not sure. The serial number is 264128, made in CT. 20 frets, solid sitka spruce top, round back-deep bowl, no cutaway. Has the mono and stereo outputs with an under saddle piezoelectric pickup with tone and volume in a single POT. The neck is the beautiful five piece maple and mahogany laminate with a walnut headstock overlay. Fretboard is ebony with diamond MOP inlays. Tuning keys are gold plated and are in beautiful condition. Hardshell case is original I believe.

I have not played a huge amount of guitars and my ears are not that fine tuned so I will just say that I think it has fine tone and is very bright. The bass notes don't boom like some I have played, but the deep bowl definitely helps. The shallow bowls just don't project the bass unless they are plugged in. I play it unplugged 90% of the time. I have played guitars which I considered to have better sound- Taylors and Martins and a couple Takimines, but this one definitely compares with them. Mine needs a setup and has since I bought it a year ago, so it may end up sounding even better when I replace the nut and get it adjusted. Theres slight buzzing in the low E on some frets.

I can't comment on factory settings obviousy, but the guitar has held up amazingly well for its 20-/+ years. The craftsmanship is fine and the finish is perfect except for a scratch near the bottom which was there when I bought it. There is no checking or cracks anywhere.

I have never played it on stage, but I think it would be perfect for live play. The finish is tough as nails and shows no wear on the neck whatsoever. Everything is solid on this guitar.

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I have only been playing guitar regularly for about two years. I played Bass for a Christian band in New England for several years and decided to learn the guitar only recently. I also own an Epiphone Sheraton which I love and a Gibson EB-3 bass. I bought the Legend because I knew they are very reliable and sturdy and are consistant in quality. I think I might go with a Taylor if I had to replace it, but cost would be a factor. I would probably not buy a new Ovation.

I bought it new in 1989, It's a stereo/electric, round backed, acoustic, natural finish with gold hardware. Tone and volume controls mounted on top of ech other. I believe this was one of the first Ovations with the tone control but I wouldn't swear to it. Standard pickup in the bridge. It's an Ovation but I've never run into another model like this. I give it a 10 because of the stereo output.

I use this guitar primarily to record, though I used it live, plugged directly into 2 channels of a mixer, going to a PA when I used to play in bands. It created a great, cheap stereo effect in a live setting.

It's a bright electric guitar, for recording maybe too bright even adjusting the tone control but I compensate by pluggin into a POD or RP-12 before the recorder and simultaneously miking the guitar through the mixer where the neck and soundhole meet.

It's great sounding live though because it cuts through the mix in a Rock band. let's the crowd know there is an acoustic on stage as well as electric solidbodies and bass. I played it in a three guitar band and that can be a bit overwhelming, soundwise, if you know what I mean.
Acoustically, it's just fine. Typical ovation but a deeper sound than many of the newer models. I like it because it doesn't overpower my typically quiet baritone voice.
That's two great sounds and one not quite as good

I bought it in 1979 and never had a setup until I had to change the frets recently. It always played and sounded perfectly. I used to hate the changing of the battery till I found out a screwdriver releases the mounting on the inside to make life easy. What a dope I was!!!!

I bought it in 1989 and would still take it out in public to play with.

I developed a slight buzzing and had the frets changed in 2000. No problems since then except I had always used Ernie Ball 10's (hey! it IS an electric too) and now I HAVE to use 12's since the set-up. The luthier said it was because of the age and new frets...I don't know if I buy that but it still sounds great.
there appears to have been some shrinkage on the soundboard finish that caused a crack but not in the wood. I thought that's what was wrong originally when it started buzzing.

There appears to be a small 1/2 sized BB-gun shatter hole on the soundboard...I'm sure I caused that through carelessness.

The gold hardware has pitted but I always new it would.

Despite these gripes - It's been my best guitar and lasted longer than my '63 Esquire, or any other for that matter. It's the oldest and most reliable guitar in my collection

never needed 'em

I've been playing since 1964. Though I played in bands when younger, I mostly write and compose Americana/Rock music and record at home nowadays.
I recently got to say I recently picked up a Guild JF-30 and it is a much better sounding acoustic, it ought to be for the price <grin>. But the purpose of an Ovation is utilitarian and this is the one guitar I have never been tempted to trade. Until the purchase of the Guild, it has been the only acoustic guitar in collection.

My electrics include a PRS EGIII, Ric620, Nashville Power Tele (replacing my forever mourned '63 Esquire), 1989 Fender Strat XII, Ric360/6, Hamer Echotone, and Reverend Avenger - signed #139.

I doubt you'll ever run into this model. I posted because I didn't see a rating for it and it's not listed in the trade "blue books".