Are '80's Ovations that aren't cracked/weatherchecked/mistreated rare?

[crunchee]

Like the question says.... Just wondering, as I have a couple of acoustic deep-bowl Balladeers that don't have any of those problems and play and sound great, but when I'm looking online for a third in comparable condition, it's nearly impossible to find one...and when I do, the seller wants big bucks. The majority of old Ovations that I see for sale from the '70's and '80's look to me like a previous owner thought they were indestructible because of the 'Lyracord' synthetic back, and either left them in the trunk of their car for months in hot or cold weather (or both), or brought them in from the cold and opened the case without letting the guitar warm up gently first. I kinda doubt that the majority of Ovations in this shape did this spontaneously for no particular reason. Any thoughts about this, and any tales of horror to go along with them? TIA!

[hamerhead]

I've had 3 that were good: one given to the church when theirs was stolen, one I got here that was a little more beat to give my daughter to use at college, and the one I kept to replace the first one. They pop up around here on CL every now and again, usually right before school lets out.

I've seen some ugly ones though, too.

[Armitage]

I've seen lots with split tops...

[cmatthes]

The split tops seem to be the biggest issue over time with those.

I have a SUPER nice (and rare) one that I got from Turdus a few years back, but I can't tell you the last time I even saw the case, much less had it out of it.

[DaveL]

I have an ovation that I like (1868 elite that I bought brand new 15 years ago, still in great shape)

I think that there are deals to be had for those who still like em... I would avoid top cracks (had

one once and the thing completely split open). I would recommend checking the used section

on gc.com to get an idea of what these go for used. would not overpay for one nowadays.

[Hbom]

I sold my '85 25th Anniversary model this past winter. It was/is a great guitar, just not getting out of the closet much.

Always seem to miss un-played guitars more after I sell them than I did when they were just wasting away in the case.

[anotherfreak]

I have two, an Elite, and a Folklore, both early 90's, both have cracked tops. I have always used them when I travel and I am pretty nice to them. I have had to glue the Folklore back together after plane flights, and it is an awesome guitar to this day! I always wanted to order a REAL custom or maybe an Adamas, but alas.....

anyway, "non-cracked" would be a premium to me, but cracks are not a deal-killer IF I dig the guitar

[Jeff R]

My '81 Pacemaker is un-cracked and stupid clean for it's age. The back story when I got it two years ago was a woman in rural Mississippi bought it brand new decades ago to play in church. Now quite elderly I was told, the lady traded it in on a six-string Ovation only because her arthritic hands couldn't handle the 12 strings or the beefier neck anymore. I've continued the obvious tradition of casing this guitar when not in use. Really nice instrument and acquired at what I considered a steal of a price.