OVATION ULTRA ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC

  • Ovation Ultra Acoustic Electric guitar
    Ovation Ultra Acoustic Electric

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • acoustic guitars

Series name: 

Dates of manufacture: 

1983 to 1991

OVATION produced the ULTRA ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC (model numbers 1511, 1512 and 1517) between 1983 and 1991. The Ultra series were made in Ovation's Korean factory and had laminated sitka spruce tops (with K5 bracing pattern), deep bowl bodies and were fitted with Ovation's piezoelectric and FET preamp system.  The 1512 was not available in the USA - but was identical to the 1517 model, except it did not have a tone control. These originally had urelite necks (a dense urethane foam) but these were changed to wooden necks from 1985 onwards.

Specifications (20)

General

Dimensions
1035 × 400 × 148 mm
Finish colorsgray finish, natural finish
Finish effectssunburst finish
Made inKorea
Bindingivory body-binding
Number of strings6 strings
Scale length25.4 inches scale-length

Body

Body back materialcomposite body back
Body styledeep bowl body
Body top materiallaminated spruce body top

Neck

Body fretNeck joins body at 14th fret
Neck materialpolyurethane neck
Neck width1.69 inches wide at nut
Number of frets20 fret
Tuner layoutthree-each-side

Hardware

Bridgewalnut bridge
Hardware colornickel hardware
TunersPing tuners

Fretboard

Fingerboard materialrosewood fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersdiamond fingerboard position markers

Prices (25)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
1997$900excellentMike MollerGreat sounding Guitar , the owner did not want to part with it . great condition almost new .
1987$300new
1984$419newJimbeeza
1976$400new
2015$200goodGreat tone, action, perfect for contemporary gospel.
1994€1400good
1989$250excellent
1984$450new
1997$150goodG. MorrisHas a few cosmetic cracks common on these because of the top finish used on them, but structurally fine: Looks & sounds great. Pea Green Sunburst, Model# 1528. Serial#193634 Made: '86-'90 Not sure how to find out the exact year made, because their date guide only works for USA made serial numbers...
2015£230goodwas told it was 1979
1991$400.00newWith hard shell case
1989£450new
1990$800excellent
2017R$3000goodEnzo
1997$1500newOvation Ultra Deluxe Model 1517d. Good condition with minimal wear and tear. New Strings.
2017kr2500excellentHellberg
1991R1500newAlan
2018£250good
2010$300good
1986$500excellent
1998250excellent
1986$300excellentJamesThis is a 1986 Ovation Ultra Deluxe cutaway model
1993$500excellentScott
19861200 DEM excellentBernd
1989$300new

Reviews (2)

OVATION ULTRA ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC reviewed by ReciprocalHokie

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
I bought this guitar brand new as a recent college grad in 1989 for $400(?) with the case included and played it for 27 years, never thinking to "fix what ain't broke". In 2016, I decided to buy a Martin D-18 dreadnought because I had the money, I thought it would shake up my repertoire, and I DESERVED a $2,500 guitar. Then something remarkable happened. I played the Martin exclusively for 6 months, but after that I found more and more I'd put it down for my old Ovation on certain songs just because I thought the Ovation sounded better on that arrangement, or my hand would become fatigued, or I was simply better able to pull off technical parts more proficiently. Then after about a year owning and playing the Martin I finally put it in its crib and never pulled it out again until the day I sold it 5 months later. Was the Martin a better made guitar? Of course, it was gorgeous. Did it have a more resonant sound? You bet, but not as much as one might expect. Was it a more impressive instrument than the Ovation? I guess. Sure. Certainly. But that's not the point, eh? My wife has a Steinway baby grand in her studio (she wins). I'm not arguing this intermediate-level guitar is better than a high-end Martin, it's clearly not. I'm arguing it's better for *ME*. It sounds perfectly fine on stage, holds its tune like a rock, and even with damaged soundboard finish (always carry-on your guitar when flying) no luthier has ever advised I have it repaired/refinished. What I am arguing is that once you become a proficient player and buy your first "forever guitar", spend as much $$$ as you're practically able to, and play every guitar in that price range you can find before you purchase. Then keep that guitar forever and play it always. It is after all, a marriage. Cases in point, Willie Nelson and Trigger, B.B. King and Lucille, ReciprocalHokie and Grey.

OVATION ULTRA ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC reviewed by Caster

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
I bought this guitar from a friend 20 years ago and play it at least a couple hours a week. It holds its tune well sounds great and looks good. It is the best guitar for the money. I highly recommend this guitar. (1517).

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