Dade City, FL, United States
About this listing
1979 Ovation Balladeer 1111-1 Deep Bowl Acoustic – Sunburst – USA – Nashville Tuned with Original Hardshell CasePrice $475 - Open to reasonable offersOffered for sale is a beautiful 1979 Ovation Balladeer Model 1111-1 in the classic Sunburst finish, serial number 165604. Built in Connecticut during Ovation’s classic American-production era, the 1111 Balladeer combines a spruce soundboard with Ovation’s full-depth Lyrachord bowl for the strong projection, clarity and distinctive tonal character that made these early USA Ovations famous.This is the acoustic/non-electronic version of the Balladeer and is an exceptionally attractive example for a guitar approaching 50 years old.Condition:The guitar presents beautifully and has obviously been well cared for. The Sunburst finish remains deep, glossy and vibrant, the neck and headstock are exceptionally clean, and the fingerboard and frets present very nicely.There are normal minor signs of age and use consistent with a vintage instrument, but no significant dings, dents or abuse that detract from its appearance.There is one visible finish crack on the upper portion of the spruce soundboard near the neck, which is clearly shown in the photographs. I had this area personally inspected by my luthier, who confirmed that the crack is confined to the finish and does NOT extend through the spruce soundboard. It is cosmetic and not a structural wood crack.The bridge is secure, the guitar has plenty of saddle remaining, and the overall neck and setup geometry are very good.Please review all photographs carefully, including the close-up photograph of the finish crack, as they are an important part of the condition description.Professional Setup & Nashville Tuning:The guitar was recently professionally set up by my luthier using extra-light acoustic strings and played exceptionally well following the setup.I subsequently installed a set of Nashville/high-strung tuning strings, which are currently on the guitar. It plays exceptionally well in Nashville tuning and has a wonderful bright, articulate and shimmering character—almost reminiscent of the upper octave character of a 12-string guitar.The guitar will be sold with the Nashville tuning strings installed.I am also including a brand-new set of Elixir acoustic guitar strings with the sale for the new owner who would prefer to return the guitar to conventional six-string tuning.Features & Specifications:Model: Ovation Balladeer 1111-1Serial Number: 165604Year: 1979Made in: Connecticut, USAFinish: SunburstTop: SpruceBody: Full-depth/deep Lyrachord bowlBracing: Ovation Modified XFingerboard: EbonyBridge: WalnutScale Length: Approximately 25 1/4”Nut Width: Approximately 1 11/16”Frets: 20Neck Joint: 14th fretTuners: Ovation/Schaller-style enclosed tunersElectronics: None – factory acoustic modelCurrent Strings: Nashville/high-strung setAdditional Strings: New set of Elixir acoustic strings includedCase: Hardshell case includedAbout the 1111 Balladeer:The Balladeer is one of the foundational models in Ovation history and represents the straightforward acoustic design that helped establish the company during its classic Connecticut era.Unlike the shallow-bowl Ovations that became common in later years, the vintage 1111 uses Ovation’s full-depth bowl, giving it considerably more acoustic body and projection while retaining the quick response and clarity for which Ovations are known.The combination of the traditional spruce soundboard, ebony fingerboard, walnut bridge and deep Lyrachord body makes these early American Balladeers distinctive instruments—and excellent values in the vintage USA-made acoustic market.This 1979 example is particularly attractive in the classic dark Sunburst finish with Ovation’s ornate floral rosette.Included With Sale1979 Ovation Balladeer 1111-1Hardshell caseNashville/high-strung strings currently installedBrand-new set of Elixir acoustic guitar stringsThis is a very nice example of a classic USA-made Ovation Balladeer that has already been professionally set up and is ready to play. Also, In case you are not familiar, I have included a video of an Ovation similar line this one for you to get a feel for Nashville Tuning. Please note: This is a vintage instrument and, as expected, may show minor cosmetic evidence of age and normal use. The known finish crack has been specifically disclosed, photographed and professionally inspected by my luthier, who confirmed that it is confined to the finish and does not extend through the spruce soundboard. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.Thank you for looking.
Price$475
+ $99 Shipping
