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NBD - Ovation Magnum I

#21
pnutz said:
yeah, the mute is still intact. if there are no pieces missing from the headstock being banged and bumped, you've definitely scored.

i'm hoping to fall into either a magnum I or II in red one day.
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It actually does have a small piece of the headstock missing. Maybe a half inch big on the treble side. Its not really noticeable though and I used it to help get the price dropped some. The rest of the bass is in such fine condition it doesnt really bother me.
 
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#24
blacktocomm said:
I was randomly on craigslist for the first time in months and happened across this local Ovation Magnum for sale. Been trying to score one at a decent price and got a great deal on it. And only a 20 minute drive from my house. Anyway, it could used some new strings (I'm thinking TI Jazz Flats maybe?) and a bit of a set up, but I'm digging it. Not a bad day.

jidnjr.jpg
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You mind if I ask how much you paid?
 
#27
There's a Magnum at a pawn shop near my work that was asking $899 for it, but reduced the price to $699. Sad thing is that it was modded for EMG P and j pickups. The original routes were filled in with wood, and re-routed for the EMG set. it looks like it was done a long time ago, and of course the pick guard is not original (the mute foam is gone also). But the frets are in great shape and the neck is arrow-straight. Too much for me though...

Raz
 
#28
Razman said:
There's a Magnum at a pawn shop near my work that was asking $899 for it, but reduced the price to $699. Sad thing is that it was modded for EMG P and j pickups. The original routes were filled in with wood, and re-routed for the EMG set. it looks like it was done a long time ago, and of course the pick guard is not original (the mute foam is gone also). But the frets are in great shape and the neck is arrow-straight. Too much for me though...

Raz
Click to expand...
The tricky thing is that if someone chopped it up, it's damn near impossible to restore given parts availability. I can't imagine why someone would have swapped out the pickup ups. With the Magnum, I'd say the most attractive feature is the unique pickups. The neck's kinda chunky, the shape is very much a personal taste thing, and it's heavy. But the neck hum bucker is totally unique, if not the primary reason for playing a Magnum.
 
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#30
It's truly amazing just how unafraid the Charles Kaman-era OVATION was to 'think outside the box'. Here's a 70's bass with graphite inserts in the neck for extra stiffness, a side-by-side humbucker at the bridge and individual coils (with trims for each!) in that gigantic neck pickup, in stereo output, or a 2nd version with an onboard graphic instead. Amazing.
 
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#31
I still have my Mag I in natural Mahogany. Still a favorite for tone and a true head turner. I was never able to get the action low enough for my tastes. Not sure if the neck separates cleanly or if there is adhesive in the pocket. Was thinking shim the neck up, or maybe to machine the saddle pieces down a little....

Nice find. I paid $1100 for mine a few years ago, which was a fair price at the time. Now I see the Ebay prices well over $2K
 
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#32
Fair Warning said:
I still have my Mag I in natural Mahogany. Still a favorite for tone and a true head turner. I was never able to get the action low enough for my tastes. Not sure if the neck separates cleanly or if there is adhesive in the pocket. Was thinking shim the neck up, or maybe to machine the saddle pieces down a little....

Nice find. I paid $1100 for mine a few years ago, which was a fair price at the time. Now I see the Ebay prices well over $2K
Click to expand...
The neck is glued in and bolted on, 'cause, well, who knows. I had to take my neck off a while back and the glue had already failed, so there was no issue getting it off.
 
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#33
I ended up receiving a pretty much mint condition Magnum III a couple years ago from a family friend. The grey burst looks fantastic with the ebony board. I have Ken Smith Compressor halfwounds on mine, I'm pretty happy with how they sound. If you mute a bit with your hands you can get a great thump, but otherwise the bass has a ton of beautiful treble to it. I think that's something that's overlooked with this bass, the highs seem really pronounced, harmonics speak on this guy better than any other bass I own
 
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#36
BassWaffle said:
I ended up receiving a pretty much mint condition Magnum III a couple years ago from a family friend. The grey burst looks fantastic with the ebony board. I have Ken Smith Compressor halfwounds on mine, I'm pretty happy with how they sound. If you mute a bit with your hands you can get a great thump, but otherwise the bass has a ton of beautiful treble to it. I think that's something that's overlooked with this bass, the highs seem really pronounced, harmonics speak on this guy better than any other bass I own
Click to expand...

That quite a gift! I love those grey burst Magnum III's. Handsome basses.
 
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#40
blacktocomm said:
I was randomly on craigslist for the first time in months and happened across this local Ovation Magnum for sale. Been trying to score one at a decent price and got a great deal on it. And only a 20 minute drive from my house. Anyway, it could used some new strings (I'm thinking TI Jazz Flats maybe?) and a bit of a set up, but I'm digging it. Not a bad day.

jidnjr.jpg
Click to expand...

Wow! That's a nice looking piece! Now, please, kindly remove the screwed-in (I'm assuming... they always seem to be) backpack buckle strap and restore the rest of the dignity to that thing :)
 

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