Ovation 1763 Classic Nylon String Acoustic-Electric – Natural – Includes Original Molded Case – Used Excellent
The Ovation 1763 Classic is one of the most practical and sonically capable nylon-string acoustic-electrics ever produced, and it has spent decades earning that reputation among performers who need a classical guitar that can handle a stage without compromise. Pat Metheny, Earl Klugh, and John McLaughlin all played these — players with serious tonal standards who found that the 1763 delivered something no conventional classical guitar could match in a live setting. The solid AAA cedar top provides the warm, immediate, touch-sensitive response that cedar is known for — faster to open up than spruce, richer and more complex in the midrange, and beautifully voiced for the fingerstyle technique that classical and jazz players depend on. Underneath it is Ovation's deep Lyrachord bowl — the composite back born from aerospace engineering at Kaman Corporation, engineered to function like an orchestra shell and project with a clarity and focus that conventional flat-back construction cannot replicate. The five-piece mahogany and maple neck is stable and fast, the ebony fingerboard with flat radius is correct for classical technique, the open-slot headstock with gold open-gear tuners handles nylon strings gracefully, and the OP-24 preamp with its undersaddle piezo pickup delivers a natural, transparent amplified signal that holds up in any venue. Made in New Hartford, Connecticut — genuinely an American-built instrument.
This is one of the best-condition ovations we have seen come through the shop. Barely any wear and looking exceptional for its age — plays great, sounds great, looks great, electronics fully functioning. The original molded case is included and is in good shape; like many vintage Ovation cases of this era it carries the characteristic smell of aging case materials, which is part of its history and mentioned here for full transparency.
- Make: Ovation
- Model: 1763 Classic
- Series: Classic
- Production era: 1982-1998
- Country of origin: USA (New Hartford, CT)
- Body: Venetian cutaway, deep bowl Lyrachord composite
- Top: Solid AAA cedar, gloss polyurethane
- Bracing: Ovation custom
- Binding: Multi-ply on top
- Neck: 5-piece mahogany and maple
- Fingerboard: Ebony, flat radius, side position markers only
- Bridge: Rosewood
- Scale length: 26-1/4"
- Nut width: 1-7/8"
- Frets: 19
- Tuners: Gold open-gear
- Electronics: OP-24 preamp with undersaddle piezo pickup, fully functional
- Strings: Nylon
- Modifications: None
- Condition: Used Excellent – barely any wear, exceptional condition for age, plays and sounds great
- Includes: Original molded case (good shape, carries characteristic vintage case smell)
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value. International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
