Dove, fake or legit?

streethawk

Looking at this Dove on ebay. Seller bought it in Dubai from a chap who claimed to have bought it at GuitarVillage.
2014 Dove Classic, LE to 50 pieces. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354360056858

Straight away I saw the very light shade of rosewood bridge and thought it looked suspicious. 
The historic decal on the back of the neck is correct for the previous year's model, but for 2014 they transitioned to a different decal.
The label is white, whereas other LE Doves from the same year seem to use the orange custom label. 
Ivory pins and saddle do seem to appear on some Doves from the same era. 

The other appointments seem kosher. Not my area of expertise. 

All pics here: https://postimg.cc/gallery/J1q3Ddy

bertie

um   -  also isnt the compensation on an acoustic saddle meant to be for the B string ?

drofluf

bertie said:

um   -  also isnt the compensation on an acoustic saddle meant to be for the B string ?

That could be simply because the bridge fell out and the owner, not knowing any better, put it back the wrong way. 

Not that I would do anything like that... 

ElectricXII

I notice that the seller has 0 feedback on eBay. That would be a major red flag for me on a high value purchase like this.

streethawk

ElectricXII said:

I notice that the seller has 0 feedback on eBay. That would be a major red flag for me on a high value purchase like this.

Yeah he's new to Reverb too, where it's also listed. What can you say? Everyone has to start somewhere. 

I didn't notice the saddle btw. 

stickyfiddle

I think this is my old guitar! I bought it in Guitar Village and brought it to Abu Dhabi, where I sold it to a guy who lived in Dubai - 

I don't have a record of the serial number but I thought it looked familiar from a quick flick through the pictures before I read the OP properly. The rosewood was always at the lighter end when I had it, but it darkens up ok with a bit of appropriate oil. 

Assuming I'm right it's a bloody good guitar. I'm tempted to have it back!

EDIT - I found a couple of old pics. Check the grain on the bridge and lighter flecks in the pickguard - particularly the light spots in front of the bird's belly and on the edge by the lower-left point of the guard, but also right next to the bud behind the bird's head, and another being point to by the lowest bud on the upper group of flowers.

I'm 99% sure it's mine, but either way the label and headstock logo are correct

Kittyfrisk

stickyfiddle said:

I think this is my old guitar! I bought it in Guitar Village and brought it to Abu Dhabi, where I sold it to a guy who lived in Dubai - 

I don't have a record of the serial number but I thought it looked familiar from a quick flick through the pictures before I read the OP properly. The rosewood was always at the lighter end when I had it, but it darkens up ok with a bit of appropriate oil. 

Assuming I'm right it's a bloody good guitar. I'm tempted to have it back!

EDIT - I found an old pic. Check the grain on the bridge - I'm 99% sure it's mine, but either way the label and headstock logo are correct

You are right about the label & bridge. Not sure, but the fretboard on your old one seems to have different markings, with more of a broader dark stripe under the G string. Also the lower flower near the rosette seems to have worn off on the ebay one.
Difficult to say either way 

BillDL

The darker grain lines on the bridge of the guitars in both photos look so similar in placement and size that I would tend to believe they are the same guitar.

stickyfiddle

BillDL said:

The darker grain lines on the bridge of the guitars in both photos look so similar in placement and size that I would tend to believe they are the same guitar.

Yep. I just had a feeling as soon as I saw it. Given the seller's story lines up completely I'm very sure. Even the faded beige of the saddle is exactly how mine was when I last saw it - no doubt due to seeing the UAE sunshine from our living room window!

And to the OP - The only reason I don't still own it is the neck profile. If it felt like my HD28 I'd have kept it. If you buy and don't get on with it I'd be very tempted to have it back as my "UK guitar"

bertie

@stickyfiddle ;   -  at least you had the saddle in the right way around     

(TBH I did think of you when I first read the OP)

streethawk

@stickyfiddle ;

Wow. Is this the most successful fake or legit thread in the history of the internet? Hahaha. 

Now please stay out of this - I saw it first!
Oh wait... 

stickyfiddle

Haha! Glad to be able to help  

and I’m definitely not buying today - I’ve spent wayyyy too much lately!

streethawk

I won the auction with some last second bid shenanigans. Not sure I would have bid for it without your help. Thanks! 

ElectricXII

Congratulations! HNGD when it comes.

Mellish

Congrats to @streethawk and well done @stickyfiddle.

 

stickyfiddle

Nice one! 

Mellish

@streethawk ; when you take delivery of the Dove, let us know what you think  

Cranky

I would appreciate if the current seller could furnish a sketch of the previous owner.  Just for a surer confirmation.

Amazing thing to see here.

streethawk

Cranky said:

I would appreciate if the current seller could furnish a sketch of the previous owner.  Just for a surer confirmation.

Amazing thing to see here.

 Best I can do is provide a sketch of the new owner: 

streethawk

 .

streethawk

The dove has landed! 

Obligatory circa 2015 fancy rug shot: 

Seller, despite being new to ebay, packed the box well and was an absolute gent to deal with. He even threw in a new Dove strap, which was a lovely surprise. 




Initial impressions: bear in mind I've been playing an all hog Martin of late. 
Despite the strings needing changing, this thing rings beautifully. The maple/spruce and Gibson neck profile reminiscent of my L5.
Plenty of well defined bass, perhaps lacking mids compared to the hogathon Martin (to be expected).

There's so much character to be wrung out of it, loads of pick variation from saddle to neck. Will see where we are after a restring and setup! 

Delighted.