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Location: NW of Philadelphia | Hi all. I am pulling my guitars out of the closet (see my sig for the list) for the first time in many years. I have a CC-257 that still has the original strings on it. After 13 years (mostly in the dark), I'm having it restrung (Light .010-.047 phosphor bronze) and the action lowered. At present its still factory set.
The question is: How fast can I expect the action to get on a CC-257 (compared to factory), if its done by a knowledgeable technician? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't know that you can compare the action on the basis of speed. Light strings with a low action may result in fret buzz. I like it just high enough to avoid the fret buzz until I really strum hard. With a shallow bowl you might be disappointed in the volume, particularly of the bass, with such light strings and low action. If you play plugged in all the time, it might be fine for you, because you can just turn up the volume or change the equalizer. |
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Location: Vernon CT | Welcome Joe!!
Like Mark said, lowering the Action is hard to compare to "speed" of playing unless you mean easy of playing which may make it "faster"??
Anyway, for me atleast the lower the beter as long as there is no String buzz. |
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Location: NW of Philadelphia | Ease of play is a concern. My wife wants to learn and she likes this guitar even though I offered to buy one for her.
As for fret buzz, lowered to just above that point would be fine for me. All my others have fairly fast action for a rhythm player like me. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Ovations are simple to adjust. If you want to have a pro do it the first time that's fine. Make sure he gives you the shims he will take out. That way if your wife gets into it and finds that the action is too low after awhile, you can put a shim back in and put on some thicker strings. .10s are awfully thin for an acoustic guitar, but may be OK for a beginner. Once she's hooked, you can work up the Ovation food chain and buy her a great USA made solid topped Ovation. |
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Location: NW of Philadelphia | It came with (and still has) .012-.053 PBs on it. Maybe I will keep the same gauge strings and adjust it myself. I just have no way of adjusting the truss rod. Worst case, it goes in the shop for a complete setup. Thats where it was going to begin with. |
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Location: Utah | IF the guitar has a truss rod available to adjust, you can buy a cheap hex wrench to fit. I highly recommend staying with Light gauge strings, like the factory originals. Once the truss rod is adjusted properly and the saddle height tweaked by removing or adding shims, it should be very nice to play. The nut may be too tall, and that is something that your competent guitar tech should be able to file down. It can make a big difference to get the nut adjusted properly, and it should be cheap if that is all you ask the tech to do.
There are a lot of resources on the web on how to set up your guitar. It is simple and easy (except for the nut) for a beginner. Just go really slowly and make small changes to the truss rod, then wait for a day to see if you need to tweak it some more.
Welcome to the crazy house, aka Ovation Fan Club! |
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Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by auriemma:
The question is: How fast can I expect the action to get on a CC-257 (compared to factory), if its done by a knowledgeable technician? Hello auriemma!
Let me do my best to answer this for you.
Your Celebrity Deluxe is one of the nicer imports and they typicall come set up at 72mph (116kph). With setup from a professional, you could probably see speeds in excess of 88mph (142kph)!!
Now if you moved up to a USA model, they come set up from the factory at 110mph even on the "lower end" models. They are easy enough that you can make the necessary adjustments on your own. I recently had my 1778LX clocked at over 155mph (249kph). This is no BS. I looked at the radar gun myself!
I have heard tales (or should I say "Legend"s) of some Al Dimeola models doing speeds in excess 220mph (354kph), though I myself can not confirm this.
These numbers are all based on natural, burst, and solid colored finishes. Flame finishes typically add an additional 10% "turbo" boost to the speed.
Welcome to the forum! |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Some observations:
13 years ago was 1995 ... long time.
10-47 are on the light side. I'd say string it up with the light strings, and every two months put on new strings till you hit 12-53 till you build up your hand strength. I owned a celeb and the sound best with regular lights.
If you're getting daddarios go from
EJ 15
EJ 26 to
EJ 16
The question is: How fast can I expect the action to get on a CC-257 (compared to factory), if its done by a knowledgeable technician?
The answer is: By faster do you mean lower?
He'll probably set it up slightly lower than the factory specs, taking into account the light strings. If you want to change the action slightly, twist the truss rod. If you want to change it alot, you'll have to do something with the saddle. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Damon drives a Trailblazer, but plays like a Porsche. I drive a Porsche, but play like an old VW bus. Your mileage may vary. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Damon drives a Trailblazer, but plays like a Porsche. I drive a Porsche, but play like an old VW bus. Your mileage may vary. ... and I just look at the cars parked in the garage, never actually drive them. |
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Location: NW of Philadelphia | By "speed" I do mean lower (aka faster). You know, like the action on my Fenders? :rolleyes:
Funny, I drive a Subaru and play like kid on a tricycle with his shoe untied. :eek:
Crazy House indeed. Whats the motto around here... You don't have to be crazy to be a OFC member... but it REALLY helps.
Honestly, I'm not a musician. I'm a strummer that just enjoys playing. Its that simple. |
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Posts: 4065
Location: Utah | Like you, a lot of us put away our guitars for years or decades, then got back into playing later on. Most of us are hobby players, though some here are excellent amateurs. It may be crazy here, but it is fun, informative, and motivational.
(just don't ask Cliff to hang your towel, nor ask Jeff W for a glass of wine) |
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Location: Slightly northwest of Trader Jim | Originally posted by Damon67:
Originally posted by auriemma:
The question is: How fast can I expect the action to get on a CC-257 (compared to factory), if its done by a knowledgeable technician? Hello auriemma!
Let me do my best to answer this for you.
Your Celebrity Deluxe is one of the nicer imports and they typicall come set up at 72mph (116kph). With setup from a professional, you could probably see speeds in excess of 88mph (142kph)!!
Now if you moved up to a USA model, they come set up from the factory at 110mph even on the "lower end" models. They are easy enough that you can make the necessary adjustments on your own. I recently had my 1778LX clocked at over 155mph (249kph). This is no BS. I looked at the radar gun myself!
I have heard tales (or should I say "Legend"s) of some Al Dimeola models doing speeds in excess 220mph (354kph), though I myself can not confirm this.
These numbers are all based on natural, burst, and solid colored finishes. Flame finishes typically add an additional 10% "turbo" boost to the speed.
Welcome to the forum! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Damon drives a Trailblazer, but plays like a Porsche. I drive a Porsche, but play like an old VW bus. Your mileage may vary. ... and I just look at the cars parked in the garage, never actually drive them.
I still get "ocean street" stuck in my brain. Then again, the theme to gilligan's island gets stuck in there occasionally too, so I don't really know if that's a good or bad thing dave. |
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Location: Jet City | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Damon drives a Trailblazer, but plays like a Porsche. I drive a Porsche, but play like an old VW bus. Your mileage may vary. Since I've had the Mosrite back, I'm working on my '64 Impala sound. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by Damon67:
These numbers are all based on natural, burst, and solid colored finishes. Flame finishes typically add an additional 10% "turbo" boost to the speed. Slow model T... And the Hot Rod T...
 
See, the Flames really help! :cool:
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Joe, I saw the electrics you had in your sig and figured that's what you meant. I hadn't heard "faster" applied to the action on an acoustic before.
This group has been called everything from an Old Farts Club to a bunch of wackos, and those are just terms I've used. Like FlySig said, many of us have recently dusted off our old guitars. Others have been or still are pros. We have everything from banjo players to shredders, but don't like to admit either. If this forum just helps you get back to playing a little so that you aren't too embarassed when you meet another member, it is worthwhile. If it compels you to buy Ovation guitars that you never knew existed, that's even better. If your wife decides you need to buy more guitars, then I want her to come talk to my wife. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
so that you aren't too embarassed when you meet another member, it is worthwhile. Oh great, my over 1700 posts down the crapper... 
Joe,
Welcome to the madness! :D |
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Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Thanks guys (and ladies if their are any here). Old Farts Club... does 43 fit in that crew?
Playing guitar with others has never been a problem for me. I enjoy it. I play the best I can and thats it. Though I usually play alone, with my wife and dogs listening from another room. Occasionally I get told "I recognize that one." by my wife. I'm honored. :D
OMA, Nice flame job! |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by auriemma:
Thanks guys (and ladies if their are any here). Old Farts Club... does 43 fit in that crew?
I can't remember. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by auriemma:
does 43 fit in that crew? If that's an IQ, then yes! :D |
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by auriemma:
Old Farts Club... does 43 fit in that crew? Yes, but you'll have to put up with people calling you "Sonny" or "Young fella". |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Hi Joe, there are a few of us ladies here, but don't worry, we're tough. (We have to be to hang out with this crowd.) Question: Would that make us "old fartesses"? "Old fartina's"? Either way, welcome to the zoo! |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
"old fartesses"? "Old fartina's" ... fartettes?  |
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Posts: 843
Location: CA | Ovation themselves include pretty good instructions for setting the action. Go here: www.ovationguitars.com. Then go to 'support' and download the 'owners manual'. Info for setting string height and truss rod adjustment is about in the middle of the manual.
Awhile ago, there was also a $4.95 download on eBay that showed this process. I don't know if it's still available, but it was well done and instructive. |
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Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Nah... decided to let a guitar tech handle it. We talked, he understands what I am looking for. I should have it back mid-week. That will tell me if he gets to work on my others. |
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