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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 33
Location: Pittsburgh PA | I have had a Martin D35 accoustic for many years. Recently I was in a guitar store and played an Ovation. It played great. It felt good in my hands and the ease of play was better than my Martin. I am considering buying one.
A friend of mine who owns a guitar shop does not carry Ovations. I asked him why and he said he has not had good luck with them. He said after time the stress is too much on the bridge and saddle it "pulls up". Have any of you Ovation owners experienced this? |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Yes,
I know it was a real big problem early onwith Ovations, but that the bracing technology has come a long ways since then. I've had Fenders and Yahmaha's that have warped some over time as well, but your right, it is something to consider. I'm not a tech. like some of the guys on this board, but I believe the problem has been bracing the face, without being able to attach the bracing to the sides (as with a conventional all-wood guitar) due to the woods tendency to move with changing conditions, and the resin bowl stability.
I think prejudice, lack of knowledge of new bracing techniques, and hearsay, are the reason for most of the skepticism.
I bought an older (1981) Legend, that has warps throughout the face, but it plays and sounds like a dream. This did not scare me away from buying a second Ovation (1995 Balladeer) which has no warping or apparent pulling whatsoever, and when I can afford it, I will own a third!
They're excellent guitars Mike. If you buy a quality Ovation product, you will not be disappointed!
Norse(this from a fairly recent convert from the naysayers group!)man1 |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Ovation guitars are less likely to experience problems such as lifting bridges or seam separation than traditional guitars. There was a period when Ovations were prone to top cracks, invariably on the treble side lower bout, from the bridge to the binding, and I've seen lots of 70's guitars with cracks like this, including my own '72 Legend. Though this was addressed a long time ago. The majority of cracks like this can be repaired without affecting tone or long-term stability. Most cracking, warping or seam separation problems with any guitar are down to how it's stored, maintained & cared for, rather then design or construcion defects. Please note that my experience here is based on USA-built Ovations, not imports.
Paul
[ October 07, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Thanks Paul, perhaps I was a bit misleading in thinking the problem was due to past brace design. You mentioned how they are stored have a great impact. I plan on leaving mine on a stand all winter (here in the frozen North. I use wood heat, which is very dry, but I plan on keeping a humidifier going in the room at all times. I don't plan on buying the soundhole type humidifiers. Is this a potential mistake? Also, with wood heat, at times there might be fairly drastic changes in temp. from when I stoke the stove, to early morning when the fire is almost out. Perhaps I'll keep an electric baseboard plugged in as back-up in that room.
Norse(gosh, my newborns weren't monitored this close!)man1
[ October 07, 2002: Message edited by: Norseman1 ] |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | I've never had a bridge lift or other serious problem in 32 years of ovations in my small collection. Yes some have finish cracking like Paul mentioned, but this is a minor cosmetic issue. Some of my mid 70's ones have pretty "un-flat" soundboards, but damn if they don't sound great. I would not worry about long term quality at all. And rest assured that ovation has THE best service department in the business. The only reason you don't see any 50 year old ovations is that there aren't any. Dave |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | the bridge lifting i have seen seems to occur on the painted tops. my 1978 baladeer did this taking paint with the bridge. the older bridge attachment screws were outboard on the bridge where it is thin and the newer ones are inboard where they are stronger. i put in a third machine screw centered between the two older ones when i reattached the bridge. i also carefully removed all of the paint under the bridge and reglued it to the wooden top. that guitar is 25 years old and it has at least that much left in it.
in general i feel ovation acoustic guitars are more stable than their woodie kin. any thin piece of wood is prone to problems if you push it past it's physical limitations. from my point of view ovation has removed over 2/3 of that problem by using a one piece bowl that is very stable and not wood. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | by the way my 1968 martin 0018ny, which i purchased new, has led a lonely life in a closet since i discovered ovations and how durable they are. i can't afford to take it on the road. it isn't a fraction as rugged as my ovations and i don't feel i can fix a traditional guitar but have done all repair and setup necessary on my ovations. so of the approx 25 guitars i have here in mexico only 3 are not ovations. don't worry about buying one, the problem is you will probably become like many of us ovation fans and want one of each model. |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 61
| Here at the factory,we have recently changed a number of things,which include the brace pattern it-self.The days of the HI-frequency bonder are long gone. We now use a vacumme system. Also we have changed our finish and reduced the thickness.The bridge bond is now "inset" so there is more wood to wood adheisen. bridge pops are reduced a great deal.We are always looking to improve all our processes daily. |
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How does an Ovation hold up?