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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 387
Location: Whitecourt, Ab | Howdy All,
I bought my first Ovation about a year ago, and fell in love with the playability and lightness of the unit, however the tone of my ultra is very flat unplugged. I realize a solid top is probably the answer, and I'm wondering if anyone has ever replaced a ply top from a low end Ovation with a solid top, and if so what is the best procedure? I have found lots of sites online for building, but not much in terms of repair, or re-topping. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I would bet that replacing the top, if someone would do it, would cost as much or more than you would pay for a decent used Balladeer or other solid top Ovation. I assume the Ultra was a deep bowl. Bracing patterns also make a difference. It would be a shame if you spent a bunch of money putting a new top on and found out it didn't improve the sound. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 387
Location: Whitecourt, Ab | Thanks for the input.It is a shallow bowl, I plan on doing it myself,and was unaware that kits are available from the "mothership" I assume you mean Ovation. I will definately look into that. As for the balladeer, they're hard to/impossible to find in my neck of the woods, and I always seem to get trumped at the last minute in ebay for anything affordable.
I think The playability of this guitar makes it worth the risk, but was hoping for a "been there done that" what to/not to try from someone who has experimented with deflowering an ovation in the past. If it is obvious I should leave it and go for the mojo of a balladeer or other solid top I will as this one sounds excellent plugged in, (which isn't why I bought it) |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | On a shallow bowl, I wouldn't do it. The bowl may be the reason for the lack of tone. My Custom Balladeer has a solid top and sounds great unplugged, until I put it up against one of the deep bowls. Then it sounds puny. It just doesn't have much on the low end. If that's what yours does now, it's probably the bowl not the top. The plugged in sound is at least partly due to the top, so you may not notice any difference after spending more time and money than what the guitar is worth. Keep looking for something with a deep bowl. Check some of the older for sale ads here. There are lots of deals that just slip by because everyone on the board at that time has one like it or isn't interested or can't slip another one past the wife. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 2
Location: Blacksburg, VA | Hi Ed,
I have just begun re-topping a 1980 Balladeer. Here is a great site that shows the process:
http://www.grevenguitars.com/GrevenGuitars.html
Click on "Extras" on this page and drop down to "RE-TOP HOW TO."
Tim |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | ive got a balladeer that i might wanna sell...jason |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 387
Location: Whitecourt, Ab | Thanks again for your input, and advice, excellent site,Tim exactly what I was looking for.
Jason I might take you up on that offer after Christmas if it's still available...Ed |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | shure ed,its a ongoing project,when i bought it it was a basketcase,broken braces,headstock was broken off at the scarf joint,i reglued the headstock and put new venneer on the peghead,glued up the braces,filled and stabilized 2 top cracks ans several finish cracks,replaced the broken stock machines with gold plated pearloid button schaller's from dave,and buffed out the top. only thing im waiting on is the new headstock logo that master keller sent out today...when your ready let me know. ive got to make room for 2 new purcheses..jason |
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Ultra re-top? or not