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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | First let me say hi to all here. Have been lurking here for a few weeks and have enjoyed the wealth of info here. It's sorta like "Ovation 101" and I appreciate those who participate and share their knowledge so freely. I have learned much...thank you.
As with many things in life, I have a problem that I believe would benefit from some outside perspective. I'm hoping the members here can provide some guidance or at least food for thought.
I have the above mentioned 1112-4 presently in the care of the mothership(see I have been reading and learning) :) for top replacement and installation of electronics. I have owned this guitar since '82/'83, bought from an uncle who purchased it new in '81. About 7 years ago the top began to crack and now has a crack from the sound hole, under the bridge, to the edge of the bowl, that you can drop a pick thru, and several more cracks developing. For sentimental reasons, and because it has the most awesome neck, I want to get the guitar back to top playing form.
My dilema is whether to keep the old fiberglass bowl or let them replace it with a new one. The bowl just seems to be such a big part of what makes up the essence of the whole.
What say the masses? |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Ovation does such a good job of attaching the top to the bowl that once it's done.....that's it. The top and bowl would be replaced as a unit on your guitar.
And....Welcome! |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | Thanks for the quick reply!
Removing the top is not impossible, it's just more work, thus more cost, which isn't the issue. The point I was trying to make is whether there is an advantage to doing it. Would I be gaining or losing something by going with the new bowl. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | You'll still get the same awesome sound with the new bowl. The only difference will be the weight. It will be a heck of a lot lighter than the previous one I think (please correct me if I'm wrong) -- due to the advances in the materials that the new bowls are made from.
Welcome to the OFC and good luck with your guitar. Once it comes back from the mothership, I will not be surprised if your guitar will look and feel better than the first day you acquired it from your uncle. :) |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Not wanting to screw with you mind, but you've got a bit of a choice with bracing patterns used on the new top. Are you going to stay with the X pattern, or go with either the A pattern or the new modified X?
Lots of choices...... |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Paul, what year did they stop making the fiberglass bowls and start with the lyrachord?? |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | Don't be worried about messin' with this mind, I think it's already messed! :)
Here's a little more info on what's planned. Custom Legend top with raised abalone rosette to mirror original style, with ebony bridge to match fretboard. I'm leaning toward the scalloped bracing. Open to suggestions. Op Pro w/dual jacks.
Does the weight and composition of fiberglass give a different sound/tone than the new material. Vibration being different with different materials? |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | woody, p.i. what would you recommend for bracing? Which style should give the best bass/ low end tone? |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | Well, an email I just got from Kim tells me it is cost prohibitive to keep the old bowl. So the bowl delema is solved.
Would still like some feedback on the rest of what I'm having done. Bracing, preamp, etc.
I tried to load some pics to the gallery but couldn't get my pics to resize. Any help with this would be appreciated also. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | My suggestion is to keep the treasured keepsake and order a new or Custom instrument as a dedication to all that the former guitar meant. A custom bit of something or extra flourish, even a sticker inside that commemorates past family.
Then decide who to pass it on to when the time is come. Sentiment and remembrance can be part of or separate from the physical reminders. It is what we make of it.
As an example, if your Uncle was a Veteran of WWII I can send you a TRC made out of Teak from the deck of the USS Missouri. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | MWoody, I can appreciate what your saying, and in fact have been doing the mental wrestling over exactly that all week.
This guitar will ultimately belong to my son, who has left me way back in the dust as a guitar player. The guitar, if left as is, will soon sound nothing like it's former sweet self. The tone is rapidly declining. I've never been much for dust collectors, and that is what this will be soon.
So, I want to get this back to it's great playing/ sounding self, so that I can enjoy it until it's time to pass it down to my son. I just want to know if what I'm planning to have done is the right way to go, or if some of you have other suggestions which may produce better results.
thanks for the reply |
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1112-4 Custom Balladeer - help (long-sorry)