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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Chicago area | Okay so I got my new "O" yesterday and I am already here with a question:
I am a pretty heavy strummer and am concerned about protecting the top of my 6778LX. I know that people say not to put pickguards on these guitars since it affects looks and sound adversly, and also claim that Ovation uses a harder poly finish that can be buffed out....but has anyone tried these removable pickgards:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Clear-Removable-6X10-Guitar-Pickguard-Vinyl-S...
They are a removable 20mil thick hard plastic that come in many various pickgard shapes or sheets to cut to fit as shown above. For $6 I was considering trying one to see how they do. Has anyone else tried it? |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I bought some of those for my Taylor T5 and I am very happy with the product. I got two full 8x11 sheets so I had spare material, it took a couple tries to cut out a shape that was neat and fit well.
The T5 has a pretty thin polyester finish, and unfortunately I already had done some damage by the time I noticed the pick marks. The clear removeable pick gaurd stays in place very well and is hardly noticable and peels right up if you want to remove it.
I think the finish on Ovations is a urethane and is much tougher (and thicker). But better safe than sorry, it's only 6 bucks so give it a try. I play my 1777lx without any additional protection and so far the only thing I notice is a slight smudge or dulling of the finish from where I brace my fingers when I pick, and from past experience that mark will easily buff out. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I was going to add, dont use these pickguards on nitro-cellulose finishes (martins, gibsons), the pickguards are made of vinyl and bad things will happen. Shouldnt be a problem on an Ovation. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Get someone at the factory to agree with that, With the newer thinner finishes there may be a long term reaction between the stickum and the finish. I don't know if this is the case but give service a call, they should know. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Chicago area | Actually if you read the description, they don't even attach permanently to the guitar, they are like a surface tention seal (same concept that keeps your oil change reminder on your windshield) so there is no stickum or chemical other than the vinyl itself. |
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Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 604
Location: Tampa, FL | cwk makes a good point. The plasticizer (sp?) used in most vinyl product (styrene I believe) is a pretty aggressive stuff. This is what makes your laser printer pages stick to plastic binders, folders and such. The plastic binder typically contains styrene that in turn migrates to and softens the toner and makes it sticky. While a catalyzed polymer coating (assuming the current crop of coatings is similar to past coatings) is pretty darn stable, you are not just counting on the stability of the coating but also its 'imperviousness'. You might not affect the layer but, if the layer is thin enough, you might affect the underlying sound board material. Lot's of ways to screw things up. Anyone know how thick the current coatings are? |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | About half the thickness they used to be, which is a good thing.
Ken, the ones like you described are probably a good thing. Maybe it would dampen the sound if it's too big? Maybe not. Try it and see. |
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clear removable pickguards???