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Posts: 7
Location: Poland | Hi everybody,
I'm not only new to this bulletin board, I'm also new to Ovation and I need your advice. I've been sent a LX1777 TB, which I bought as new in a German internet-shop. Everything about this guitar seems to be ok but the top. It looks like this:
http://www.icpnet.pl/~macbor/lx1777washboard.jpg .
It doesn't look as ugly as at this picture in fact, but I doubt if this wood texture which looks somelike as if it had been varnished with a brush is acceptable and normal for Ovation guitars. Is it possible that the guitar left the factory in this condition? I don't think it might lead to cracks but looking at this is rather annoying. Has anybody the same problem? Shall I send it back? |
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Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Welcome Macbor!
If you are not happy with the guitar you need to return it and hopefully get another. That is just the grains in the Spruce acting with the thinner finish.
Get a product you will be happy with. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Welcome Macbor
The newer guitars have a thinner finish than those of 10 and 20 years ago. If you're not happy though I'd say go back to the dealer and work it from there. |
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Posts: 7
Location: Poland | Thanks MWoody and cwk2. The problem is that in Poland where I live Ovation guitars are not available. That's why I ordered one from Germany. I'm very happy with its sound and setup and the only problem(?) seems to be the top. The question is, will another exemplar possibly look similar? |
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Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | I have had a Legend and a Balladeer that had areas of Washboard. No effect on sound, just a cosmetic issue.
Consider it part of the instruments character features.
I will also add that the cost difference between the Standard Elite/Elite and the Balladeer/Legend may be choice of woods for purely cosmetic choice. |
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Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Welcome Macbor.
Hope you do not mind that I posted your picture.
I can't imagine a guitar coming out of the Ovation Factory looking like this.
I have a few Ovations with transparent finishes and the colors are uniform.
Maybe it is the picture itself, but I would like to see more pictures of that guitar...
I am concerned about the bridge, saddle, and angle of entry of the strings into the bridge...
just does not look right :confused:
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Bruce,
I think the picture is taken at a weird angle. I turned it about 90 degrees and the string angle looks right. I can see the grain, which is not a big deal. My Balladeer has the same corrogated feel. I can't tell if there are just a lot of smudges on the finish.
Macbor, please shine it up before you take more pictures so we can have a better look. |
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Posts: 7
Location: Poland | You're right, Mark, I turned the original picture 90 degrees. The non-uniform color is only result of light reflections I'm struggling with while taking pictures. In fact the color IS uniform. Here are some hi-res photos I shot today
http://www.icpnet.pl/~macbor/ovation |
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Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Macbor,
Now those are some detailed pictures of a nice looking guitar. It is much easier to make out artifact in the pictures caused by light reflections. I am relieved to hear that the finish is uniform.
Defuse indirect light with a slower shutter speed seems to work best for me when taking pictures of very reflective surfaces.
Your new photos show the "corduroy" effect from the wood grain through the transparent finish. When my cherry burst Custom Legend arrived, I was shocked at first for the same reason.
From more than a foot away, I loved the way it looked.
It took me a while to realize that I was not accustomed to having a colored spruce top. |
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Posts: 111
| Glad to see the new pics. I'm still unclear: can you feel the grain lines? |
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Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | Macbor:
I have an 1868LX and a 6778LX and I just went and checked them both. I can see the grain lines in both, but more in the 1868LX. For me, they are just beautiful both looks wise and in play.
I believe that the mothership has gone to the thinner finish for two reasons (someone correct me if I'm wrong). First, the thinner finish allows the top to vibrate more freely = more sound acoustically - that's a lot of the reason that the Elite T's sound so good. Second, the thinner finish is far less likely to develop finish checks (cracks) that older Ovations are so famous for.
If your guitar plays and sounds good, I'd keep it. From the high res pics you supplied, you have one BEAUTIFUL instrument. The grain lines add character IMHO. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | My Custom Balladeer has the same look in a Sunburst finish. It has the old-style thick, hard polymer finish. It also has finish cracks, but sounds great. I think it's just a function of the grain in the wood. I like the look of the wood grain and could learn to love it if it was mine, as long as it sounds good.
Advice from one Pole to another: keep it. Now, how do you really pronounce Prusynski? |
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Location: Poland | Mark, specially for you: http://www.icpnet.pl/~macbor/pruszynski.mp3 :)
noah, MWoody, worshipleader thank you very much. You've helped me a lot. I'm relieved and can fully enjoy my new baby :) . |
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Location: SoCal | Macbor, Please find time to come back and share your playing experiences with us. |
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Location: Poland | @noah
As I said before, I'm very happy with the sound. After sanding down two frets (the 13th and the 14th) and removing one shim, the action is comfortably low (2mm/1,6mm at 12th fret) without any buzzing. Here how it sounds http://www.icpnet.pl/~macbor/LX1777_blues.mp3 - recorded directly to the computer without any effects. |
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Location: NW NJ | Sweeeeet! |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Welcome macbor:
Nice guitar. It looks fine to me. Nice blues too!
You are very accomplished at both the guitar and the computer. Post some more music. |
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Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | Unfortunately, this Pole is not accomplished at either. I couldn't get the link to play. |
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Posts: 7
Location: Poland | Not that I'm picking holes but I have another question concerning the build quality: there is a little step (of about 1/2 mm) at the junction between the bowl and the binding at the areas marked by arrows. Is it also normal?
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Location: Warren,Pa. | After reading your question I went and looked at my Std. Elite LX and noticed the same thing. I've had this guitar for over a year and never noticed it before. I don't mean to make excuses for the factory, but these are not "Boutique" guitars where unlimited time can be spent on such details. I believe we've got amazing guitars for our money. I think the details you've noticed are tolerances allowed within the price-range and building environment of theseguitars. That's OK with me. Anyone disagree? John <>{ |
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Location: Braman, OK | Nice blues, Mac! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Which is bigger, the bowl or the binding. On most of mine the bowl is bigger, some just barely, but on the Matrix, the binding clearly overlaps the bowl. I suspect that you don't notice the joint on wood bowl guitars because the finish is applied over the bowl and binding and sanded smooth. On an Ovation, you wouldn't want someone trying to sand the binding to match the bowl or he'd scratch the hell out of the bowl.
Macbor, it's good that you're so obsessive about your Ovation and your music. Keep playing and don't lose sleep worrying. |
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Location: Keller, TX | Those blues are great! I wish I could do that with my guitar. Still working on the fourth chord :( |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Just listened to the blues recording. Very very nice!
Now, to change the direction of this thread, I want to start doing some recording on the computer and have absolutely no idea what program to use or how to hook the guitar up to the computer --- in other words, I need a beginner's primer on the subject. Anybody have any thoughts? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | My thought is to start a new thread. There may be a lot of lurkers who have decent info to share but won't find this unless they see the topic in the title. |
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Location: SoCal | Good idea |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | See. That's one area I don't even know enough to offer an opinion. Usually lack of knowledge doesn't stop me. |
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Location: SoCal | Well, yeah, you're an attorney...... |
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Posts: 7
Location: Poland | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Which is bigger, the bowl or the binding.
the bowl is bigger
Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Macbor, it's good that you're so obsessive about your Ovation and your music. Keep playing and don't lose sleep worrying. I'm rather obsessive about not being betrayed by the German music shop (MusicTown) again. What I didn't mention yet, they sent me a guitar with a screwed up pickup at first. Furthermore it was evidently used. I sent it back of course. This is the second one and definitely not brand new either. Apart from the things already discussed it has two factory-made lacquer flaws under the sound hole, the border of the rosette at the part under the strings is creased and there is a nasty orange stain on the fingerboard. Significantly the quality control label is missing. I lost confidence in MusicTown (to be exactly in German Ovation distributor Musik Meyer) but in Ovation too and that’s why I'm so suspicious. For 1300 euro I expect a perfect built guitar. Do I want too much? Must I go for a Custom Legend or higher if I want a good sounding AND perfectly made Ovation? |
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Location: NW NJ | Your "washboard" top, as we discussed earlier is due to the natural wood grain, and not a flaw. Lacquer flaws, a creased rosette and the stain on the fingerboard are not acceptable. Having been to the factory, and taking into account their proclivity to sell FRG guitars that most people never find anything wrong with, I just can't beleive that the mothership would let a factory 1st guitar go with those flaws. I'd send it back and buy one from Al - it'll come perfect. |
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Posts: 167
Location: Waxahachie, Tx | macbor,
Going to the next level or just plain more expensive unit won't automatically guarantee you will receive a guitar free from obvious discrepancies. When I purchase another new Guitar I will purchase from a source that does inspect the unit prior to delivering to the Customer (like AL), only because he acts as an unbiased QC. In most production environments their is always a percentage of units that don't get a proper inspection in the final steps Why I don't know? If the guitar you have does not meet your fair expectations or the 1300 Euros then I would not keep it. Document areas in question and return it. From your music clip it sure sounded GOOD. :D |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Buying guitars via mail without actually playing and seeing them is somewhat risky. Doesn't matter if it's a 500. or 5000. euro instrument. Buying without seeing is a risk, but maybe people accept this risk due to lower proces offered by mailorder sellers. In some cases, especially outside the USA there is no local dealer to buy from. Some shady sellers will sell used or demo guitars as new. or sell FRG as 1st quality, etc. If the guitar for whatever reason does not meet your quality standards then I would by all means return it and either buy from a different dealer or buy a different brand of guitar, hopefully one that you can play and inspect before purchasing. Dave |
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Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | If what you were sold is a new guitar, you should get one with no flaws for that price. Ovation certainly doesn't want you to regret purchasing the product. It's too bad you had to go through this. |
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new LX1777 with a washboard top