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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Victoria, SW Coast of Canada | I found this place by googling 'ovation slip knee' because after 41 years playing guitar and 33 of those with the same Ovation I figured it was time to try to do something about the knee slipping thing. My body isn't as agile anymore and holding a guitar with a concave back against a concave belly has been getting tougher.
I found some advice about using anti-slip stair tread but before I put some unremovable material on my baby I thought I should ask for some opinions from you Ovation experts. I was also thinking about Velcro. Most people have said 'you get used to it' but I would like to hear from some people who have tried something. Glad I found this place. Any advice? |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Before some-one else types it... Get a Contour Bowl!
And Welcome Ian! :cool:
Also... There is something called a "Standing Ovation" plastic thingie, that is held-on with velcro and removable to put your O back in the case. It turns your round-back into a Dreadnaught.
On eBarf, there are the Slip-Grip fuzzy pads that stick-on... I had one once, it was Okay.
But then there are those abrasive stick-on things for bathtubs...
Or... You can use a strap while sitting, but you probably tried that.
Not very helpful, Huh? :p
(Which kind of Ovation have you got?) |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I've never had the problem unless my knee is lower than my hip. I sit in a lower chair or put my foot on something. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Victoria, SW Coast of Canada | Wow, thanks, quick answer. Aren't we supposed to be out playing somewhere on a Friday night?
I'm afraid I can't visualize that Standing Ovation thingy at all, and is Slip-Grip an actual brand name-sticky fuzzy pad? And I was thinking of something I could just get from some hardware store.
I've got a used Baladeer 111-4 in 1975 for $175 from someone who said he bought it new in Utah in 1970. Big bowl, big sound, love it. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Hi Ian,
Welcome fellow Puget Sounder!
I have a Standing Ovation on my LX, and while it's great for when you stand (Keeps the guitar from rolling agaist bellies like mine), it does nothing for when you sit.
Here's a pic
Acontour bowl is pretty much the same sort of thing, not really a help when you sit.
I'm not a sitter. I'm a stander. And even when I do sit, I have the strap around my neck. That seems to work for me.
I'd be apprehensive about sticking non skid stuff from a hardware store on ant of my Os. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Victoria, SW Coast of Canada | Thank you! Nice weather we're having eh?
I've never seen such a contraption before. It looks fascinating and I would love to try it but I was thinking about something a whole lot simpler and cheaper.
Like Velcro that you peel off the back and it's an adhesive pad. I'm like you, I'm apprehensive but I don't know if you could ever get it off if you didn't like it. But heck, it's plastic right? Space-age plastic I was told.
Hmmm, thanks guys, I'm going to sleep on this. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Just a little strip of grip tape like the kind they use on the top of skateboards will work.
The only time mine is not comfortable is when I can't hold it in the proper way. I'm thinking about getting one of those little adjustable foot pad things.
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | And as for me, I use the 3M anti-slip stairtread on all my O's. It's not noticable, I just cut it to fit the area, and it works perfectly.
I don't have something xtra to lug around and I just put the guitar in the case. I hate having ti store xtra items.
John <>{ |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Victoria, SW Coast of Canada | Thanks again guys. Slipkid, I had one of those footstands years ago when I was studying classical guitar at the Royal Conservatory and I was just thinking I should get one again so you read my mind. And my skateboard days are over but that grip tape sounds real interesting. I'll check out one of the many local stores for that. I'm looking forward to the reaction when they see a grey-haired dude looking for traction on his board...
And it seems that the 3m stair tread is a popular choice so thanks Bauerhillboy. I'm thinking the adhesive for that is probably stronger than needed though but I'm going to try to find it. Another idea I found on the net was to glue on a thin piece of rubber but I don't want to use glue on my guitar.
The back of my guitar is absolutely the only thing not perfect with it in my mind. I recently played a beautiful small Taylor that I could hug so close it felt like it was part of me. I also played a compact Ovation that a friend travels with just to play in hotel rooms which also felt great but there was no comparison in tone. I do mostly fingerstyle stuff and try to bring sounds out of the guitar that brings tears to people's eyes, including mine, because it's so beautiful. But I've been playing more country blues lately that can demand a real strong left hand pressure on barre chords that I find tough because of the sliding.
Anymore advice is welcome and I'll let you know my results. Thanks again. This looks like a damn good forum so I'll be back. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Um..., conVEX, not conCAVE. (Sorry, it's the grammar nazi in me. :( )
(Geez, I hope I got the "it's" right! :rolleyes: )
I guess it would be concave if you were looking at the bowl through the hole/s.
I've never had a problem with my deep bowl, and my middle is still growing. But then, I always play sitting down. If my thigh is level, it doesn't move.
Originally posted by Ian Mc:
I recently played a beautiful small Taylor that I could hug so close it felt like it was part of me. Careful on that thin ice there, pardner.
Ya don't wanna be sayin' that sorta thing 'round these here parts. Feller could find hisself in big trouble. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Welcome to the OFC Ian. Fellow members had given you some great advice IMO, thus I won't add any more. As for me, I use a strap and I get used to it over time.
Welcome once again, and glad to see you join us. :) |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Welcome Ian! We are now a cadre of 2 here on the Island. First we take over The Island then, the mainland!
For non-slip, you might try Plasti dip available at most automotive supply shops. I find dozens of use for this stuff....or just smear some Goop, which is the same thing in a smaller container. But you won't have more for those bigger jobs that it looks so cool for.
Ian, can you fit The Pacific Northwest Gathering into your summer schedule? It will be a lot of fun...and handy as we can just take the ferry out of Sidney to Mount Vernon. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | Ian, you might try sitting on a stool with decent height. Put your left leg on the floor, tapping and stomping away, and your right leg on a high enough rung to give you a sharper that 90 degree angle to "lock in" the guitar.
When I play sitting, that's what I do. I use a fair amount of forearm pressure, so slippage is sometimes a problem for me otherwise. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Ian,
Reading you last post, it sounds like you need a mid depth Folklore.
A 6774 should do. :D
If we see you at "The Gathering", I'll have one with. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Check with Al on those little footrest thingies. We got them with the OFC guitars. They were cheap and collapsed down to about one inch, so they'd easily go in the gigbag.
I just rock the easy chair forward until I get the right height, so I don't really need it, but it's a clever tool.
Ian, they have Slip Grips on ebay all the time under Ovations. Some of the older Ovations had a non skid patch or some texture built into the back. I hate to tell a pro what to do, but you might just try changing your playing posture. It's interesting that I've heard the most complaints about the super shallow bowls, instead of the deep bowl. I suppose as the population gets bigger around the middle, we have a new set of problems. None of those skinny people in the 60s complained about this. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Mark, are saying Al is cheap???
The classical foot rest,inexpensive, is a good idea. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I didn't say Al was cheap, just that his thingies are. For all I know Al is cheap, too. At least many people have told me that people of Polish ancestry are noted for that. Not as bad as the Scots, but pretty notorious.
Of course, I have a couple daughters with Polish ancestry that might dispute the old reputation that Poles are not too bright. Their mother might claim credit for that, though. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Victoria, SW Coast of Canada | Well, thank you all for your great advice and kind words and for helping me learn about this place. I won't mention other guitar names while I'm alone with you guys again, promise...
I just put a strip of black anti-slip stair tread like people advised and it works great! I should have done that years ago. If I ever want to take it off I'm sure I can find something to take the remaining stickiness off but right now I'll say it's a keeper. It really does make a difference to me, I have more stability with the triangle of right arm, left hand and right knee. Never even got to the skateboard shop, damn.
And I did get one of those adjustable foot-rests again as well. That's mostly for when and if I get back playing in clubs because I'll be sitting down to do fingerstyle mellow, jazzy, folksy, bluesy stuff. Around here I just need a chair with no arms and a box of beer. Actually those days have changed and now it's just an occasional six-pack but that kind of footrest tends to disappear.
Thanks for the advice on posture etc., but honestly I do kind of know what I'm doing. I taught guitar in the seventies and I've been playing for 41 years. But I do appreciate all the help!
Fillhixx glad to meet you! I doubt that I can make it for that gathering because things haven't been going too well physically and financially lately. That's one of the reasons I'm getting back into playing more, doing what's really important in life. And music is a big part of mine. Thanks anyway, but partying might not be possible. Remember, I said 'might'...
I knew I should have googled 'concave' before I typed it but I figured I had a 50/50 chance. Oh well. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | im a righty and ive had zero proper guitar lessons but i have taught my self to finger pick and im learning classical. but i rest the middle "dip' on my left leg and the bottom on teh inside of my right leg. it locks it in and it also helps keep my sweaty arm off the top. thisworked with all the deep bowls ive owned.....the ssbs are harder for me tho lol
good luck ian |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Victoria, SW Coast of Canada | That's interesting that you're holding an Ovation in the same position as a classical guitar. You don't see that often and for me I think it would feel pretty awkward, unless I squeezed my thighs together real tight. Hmmm, I might try it right now...
I wonder how many actually hold one that way? |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I hold it that way sometimes, but as I stated above it's rare that I sit, and even more rare that I don't have a strap.
Holding it in that position came from playing a Flying V for so many years. You can't hold a V like a regular guitar, so I just kinda got used to playing that way on all of the guitars.
That guitar has more hours on it than any other I have (And it shows up close). |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 9
Location: Victoria, SW Coast of Canada | First, let me compliment you on how great your photographs are. I spent six years with my only income coming from photography in the days before digital and 'product photography' was what I hoped I could retire on so that I could actually afford to play great guitars like yours but life didn't work out that way. You have beautiful guitars (I saw your bass photos too) and make beautiful photographs. Way to go!
Second, are you Johnny Winter!!!? That's who I associate the Flying V with...You're still alive? Actually, I hear you're 64 and alive and well so thanks for the music, just today I was looking for your lyrics for Me and the Devil and When You Got A Good Friend from your solo album in the seventies. They can sound ok on an ovation too if they're done right.
Right now I'm trying to record some similar fingerstyle blues on an Ovation Balladeer through a mike into my computer and I've been getting very frustrated trying to figure out how to do that very simple thing. I've got Cakewalk, Acid, Audition and Tracktion and even Audacity but I might just go to Value Village and get an old four track cassette recorder with line ins that I can comprehend. I'm new here but there's probably a software recording thread here isn't there? One more can't hurt, can it? Actually, I think my onboard audio is screwing me up.
And if you're a stander rather than a sitter then I'm betting you're making money with music at least once in a while and once again I'll say 'way to go'.! |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Ian, welcome.
A friend of mine has been telling me that Johnny Winter now lives in southern Connecticut. Don't know if that's true. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | There have been recording threads. Do a search. There are plenty of gearheads here. Not me. |
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