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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | Just bought a 2078lx last night. Loving it so far, but it seems really easy to get these fine scratches, swirlies on the finish. Is there something I can coat the guitar with, and what about cleaning it, any tips/products? |
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Posts: 4043
Location: Utah | Newf, welcome aboard!
Learn not to strike the top with your pick. If you play aggressively you could apply a removable pick guard. Someone here in the past week or two did just that, you may be able to find the thread which included some information about different products available. There are some thin flexible plastic products. Be aware that anything you attach to the top will reduce it's ability to vibrate and will therefore affect the quality of the sound.
For cleaning and polishing, I like the Dunlop 65 products. They have a cleaner which strips old wax and gunk off, and they have a Carnuba wax to put on to protect the finish.
Post pictures of your new baby! |
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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | I gotta say that I really love the guitar but disappointed at how easy the glossy finish gets little swirls and scratches in it and I'm a very gentle player. Mostly hand pick. Just a soft tissue seems to even swirl the finish |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Pick!???!?! Use your fingers dude! ;)
I got some scratch remover on Ebay and it works a charm. |
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Posts: 81
Location: Canada | I do not use a Pick.
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Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Welcome Newf,
She sure is a purdy guitar!!! Love the Cherry burst!! |
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Posts: 4043
Location: Utah | I'm wondering if there is already some wax or silicone product on there that is picking up the swirls. I've not noticed my two LX O's getting unusual swirlies on them. In any event, using a good wax should fill in the micro marks and make them invisible. |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | You should never use a tissue to wipe down your guitar (or you eyeglasses for that matter). Paper products, no matter how soft they may feel, have wood fiber in them. I use a very old, soft t-shirt. It never scratches the guitars, and it's a great way to recycle my ever dwindling wardrobe. |
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Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | No matter what happens in this world, your Ovation will never be a museum piece. So just play the heck out of it, be kind to it, and let the chips fall where they may. The finish is rock hard and is designed to protect the top. Don't stress about the swirl marks, you'll find them on any guitar that been played even just a little ... and don't stress about getting any smudges on the case, either. ;) Have you ever noticed that the best sounding guitars always seem to be the ones with the beauty marks on them? So just enjoy your guitar. If you want it to stay perfect, hermetically seal in and put it it the closet. :) |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Yup, you've got to decide if you want it for it's beauty or for what it can do in your hands. If you try to keep a guitar pristine and still want to play it, you're fighting a loosing battle. Trust me. |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
No matter what happens in this world, your Ovation will never be a museum piece. to stay perfect, hermetically seal in and put it it the closet. :) Ain`t that the truth .... |
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Posts: 144
Location: SW Washington | I had the same concern when I bought my LX a couple months ago. I tend to play VERY aggressively so I ordered a product called Guitar Bra that you cut to the shape you want and it just adheres to the face of the guitar by static. It is very easy to apply and remove at will. And yes, there is a very noticeable dampening of the sound, but that is what my amp is for, lol. Anyhow, I have been using it for over a month now and am very happy with it. If you want to PM me I will see if I can find the link for you.
David |
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Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by FlySig:
I'm wondering if there is already some wax or silicone product on there that is picking up the swirls. That was my first thought too. It's possible the seller tried to be nice and gave your guitar a quick cleaning/polish before handing it over. If they over-applied their cleanser/wax/whatever, it may be streaking and scratching on top of the finish.
Lovely instrument by the way. :cool: |
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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | it's my first Ovation. I really wanted a Custom though, but I got a decent deal on this and grabbed it.There's some really nice guitars on this site here, stuff I'll never own that's for sure. It's amazing how much darker the red is in person though, the flash really brightens it.
I'm going to try and see if I can get this Dunlop polish stuff locally.
thanks guys |
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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | couple of questions actually
My guitar is stamped USA, so I'm assuming...duh, made in USA. Are all Elites made in USA?
And I've seen other ads online for the same model guitar, but they only have the op pro whereas mine has the studio. Thought that was odd almost like there was two different versions of this guitar
And how long has the deep contour been around? Just curious as I hear a lot of people complain about the Ovation round back and sound and I'm wondering if the deep countour is a new thing and most just haven't tried it or what. |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Newf,
You gotta good guitar. The custom has more bling, but it's the same basic instrument. Bobbo's right. Don't worry to much about little swirls. Just play and enjoy your guitar.
My brother always said that anybody who has a car older than 5 years old that looks new is much too anal about their car..... |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Newf, be glad you have the studio preamp. General consensus here is it's a better unit than the Pro. The contour bowl is relatively new (well maybe like 05 or something). (someone correct me if I'm wrong)
sent you a pm. |
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Posts: 747
| Originally posted by Newf:
[QB] I do not use a Pick. Nice lookin guitar.
What kind of music are you playing. |
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December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
Newf, be glad you have the studio preamp. General consensus here is it's a better unit than the Pro. The contour bowl is relatively new (well maybe like 05 or something). (someone correct me if I'm wrong)
sent you a pm. Newf,
The current Ovation specs for that guitar indicate that it should, in fact, come with an Op Pro Studio.
Now just don't go and sell it to Trader Jim…
…for a while… ;)
That's a very nice guitar, enjoy it. |
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January 2006
Posts: 387
Location: Whitecourt, Ab | Hi Newf, and welcome.
Quit playin that squid- jiggin' music and the swirls disappear.
Just kidding we need all the canuks we can get on this board.
Nice looking guitar you have there,enjoy |
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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | haha. Actually I hate Newfoundland music with a passion, and I don't play any jig or really die hard country stuff either. More soft rock, modern type music with a mix of the classic rock.
I bought some martin guitar polish today, just streaks the finish really. Shop is getting more dunlop polish next week, I'll try that. |
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February 2008
Posts: 747
| Originally posted by Newf:
... More soft rock, modern type music with a mix of the classic rock.
Lard Jayzuz, next thing you know he'll be movin to Torana and gettin a job with the CBC..lol |
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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | I'm sensing sarcasm here
Hey guys, what strings do you use on these ovations. I don't know what the store had on them, but I changed them with some ghs lights I had lying around, I find them a bit bright. Any recommendations? I am more of an electric guitar player converting to accoustic with age, but I like to play a bit of lead, blues and stuff too. |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Ok Newf, I'm not being sarcastic here, but there have been literally hundreds of threads regarding strings on the board. Spend some time going thru the archives. Start in 2002 and work your way forward. You'll be glad you did..... |
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Posts: 747
| Originally posted by Newf:
I'm sensing sarcasm here
Might be too strong a word but any sarcasm wasn't directed at you - more at the turkeys that live in Toronto. As for the attempt at dialect; well I'm originally from Northern Ireland where the local dialect is more of a speech impediment than an accent..lol
As for strings I'm using Martin Plain Steel/Bronze .012 Also, I'm originally an electric player and still use that style on an acoustic - lead and blues etc. |
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Posts: 81
Location: Canada | I knew you were kidding, no worries. |
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Posts: 747
| Yeah, I figured you would but you never know - the innernets are funny like that..lol
As for the scratches, I've had mine since 75 and pretty much always used pick plus played it pretty hard. No scratches really noticeable - could be that it's a natural finish and maybe doesn't show them up that much but even looking closely there's nothing there. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Unless your guitar starts to look like this, I wouldn't worry about it.
If your guitar DOES start to look like this, you're probably more of a songwriter than a player.....
oh, and welcome aboard. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4043
Location: Utah | For a less bright sound, you might try a coated string. The Cleartone is a very good string with a slightly less bright tone. They sound very good on my mid-bowl LX. The Elixir Nano is on my deep contour bowl '07 Collector. The Nano is a slipperier string than the Cleartone and is a bit brighter, so you might want to try the Cleartone first.
The 80/20 is a bit less bright than Phos/Bronze if you want to try a non-coated string. DR Sunbeam Phos Bronze seems to be a slightly mellower string than average, and they are a lower tension string.
BTW, the Studio is a super preamp for live performance or recording. |
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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | thanks |
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | change your technique so you never scrape the top or never take the guitar out of the case. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | "Changes" - David Bowie |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | At 12:13 am, please understand that what I am going to say isn't sarcastic...
If you have a follow-through that should be used for bowling or on the golf course, Al has offered to provide instructions on picking.
Whether you finger pick or use thumb/finger picks (as I do for 12-strings), you should never have problems with the finish. It is catalyzed polyester and is so durable you can sand it (2,500-12,000 grit) to take out finish cracks.
There is a section in the FAQ's on how to repair. As to your concern, maybe there is some wax on it but I can't believe it is scratches in the finish if you play as described (Taylor yes, Ovation no).
However you play, a product as someone already mentioned or StewMac Swirl Remover will buff out any scratches unless you use a screwdriver for a pick (just kiddin')
As I read what I said, it is all true but as I am obviously grumpy, time for bed.
Opps, and WELCOME to a great group. Couple of more posts to remove the "New Member" tag. |
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March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | What a group...what more could you want or expect? The picture of Willie's guitar is scary...not so much the guitar but looks like Willie needs some hand creme...ouch
How old is he now...110? lol
Sorry, no offense meant...neck is killing me with all this rain...got to laugh at something and that pic made me smile...
Scratches are going to happen...it's just "TI": "time in"... |
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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | some of you guys don't seem to understand what I was saying. Swirlies are not scratches. I realise my subject does indeed say scratches, but I was thinking about down the road, over time, how to prevent them like wax does for a car.
the only thing on my guitar right now are swirls. These are going to happen on any guitar, I know this, but I am surprised at how easy the finish on this ovation does swirl. Now, I'm sure some of your aren't sitting underneath pot lights as I usually do since my house has them, but it does enhance or makes little imperfections more obvious.
I have not scratched the guitar in any way.
I do not use a pick
I finger pick, and I usually rest my hand above the guitar and not on it.
That being said I got some good advice here, and more via PM's from some good fella's. Thanks to all. |
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December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | Newf,
As previously stated, the finish is pretty hard on current Ovations, the finish itself is certainly not something that could be "swirled," scratched maybe, but not swirled. You could get micro-scratches in the actual finish if you have been wiping it down with anything other than a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, but even then you'd have to be relatively agressive and also use a cirular motion to get visible swirls.
It seems to me that the "swirls" are probably only in whatever is on TOP of the finish, maybe you have some oily residue or something on there, it could be sweat or just natural oils from your hands, or something else that was on there when you got it, it's hard to say. It could also be from cigarette smoke, if that's a factor.
If it is some substance on top of the finish, polishes, etc. might make it appear worse, you'd just be rubbing the gunk around. I think you need to gently but thoroughly clean the top to remove whatever's on there. Start with warm water, but with only a very slightly damp cloth, see if that results in any visible residue on the cloth, at least you might see evidence of what you are fighting. If that doesn't work, Erlewein's book recommends Naptha (lighter fluid) but I find that leaves a sort of residue itself, so you have to use it sparingly and be very meticulous in cleaning it all back off the guitar.
All that said, you have a beautiful guitar that happens to have a high-gloss finish with relatively solid colors underneath. Compared to a natural wood-grain finish which might hide "swirls" better, that combination will inevitably show minor smears more easily. I think a few smudges are a good trade-off in return for such a beautiful looking, playing and sounding guitar.
So just clean it often and play it more.
That's my 2¢…
Good Luck, |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Believe it or not, we used to use rubbing alcohol to clean the tops, then hit them with some furniture polish. |
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November 2009
Posts: 81
Location: Canada | meguiars scratch x was suggested too |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | That would work on scratches (if you go cafefully), but if you are trying to clean off any film or wax that might be the cause of the swirls, use the alcohol first. |
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December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
That would work on scratches (if you go cafefully), but if you are trying to clean off any film or wax that might be the cause of the swirls, use the alcohol first. Newf:
That was my point also, I think you may have a thin film of on top of the finish, and you need to remove that substance completely before applying any polish, swirl remover or any other products, if not you will just smear the gunk around with the polish and get more "swirls." |
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preventing scratches/cleaning