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Location: Burbank | Does anyone know when (year) the factory went from lacquer to poly?
Is No. 7 rubbing compound ok for either finish or is it too harsh? |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I can't remember for SURE, but I think it was around '78 or '79. |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Oh, and it wasn't lacquer, it was from polyester to polyurethane. |
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Location: Burbank | |
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Location: Burbank | I thought it was from nitro-cellulose lacquer to poly-urethane? |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Nope. As a matter of fact, when they first decided to switch, they gave a polyester Applause to me, and a polyurethane Applause to another inspector, and told us to take them home and beat on 'em, expose them to weather, in short, to be as rough on them as we could, to see which one held up better. The polyurethane won. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Alison,
Do you know the finish on the Academys?
Thanx... |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | As far as I can remember, they didn't so much have a "finish" per se, the plastic just came that way. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Gotta tell you and the rest, my 'new' KA 17 is unbelievable. If it had a pup, it would kick some serious plugged-in 'O'ss!
Maybe Beal can give some insight as to why this line wasn't nurtured. Or you... ? |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | [Iffy quote] "Do you know the finish on the Academys?"
Armor-All? :eek: |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | OMA,
Seriously, have ya played one? My KA 17 peg head sounds great, even with the 'speed bump' frets'.
But the KA 14 slot head is unreal. I was a reluctant buyer the first time, even after Dave's recommendations. I truly wish Kaman Corp would have gone down this path a bit further...
If I ever have the chance to get another, I'd seriously consider putting some 'tronics in it! |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I think you are confused... KA17 = Slothead, KA14 = Peghead...
But yes, I have played one. [see sig]
I just dug mine out to remind myself what it sounded like.
My KA17 is a nifty piece of Plastic, with wooden fretboard and bridge (I think).
But, from my experience with cutting-up bowls, you may wanna get a direct saddle to end-pin hook-up.
Fishman also has an end-pin set-up with a preamp, but it cost more than your Academy.
I'm sure you could put a can in the deep bowl without screwing up the acoustic sound, but it wouldn't be a Vintage Academy anymore. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Doh! Yepper, I messed up on the model numbers.
I wouldn't even think about electrifying my two present KAs. Although, I am contemplating having the -14 speed bumps dressed.
My main point is that the KAs are very under appreciated...
Thanx for the correction! |
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Location: Cork, Ireland | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
Fishman also has an end-pin set-up with a preamp, but it cost more than your Academy.
There's an Artec one too - probably much cheaper |
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Location: Burbank | I am confused now. I thought the original finishes were nitro and they eventually changed to poly. Didn't we have a discussion before that the nitro is why the older models cracked? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I think CS is correct. I recall reading somewhere that Ovation used poly from the start. I don't think they ever used nitro or lacquer (which might be the same). |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Mario, no, that must've been a different guitar forum. Trust me, I worked there for years.
Iffy, to be honest with you, I was appalled when they started making Academys. I think originally there was some guitar school somewhere that wanted a really inexpensive guitar for their students that would hold up to the abuse that kids can dish out. But they had no tone at ALL. If you have one or two that DO sound good, it could well be that PLASTIC sounds better with age! |
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Location: Reisterstown, Maryland | Canterbury,
You worked at the MS?
Anita |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Yes Anita, or to be exact, I worked at the Moosup plant. They closed it and consolidated with the folks in New Hartford. I was an inspector. Great place to work, and the friends I made there are still my friends today. I was there in the late seventies and early eighties. I'd probably still be there if they hadn't closed, but things work out the way they're supposed to. If I still worked at Ovation, I wouldn't be living in the Black Hills and running a music store. |
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Location: SoCal | Alison,
You must have been in Mooseup when Nick Mackin was developing the 1537's. Any insight on what people there were thinking at the time regarding that guitar? |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | No, all of that took place on the third floor in the Adamas shop. They ran their own show up there. We got to play with all of the Ovations and Applauses, (and the Matrixes back when those were still being made). I knew Nick though. His wife Ariel worked in the office. Nice couple. If I remember correctly, Nick flew a small plane. I could be mistaken though, just thinking that because he lived out near the Griswold airport. |
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Location: SoCal | I've had the occassion to talk with Nick 2-3 times on the phone, asking questions about the 1537's. Very nice guy.... |
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Location: Michigan | mario , older fenders and some newer custom shop reissues finishes are nitrocellulous laquers but most now are polyurethanes.GWB |
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Location: Burbank | OK. I am working on a mid 80's GC artist so I was trying determine what type of finish I should use to fill a big gap and level some holes with. If they switched to Poly-urethane in late 70's then I guess that's what I have. Thanks. |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Beal also said there was never any nitro finished Ovations, even in the earliest days.
I can only imagine what those old shiny deep bowl guitars would sound like now if they had been done in nitro! |
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Finishes