6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?
d'ovation
Posted 2013-01-27 1:17 PM (#464606)
Subject: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848

Location: Canada
I have a 6751 which is probably about 10 years old and found that the bridge has lifted off and it looks terrible. I had a local luthier look at it and at first glance he thinks that part of the soundboard may have split off as well, and that repair may be costly. He will inspect it in more detail and get me a quote. I REALLY liked the action, playability, and sound of the guitar, but I am concerened about structural integrity as I already had the bracing re-glued and top straightened about 8 years ago and am wondering if instead of putting in another major investment I should just sell it as a project or for parts, and put the proceeds toward a new instrument?

And that brings me to the second part of my question ... I visited the Ovation website and found four potential models that look interesting, but the specs look somewhat similar so I am wondering what the real differences between these models are, and which would be most similar to the playability of the 6751, or which one would be the "best". Please comment on these four models:
2758AX, 2751AX, 2058TX, and 2056AX.

Thanks in advance.
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Slipkid
Posted 2013-01-27 1:44 PM (#464607 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: RE: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
"most similar?" well... none. The ones listed are all now off shore guitars. No disrespect intended. For the money, they are fine guitars. But I'm afraid it's apples & oranges.
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dvd
Posted 2013-01-27 2:43 PM (#464608 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889

Location: Central Massachusetts
Are you the original owner? If so, the repair would be covered under your warranty.
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Slipkid
Posted 2013-01-27 4:07 PM (#464617 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
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Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
That would be great.
I hope you are the original owner.
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d'ovation
Posted 2013-01-27 10:33 PM (#464627 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848

Location: Canada
Thanks, unfortunately I bought it used on ebay and I received it with the initial damage, but decided to keep it anyway. I have a warranty card which is blank and don't know where it was originally purchased at.

What do you mean with off-shore, I thought only the applause and celebrities were non-US ... I guess I haven't really followed the industry new much. So what would be a good US made model?

And are the ones I mentioned really that bad, and do they have the same kind of warranty as they used to have if you buy from authorized dealer?

Edited by merlin666 2013-01-27 10:52 PM
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Damon67
Posted 2013-01-27 10:59 PM (#464631 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
All production except for Al DiMeola Signature, Adamas, and custom orders are now off-shore... for a few years now. There are still a few USA models floating around.

If this ad is real and they really have it, maybe you should snag this one quick... https://www.andrewsmusic.net/shoppingcart/products/NEW-Ovation-Legen...

Too bad you missed this... http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22966&ite...

Bottom line, look for an LX. That would be the most recent USA model prior to the move. I prefer the contour bowl, so that part number would start with a number "2" as in the 2058LX (or if it's a custom, a C2058LX)

Good luck and happy hunting. They're around, but have patience.
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Damon67
Posted 2013-01-27 11:11 PM (#464632 - in reply to #464631)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
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Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City

This would be the last USA version of your guitar....

 

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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2013-01-28 7:06 AM (#464637 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Or you could win THIS ONE

It is not really "new"...
And the seller sez that he/she was using an iDea preamp in it,
which is why there is an empty can in the side.
But the seller sez that it has an OP-Pro that is in that can now.
Might be a deal for someone.

-edit so it doesn't run off the screen--

Edited by Old Man Arthur 2013-01-28 7:21 AM
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MWoody
Posted 2013-01-28 8:17 AM (#464641 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987

Location: Upper Left USA
Apples and Banana's... Send it to Mother and get an estimate. You will get the best deal available there.

Or become a self professed BFLG member and butcher, er, repair your own stuff.
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FlySig
Posted 2013-01-28 9:00 AM (#464642 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4046

Location: Utah
Ditto what MWoody said. It will cost you about $100 round trip for shipping plus whatever the factory charges for the repair. If they can glue it down and maybe run a couple of bolts through it the charge will be extremely reasonable and the work will be perfect. My daughter's Adamas developed a delamination behind the bridge and is at the factory now for a new top/bowl and a few minor cosmetic touch ups. Though Sara is not the original owner the factory is treating us right. I was prepared for an estimate 3X what they are charging.

The AX and TX are good value but consider that ordering a new LX from the USA factory would run you something like $2k or more, so the AX/TX just isn't the same guitar as the LX.
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d'ovation
Posted 2013-01-28 12:02 PM (#464646 - in reply to #464631)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848

Location: Canada
damon67 - 2013-01-27 10:59 PM
If this ad is real and they really have it, maybe you should snag this one quick... https://www.andrewsmusic.net/shoppingcart/products/NEW-Ovation-Legen...

Thanks, it seems they don't have it anymore, otherwise would have been great ...
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d'ovation
Posted 2013-01-31 9:39 AM (#464769 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848

Location: Canada
It looks like these new AX models are quite a bit cheaper than their equivalent previous LX models. I assume that this is due to lower labour costs in Korea. Is there any evidence that this also translates into lower craftmanship and resulting lower quality of the new guitar series?
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d'ovation
Posted 2013-01-31 9:48 AM (#464770 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848

Location: Canada
The exactly same guityar as mine has just come on eBay, though at a quite high price (I think)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ovation-12-String-Standard-Balladeer-Model-...
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Slipkid
Posted 2013-01-31 11:36 AM (#464773 - in reply to #464769)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
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Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
merlin666 - 2013-01-31 10:39 AM
resulting in lower quality of the new guitar series?

.
The new off shore Ovations are a good value compared to the price you pay.
As always, you get what you pay for.
Are the new Elite models that sell for $700 on par with the $1,200 models that used to come out of New Hartford?
I doubt it.
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Damon67
Posted 2013-01-31 12:49 PM (#464776 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or new guitar?



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
The asian and US guitars are completely different. Different manufacturing techniques, necks, braces, pretty much the entire thing. That's not saying the asian ones sound bad or are poor construction, they're just different.

Apples to Oranges
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d'ovation
Posted 2013-03-02 2:58 PM (#467938 - in reply to #464606)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or sell as project/parts?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848

Location: Canada
As I may have mentioned in other threads, I was fortunate to get a 2006 6756LX in mint condition and register it as original owner, so I am quite pleased with that. In the meantime I had the Balladeer with the local master luthier, and I finally got an assessment. It seems that it was not the bridge that has lifted off, but due to storage in dry conditions and temperature effects the soundboard below the bridge had cracked and lifted partially off. He assured me that he can reglue and reinforce that damage for around 140 to 170, so it will be playable and stable again. But there would be very visible cosmetic cracks in the finish around the bridge which would be much more expensive to repair.

I feel like have two options now that I already have a replacement and don't need it any more: either pay to have the repairs done and try to sell it with visible blemishes, or as alternative leave it as is and try to sell it as a repair project or for parts (8158 case, OP-24 preamp, bridge and pickup, neck and tuners). What do you think may be the better option for this about 12 year old 6751?

Edited by merlin666 2013-03-02 3:07 PM
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d'ovation
Posted 2013-04-18 11:49 PM (#469664 - in reply to #467938)
Subject: Re: 6751 bridge failure - repair or sell as project/parts?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848

Location: Canada

It has taken well over 2 months but I have finally picked up the repaired 6751. She sounds great with a fresh set of strings, but the bill indicates that the truss rod was adjusted and action may be a bit higher than before, but still pretty good. The bridge had been re-attached with three bolts against a maple plate at the inside and looks like this now:

 

As promised, he did not address the cracked finish, but assured me that this is purely cosmetic:

Also I find that the soundboard is now slightly wavy behind the bridge and also seems to dip toward the area in front of the bridge. I have inserted an oasis humdifier and hope that this will improve the soundboard, but I am not optimistic. 

The luthier who did this builds beautiful instruments, his website is:

http://www.sawchyn.com/

 I will try to sell this guitar locally, though Ovations are not well known in this neck of the woods.

 

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