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Joined:
May 2012
Posts: 55
| Rather new to the Ovation guitar line, but finally acquired a very nice Elite LX USA model. Simply beautiful amplified, but rather quiet and bland in pure acoustic mode compared to the dreadnoughts I've grown up with. This I expected.
First question, I've been under the impression that a bridge plate in a guitar was put there to help counteract the roughly 150 lbs of horizontal top pull from the strings via the bridge pins. I was surprised to see one in the Elite. Since there are no bridge pins. Anyone know why one is still necessary? The same 150 lbs of pull is there but it would seem to tend to shear the bridge in the horizontal direction rather than pull the top with a vertical force.
Second question, I'm experimenting with mounting a piezo pickup someplace inside the guitar to capture the top vibrations. Temporary mounting the three transducers on said bridge plate works. But the volume controls on both guitar and amp have to be full up to have a good sound and then I hear background noise as expected. The plate is apparently too thick to transmit the sound. However mounting the pickups about half way between the bridge and the end pin improves the sound quality and volume immensely. Does any one know the best place to mount these piezos in an Ovation? I should think where the top vibrates the most, but how do you find that place. Thanks
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Joined:
May 2013
Posts: 20
| Speculation: perhaps they are secured with screws/dowells? I really don't know, but that's interesting. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12754
Location: Boise, Idaho | The strings on a pinless bridge still pull the bridge up from the bottom side, like a lever lifting it up over the saddle. Some Ovation bridges are bolted down, but they seem to have good luck just gluing them. My guess is that there isn't enough strength in just the top to hold the bridge down, so a plate is necessary.
Don't have any idea about the transducers. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | You will have to experiment with the transducer placement. Start out with the manufacturer's recommendation and work from there. Between the bridge and the end pin is the widest part of the top. It's the sweet spot. That's why I like 12-fret guitars, the bridge moves down into that sweet spot. |
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Ovation bridge plate and top question