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Urethane or Nitrocellulose on Old Ovetions?

Posted 2013-07-11 9:58 AM (#473291)
Subject: Urethane or Nitrocellulose on Old Ovetions?

Joined:
May 2012
Posts: 55

Does anyone know when Ovation changed from Lacquer (Nitrocellulose I guess) to poly-urethane? Reason I ask is I've had good results fixing earlier Ovations finish chips, dings, imperfections in general with the normal drop fill method using Super Glue, clear nail polish, lacquer, etc. My latest project was to fix a Folklore 1114 model from about 1970. It had numerous chips and dings on its neck and top which are now undetectable. I used a clear lacquer based, rather thick nail polish. However I've been unable to do so with a friends Ovation from maybe 2003. Nothing I've tried will blend in with the original finish. I'm afraid this one has defeated me. Thanks for any suggestions

Mark in Boise

Posted 2013-07-11 10:56 AM (#473293 - in reply to #473291)
Subject: Re: Urethane or Nitrocellulose on Old Ovetions?

Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755

Location: Boise, Idaho

I didn't think they ever used lacquer. My first Ovation from 1976 is poly and I'm pretty sure that one I used to own from 1973 was poly. The only difference I've noticed between the new and the old is that the poly on the new ones is much thinner than the poly on the old ones.

CanterburyStrings

Posted 2013-07-11 10:57 AM (#473294 - in reply to #473291)
Subject: Re: Urethane or Nitrocellulose on Old Ovetions?

Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683

Location: Hot Springs, S.D.

Not sure about New Hartford guitars, but in Moosup, the old finish was polyester, and the new finish was polyurethane. I think the change was made somewhere around 1978?