Posted 2013-09-13 6:00 PM (#474854) Subject: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
I just got this... I haven't even changed the strings yet.
I did have to put the battery-holder back in. It was bouncing around inside the body.
Luckily, I don't believe it has done any damage.
The "TS" volume thingy still works.
Before I get around to taking it apart and cleaning it...
What is THIS...
I don't want to break something out of pure ignorance.
Also, it looks like the previous own broke-off an ear, so he broke-off the other so they'd match...
It has a battle-scar...
And the tuning knobs don't match...
But I have a set somewhere.
Also it has some chips near the binding and some crud that I need to wash off...
I also don't have a photo of the whole guitar yet.
Posted 2013-09-13 7:11 PM (#474871 - in reply to #474854) Subject: RE: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: July 2011 Posts: 69
Location: Da Windy City
Sparring from the other thread aside ( )
That's a nice guitar. Some of the best deals are when the guitar has a little this-or-that 'wrong' with it that takes it outside the realm of collectors and into the realm of playing musicians sold for a huge discount. Always nice when you can score one of those.
I got 4861 some years back for $100 (with case) because it had a hairline crack developing. You had to get it in just the right light and damn near use magnification to actually see it. It hadn't yet even breached the finish, just ever so slightly beginning to form under the finish in the wood. The guy basically gave it away in a pique of collector-fit (and because the battery was dead and changing the batteries in those can induce suicide)
A bit of 'hasty re-hydration' and that little hairline completely vanished and hasn't been seen since.
Guitars like that one- a nick here, a little chip there sold for some huge percent off, I find them hard to resist.
Posted 2013-09-13 10:16 PM (#474888 - in reply to #474854) Subject: Re: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: December 2003 Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA
String theories:
A) A little bit of trophy/bling made up of pieces of bone from the previous owners victims.
B) A non-patented Saddle reinforcement device.
C) A secret weapon from Bass Pro...
Nice guitar Art.
just let that little finish crack suck up a glimmer of Stewmac #10 cyano and it will never bother you again.
Posted 2013-09-13 10:33 PM (#474891 - in reply to #474854) Subject: Re: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Okay, I haven't changed the strings yet. But I am getting ready to do so.
I will discover when I do...
Just by playing with the guitar, I Think that it might be a contraption to enhance the piezo by transmitting more vibration to the saddle from the strings.
But like I said.... I have no idea what that could be.
I don't believe that it is connected to anything electrical... but we shall see in a few.
I was trying to change the tuner buttons... but one has a shaft that won't let me put the new button on.
So, now I have 5 Gold and one Chrome.
I am not sure if that is better than 3 Black and 3 Chrome...
But at least all the knobbies are the same size now.
Posted 2013-09-14 12:43 AM (#474898 - in reply to #474854) Subject: RE: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
I cleaned and oiled the fingerboard. Put Silk-n-Steels on it. Nice for fingerpickin' (or trying to...). Everything works. I didn't put that fishing lure back on... But I am saving it for later.
I really LIKE this thing. The size, weight, and ease of play are fantastic.
Posted 2013-09-14 9:45 AM (#474908 - in reply to #474854) Subject: RE: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: April 2010 Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer
New toys are always fun. Even if they're missing an ear ...or two. Congrats OMA.
MWoody - String theories: A) A little bit of trophy/bling made up of pieces of bone from the previous owners victims. B) A non-patented Saddle reinforcement device. C) A secret weapon from Bass Pro..
D) A voodoo gris gris good luck mojo charm? (it make dem strings last long and da notes ring clear mon)
arthurseery - I didn't put that fishing lure back on... But I am saving it for later.
Tie a hook to it, 'n see if ya can catch somethin'. [ GONE FISHIN' ]
Posted 2013-09-14 12:43 PM (#474916 - in reply to #474898) Subject: RE: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: October 2005 Posts: 4026
Location: Utah
arthurseery - 2013-09-14 12:43 AM
I really LIKE this thing. The size, weight, and ease of play are fantastic.
Those are really nice guitars. One member brought his to the Black Hills gathering and I think we all fell in love with it. The sound is very nice despite the smaller volume body. It is on my short list to buy one someday.
Posted 2013-10-29 8:44 PM (#478442 - in reply to #474854) Subject: Re: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
So... I got REALLY lucky. I had been looking for a case for the 97C without much luck. Then I actually found a REAL 97 Collectors' case NOS on evilBay. Yay!
I am so happy that I found this. Until I got it I had no idea how deep this thing really is. There is no way that I would have found a generic case that would fit this guitar. But yeah... I'm smiling now.
Just wanted to share that. I got Schaller replacement tuners too.
Posted 2013-10-29 9:14 PM (#478443 - in reply to #474854) Subject: RE: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent
These are the nicest cases ever to come with Ovations (with the possible exception of the super-duper carbon fiber jobs). I would love if something like these were available for the standard size O's.
Posted 2013-10-29 11:24 PM (#478450 - in reply to #474854) Subject: Re: 97C Beater... New Toy... and questions.
Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho
I love mine. the guitar is in better shape, but the case is beat. I moved a bunch of cases tonight and appreciate the standard Ovation cases. Much harder to rip the fabric. Starting the process of dismantling the guitar room and preparing to sell the house. The 97 is one that I've got to leave out to play.