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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | I have an 2002 Ovation 1869 Custom Legend that I'd like to replace the saddle on. I contacted the factory and they sent me a saddle that didn't fit properly in the pickup. It didn't have the side-notches which hold it in the pickup, and the underside is different. I contacted the factory again and was told that I would need to buy a new pickup for about $80 - but I wanted to double-check with the experts here at the forum if there are other options. Maybe someone has some NOS saddles still available. It seems extreme having to replace the pickup just to get a new saddle.
BTW, the primary reason for wanting a new saddle is the notches have become a bit worn on the bass strings, which might be slightly affecting intonation. Also, I want to fine tune the string spacing.
Here are some pics of the original saddle and the wrong replacement send from Ovation.
Thanks for your help!
Mark 
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Your original saddle is Not an Ovation saddle.
I don't know what it is... Washburn maybe.
But I have never seen an Ovation saddle with those cross-brace-thingies on it.
The one that Ovation sent you looks like the ones that I have taken-apart.
I haven't dissected that many, but I have taken apart saddles from the 70's and now and they all look like the one that Ovation sent you... No cross-braces.
Someone should be along to tell me that I am wrong... But.
That doesn't look like a standard issue Ovation saddle.
A photo of the whole bridge might help.
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | I'd be surprised if that were true. The original owner of the guitar was Noah, and then was owned by Randy22. At some point, it was sent back to the mothership to get a bridge upgrade. Both the bridge and saddle look like the one pictured below. Also, here's a link to a thread with pictures of the actual guitar: http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=26577 I do have an 1867 from the same year, and it has a very different pickup and saddle, like the one in the second picture below. 
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Okay... I stand corrected.
I have taken apart a few of these saddles...
They looked like this and were easy to disassemble.
(this was a broken pickup that I was scavenging the saddle outta)
So I just grabbed a NEW pickup that I have stashed...
I was gonna take-it-apart to show you the innards.
But this one is brand-spanking-new from the factory and it does not come apart.
It seems that the saddle might be glued-in, or held-in by that white stuff that the piezo is hidden-in.
Also, the black end pieces are METAL! Not plastic like the ones that I have taken apart before.
Those black pieces seem to be part of the metal tray/frame/whatever that holds the pickup.
So I cannot (or will not) remove the saddle to see if it has braces underneath it.
So... I was talking outta my butt so please disregard anything that I may have stated in error. 
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Joined:
April 2011
Posts: 97
Location: Marlton, NJ | Bump. Anyone else have any ideas? |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I pulled one off recently, and it looks just like the one Ovation sent you. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 242
Location: Pewaukee, WI | Yeah, I bought it used, but had it shipped straight to New Hartford for the carved bridge. Whatever is on there was either on there before I got it, or put on when they updated the bridge.
Randy |
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Replacement Saddle for 1869?