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Posts: 40
| Just got my son a 2007 Elite T ... One of the last to be made in the USA. In my opinion the T is one of the best sounding guitars that Ovation made. It even challenges my Adamas W597 in some respects (the way it sounds if not the way it feels).
This is Our second USA T. The first one suffered a catastrophic failure (a small crack in the back of the neck
and a split in the top starting below the bridge and extending to the guitar edge). As a result I'm more nervous than I normally would be.
This new T has a slight wave in the spruce top just below the bridge. I can feel it when I run your hand over the surface. Its also visible when I hold it up to the light. The wave seems to follow the lines of the internal bracing. There are no cracks or flaws evident when I look inside the guitar. There is also no evidence of the bridge lifting.
So here is the question ... Do you all have any opinions on whether this is the result of too much or too little moisture in the top? Also, It would be nice to hear if anyone else has noticed this on their Ovations. |
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | buy a hygrometer
humidify |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | We moved this winter. My guitars were in a basement, now they are in a bonus room above the garage. I have the same humidifier. In the basement, during a cold winter, I would have to add about 3 gallons of water almost every day to keep the humidity at 40%. This winter has been very warm, but when the temperature gets down into the 20s outside, I still have to refill the humidifier every day. If I don't, the hygrometer drops under 30% right away. If you are any place where the furnace runs a lot during the winter, your house is too dry without a humidifier. Get one with a hygrometer and keep the air around your guitars above 40%. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret |
What is this 'furnace' and 'winter' you speak of?
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Waskel@Work - 2015-03-10 1:49 PM
What is this 'furnace' and 'winter' you speak of?
I was going to tell you not to be a smart ***, but I know that wouldn't do any good. We had our entire winter on November 10. It got down close to zero and snowed about a foot. That was the weekend we moved. It's been warm since and rained an average amount in February, so the house stayed fairly humid. It's clear and about 70 today, but the clear nights have been getting down around freezing. I have to watch the humidifier. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4043
Location: Utah | Some guitars show the bracing more than others. If your humidity is stable within the range 20% to 50% it should be safe for your guitar. |
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Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Haven't seen a freezing temp since December. I was in Moscow ID this weekend... jeans and a t-shirt, no jacket.
But I encourage everyone to keep believing Seattle weather sucks. Stay away. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | oh, and quietmouse... everything said here is speculation until you do what Al said.... Get a hygrometer. Depending on what that reads, follow part 2 of his advise. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | damon67 - 2015-03-10 2:50 PM
But I encourage everyone to keep believing Seattle weather sucks. Stay away.
Yeah... It is rainy and nasty in the Great Northwest.
We have two seasons. Rainy and Cold. And Rainy and muddy.
Nuthin' to see here...
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November 2014
Posts: 40
| Just ordered a hygrometer... |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Mark in Boise - 2015-03-10 1:12 PM
Waskel@Work - 2015-03-10 1:49 PM
What is this 'furnace' and 'winter' you speak of?
I was going to tell you not to be a smart ***, but I know that wouldn't do any good.
Probably not.
Seriously, we never really had winter here. 1, maybe 2 nights down to freezing, that's it. Believe it or not, we have snow here, 1/4 mile from the beach, at least once a year. Not this year. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I'll plan on playing golf when I go over to Portland next month. I predict rain. |
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February 2005
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Location: closely held secret | Eh, Portland. It rains all winter in Portland.
We also have a course very close by, Neskowin Marsh Golf Course.
In Summer...
In winter...
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Posts: 4043
Location: Utah | Is this the kind of wave you're talking about? This is my Patriot, which shows the bracing through the top more than any other O I've got. Both my daughters have T guitars but they aren't at home so I can't look at them to see if they do the same thing. The finish is extremely thin on the T, so it is possible the bracing shows more easily than with other finishes.
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April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Same with FlySig here. Some guitars show the bracings more than others. Especially those with dark finishes and A-bracing legends. My room is hygrometer controlled, but on the other side, as long as the wood is stable and doesn't change its "geometry", I don't care about wrinkles too much. I get them too, more and more. |
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Joined:
November 2014
Posts: 40
| Yes, FlySig ... very similar to what you are showing. I have added a little humidity to the guitar case and I have noticed a positive change in the last day or so. Also, Spring has arrived here in Greensboro, our gas furnace is turning on less often and the humidity levels are climbing. My hygrometer arrives today and I should be able to get a good assessment of humidity levels. |
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Elite T - slight ripple below the bridge - Humidity?