Just bought a UKII
sonicpictures
Posted 2015-08-03 12:37 PM (#514065)
Subject: Just bought a UKII


Joined:
March 2013
Posts: 48

Hey guys,

Been a couple of years since my last posting, when I bought my first Ovation acoustic electric. In the 2 years since, I've added another 6 string acoustic and done around 200 gigs with them. As a reward for a solid workload over the last couple of years I came across a great deal on a UKII with OHSC and couldn't resist. This thing is beautiful and plays better than any Les Paul I've ever owned, which is a few. Mega thanks to Damon for inspiring the purchase of this beautiful instrument. Now I just have to find one in white!

Nick



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Mark in Boise
Posted 2015-08-03 12:57 PM (#514066 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12758

Location: Boise, Idaho
Nice early greyburst? I'm inept at posting pictures, but I'd like to see more of yours. It has the original bowtie inlays and pickguard.
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sonicpictures
Posted 2015-08-03 1:09 PM (#514067 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII


Joined:
March 2013
Posts: 48

It may be the glare from the light, but it's black. It has a couple of chips and dings, to be expected from a piece this old. If I wanted to touch up the black where the urelite is exposed, does anyone have suggestions on product, or am I best to leave it alone?



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Mark in Boise
Posted 2015-08-03 1:41 PM (#514068 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12758

Location: Boise, Idaho
I've used some furniture touch up on my brown one, but it doesn't fill in the dings and the urelite seems to absorb it. I may try filling in the dents with clear fingernail polish when I have the color where I want it. You may be able to use black touch up paint for cars.
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Beal
Posted 2015-08-03 2:45 PM (#514071 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
Nice guitar
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Damon67
Posted 2015-08-03 6:50 PM (#514090 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: RE: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City

sonicpictures - 2015-08-03 10:37 AM ...Now I just have to find one in white! Nick

LOL

Congrats on obtaining IMO the best solidbody electric guitar... ever! That looks like a fine example too, pickguard and all. 

 

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stonebobbo
Posted 2015-08-03 7:32 PM (#514093 - in reply to #514067)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307

Location: Tennessee

sonicpictures - If I wanted to touch up the black where the urelite is exposed, does anyone have suggestions on product, or am I best to leave it alone?

I say leave it be.  I wouldn't remove the mole from Marilyn Monroe's cheek, or the scar from Kate Middleton's temple.  Gives the ol' gal some character.

 

Excellent get.  Enjoy!

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Nancy
Posted 2015-08-04 8:58 AM (#514114 - in reply to #514093)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
December 2014
Posts: 1713

Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota
That is Beautiful!! Congratulations!!!

There is a really great video on fixing dings and chips by StewMac, if you get the urge:

https://youtu.be/rTVScFJoe24?list=PL1PqqIj0rGhPT-ajqLNrV21MfkpusKOY4
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Mr. Ovation
Posted 2015-08-04 10:00 AM (#514117 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222

Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
If the foam core is showing, seal it with something. I'm not sure what as someone else mentioned it absorbs just about anything really well, and that's why it needs to be sealed. Maybe something as simple as nail polish. I'm a little hesitant to mention super glue as it might melt the foam. I would continue to research it and maybe someone here has an idea. Until it's sealed, just be careful to not any moisture get near it. I know that sounds easy enough... but as you mentioned you play out... one never knows what can happen.
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Damon67
Posted 2015-08-04 8:05 PM (#514126 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City

I have a couple chips on my ol' gal, but nothing is showing that I would consider foam.

I assume there's some sort of shell around the foam. If I ever had the opportunity with a screwed up UKII body I'd cut one in half just outta curiosity so I could see the construction for myself



Edited by Damon67 2015-08-04 8:07 PM
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muso.greg
Posted 2015-08-04 9:19 PM (#514128 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
September 2013
Posts: 52

Location: Brisbane Australia
Congratulations. I love that guitar!! Serious envy here...
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standing
Posted 2015-08-05 2:52 PM (#514144 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1453

Location: Texas
Be careful with nail polish or anything similar, it could dissolve the foam also. I've got a couple large dings in mine with foam showing, I've been afraid to fill them, so I just left it as is.
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Damon67
Posted 2015-08-05 3:04 PM (#514146 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
Bondo
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Damon67
Posted 2015-08-05 3:08 PM (#514147 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
My first manual labor gig was in a boatyard. We'd laminate foam all the time with various resins and fiberglass. I'd guess some sort of epoxy or something would work fine. One of you try can it first though
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ProfessorBB
Posted 2015-08-07 7:41 AM (#514163 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881

Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains
I feel fortunate that there isn't a mark on mine. Somebody took very good care of it before me. I bought it from a member here, but am not sure who. StephenT maybe?
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Beal
Posted 2015-08-07 12:22 PM (#514168 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
The skin of the body was just the foam. We figured out how much you needed to fill the mold and then depending on how thick you wanted the skin you over filled the mold. Then close it and let it expand. Once it expands to fill the mold it keeps expanding which creates the skin, the more you put in the thicker the skin. It is a polyester finish. I would think super glue would work or some of that two part epoxy you can get at hardware stores.
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sonicpictures
Posted 2015-08-09 10:43 AM (#514199 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII


Joined:
March 2013
Posts: 48

Well, I am a week into owning this beautiful instrument and I have to say it's another one of those "where have you been all of my life" moments, very similar to when I bought that first round back. I threw a set of Elixir 10s on it when got it, though I may go up to 11 or 12s. I've been used to using 13s on my Tele and Les Paul for so long, playing such thin strings again has taken some getting use to. I've also found that due to the extremely high output of the pickups I really have to dial back the gain on the preamp stage of my amplifier if I want to avoid breakup, of course if I want to saturate the tubes a little bit, it has that down. I could not be more impressed with this instrument. I'm surprised that the going rate for these beauties are as low as they are. It makes you wonder when another their prominent player will latch on to the UKII and drive the prices up, like the Ultra GP. I'm scheduled for a session next week, so I will try to get some audio of the UKII in different positions and playing styles. There really is almost zero of that available online, aside from Damon's awesome No More Tears video and a foreign language demo of the instrument clean.
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Beal
Posted 2015-08-09 7:55 PM (#514208 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
They were very cool guitars, and the world yawned...........
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danomyte
Posted 2015-08-25 3:57 PM (#514739 - in reply to #514065)
Subject: Re: Just bought a UKII



Joined:
January 2014
Posts: 402

Location: Taxed To Death State
Beal is right on the money! UKII is hands down a killer, killer electric. They are so difficult to find in good shape, but if it's in one piece who cares about a few dings or knicks. You can always get it repainted. The play-ability and sound won't disappoint. For what they are selling for used, you can't find a better electric for $500-$600 anywhere. Shit a new Mexically Strat-o-sucker will run you that and it's made of plywood and garbage electronics. I recently sold my Black Preacher Deluxe and all I could get for it was $600 and that was a close second to the UKII. You really can't go wrong with a UK, Preacher, or even a Viper. All great guitars and well made.
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