Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4
Stevie B
Posted 2016-07-26 4:32 PM (#526899)
Subject: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4


Joined:
July 2016
Posts: 7

Location: Venice Beach California
Hello!

I just bought Acoustic Balladeer 1121-4 with a serial number from 1974 - 035825. I got it for $80.00 USA along with an original hard shell case. I suppose one could say that the guitar is in OK condition as it plays fine, and stays in tune, but in reality it is in an odd state of affairs. It has a big crack on the back of the head-stock just behind and above the nut. It also has 2 cracks on the soundboard. One between the rosette and the bridge and one from the bridge working to the tail of the guitar. The body of the guitar is in ok condition with what looks like a repair to part of the outer bout that has left an oblong circle on the back of the guitar.

My intention when I bought this guitar was to fix it up and use it as an instrument I wont worry about when I tow it around town on my bicycle trailer. I did not know that Ovation used polyester finish before I bought the guitar and now realize that to fix this guitar is going to be a challenge.


In case you were wondering how it would stay in tune with a crack at the head-stock it is because somebody already tried to glue it together. They did a rather poor job. I am not sure what kind of glue they tried to use but it left the white residue that is not water soluble. He was so sloppy he even left a large finger print in the glue at the top of the head-stock.

In any case the guitar plays fine but I would like to fix it up a bit more if I can. I am not a trained luthier but I am very good at wood work as I have been doing carpentry for 40+ years and have repaired broken guitars in the past.


My questions are these:

Where can I get small quantities of a polyester finish that will work with this guitar?
Will a thin layer of polyester to the face of the guitar change the tone?
What is a good CA glue to use for the cracks on the soundboard?
What type of woods were used in the neck so I can patch the remaining crack at the neck left by the poor repair?
Is it really "nearly impossible" to polish polyester to a high gloss?
Is it possible to coat the sound board with a polyurethane as a surface finish and then polish that?
What kind of paints did Ovation use on the back of the guitar?
An finally should I just leave it alone and play it?

Also I haven't found a way to post pictures on this board yet. Any help with that is appreciated.

Thanks
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2016-07-26 8:33 PM (#526905 - in reply to #526899)
Subject: RE: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Stevie B - 2016-07-26 2:32 PM

I haven't found a way to post pictures on this board yet. Any help with that is appreciated.

Thanks

Post your photos to Photobucket... Then post the URL address here.
Make sure that your photos are posted as "Public".

Do not edit, rename, or otherwise alter your photos after you put the URL up here...
If you do that the link won't work.

The clear thumbprint on the headstock was probably intentional.
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Stevie B
Posted 2016-07-27 6:57 PM (#526914 - in reply to #526905)
Subject: RE: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4


Joined:
July 2016
Posts: 7

Location: Venice Beach California

 

Who knows what the hack who attempted this repair was thinking. The glue he used is not water soluble and what a mess. The weirdest part of it is that he succeeded in stabilizing the headstock. The guitar stays in tune!

http://s328.photobucket.com/user/pbebay1/library/Ovation%20Guitar?sort=3&page=1

 

 photo IMG_2481_zpselu839gt.jpg  photo IMG_2476_zpsrufndyfc.jpg

 photo IMG_2471_zpskvbrurcr.jpg  photo IMG_2472_zpsqnkmbp4x.jpg  photo IMG_2473_zpsw6kx9zud.jpg  photo IMG_2487_zpsofesrbxp.jpg

 

 photo IMG_2484_zpswqsofzhq.jpg

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Damon67
Posted 2016-07-27 7:22 PM (#526915 - in reply to #526899)
Subject: Re: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
Welcome Stevie. This requires a post in the bottom feeder's section. I've updated your status, so feel free to go ask your questions there.
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Stevie B
Posted 2016-07-28 1:12 AM (#526920 - in reply to #526915)
Subject: Re: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4


Joined:
July 2016
Posts: 7

Location: Venice Beach California

 

Bottom feeders section? Tilapia isn’t my dish….

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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2016-07-28 1:42 AM (#526921 - in reply to #526899)
Subject: Re: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
That would be the Bottom Feeding Luthiery Guild
This is for those of us who buy $80 or less guitars and make them work.

Personally, I have a 1121-1 that I bought for $118 including shipping (no case).


(WOW! I didn't realize that I looked that bald in this photo)

The previous owner did a really nice splice to repair a decapitated headstock.

So, yours can be fixed.


Edited by Old Man Arthur 2016-07-28 1:47 AM
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Stevie B
Posted 2016-07-28 9:26 AM (#526927 - in reply to #526899)
Subject: Re: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4


Joined:
July 2016
Posts: 7

Location: Venice Beach California
That is a nice splice......Do you have any idea what finish he used over the original finish?
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2016-07-28 2:09 PM (#526930 - in reply to #526927)
Subject: Re: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Stevie B - 2016-07-28 7:26 AM

Do you have any idea what finish he used over the original finish?

Not a clue.
I ain't the woodworking type.
That would be MWoody, Seesquare, Dan Savage, Arumako, and others.
(If your name is not mentioned, forgive me... I just woke up)

I did glue a break much like yours...
I used Elmer's Wood Glue and it held for a coupla years, then I sold the guitar.
As far as I know it is still holding.
On that guitar, I broke it the rest of the way off...
I thought about using wood screws for support, but it was not necessary.
I put some wood veneer on the face of the headstock to hide the crack,
and finished with some generic guitar polish.
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Damon67
Posted 2016-07-28 3:01 PM (#526932 - in reply to #526899)
Subject: Re: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4



Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994

Location: Jet City
Stevie, really you wanna speak with the folks Art just mentioned. Post in the BFLG section. that's where you'll get your help.

They can't respond here in the welcome section
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2016-07-28 3:03 PM (#526933 - in reply to #526899)
Subject: Re: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Oh, Stevie B...

You really need to post this question in the General Posting, or BFLG, section if you want answers.
There are only about Five people (or less, I ain't sure) who can reply in this section.
That is the Welcome Wagon folks.
You have been upgraded to a "Member" and should post where the other Members can answer.
Over there, there are Hundreds, if not Thousands, of people who know much more than me.

And I was typing this at the same Moment that Damon typed the same thing.


Edited by Old Man Arthur 2016-07-28 3:04 PM
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Stevie B
Posted 2016-07-31 5:05 PM (#526989 - in reply to #526899)
Subject: Re: Questions from the new guy about a 1121-4


Joined:
July 2016
Posts: 7

Location: Venice Beach California
Thanks!!!!!
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