Hello!

I have moved this thred over from the welcome center. I hope you don't mind.

I recently 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 much 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 could 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.

But somehow he stablized  the neck and it stays in tune.

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.  I have a 1950 Gibson with a side crack and a hole where the guitar input jack in for repair at the moment. So I can fix guitars.


My questions are these:

Is it really "nearly impossible" to polish polyester to a high gloss?
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 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 bowl? 
An finally should I just leave it alone and play it?

Any help would be appricated.

Thanks

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

1) No. Generally speaking, polyester finish is very polishable. But, it's a two-part finish system which requires a decent spray system. An alternative would be the Eastwood 2-part urethane finish in a rattle can. I've used this and it works well.
2) Aircraft Spruce would be a good source for polyester finish. (See: HI GLOSS CLEAR POLYESTER TOP COAT)
3) Probably not as long as you sand the surface first to remove all gloss and keep the new coats as thin as you can. I used Minwax gloss clear rattle-can polyurethane on the last two guitars I re-topped and it works pretty good.
4) Any hobby-grade CA will work.
5) Mahogany and maple.
6) Yes.
7) As near as I can tell, tinted polyester.
8) Yes. You should leave it alone and play it.

Whomever did the neck repair screwed it up forever. As was said, it looks like they used CA glue with an accelerator. (kicker) The white stuff is all over the headstock is over-accelerated CA that was on the surface when it was kicked. Short of tearing out the wood, you won't be able to get the glue joint apart.

On the bright side, if the case is in decent condition, then you're still ahead of the game.

Cheers!

Dan

Hey! Thanks for the replays....

Full body picks? OK. 

@arumako

I have defiantly been searching the OFC posts to get as much info as possible.

@seesquare

I was thinking super glue as well, but it also looks like epoxy. I was considering getting the smallest saw blade I could find and carefully cutting out the glue and then gluing  mahogany and maple into the slot sand and finish. I am not sure the cracks go all the way through the sound board but when I take the strings off I will use mirrors and cameras to look into the underside. If need be, I will cleat as you suggested.

@DanSavage

Dan, your work is impressive! The info is just what I need. I guess after the crack repair I will decide which way to go. The case is in OK condition. The inside is clean. One of the latches is broken but the others work. No holes but some of the plastic has risen off the padding underneath the brown outer plastic cover. It is fully useable as a case.  Maybe a light application with my heat gun will soften the raised plastic so I can push it down.

@tpa

I didn't realize that the edges of the joint were that important. As for the flying guitars.......isn't their a song about that... ? "tear drops falling...falling"?

BCam

Yes, When I bought it I loosened the strings to take pressure off the neck and see what happen. I didn't move, so I retightened the strings and it plays fine.