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Location: Lake Forest, CA | After playing the 1717, Paul Moody really wanted his own torrefied Adi spruce, A-brace, Legend. He told me after playing the 1717 that he would keep an eye out for a hulk needing repair. I suggested that we didn't have to look for a broken-down guitar. We could always just re-top the Legend he already owns.
To the best of my recollection, and I'll let Paul correct me here if I get anything wrong, but he bought this guitar years ago, played it, put it away for a while, then pulled it out again and really didn't like how it sounded.
So, he sent the guitar back to the MS and had them re-build it with a hand-laid bowl, new Sitka spruce top and A-braces in place of the VT-10 or VT-11 braces. It also got a 5-point rosewood bridge.
So, Paul dropped off his guitar this past Tuesday. (12-27) Daren and I were already hard at work pulling the tops off the 1528 and the 1612, so we decided to add this guitar to the task list and get the top off it at the same time. (practice makes perfect!)
Here's a couple of pics showing how it looked before we got started. I'll be doing this guitar in tandem with the 1528 and 1612. Since a lot of the steps to do this job have already been detailed on previous threads, I'll just hit the highlights. 
Hardware is off. 
Binding is off.
Hot water on the fretboard extension. Rosette has been removed for re-use.
Top is off. This is the cleanest removal I've ever done.
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Location: SoCal | Dan, it's interesting to note that the braces aren't shaved in any way. Is this standard from what you've seen? |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | It must be something in the photo because the braces look exactly like my 1617.
We got the rosewood 5-point bridge off the top today. It looks like we'll be able to re-use it. Not sure about the rosette. Whomever glued it on put the glue on in creative swirls. I'll post pics of it. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Here's the pics of the removed bridge. 
I still need to clean up the underside, but it came off pretty cleanly. 
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Location: SoCal | I love the 5 point rosewood bridge.
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Location: Texas | Paul or Dan, was the 5 point leftover from the 40th RI's? |
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Location: undisclosed | II think things like this are best done to tops that are broken, then you are saving something no one would?could play. |
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Location: SoCal | I think you use what's avaible to you and make the best decisions you can. And then not second guess others. By your standards, I never would have had a new body put on it years ago and would, still today, have the crappiest sounding Ovation in existence. |
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Location: undisclosed | Well there you go, the bird in hand approach works for you! For others I think economics are important. Donor guitar with broken top=small change $. Selling crappy sounding guitars should cover donor costs and materials, selling better sounding guitar with mothership body should cover all that plus some of the work. The advantage you'll have with what you and Dan are doing is a neck you are used to and the rest of us will also get a first hand account of the sound comparison. Don't get me wrong, doing things for science is appreciated but the upgrader on a budget can benefit from adding it all up. |
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Location: SoCal | My days of spending money on guitars is past. I'm downsizing. Dan will tell you that I agonized a bit over the sacrafice of my Legend. But if it goes as expected, then I'll have a guitar that gets played a lot instead of one that gets played occasionally. Someday remind me to tell you the story about the 87C where the only original parts are the label and the tuning keys.....
Edited by moody, p.i. 2017-01-01 9:09 PM
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Kinda like my Grandpa's hammer? 
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | moody, p.i. - 2017-01-01 7:07 PM
My days of spending money on guitars is past. I'm downsizing. Dan will tell you that I agonized a bit over the sacrifice of my Legend. But if it goes as expected, then I'll have a guitar that gets played a lot instead of one that gets played occasionally. Someday remind me to tell you the story about the 87C where the only original parts are the label and the tuning keys.....
This would have been my point. At first, both of us were flip-flopping over whether to take apart a perfectly-good guitar. But, if by taking the top off the guitar and replacing it with another one that will inspire you to play it more, then there's nothing wrong with doing it, IMHO.
At the end of the day, these guitars, including your MS-rebuilt Legend, are just garden-variety Ovations. It would be a different matter if this were a true collectible, such as a guitar that Glen Campbell used weekly on his TV show, etc.
Edited by DanSavage 2017-01-02 8:29 AM
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Location: undisclosed | Perhaps that is true for now but as supplies suffer attrition through the years the garden variety will become more collectible. As with cars etc.... everything has to get past the stage of when it is merely "used" to where it becomes a classic. It is in those times that the most loss happens. Ovations are interesting in that the bowls may keep going way down the road, perhaps the top will be considered a wear item? History may attach more value to those torrified Dan Savage rebuilds among the future Ovation cognoscenti as well. My point is that there are many hard to repair cracked or broken tops out there to use as retop candidates while these guitars are in their junkyard phase. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Yes, I understood your point. I just happen to disagree with it. |
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| Plus, Dan and his brother are starting with a guitar that they know well and are unlikely to run into any unexpected problems. |
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Location: undisclosed | I'm as interested as the next guy in the direct comparison. The counterpoint is for those contemplating retops to look at all the angles. We also disagree about grain on braces but that's why we do our own things.
Cheers! |
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Location: When?? | @Cavalier - "Ovation cognoscenti"
So that's what we are. Cool. Love it. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | I was able to joint the top in preparation for joining and rough cut the braces. 
I'm planning to join the tops for all four guitars at the same time so that I can take them down to the sanders and have them all thickness sanded together.
While each top is drying I'll be cutting out the braces. |
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Location: SoCal | And now we're getting into it! Oh boy..... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | I got the top(s) thickness sanded, joined and rough cut. 
Drilled the locating holes for the bridge.
Cleaned all the old glue off the back of the bridge and fitted it to the top.
Cut out the sound hole.
Fitted the rosette.
Finished cutting the braces and marked the brace locations on the top. (Pay no attention to the Kaman-bar upper brace. I inadvertently included it in this pic) Original top is shown next to the new torrefied Adi spruce top.
Braces being glued. I'll glue the aluminum brace reinforcements tomorrow.
After that, I'll probably glue the top to the bowl so it doesn't warp while I build the 1528 top.
The idea is to get all four guitars ready to spray at the same time. |
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Location: moline,illinois | More cool pics Dan,I noticed how much darker the new top looks than the old,is that from the torrefaction process?
You talked about cupping and arching of tops in the "cracked top" thread,how do you create the bow/arch in the top when attaching it to the bowl?
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | 2wheeldrummer - 2017-02-11 5:21 PM
More cool pics Dan,I noticed how much darker the new top looks than the old,is that from the torrefaction process?
You talked about cupping and arching of tops in the "cracked top" thread,how do you create the bow/arch in the top when attaching it to the bowl?
Thanks, Kevin.
Yes, the torrefaction process darkens the wood. Or, how dark it gets depends on how long you leave the wood in the oven/autoclave. For example, Martin and Yamaha have developed the process where they get the acoustic properties they want without darkening the wood. In Martin's case, their VTS process targets a specific age of wood, say 70-80 years old, so it doesn't really darken the wood. Yamaha's ARE process is very similar to Martin's.
The boutique wood suppliers, from whom I get my wood, pretty much go for broke and as a result, the torrefied wood is more like 300+ years old when it comes out of the oven/autoclave, so it's noticeably darker in color.
Most guitar tops are built using a radius dish, which is ground to a radius of 28' or so. I build my tops on a flat surface because that's how Ovations are built. This allows me to use a flat 'plate' when gluing the top to the bowl.
Edited by DanSavage 2017-02-11 7:40 PM
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Location: moline,illinois | WOW 300+ year old wood,have they done any tests against antique instruments to compare tonality or strength.
Do you have any plans to build a guitar,maybe your wooden roundback,using torrefied wood for all the parts?
I think I get the radiusing idea,you would create it when you attach the braces by having them curved slightly then using the dish to make the top conform to the curve,I learn more every time I read and research your posts someday I'll have to put it to practical use.
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | 2wheeldrummer - 2017-02-11 7:55 PM
WOW 300+ year old wood,have they done any tests against antique instruments to compare tonality or strength.
Do you have any plans to build a guitar,maybe your wooden roundback,using torrefied wood for all the parts?
I think I get the radiusing idea,you would create it when you attach the braces by having them curved slightly then using the dish to make the top conform to the curve,I learn more every time I read and research your posts someday I'll have to put it to practical use.
Supposedly, Martin did microscopic analysis of wood from old guitars and tailored the torrefaction process to match so that they could get the sound of the old guitars. Or, at least that's what their marketing says.
I'm not planning to make a guitar with all torrefied wood mainly because there's no supplier of torrefied hard woods, such as mahogany, rosewood or maple. Ibanez does sell guitars with torrefied top and back, and they're actually pretty reasonably priced. (~$600)
Yes. The braces are shaped to match the 28' radius and when glued to the top inside the radius dish, the top is domed slightly. Ditto for the backs of most wood guitars.
Thanks.  |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Top being glued to the bowl. Yes, that's the 1528-4 top being glued at the same time. If I had more bench space I would have glued the other two tops at the same time. 
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Location: SoCal | They look like trashy guitars to me!
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Location: Indiana | Hey Dan, what type of material did you use for the aluminum brace reinforcements? Similar to the MS?
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | moody, p.i. - 2017-02-24 3:46 PM
They look like trashy guitars to me!
Actually, something right up your alley -- dirty laundry. LOL! |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Jonmark Stone - 2017-02-24 4:32 PM
Hey Dan, what type of material did you use for the aluminum brace reinforcements? Similar to the MS?
Not just similar, but MS-sourced.
Edited by DanSavage 2017-02-24 7:22 PM
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | I got to a stopping point because I didn't want to use the bankers box any more to route the binding/purfling channels.
It worked well in a pinch, but truth be told it's kind of a pain because it doesn't really hold the guitar securely.
So, I made a crude copy of a fixture used by the MS that I've seen in numerous factory tour videos. Theirs is a lot slicker as it uses vacuum to hold the bowl into place.
But, mine will work pretty well. It secures the bowl into place which will make working on these guitars a lot easier. 
The vise is a drill-press vise clamped to the stack of plywood which is in turn, secured to the 3/4" plywood base. The risers are adjustable, tilting furniture feet. Here's the 1117 clamped into the fixture. 
For guitars like this one which has the neck glued into place, I'm using the Stewmac neck caul on the back of the neck and the Stewmac radiused sanding block on the fingerboard. A C-clamp locks the neck in-between and the neck caul is secured in the drill press vise. The feet are adjusted as necessary so the bowl is evenly supported. Now, routing the binding/purfling will be a lot easier. It will also make gluing the binding and purfling a lot easier, too.
Edited by DanSavage 2017-03-05 6:40 PM
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | WOW Dan, that is really a cool jig...gonna have to make me one of those. Would you mind sharing the angle measurements for the three legs? Cool! |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Hi Ken,
I didn't really measure the angles. I used what's known in the model airplane hobby as the TLAR-method. (That Looks About Right)
Here's a link to the levelers I ordered: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C91KTSU/ref=od_aui_detailpages0... |
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Location: SoCal | Getting excited again. Dan, would it be possible, when it's finished, to hook it up to that vibration thingy for a couple of days? |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Hi Paul,
Sure thing. It would be interesting to see if a torrefied top guitar sounds any different before and after it's been in that vibration thingy. 
Edited by DanSavage 2017-03-06 8:05 PM
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Location: SoCal | We'll do a sound test when that time comes, before and after. And it's a cool thingy.
I need to bring over the 1537 so you can hear how it's opened up.
When the Legend is done with the thingy, I'm going to take a day and go up to see Bill X with the 1537 and the Legend. He can see just how good, acoustically, Ovations can sound. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Sounds good. |
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Location: SoCal | Hopefully they will...... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | I got the binding/purfling on your guitar today. I'll pull the tape off tomorrow then start scraping it down in preparation for finishing. |
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Location: SoCal | Oh boy...... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Yep. I'm back to making progress on your guitar. I'll post a pic once the masking tape is off and I've scraped down the binding/purfling.
FYI, it's got a real nice tap tone. (imagine: kettle drum)
Edited by DanSavage 2017-03-25 8:01 PM
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Location: SoCal | I"m looking forward to it!
By the way, because of you, I've now got lights (.12-.53) on all my guitars.
Edited by moody, p.i. 2017-03-25 8:36 PM
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | moody, p.i. - 2017-03-25 6:35 PM
I"m looking forward to it!
By the way, because of you, I've now got lights (.12-.53) on all my guitars.
Atta boy! |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | I got the binding/purfling scraped down. 
I've decided that trying to get all four guitars at once is a little too much work. So, I'm going to concentrate on getting this guitar and the 1528 done. Then, I'll concentrate on the 1612 and the 1778. So, the next job on this guitar is to mask the bridge and the body/neck and start spraying the primer/sealer. |
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Location: SoCal | That's going to be beautiful when it's finished...... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Yeah. It's got some nice silking. |
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| Nice! |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Masking is started. 
All masked up. First coat of polyurethane is on. Now, it's time to start building up the base coat in preparation for the final coats. (spray it on, sand it off -- repeat) 
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Location: SoCal | Wow. I'm starting to hear it in my head..... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Yeah, I think it'll quickly become your favorite guitar to play. |
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Location: SoCal | Dan, when you put on the finish coats and then sand them down, are you doing that by hand? And how long does it take? |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Hi Paul,
Yes, by hand. I wet sand with 400-grit to start. Once I've got the final coat on, I will work up from 400-grit to 600, 800, 1000, 1500 and finally 2000-grit.
Each takes about 30 minutes. I could use a RO hand-sander, but I don't want to split the center seam from the vibrations of the sander. Hand-sanding is a little slow, but it's the safest route. I also have more control so I don't burn through the finish around the edges. |
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Location: SoCal | How many coats?
As to the Legend becoming my favorite guitar, it's going to have to compete with the rebirthed 1537. But I will be most happy to compare the two of them for years to come.... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Usually 3-4 coats of the sealer, or as many as it takes to get a level surface. Then, another 2-3 coats of final finish.
I'll usually make the last coat a little thicker because that one will get more sanding than the previous coats. |
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| DanSavage - 2017-04-04 9:49 AM
I also have more control so I don't burn through the finish around the edges.
It's nothing compared to what you're doing, but I'm in the process of painting a bathroom vanity. I was sanding between coats with an RO sander and sanded through the finish at a couple of cabinet door edges. I can only imagine what it would be like on a guitar. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | BCam - 2017-04-04 2:57 PM
DanSavage - 2017-04-04 9:49 AM
I also have more control so I don't burn through the finish around the edges.
It's nothing compared to what you're doing, but I'm in the process of painting a bathroom vanity. I was sanding between coats with an RO sander and sanded through the finish at a couple of cabinet door edges. I can only imagine what it would be like on a guitar.
I used a RO sander on my 1111 and found that the finer grits prevented burning through the finish.
So, instead of hand sanding with 400-grit, I used 600-grit with the RO sander. This allowed me to sneak up to removing the orange peel without burning through to bare wood. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Final finish is on, leveled and polished. Bridge is being glued. 
I'll glue the rosette on tomorrow night, then install the hardware and string it up. Woo-hoo!
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Location: SoCal | Is that a standard bridge or the 5 point rosewood bridge?
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Location: SoCal | If the sound is even c lose to the look then it will be steller..... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | moody, p.i. - 2017-04-17 9:39 PM
Is that a standard bridge or the 5 point rosewood bridge?
You wanted the standard walnut bridge, right?
Nah, just kidding. Hah hah!
It's your 5-point rosewood bridge. I'm using my standard-shaped bridge caul for the clamping. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | moody, p.i. - 2017-04-17 10:41 PM
If the sound is even c lose to the look then it will be steller.....
It looks way better in person. We'll be finding out real soon if it sounds as good as it looks. (It will) |
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Location: SoCal | I am full of anticipation. When it's ready, I'll bring over the 1537. You'll love how it's opened up since you did your magic on the braces...... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Sounds good. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Bridge and rosette are glued down. Touch-up is done.
I'll install the hardware tomorrow, then it's time to string it up and see how it sounds. 
Paul,
I'll be putting lights on it. My personal preference for deep bowls is 80/20s, but if you'd like to have PBs, I can do that, too. (Yes, now is the time to get excited)
Dan |
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | WOW Dan! Had it not been for the banker's box you'd think this beauty was rolling off of the production line in NH for the first time...like it's 1978 all over again! Congratulations on another beautiful work of art. Can't wait to hear your players report! |
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Location: SoCal | Dan, I left a set of Elixir phos/bronze lites with the guitar. I can bring over another set if needed. I find I'm putting them on everything these days.
The guitar look beautiful!
Edited by moody, p.i. 2017-04-19 9:51 AM
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Yep, I've still got them. I'll put on the PB lights.
Thanks. It's hard to see in the pics, but the rosewood bridge really pops on the torrefied wood.
I'm really looking forward to hearing how it sounds. I suspect it'll sound every bit as good as the 1717, if not a wee bit better due to the Adi top and braces. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | arumako - 2017-04-19 3:30 AM
WOW Dan! Had it not been for the banker's box you'd think this beauty was rolling off of the production line in NH for the first time...like it's 1978 all over again! Congratulations on another beautiful work of art. Can't wait to hear your players report!
Thanks, Ken.
It's not without its flaws, but all in all, I'm really happy with how it turned out. |
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Location: SoCal | When I look at the 1113, what you call "flaws", I call "personality". They help make the guitar as cool as it is.
And yes, I'm excited.....
Edited by moody, p.i. 2017-04-19 12:11 PM
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| Beautiful guitar. You should be proud, Dan. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Thanks, Daren. |
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Location: SoCal | Sitting on the edge of my chair....
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Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Very impressive Dan. All I can say is WOW! |
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Location: SoCal | this is killing me, waiting on word for how it sounds...... |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Well, it's all done. It sounds as spectacular as it looks. IMO, it would sound better with 80/20s, but that's a personal preference. If you like the sound of PBs, you're going to love how this guitar sounds. Loud, clear tones. Sustain that lasts forever. Like an A-brace Legend on steroids. Did I say it was loud? To coin a phrase, this guitar has balls -- big brass ones. Here's a snapshot of it. I'll post proper beauty shots this afternoon. 
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | I guess the only remaining question for Paul is, when do you want to come pick it up?
I'm free every night this week. |
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Location: Muenster/Germany | These guitars should have a "DS" branding on the top |
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Location: Tuscany, Italy | Amazing !! |
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Location: SoCal | DetlefMichel - 2017-04-20 8:16 AM
These guitars should have a "DS" branding on the top
Or on a special label inside..... |
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Location: Indiana | Great job Dan. |
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| moody, p.i. - 2017-04-20 12:17 PM
Or on a special label inside..... I'm probably going to ask Dan to add one to mine, but it will be hidden and only seen with a mirror (which means printed backwards, too).  |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Thanks, everyone.
Now that Paul's is done I can concentrate my efforts to getting Daren's done. (won't be long now)
Edited by DanSavage 2017-04-20 2:48 PM
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| DanSavage - 2017-04-20 2:46 PM
Now that Paul's is done I can concentrate my efforts to getting Daren's done. (won't be long now)
Hakuna Matata. You told me mine would take a little longer because of the neck work. Is it done yet?
Edited by DarenSavage 2017-04-20 7:21 PM
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | DarenSavage - 2017-04-20 5:20 PM
DanSavage - 2017-04-20 2:46 PM
Now that Paul's is done I can concentrate my efforts to getting Daren's done. (won't be long now)
Hakuna Matata. You told me mine would take a little longer because of the neck work. Is it done yet?
Almost done! |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | All done and delivered. 
 d
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Location: Canada | Thanks for sharing, it's nice to see the DS shop developing new devices for O enhancements. And as a residue of this project there is still the perfectly fine MS sitka top, which I imagine may serve well for a quick emergency restoration job in the future. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | YVW.
Nah, that top is worthless for restorations. It's destined for the trophy wall along with all the rest.
I'm at the point where if I'm going to go to the trouble of re-topping a guitar, there's no substitute for torrefied wood. (yeah, it's that good)
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Location: moline,illinois | Gorgeous !!!! I love the silking on the top what a beautiful piece of wood
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | WOW! WOW! WOW! moody, p.i.'s silence kinda says it all...
When you come outta the cave, please share sound, video anything byte! |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Thanks, Kevin & Ken. |
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Location: Thredbo, NSW, Australia | Very impressive Dan. I've watched this restoration as keenly as the others and I've been loving the journey.
Keep 'em coming! |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Thanks, Paul.
Actually, this wasn't a restoration, but a re-top. This guitar started out in more or less perfect condition. |
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Location: SoCal | Time to talk about this guitar. When I left Dan's with it, he told me that it would become my favorite guitar. Not certain that's possible with the 1537 (which Dan also had a hand in) but it may certainly move into the top two.
When I got it from Dan, it was very loud, but sounded to my ears, a bit crashy. More sound, not as much tone. What I'm finding very interesting is that as I play it, the tone is coming on. Still loud, but sounding better every day. At this point, it's already better than the top and guitar it used to be.
To review, it started life as a 1977 1117 Legend. VT braced and horrible sounding. I was young and stupid when I bought it. I sent it back to the factory in late 2008. We used the neck and put a new body on it. Hand laid clothe bowl and very nice looking A braced top. 5 point rosewood bridge. And still a 1117. No electronics. Sounded good, but not as great as I had hoped.
Dan and I decided to do a new top. A braced with a torrefied Adirondack top and braces. Absolutely no regrets on that. The only thing Dan did that I'm not certain about is using a rosette that he thought looked better than the original. I may see if we can go with the original. I'll see what he says.
The action on the guitar is great. A little low when I picked it up and yesterday I started to get a buzz on the open bass E string (light gauge Elixir phos/bronze strings). A half turn on the truss rod a and it's gone. And interestingly, the saddle is higher than it was going in. I'm a believer in a good solid break over the saddle which this guitar has.
I'm very pleased with the guitar and it's going to be played a lot. Today I played it out on the patio. Interestingly, it sounds better outside than inside. I'm looking forward to playing it when we start playing on Friday nights (next month), all summer, out at the Trabuco Canyon General Store.
Thanks Dan. Any thoughts on the rosette? |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Hi Paul,
First, you're very welcome.
As I say, my personal preference for deep bowl Os is 80/20s rather than PBs. IMO, the PBs don't have the right tone profile for the volume of the deep bowl. I also think that part of the 'crashiness' comes from new strings. By the time you'd picked up the guitar, the strings were only a day old and had only been played a handful of times.
I can say that as you played it, it sounded a lot better when I was in front of it rather than behind it. In fact, I like how yours sounds so much that I've already decided to use torrefied Adi spruce and A-braces on the 1657 I bought.
Actually, the rosette on the guitar is one you gave to me to use on it. But, like I said when you picked it up, I like how it looks even though it's not the standard MOP. WRT to changing it out, I'm not so sure about that. It's epoxied into place. I didn't use a lot of glue, but wouldn't want to mess up the top or the finish trying to replace it with something else.
If this were my guitar, I'd leave it alone and play the tar out of it. Of course, I'd also put 80/20s on it.
Dan
Edited by DanSavage 2017-04-24 9:18 AM
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Location: SoCal | If that was the rosette that I gave you (got it from Mother), then I'll easily learn to love it.
This is a guitar that demands to be played hard to get the tone out of it. I probably won't go with the 80/20 nano's, but rather I'll try the 80/20 polys. Per the Elixir website, they give a warmer tone.
But know that this sucker is going to be played a lot......
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Yep. That one came from Mommy. :D
I agree. That's one of the things I've heard about Adi spruce. It's pretty stiff, so it needs to be played hard. No banjo is going to out-volume that guitar.
Like a lot of guitars, you'll probably need to experiment with a few different strings to find the ones that make the guitar sound its best.
So, try 80/20 polys and if you don't like how it sounds, try 80/20 nanos, etc.
Enjoy! |
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Location: SoCal | I shall....
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Location: SoCal | Just as an interesting note about this guitar. I realized that it sounds very similar to videos I've seen where Glen Campbell is playing either of his first 2 GC Deluxe Balladeers |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | When you played Gentle On My Mind, I noticed the same thing. The sound of your guitar reminded me a lot of what I remember Glen sounding like.
Here's a clip that's similar. Gentle On My Mind
Edited by DanSavage 2017-04-24 4:26 PM
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | Nice discussion moody, p.i. and Dan. Thanks for letting us in on your conversation. Hey Dan, I'm pretty close with my savings situation, are ya up for making one of those torrefied Savage specials for the Japan market? Not for resale of course! |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Hi Ken,
Sure thing. What did you have in mind?
FWIW, when I'm done with Daren's 1528, I'm going to be ready to finish the 1612. If you're interested, let's take the discussion over to that thread.
Dan |
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | DanSavage - 2017-04-24 8:17 AM
Hi Ken,
Sure thing. What did you have in mind?
Dan
The 1612...Oh, YES! See you over on the other thread...
Edited by arumako 2017-04-24 10:40 PM
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Location: SoCal | I want to make a couple of last comments on this thread, then we can wrap it up.
First, the Legend just sounds better the more I play it. I've only had it back a little under 3 weeks. It gets better as I play it and I'm surprised at how fast that is happening. It's got the Ovation sound, but a lot more mid range and bass (the A,D, & D strings really chunk when you play them - they sound great). It's loud, full, and opening up. It has the Ovation sound but on steroids. It's pretty terrific. At one time I had an LR Baggs undersaddle p/u in it. I"m going to put it back in and use it at church occassionally.
Dan also had his hands on my 1537. It sounds like it used to sound like which is wonderful. A little more compressed than the Legend and even with all of it's bass, it's a more even sound. I love this guitar. But I do bounce back and forth between this and the Legend. I plug in the 87C, but acoustically, as good as it is, it's not the same.
Lastly, last year, Dan retopped a 1113 for me, same wood and braces as the Legend. It sounds great and is a joy to play.
If you are thinking of asking Dan to work on a guitar, know that his work is worth a lot more than he charged me. Pay what he asks. It's worth it. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Thanks for the kind words, Paul. I appreciate it.
Yeah, once your ears get used to the sound of torrefied wood, it's really hard to go back.
Torrefied wood takes these guitars to another level that just can't be matched with non-torrefied wood. |
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Here's some (very bad) video I shot a couple of weeks ago of Paul playing this guitar out at Trabuco Canyon General Store.
Paul Moody - 1977 Ovation 1117-4 Rebuild... |
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Location: SoCal | The video doesn't do the guitar justice. This may be the best sounding Legend I've ever played. It has strong mids and bass and great tone. Kind of a cross between the tone of a wood box and the cut of an Ovation. If it had sounded this good when I bought it back in 1978, I might have never purchased another guitar (well, except a 12 string and a nylon string).
It's a damned fine instrument. I could consider putting a p/u and selling the 87C (which is my go to for plugging in).
Well, probably not...... |
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| @moody, p.i.: I agree with what you write about the video and the guitar. Luckily, your playing and the pure sound of the torrified wood still manages to come through in the video.
@DanSavage: Thanks for posting the video. Now we know why you didn't post it earlier.
Edited by DarenSavage 2017-06-05 5:07 PM
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Location: Lake Forest, CA | Yeah, there's video shot by paparazzi on the run, then there's this video. (oof!) |
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| DanSavage - 2017-06-05 5:44 PM
Yeah, there's video shot by paparazzi on the run, then there's this video. (oof!)
Ha ha! While I was joshin' ya about the quality of the video, I'm dead serious about the sound of the guitar. Beautiful! |
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Location: Yokohama, Japan | DarenSavage - 2017-06-05 9:19 AM
I'm dead serious about the sound of the guitar. Beautiful!
Dead serious indeed! Man, this 1117 cuts right through all the noise in the "house". I think that is called "presence". My '73 1117 has it too, but this one has it in spades! I've heard Yamaha and Ibanez's torrefied offerings in person; but I don't remember them having this kind of presence. I've not heard one of these live, so I obviously defer to Dan, Daren and Paul's expertise, but there must be something really magical happening with the torrefied top and Lyrachord bowl combination. Just a stunning display of resonance & presence! |
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| arumako - 2017-06-05 10:57 PM
DarenSavage - 2017-06-05 9:19 AM
I'm dead serious about the sound of the guitar. Beautiful!
Dead serious indeed! Man, this 1117 cuts right through all the noise in the "house". I think that is called "presence". My '73 1117 has it too, but this one has it in spades! I've heard Yamaha and Ibanez's torrefied offerings in person; but I don't remember them having this kind of presence. I've not heard one of these live, so I obviously defer to Dan, Daren and Paul's expertise, but there must be something really magical happening with the torrefied top and Lyrachord bowl combination. Just a stunning display of resonance & presence!
You'll see. Or, more accurately, you'll hear (when you get your Savage Ovation 1612--Congrats and welcome to the club!).
I agree with you about the combination of torrified top and 'glass bowl. The full sound of a Savage Ovation is lost through digital audio. Just as our eyes can see a range that is difficult to capture in digital photographs, the SO guitar's magical sound can only be heard in person. |
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Location: SoCal | My 1117 is the best sounding Legend I've ever played..... |
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1978 1117-4 Legend...