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Joined:
October 2010
Posts: 5
Location: nj | hello, i have a 2003 celebrity and it seems the saddle is plastic. is this stock? would there be an improvement w/ a bone or micarta?
thanks! |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I went thru this too with my celebrity. Welcome to the board. I needed a replacement saddle for my celebrity, it had worn out. I tried, what I think was artificial bone, I carved the saddle myself, it was about 6 years ago (?). I tried other plastics, and the best saddle was the one Al Pep helped me get from the factory. It was just plain plastic and it works fine. The improvement over bone or anything else would be so negligible that it's not worth it. |
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Joined:
October 2010
Posts: 5
Location: nj | i carved one out of micarta, in hopes of matching my martin. i did the nut and saddle. sounds good. i just couldn't believe the old one was plastic. everything else seems so top shelf.
thanks for the info. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I just finished reading a thread on the unofficial Martin forum where some were complaining that Martin puts plastic (micarta) saddles and bridges on $1000 guitars. Micarta is a fabric laminated plastic. Ovation probably calls its plastic saddles by some name other than plastic. Everyone does to make it sound like something other than plastic. You might have checked on the relative densities of the two plastics before you went to the trouble. I'm not sure that I could hear the difference between bone, tusq, micarta or "plastic" saddles and bridges in even the most expensive guitars. I think I can hear the difference between a laminated top and a solid spruce or solid cedar top, but I'm not sure I could in a blind test. |
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Joined:
October 2010
Posts: 5
Location: nj | i hate to admit it, but regarding the sound, i can't really tell the difference (between carved micarta and ovation stock plastic.)
i realize i'm comparing a $950 retail martin w/a $450 retail ovation, but the sound is so close. i was hoping that with the right set up, i can almost match it. (i use the same strings on both, elixir lights .10, good for when the hands get a little sweaty)
the ovation stock saddle has definite grooves in it, so one way or another it's getting replaced. i've had bone in other guitars and felt it was a little 'bright', especially compared to the martin.
does anyone know if ovation sells replacement saddles? |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by 853am:
does anyone know if ovation sells replacement saddles? Contact your local Ovation dealer (esp. the store you bought the guitar from if you're still in the area) and they can order what you need. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Or contact the factory directly. |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| The factory doesn't provide service for overseas models. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by 853am:
i realize i'm comparing a $950 retail martin w/a $450 retail ovation, but the sound is so close. That is just about a fair comparison.
A $950 Martin is a Cheap Martin... So I would expect a $450 Ovation to sound about the same.
And I would expect one of my Elites to sound better than the Martin.
As to the saddle... Just get yerself one of these for about $12 or less...
[a $950 Martin is made outta HPL panelboard ain't it?
so I would expect that CC54i to sound better :p ] |
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plastic saddle