Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!
Juiced
Posted 2020-01-11 5:13 PM (#550948)
Subject: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!


Joined:
June 2015
Posts: 46

I finally was able to purchase my "always wanted" guitar, a Adamas 12 string.

I got it a REALLY good price, but as in anything in life, the "too good to be true" happened to me. I was deceived by the seller and received my Blue W598 in a condition I that was not even close to the description. There were a lot of photos carefully hiding all the flaws. One of them being a severely bowed/caving of the sound board.

I fired off a scathing email and was given two options, return or "How much to fix it" off of the purchase price. I gave a amount where I was promptly refunded almost 1/3 of the price.

I have Carbon fiber guitars (one other Adamas 6 and one Rainsong) so this is not new territory for me. The previous owner (not the seller) was using heavy strings and standard tuning. The wood braces were all attached, but had warped throughout the years.

I contacted Ovation (Drum Works) about repairing it and still no response to date.

I have no intention of selling this beauty so I started to look at all of the options I could. I have had good success with the Bridge Doctor on a few old 12 strings and even one 1977 Ovation 1115-1. I know Ovations do not have the large wood block, but this project is different. Carbon fiber is a little more flexible than wood so if I used a Bridge Doctor I would not need as much tension to correct the problem.

But here is the issue, the Ovation bracing is a fan setup and one of them is directly in the middle.

Sooo, why not two Bridge Doctors? An inexpensive repair and the load would be spread out. I also noticed that the area around the strap button was reinforced with extra material giving me a stronger surface to work with.

It worked. 

The dual setup has almost eliminated the bow/Caving in. The guitar sounds great and I saved my “always wanted guitar”.

Thank you for reading all of this. I hope it helps anyone with similar issues.

Ed

The Cold Solder Joint



Edited by Juiced 2020-01-11 5:26 PM
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marenostrum
Posted 2020-01-12 4:00 AM (#550949 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!



Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008

Location: Tuscany, Italy
Thank you for the tip !! ..... any effect on guitar sound ?
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Juiced
Posted 2020-01-12 7:22 AM (#550950 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!


Joined:
June 2015
Posts: 46

My pleasure. Sounds the same as before. It seems a it more articulate, but that may just be me.
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MatureWolf
Posted 2020-01-12 10:30 AM (#550951 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!



Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 110

Location: Moscow, Russia
Hi!

Interesting read. Can you share with us
1) Inner photo of lower strap pin area
2) Outer close-up photo of bridge

Thanks,
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Juiced
Posted 2020-01-12 10:42 AM (#550952 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: RE: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!


Joined:
June 2015
Posts: 46

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Juiced
Posted 2020-01-12 11:00 AM (#550953 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: RE: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!


Joined:
June 2015
Posts: 46

Is this the side view you are looking for? 

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alpep
Posted 2020-01-12 4:46 PM (#550955 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582

Location: NJ
I'm concerned that Ovation has not contacted you
they just launched the new repair center......
sigh
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Juiced
Posted 2020-01-12 5:07 PM (#550956 - in reply to #550955)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!


Joined:
June 2015
Posts: 46

alpep - 2020-01-12 5:46 PM I'm concerned that Ovation has not contacted you they just launched the new repair center...... sigh

 

Me too. I know they had gotten the shop up and running in Hartford this past year, but was unsure if they were doing repairs.

Ed.  



Edited by Juiced 2020-01-12 5:07 PM
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MatureWolf
Posted 2020-01-13 5:14 AM (#550959 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!



Joined:
May 2010
Posts: 110

Location: Moscow, Russia
Thanks, Ed, for photos! Also interesting in "front" view of bridge ;-)

Best,
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marenostrum
Posted 2020-01-14 1:16 PM (#550965 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!



Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008

Location: Tuscany, Italy
Thanks Ed. I have myself a couple of guitars in need of similar treatment. I've seen Stewmac is selling this device for bit more than 20 $.....plus shipping. Being Ovation body round without wood block at the lower bout I was afraid that "bridge doctor" installation could be difficult, thus reducing curing effect.
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Love O Fair
Posted 2020-01-14 9:43 PM (#550966 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!



Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1802

Location: When??
I had never heard of the Bridge Doctor before now, so I watched the Stewmac demo video and I am now curious to know.. since the device raises a sunken top that is sinking on the sound hole side of the bridge, does the upward pressure on the sound hole side of the bridge also cause a downward draw on the other side of the bridge? Thus helping to lower an upward "belly bulging" of the top?
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Juiced
Posted 2020-01-15 5:50 AM (#550969 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!


Joined:
June 2015
Posts: 46

<p>I have an older 12 string that I used one of the Bridge doctors and a rounded wood block to spread the pressure out. This guitar also had some extra material put around the strap pin area at the factory. The device works well, but it is not a cure all depending on how bad the belly budge/ sound hole caving is. It did take a wall hanger 1977 1115-1 and turn it into a usable guitar. If it is really bad, slowly add pressure over days or even weeks to push it back into place. Some guitars will respond quicker / better than others.</p>

Edited by Juiced 2020-01-15 5:54 AM
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Juiced
Posted 2020-01-15 5:54 AM (#550970 - in reply to #550966)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!


Joined:
June 2015
Posts: 46

"I had never heard of the Bridge Doctor before now, so I watched the Stewmac demo video and I am now curious to know.. since the device raises a sunken top that is sinking on the sound hole side of the bridge, does the upward pressure on the sound hole side of the bridge also cause a downward draw on the other side of the bridge? Thus helping to lower an upward "belly bulging" of the top?"

Yes!



Edited by Juiced 2020-01-15 5:56 AM
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Love O Fair
Posted 2020-01-15 8:04 PM (#550973 - in reply to #550948)
Subject: Re: Saving a Adamas with 2 Bridge Doctors? Storytime!



Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1802

Location: When??
@Juiced - >>>Yes!<<<

Thank you. Good info to have for future possibilities.
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