|
|
Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 11
| Hey, all. Just found this forum-- I love Ovations. I am in the IZ of Baghdad, and I brought my beloved Ovation CC67 - "sounds great but isn't so valuable that I hesitate to travel with it" - with me. Since arriving here, alas, the 67 has fallen on hard times... I discovered a few months ago that the internal pickup was failing... took it apart, redid the wiring, put it back... crackle crackle crackle...
So I bought a decent Dimarzio and popped in the soundhole. Not the same, but good enough for the just-dicking-around-with-friends playing that I do.
Then I started playing some music with folks here in a band of sorts. Now, as you might guess, there are five million guitarists everywhere you go, including the IZ of Baghdad. But-- no bassists! So in the spirt of a new hobby and adding something unique-- bought an Ovation CC074 a-e bass a few months ago. I love it. After twenty years of six strings and chords, playing the bass is just fun and relaxing. Not that I am a world-class bassist-- those guys work too hard. But I can lay down a solid rhythm line AND make a lot of great rock and roll faces on stage. Nice. The only problem is that the bass is SO FREAKING LONG. I think I need a stool to rest my elbow on when I am playing high on the neck-- my arm gets TIRED... I don't know if a short person could play the thing-- huge! But it looks really cool-- almost no one has ever seen an acoustic electric bass...
So the group I sit in with here -- "Sonic Surge" -- played on Thursday night. I was requested to play six strings on "American Pie." So, earlier that day (this is where I get back to the tragedy of the CC67) I sat down to restring her... to get her show ready.
Sigh. For the first time I ever, a tuning peg stripped. The G-string. Wasn't even near the right pitch yet, and it gave way irreparably. Figuring I could maybe sort it out a little later, I continued to the B-string. SAME FREAKING THING. So, having never had a tuning peg fail on me ever, I suddenly had two fail at the same time. Any thoughts on whether it is purely coincidence or whether there might be some other factor? Dust is a problem here-- could that be fouling up my pegs?
So, alas my friends, I borrowed a six string for American Pie, which went off horribly and we cut short (which for that song means less than ten minutes, ha ha) for other reasons...
But the real question is how easily I can replace the tuning pegs, and how cheaply?
Or I may just buy another Ovation guitar and have it shipped here, too, because the CC67 has had a good life with me for ten years now, but is showing her age: Failed pickup, tuning pegs, numerous big cracks in the finish... but she still sounds gorgeous (to the chagrin of other guitarists here with much more expensive kit!). So we'll see...
One more question-- I have been eyeing the new VIP-5 preamp. Are the Ovation preamps interchangable-- if I bought a guitar with say, an OP-20 preamp, could I theoretically just drop in the VIP-5 sometime, or will it not fit or work?
Cheers, thanks in advance for your thoughts. I will keep rocking out in Iraq...
Jeff |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Someone here will answer your questions and probably help ship one out to you.
I want to know what IZ means. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Z=zone, not sure about the "I"
for a moment, i was wondering how he knew Braddah IZ and what he had to do with baghdad :D
welcome to the OFC, JC! in a few hours when some of the more guitar-handy folk on this forum wake up, i am sure you will get exactly the info you are seeking.
mahalo for all you do over there!
lanaki |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Oh, yeah. Sorry, I'm so rude. :(
WELCOME!! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | as for the machines,if you just want something to throw in it ive got a new set of grover locking rOtomatics that i will donate to the cause. for the preamp. i dont think a vip will interchange with a op-20 but i could be wrong.....jason |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | IZ= International Zone |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | you beat me to it randy..lol jason |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | i had to google it :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | jason,
are you an insomniac or do you work graveyard shift? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | just up early randy...in my former employment i worked 10pm to 7am...so im used to the hours..lol jason |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | It shouldn't be hard to get a replacement tuner, but upgrade if you can in order to avoid it happening again. Jason has offered a solution.
A replacement pickup should be available. Contact Ovation customer service.
Welcome to the club. Are you U.S. military, or a contractor, or... ?
Be safe! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Nice Jason!
JC, I had a feeling someone around here would have some machines to send. If I had a set I would gladly donate.
Take care JC, and thanks for your service! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 11
| Thanks to everyone for the welcome and the info.
Paul B-- I am a contractor helping to rebuild the government infrastructure. So I don't claim to be as brave as our gals and guys in uniform. But I do buy them dinner and drinks over here whenver I can (um... I mean only dinner since they never break the rule that forbids them to drink, wink wink...).
Jason S-- you are the man. I have your email and will respond to that.
Peace,
JC |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | jc,they are on the bench at home. ive got to put the bushings back on behind the knobs because i had diferent knobs on them when they were on a reso that i parted out. they are your, but im away from home right now till the end of the week but i do have my laptop with me so the email is no problem...jason |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | JC - Buy some drinks for our friends at Blackwater and Halliburton, too, and perhaps you can suggest Ovation guitars becoming standard issue for the field. ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Originally posted by Paul Blanchard:
JC - Buy some drinks for our friends at Blackwater and Halliburton, too, and perhaps you can suggest Ovation guitars becoming standard issue for the field. ;) Why does someone always have to make some political hay out of almost every phuquen thread?
That was in bad taste for our guest, IMO. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 11
| No offense seen or taken (but thanks for the concern, Goober!).
IMHO, the folks from any of the companies here whom you might take political issue with, are NOT the people they have working here. The folks I work with from all the companies (and of course the military folks) are all top-notch good people.
The Blackwater guys especially are great. They move me around the city in armor as necessary, and are always professional, polite, and have always (so far) got me back to camp with no new perforations to my body! And I always thank them profusely for that.
Cheers.
JC |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Goober, goober, goober ... they screwed up your order at Starbucks this morning, huh?
Politics be damned, I think Halliburton is an A+ company. I've been using one of there briefcases for the last 10 years and love it.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | I make WAY better coffee than Starbucks. And no, I'm quite jolly this morning Dave. Just an observation from someone that has become pretty apolitical. And, the commment did seem rather uncalled for. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | We are all guilty of inappropriate comments every now and them.
Fortunately, most members ignore them and they quickly fade away down the thread. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Speaking of coffee (thread hijack in progress), BIG THANKS to Lanaki for sending me a nice gift bag of KONA COFFEE from Hawaii. I brewed some up this morning - mighty fine stuff. Sitting here wearing the HULA DADDY t-shirt, sipping the Kona with a ukulele sitting at my knee. Looking outside at 75 degree blue skies. Life is very good. Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 548
Location: Up North | I'm enjoying a cup of Kona as well, also sent from Lanaki with his History of Ovation book. First real spring-like day up here. Almost out of coffee, thanks again for a taste of the islands Randy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | You guys are wimps when you won't talk politics early in the morning! I, for one, think we oughta be talking about why the hell Lincoln won't fire Grant and get a real general in there!
No wait, wrong war.... I gotta go get more coffee....Randy, can you send me some??? Already brewed??? I need it this morning.......
As for Ovations in the battlefield, they need to issue one specially made like the one I had built. The hell with lyrachord, mines got a kevlar back on it. Kinda sucks up the tone, but it will stop most small caliber weapons. I know because I already had somebody take a shot at me. Of course, it was in church and they didn't like my playing...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Ditto on the coffee - I'm drinking it out of my big Hula Daddy mug - courtesy once again of Randy! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Oh stop it, Moody. Before you know it, all the Jesus....whoops!...I forgot. Sorry to step on your toes, pal. ;)
Religion, politics....no no. Guitars and sex, yes. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | OK Randy, how can I blackmail you in order to get some of this coffee, eh? :D ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm as apolitical as anybody and I didn't read Paul's comment as a political one at all. Maybe a little too subtle attempt at humor, while promoting the Ovation brand like a good OFC member.
I think it would be great if one of the contractors could get Ovations into the hands of our guitar playing soldiers and any Iraqis for that matter. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Goober, you can run but you can't hide. Don't care how many times you peel the stickers off your mailbox...
At least your not being lukewarm.
Fresh Ground Kona is about my favorite but the best way to experience it is to be there on the deck listening to the birds work themselves into a frenzy before they all scatter from the few deciduous trees they spend the night in.
I hope to be there within a few years but for now the bright shirts is as close as I'll get.
Gotta love the Gov'mint. Corporate Contractors too. Just a bunch of people, that's their biggest problem. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | Originally posted by Goober:
OK Randy, how can I blackmail you in order to get some of this coffee, eh? :D ;) hmmmm....tryin' hard to remember if i have done any no-no's lately that someone could blackmail me for.....?
can't think of anything.....
tell ya' what. you produce my first cd and i'll set you up with a lifetime supply of kona coffee.
caveat: it has to make us both a cool million at least.
another option: pm me a mailing address and after my next gig i'll send you some. d'ya prefer straight kona or a blend? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Hmmmm, Kevlar guitar? I see a market niche.....
....and I think I know of a company perfectly positioned to exploit it!
(What am I SAYING? Gotta buy stock in the company before I start giving away these jems!) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 11
| ...another option: pm me a mailing address and after my next gig i'll send you some. d'ya prefer straight kona or a blend? [/QB] Ha! How ironic this thread had evolved (?devolved?) into coffee discussion. I am known as the coffee guy at our camp, because I brought my own grinder and french press to ensure that I had FRESH STRONG coffee every morning. A couple of the gals here (which, in the IZ constitutes almost all of the girls here, ha ha) have taken to calling me the "Angel of Coffee" because I occasionally make rounds to share in the mornings...
On that note... Lanaki, nice to meet you on here, and I might send you MY mailiing address! I'll also send you back some kitschy souvenir from Baghdad!
And as a related note to Mark in Boise's comments... Ovation is working on "supplying" the troops-- kudos to them:
http://www.ovationguitars.com/index.cfm?fa=news&art=599
Peace (from the war!),
JC |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by JC the lesser:
I occasionally make rounds to share in the mornings..JC Knock or nudge?
Did I forget to say welcome to the OFC?
Welcome to the OFC! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Stow, Ohio | JC I stumbled across a set of ovation tuners at the music store I work at on occasion. they are in a box of pieces parts. they are gold. I will grab them next time I am in. and if they work I can send them to you. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Stow, Ohio | I just went to the Ovation webpage about the Ovation in Baghdad.
I have been thinking for awhile, about sending the Celebrity that I bought and fixed over to Baghdad.
I think now I will! I think I will send it to a Marine unit, since I am a former Jarhead, it would only be fitting.
I know this is off topic, but this thread helped my decision.
I won't be an Ovation owner anymore, but I can still pop in and say hi can't I? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Stow, Ohio | Oh damn, sorry, Welcome JC! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | I've been on this board a long time and have no reputation for being political. My comment referenced two companies with a 'bon mot' regarding Ovation guitars. Reading politics into that was a stretch.
Thanks, J.C., for taking no offense. None was intended.
I'm out of this thread. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Paul, I apologize if I read something into your remark that wasn't there. My sense of humor is usually in the gutter anyway. Your comment just struck me as weird, that's all. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | A Goober apology! Bookmark it - you might need to cut/paste this at some point in the future when backed into a corner with no obvious way out ... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Wait til you catch the "live show"!
M(pick'in on the Goob)Woody |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The comment about Halibutin, in context it makes sense to me. But what do I know ... I wanted to ask JC the lesser, if he was related to JC the greater! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Phew !!....(wiping my forehead)
Vic |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 11
| Originally posted by an4340:
... I wanted to ask JC the lesser, if he was related to JC the greater! Umm... no comment... I am 33 right now, and that ended up being a real tough year for him, so I'm just trying to keep my head down. Not successfully, since I am living in a war zone, but still... I am JC the DECIDEDLY lesser! |
|
| |
Hello, comments, and a question or two.