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May 2005
Posts: 6
| Hey all,
I have a 1983 Ovation Legend 1717. It was my first guitar, the one I learned on, and although it has given me much pleasure over the years, I've had to repair the bridge twice after it pulled off the body. Well, it pulled off a 3rd time now, and took with it some of the top of the guitar. There are a few finish cracks and it may need a neck reset as well.
Here's a pic...
Ovation Legend 1717
My question is, do you think this is repairable or worth repairing?
And does anyone know what a used Ovation Legend 1717 goes for on the open market?
I'd appreciate any advice I can get.
Thanks, and this looks like a great forum.
Eben |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | how did you have it repaired? are you using any high tension tunings?
this just seems very unusual |
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May 2005
Posts: 6
| Well, the first time I came home on a warm summer day and found the bridge pulled off. I assumed it had something to do with the weather. My girlfriend had it repaired as a surprise for me, and the repair guy just glued the bridge back on.
Only a couple months later, the bridge pulled off a second time after being in a car trunk for a few hours. Again, I think it was the temperature change that did it. My girlfriend took it back to the same guy who more or less burried the bridge into the body of the guitar. "This will never pull up again," he told me.
Wrong! Two summers ago, my brother's friend was tuning it up and the bridge pulled off for the 3rd time. Could be he was tuning it too tight, but I wasn't there at the time. I don't use any high tension tunings, BTW.
In the last two years, I have learned how to properly care for my guitars with a room humidifier. I'll try and post a pic of the poor old soldier.
Thanks,
Eben |
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Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | 1. girl friend fixes your guitar
2. you leave it in the trunk
3. you let your friend tune it
Anything else we should know ??? |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Have Ovation fix it (as they should've done after it happened the first time). |
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May 2005
Posts: 6
| No, that's all really. I realize how careless I was with this guitar. Like I said, in the last two or three years, I've become much more conscious of preserving my guitars. I have a Martin HD-28 along with a Fender Strat and a couple other LP clones that I keep in a well humididified room 45-55 relative humidy. I never lend them to friends and I have them all well maintained by a top notch luthier.
A shame my Ovation didn't make it through my wild years, but I'm hoping to get it repaired.
Thanks again for any comments. Looks like a nice bunch of people here.
Regards,
Eben |
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Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Ditto. Let the people work on it who know how to do the job right. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I realize that your guitar has sentimental value, but fixing your guitar doesn't seem worth it. Clearly, the top has been damaged with the latest bridge failure. You also mentioned a neck re-set. I'd look for another 1717. He's one on eBay now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=621&item=732...
You may want to send the seller an email requesting disclosure of his reserve.
You can even get a new one. Ovation has just re-introduced the 1717 Legend with OP40 electronics and built-in tuner. If you can afford a new one contact Al Pepiak to see what he can do for you. |
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May 2005
Posts: 6
| Does anyone know what kind of warranty Ovation offers? I'm assuming any unauthorized repair would void the warranty. I was going to have my guy look at it, but maybe I should give Ovaton a try.
Regards,
Eben |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | never leave a guitar in a trunk or a hot area without detuning the strings |
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | It might have voided the warranty but it can't cost that much to put a bridge back on. My concern is if the repair guy actually dug into the top to place the bridge in the top. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Depends on how much of the top it took with it. |
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Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 6
| Okay, here's a pic of the wounded soldier in question...
Ovation Legend 1717
After carefully examing the guitar again, I think a truss rod adjustment might suffice and not a full neck reset. But the bridge and body damage are pretty severe. The bridge pulled enough of the body away to show through to the inside. I'm wondering if this is repairable at all, or if I would have to get a completely new top?
Regards,
Eben |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Honestly, for $300-$400. you can get a replacement guitar same model and everything that will be way better off than this one. |
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Location: south east Michigan | And far off in the distance, the sad, mornful sound of taps can be heard. |
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Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | It looks like the guy who repaired? it actually cut part of the top out. I'm with the "get another one" camp on this.
But, don't overlook the fact the bridge, electronics, maybe the nut, and especially the tuners on your guitar, will be worth something either on ebay or hopefully one of your fellow OFC members. Every little bit helps when replacing a guitar. |
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Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Seeing that picture, all I can say is get another guitar. |
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Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | :eek: All I can say is OUCH!!!
The guitar has alot of sentimental value. Glue the bridge back on and buy a wall hanger and display it. That way you don't throw it out on trash day.
Phil |
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May 2005
Posts: 6
| Thanks for all your comments.
I realize now that this Ovation is just not restorable, and would make a better ornamentation than to sink money into it.
sniff, sniff.
Eben |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | you need a top |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Saying goodgye can be hard. I would get O's estimate on re-topping. If it gives the carcass a new life, great. |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| About 18 months ago I had some work done on my then favourite acoustic. While I was taslking to the luthier ( www.alanarnoldguitars.co.uk) I mentioned how much I liked Ovation guitars although I didn't think I'd ever get to own one. "I've had to stick so many bridges back down on those things" he told me.
Is this common? |
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July 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | Legend,
I (or someone else) could also make you a good deal on the preamp and pickup...and maybe there are other parts (tuners, even the neck) you could sell online to recoup some of your cost of an all new 1717...just a thought. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | The photo only serves to underscore how pointless it is to discuss repairing this guitar. I truly can't understand why you would even think of putting a new top on this guitar when you can get a replacement guitar so easily.
I think that Standig O's replacement valuation is a bit low. Yeah, you could find one in that price range, but it will have finish cracks, fret wear,and perhaps other issues. A nice replacement with a natural top will probably cost around $500. There's a beauty on eBay now for $675, with no bids:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47064&item=7...
If the auction ends with no bids, watch for a re-listing at a lower price.
Leftovertion is also correct. Your broken 1717 will fetch $100 or so either here or on eBay, particularly if the electronics are good and you have an original case. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I ended up doing it for my '76 CBalladeer, only because it had a very good degree of sentimental value. That, and the cracked top was covered under Warranty as original owner. The only "hitch" (on MY part) was that it wouldn't be finished in time for when it was needed, so I ended up getting a whole new top/bowl assembly, upgraded electronics, and a fret job for about $300.
. . . but that was about 10 years ago. |
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June 2004
Posts: 365
Location: NC | Dear GOD that hurt to look at! It was like seeing your child with a cut knee or elbow............., I think what Al stated with a new top...or just buy another.
Heat>Bad
Extreme Cold>Bad
House with thermostat set at 70> GOOD!
Transporting and taking into job place with thermostat set at 70> GOOD!
For everthing else theres Mastercard.....& purchase another! |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | |
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January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Well, if it's toast, I recall seeing an artical where old Ovations can be used as a nifty bird-house. There was also talk on another forum about the bowl-shape being ideal for downhill shovel racing on ski-slopes.
Personally, if I were going to junk it anyway, I'd try to fix it myself. Get some tite-bond (Lock-Tite Super Glue) and some deep C-Clamps. You might try those rare-earth magnets to clamp it instead of C-Clamps. |
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My Ovation's bridge popped off again! Worth repairing?