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January 2006
Posts: 94
Location: Tracy, CA | I really need some advice on this one as I don't know whether I have a problem here or not. I recently purchased an Ovation 1858 12 string guitar on eBay. eBay Ovation 1858 The auction stated that the guitar was in mint condition. The pictures in the auction were nice and did not show any defeats. After I received the guitar, I noticed there are lines of ripples on the top of the guitar. Look like the bracings are pulling (pushing?) up against the top causing the ripples. The top looks really weird. Overall the top is flat and the bridge is solid. The guitar plays great and sounds great. It's just look strange with all the ripples on the top. Has anyone has experience with this? Would there be a problem with this guitar down the road? I have contacted the seller (a pawn shop) and they said to return the guitar and they will give me a full refund minus shipping. What do you think I should do? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Henry
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January 2006
Posts: 94
Location: Tracy, CA |  |
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March 2005
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Location: Orange County, California | Henry,
:eek: Wow!! that's georgeous!! :eek:
Much better pics than in the auction too!!
Recently some others around here have noticed how thin the new finishes are, and how you could almost "feel" the grain and the braces on the tops. I believe what you have here is what we call a "loaded" top, meaning it's under allot of tension, and thus going to ring like church bells when you play.
Unless the bridge lifts, the top "bellies" in front of the bridge, or something rattles, it's perfect!!
For what you got it for, I dub thee guitar theif!! Don't you dare send it back!! |
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December 2004
Posts: 370
Location: Isle of Man, UK | Oi, guitar thief! ;) That has to be the deal of the decade!
That looks exactly like my 1858 always has done (got to be five/six years old now), so I wouldn't worry about it too much. I always took it as the grain of the wood, but interested to read about the tension idea - never thought of that.
Of course, I'd need to do a side-by-side comparison... send the guitar to me for evaluation. Don't worry about my address, all addresses over here start "P.O. Box", it's what we call a letter box. Honest. :p
JB |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I've owned several Ovation 12 strings with A-bracing that, over time, develop that wavyness. It's OK.
An X-braced top will do the same thing to a much lesser extent. Since the A-brace pattern runs more parallel to the grain, the wood is able to bend more easily under the tension. Not a defect, and not a problem.
About the only other guitars with a similar brace pattern are nylon-string guitars...which generally don't have nearly as much string tension, so you don't see this same effect.
Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about??
John <>{ |
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Location: closely held secret | My 1759CL is the same way, though not as noticable due to the black finish. No problems. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I would not worry about it. It's more noticable on darker color tops than naturals. Dave |
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April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | Looks exactly like my 12 String CL. Even my Country Artist shows the bracing clearly, although it is strung with nylon strings, but thanks to the low tension of the strings it is not as bad as on the CL. You can see it on Jerome's page. Don't worry about this, it's okay.
With me playing the 12 String not that often, I lose the strings to 'destress' the top of my guitar, only tuning it to pitch when needed. I don't know, if this is better for the top, but after losing the bridge once I am a little careful. ;) By the way, that is a lot of noise when a 12 String, that is tuned to pitched, is "losing" her bridge... My wife thought I was shooting in the house. |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | My Applause 12 doesn't have that problem. I'll trade you. My 1713 shows the bracing a little, even though it has nylon strings. |
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January 2006
Posts: 94
Location: Tracy, CA | Thanks to everyone for your advice and reassurance. I was really worried about it 'cause I've never seen anything like it. I guess it's not a problem at all. As Fred said, "it's loaded and it's perfect!!" This guitar sounds great. It is a shallow bowl but it is almost as loud as my 1758. The top must be very thin. |
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| My Custom Legend (shallow bowl) has been like it since new. Sounds fantastic. |
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December 2003
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Location: Upper Left USA | It's not a problem. It's not changeable either!
Keep it or trade it off if it does bother you. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I thought this was a compliant about the new breast implants. |
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Need advice on rippled top?
