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Location: South of most, North of few | Thanks for the info. I'm going to let John take a look at it and make a recommendation. One of the eppies is pretty messed up, so I can't see replacing just one as they will look different. Damon suggested I get the new eppies inlaid (ala LX) but I'm not too sure about that. |
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Location: big island | on the other hand, the 1537 i bought from glenn with the new top and bowl, remains the best sounding ovation i have ever played. moody had a top replaced on one of his guitars about the same time. we suspect our tops are from the same tree. at any rate, we both couldn't be happier about how great each guitar sounds. so jim, mojo is a good thing but i'd opt for sound over mojo any day. if john suggests a new top replacement as the best option, i wouldn't hesitate. |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Inlaid epaulets cannot be done with the top in place. A crack in the top won't require a new top. My CL had a really nasty crack. A refinish requires new epaulets and a new bridge. Perhaps that won't effect the acoustic tone all that much, but it did change the tone of my CL. Not better, not worse, just different. I think that ANY change to the acoustic tone of an original 1537 is something to seriously consider before spending that much money for essentially a cosmetic fix.
I'll repeat this: Original 1537's have a unique acoustic tone. I know, I had one and have played many. I love my "new" 1537. My CL is my absolute favorite guitar. That said, I'd still think long and hard before giving the OK for an esthestic fix of a classic, incredibly unique sounding Ovation. |
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Location: SoCal | As a general rule, I'd say fix, don't replace the top of a 1537 or other equally unique Ovation. But having said that, I did just the opposite with my 87C when an accident caused the top to split open. And as Randy said, we think he and I ended up with tops from the same log and they are spectacular sounding. But I think we were both lucky and I wouldn't count on lighting striking twice.
Refinishing the top, tho', can be a good thing. The new finish used is thinner than the old finish, which should let the wood vibrate more easily. And the color of the top can go from a dark yellow to a honey colored...... |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Thanks Mitch, I really don't know just what to do with it yet. I'm trying to convince myself that a crack won't bother me much, but am not having much luck doing that. Paul, I thought of that, as they usually don't lay it on as thick now, and that could be a good thing. I figure if they don't replace the top, it's still the same seasoned wood. It may look a little different, but sound the same. If the one eppie wasn't messed up so bad, I'd just fix the crack and let it go.
From a distance, it doesn't look too bad...(yeah, I know, the infamous palm tree)
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Location: Jet City | What a sexy beast! |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Yeah, it is a nice tree. |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Now that I've looked at the photos I'd still advise you to wait. If I recall, this was a "bottom feeder" eBay find at a really attractive price. There's no way that top will need to be replaced, just refinished. I had my CL refinished from dark tobacco burst to a beautiful New England burst. If you look close you can see see the crack in the wood even though the finish is completely smooth. Therefore, keep in mind that a refinished top will still show the crack unless you have it done in black or another solid color.
I had my CL for two years before I sent it for the fix. I had the factory upgrade the pre-amp to an OP-Pro also. My CL is now one-of-a kind which was re-labeled by the factory as a 1719 (from 1619) and I couldn't be happier. Your 1537 is a different matter. I doubt that you want to change the original design. The "two knobbers" are special and you can upgrade to the newer FET but that's an additional $200 or so and still not the best pre-amp for plugged in sound.
I still say to wait. Play the guitar, live with it, enjoy it. See if the crack remains stabile. You can send it to factory later one and see what options they have to make it look better.
The folks here are great, sincere and helpful, but it's your money and guitar Jim. Give the guitar some time to grow on you before you make any changes that will effect that unique tone. A simple sealing of the crack won't harm the guitar or the tone and could be a DIY if you have the ability to do it carefully.
BTW, Moody, the new top on my 1537 is spectacular. Perhaps it's from the same tree as your '87C and lanaki's 1537. ;) :D |
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Location: Slightly northwest of Trader Jim | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
Just talked with John B, and am going to send it in for a possible top refinish. ;) OH...Brother, what happened to the guy that said to me...." I think I'm too hung up on the way they look,and not the way they sound"? Remember the 1614. :( |
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Location: Cincinnati | Jim, knowing how much you value my opinion :rolleyes: I'd try to glue down the edges of the eppie and live with the guitar for a while. You might find you can live with the cracks if it has the right sound.
How much for the tree? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I wouldn't touch it. Dave |
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Location: SoCal | When you press on the crack, can you feel the wood moving around? If not, live with it for a while.
Mitch, take a look at Randy's pictures and you'll see the wood on his 1537. It's beautiful and distinctive with the silking. My 87C is the exact same way. Mitch, if your 1537 top is from the same log, then you're a lucky man..... |
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Location: NJ | ". . When you press on the crack, can you feel the wood moving around? If not, live with it for a while . ."
If ONLY you had a nickle for every time you had t'tell Jerri THAT . . . |
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Location: East Tennessee | Jim,
Repair the crack.
DO NOT Refinsh the top, (That MOJO thing).
Replace the eppies maybe. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | repair, not replace
but I've said that already. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Yes, you can feel the wood move around when you press around the crack. I'm not considering a replacement of the top as an option. I've been down that road before and it completely changed the guitar into something I didn't want anymore. Thanks for all the opinions, I'll keep you all posted. |
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Posts: 288
Location: Maine | What a nice looking guitar.. they new it back then when they made it too..
I prefer the older style epaulettes that are more cedar/brown toned, don't have the pronounced red colored wood as a lot of the new ones seem to have..
If it was mine.. I'd have the crack sealed and keep it as is..
Talbot
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Well, the 1537 is here...
