The Ovation Fan Club
The Ovation Fan Club
Forum Search | Statistics | User Listing Forums | Calendars | Albums | Language
Your are viewing as a Guest. ( logon | register )
NEW in 2026 Searches both the Ovation FanClub and Ovation Tribute websites

Random quote: “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” -Plato



Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?

View previous thread :: View next thread
   Forums Archive -> The Vault: 2008Message format
 
Hillwalker
Posted 2008-08-15 1:45 PM (#26041)
Subject: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?


Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 143

Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England
Well, it's been a little while but Hillwalker is back! I've been distracted for a good few months with work and some non-guitar projects (rebuilding a 1960s FW Evans 531 touring cycle) but here I am. I've enjoyed catching up on the various topics I'd missed on the board, including the venture into the forum on the Acoustic Guitar site. (Note to self; the chaps on this OFC board are quick, sharp and VERY articulate. Some are downright wicked ;) Yes, Moody I mean you... :) ). And others have a great choice of phrase such as 'Walking into some tall corn'; I liked that.

Anyway, a question: I think I'm right in saying that Ovation usually ship guitars tuned to pitch? If you were shipping, would you slacken strings or leave tuned (I'm sure I've heard that the Ovation case is designed to bear the stress from a tuned guitar?)

All advice greatfully received

HW (pleased to be back)
Top of the page Bottom of the page
alpep
Posted 2008-08-15 1:55 PM (#26042 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583

Location: NJ
i ship guitars several times a week I slack the strings since UPS seems to have had that written in their rules at some point.
I also think it take pressure off the neck
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Hillwalker
Posted 2008-08-15 1:57 PM (#26043 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?


Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 143

Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England
Thanks Al
Top of the page Bottom of the page
2ifbyC
Posted 2008-08-15 2:04 PM (#26044 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268

Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast
Sweetwater sent my Elite tuned.

But when I ship or request shipment, the strings are detuned but still with tension (maybe three full turns down?). This holds especially true with 12ers. I received a sweet looking Washburn 12er that was damaged due to full tension during shipment!
Top of the page Bottom of the page
CanterburyStrings
Posted 2008-08-15 2:14 PM (#26045 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?


Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683

Location: Hot Springs, S.D.
I always slack the strings and put LOTS of padding around the peghead.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Hillwalker
Posted 2008-08-15 2:17 PM (#26046 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?


Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 143

Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England
Perhaps my original post should have said 'chaps and chapesses?' Sorry Canterbury ;)

HW
Top of the page Bottom of the page
stephent28
Posted 2008-08-15 2:17 PM (#26047 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066
I usually downtune to a "C" so that the new owner can strum it and feel the thunder of their favorite chord before tuning it to pitch.

I always put padding around the headstock.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Old Man Arthur
Posted 2008-08-15 2:28 PM (#26048 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
My Sweetwater T came at full tune.
My 2058T 12-er came at full tune, except the G octave was only tuned to D octave.

I always loosen my strings to I-don't-know-what key...
But leave it at 'relative tuning' so that it sounds okay when you strum it...
(And leave a note in the case telling them what I did.)

[Which is what Stephen just said...]
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Steve
Posted 2008-08-15 2:39 PM (#26049 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?


Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900

My Legend also came back from the factory in full tune...
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Beal
Posted 2008-08-15 2:57 PM (#26050 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
Either way works but it is always safer to back them off a turn or two. You don't want them dead slack but just not up to A440.
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Hillwalker
Posted 2008-08-15 3:19 PM (#26051 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?


Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 143

Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England
Thanks to all for the info; backing off 2 or 3 turns looks like the way to go.

That's good because I have a purchase in mind...

HW
Top of the page Bottom of the page
BT717
Posted 2008-08-15 3:24 PM (#26052 - in reply to #26041)
Subject: Re: Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?


Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711

Location: Vernon CT
Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
I always slack the strings and put LOTS of padding around the peghead.
I've done the same
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]
Jump to forum :
Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread

This message board and website is not sponsored or affiliated with Ovation® Guitars in any way.
Registered to: The Ovation Fanclub™ Copyright (c) 2001
free counters
(Delete all cookies set by this site)