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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I've had a couple of the more malicious guitar gremlins dogging me so far this year. The result of their collective efforts led to a guitar being busted while shipping (I was the seller, but the buyer had to back out after three months of wrangling with UPS.), and another guitar being on the tail end of a music gear game of dominoes at church; and in the process developing a need for a new top!
So yesterday, I made the 2-hour drive to New Hartford, Connecticut and spent a short while with John Budny (and the occasional friendly/snide vocal exchange over the cubicle wall with Kim Keller :p ) detailing the repair of these fine instruments. It will take a few months, but I rest assured (based on past experience) that they will return better than they were before.
So please join me in a moment of silence as I say RIP (rest in pieces) to my Custom Elite 1768 and one of my sentimental favorites (and my wife's and daughter's favorite), my 2001 Collector's Redwood.
Now the wait begins! |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4536
Location: Flahdaw | Now is the Redwood a laminate top?
I only ask cos it seems like all the really cool topped Ovations seem to be lams, like the '99 collectors. |
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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | The redwoods are solid tops and my absolute favorite tonewood, even though they have a reputation for being a little weak structurally because of their figured grain.
The tone from them is like cedar, warm and slightly mellow, but with more sustain and a little more bass. I'm not the only one on this board who has said that the 01C is one of the BEST-sounding acoustic guitars out of New Hartford PERIOD!
I have a deep-body non-cutaway Elite with this tonewood, and you're so busy not believing your eyes that it's almost impossible to believe your ears. I love listening to others when they play it (though not quite as much as playing it myself). The tone is engrossing!
There was never a doubt about re-building mine. The only important question I wanted to go over with John was "Could we make it sound even better?"
I think we just might.... ;) :cool: |
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Joined:
July 2010
Posts: 187
Location: Nahant, MA | That is one beautuful redwood top!
My redwood project is in the queue at New Hartford...sinker redwood with AST mounting on a 1869 CL. John Budny described the project as "odd" and said it's likely to take more than 12 weeks. In this case I hope odd is good. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Carol:
...sinker redwood with AST mounting on a 1869 CL. AST is the Adamas mounting ring? So it's going to be a ssb, but a little deeper? Why not just go with a mid depth bowl?
I always wonder why modern guitar builders don't use an Adamas type mounting ring instead of kerfling (sp?) and let the top vibrate even more.... |
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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Carol's won't be the only one getting "rung up". ;) :cool: |
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Joined:
July 2010
Posts: 187
Location: Nahant, MA | I really like the ssb, but wanted the Adamas mounting ring like on the new Adamas WT. I suppose I could pretend to have some logical explanation for this choice...
Patch, are you having one or both "rung up?" |
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May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Just the 01C Carol. They sound awesome to begin with, and I imagine the suspension ring just adds a little more to the mix.
The 1768 is going to be re-built as another Custom Elite, but it will knock people's socks off when they see it. John and I put some real thought into it. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Carol:
I really like the ssb, but wanted the Adamas mounting ring like on the new Adamas WT. I suppose I could pretend to have some logical explanation for this choice...
Patch, are you having one or both "rung up?" Carol, there doesn't have to be a logical reason. You just have to want it and be willing to pay for it. Those are reasons that are good enough. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 496
Location: California | Carol, I was wondering about your project. It sounds exciting to have the sound ring on a CL. I would like to have one with a deep bowl if they can do the sound ring on the origanal bowl. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Time to buy an old Legend and have a new body built.... w/ the Adamas mounting ring...... |
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July 2010
Posts: 187
Location: Nahant, MA | Given what they're doing with mine, they probably can, Hector. But they'll probably call it "odd." ;-)
You'll have to wait at least 3 months to see pics of the results. It's gonna drive me crazy (a short trip according to my spouse). |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 496
Location: California | Good luck to both of you and look forward seeing pictures, it will be a nice one.
Patch- great pictures, sure you will get the 01C better than before. |
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September 2008
Posts: 1281
Location: Ohio | You guys keep having your guitars modified, the "original" models will becomre rare and worth more! lol |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I have honor of having three originals that were factory modifications. Where does that fit in? |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Even though mine is being modified, I could easily see myself picking up another 01C or two (1 eppi, 1 soundhole) because they just look and sound that good!
And because I'm sick.........sick, sick, sick.
Stupid gas.  |
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Turning lemons into lemonade.....
