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Joined:
October 2009
Posts: 7
| Hi -
I am a relatively new member, and the original owner of a 1974 1115 Pacemaker (12-string). Having recently discovered OVC, it's a great source of info. about Ovations.
I have read several times about Ovations being sent back to the "Mothership" for service - does that mean the factory in New Hartford, CT where mine was built?
After all of these years, I would like to have my Pacemaker serviced and reset - I do not want to do this myself, and I cannot find a luthier in the greater Washington, D.C. area that seems to have experience with my specific guitar. I have friends in New Haven, so taking the guitar to CT would not be a real issue.
Also, have any 12-string owners reversed the octave strings 3-12 - to match the stringing pattern on Rickenbakers and some custom acoustics that I have seen?
Thanks in advance for any replies and info.
AbbeyRoadMan |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | The "Mothership" is the Ovation factory in New Hartford. Check the Ovation website for contact information and ask for John Budny or Kim Keller. They'll probably need to see your guitar to give you an estimate and get the go ahead from you. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Welcome ARM. (apparently I missed your arrival)
Yes the MotherShip is the New Hartford Factory.
And Yes, they can fix anything.
As to the Rickenbacker stringing... Someone else will have to answer that one.
But I think that you would need to get a new nut.
Wait for smarter people for that one. |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | On the re-stringing question, I've thought about it
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/cgi-bin/ubb/non-cgi/ultimatebb.php?ub...
But it does need a new nut. You can buy ready-made 12-string nuts, might be worth trying that first before getting one made/cut/DIY'd. Not sure if you can get ready-made ones cut that way though.
My 12 is a bit younger than yours but has only been mine for 1.5 years |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 498
| Hello AbbeyRoadMan and Welcome!
prior to FMIC buying Kaman, a neck re-set and re-furbish on your 1115 was about $250 plus shipping up to the factory after you get a RMA number from John or Kim in Customer service at Ovation. and when it comes back... you won't recognize your guitar, because they will pretty much return it to as-new condition. They do spectacular work, and I have had MANY guitars refurbed and rebuilt over the years.
others have had re-sets done since the Fender Acquisition and can probably give you a better and more recent ball-park estimate.
There is no better place to send it for repairs than to New Hartford.
Re: Rickenbacker Stringing... you will need a new nut cut for that style stringing... I have one of the Daisy Rock(no jokes please it really is a nice little Electric 12 string for the money) and have 2 nuts for it... one for standard stringing, and the other for Rickenbacker. after you have the new nut made you can swap them out with a string change.
Regards,
Glenn |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Hello AbbeyRoadMan,
Unless things have changed, the above is essentially correct but I believe you need to start the process with an Authorized Ovation Dealer which is probably what the factory will tell you. You may end up shipping it directly to the factory, but a dealer would set that up, and just coincidentally... as you may already know from hanging around here, Alpep (one of the founders here) is a rep and can take care of you.
You can contact him directly through lostartvintage.com and he'll hook'ya up with what you need and where to send it, how to send it, current pricing etc. etc.. |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | My first visit to the factory was to bring a friend's old Baladeer to have it checked out. I knew nothing of any protocol for "approaching the bench"; I simply showed up and was welcomed in for a friendly chat and a guitar inspection. That was, however, pre-9/11, and danger of Jiihad may have made access more difficult : )
I have also emailed Kim pics and questions regarding prospective work on guitars and that was sufficient to get the ball rolling on a repair/spa treatment.
I would hate to have the average Ovation dealer get involved in the middle of service work as they know far less(if anything) about my guitar then either me or the service guys at the factory. Try contacting John or Kim yourself. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | +1 - I contacted them directly when I sent the '05 in. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I should add that "easy access" is not likely extended to the general public. Members of this board have historically received unusual consideration : ) |
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Joined:
October 2009
Posts: 7
| Thank you to all who replied, I appreciate both the advice and information. It seems most sensible to contact Ovation about their reconditioning services, and the process. My Pacemaker is in very good condition, but it's exciting to hear that factory-based luthiers can offer a reset and "spa" treatment for older guitars.
If I decide to use the services of the "Mothership", perhaps I'll find a good, used Pacemaker to experiment with the reverse-octave stringing (Rickenbacker) pattern.
Regards, |
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1115 Pacemaker set-up & modification
