Joined: January 2013 Posts: 1
| Hi all. I've enjoyed looking over some of these posts so far. I'm hoping you can help me with somethings.
I recently picked up an 1862 Custom Balladeer. I looked it up online and it looks like it's an '88. I like the look and it sounds pretty good. I admit I don't know much about guitars (yet) and even less about acoustic/electrics.
My big question is that I note that changing the battery is a pain (have to go in through the sound hole and work with a blind screw? For real?) , and the pre-amp doesn't have a tuner or other "modern conveniences". Also, the preamp seems to be a different shape than most Ovation PreAmps (it's a square FET-3, as opposed to the rounded ones). - Ok that wasn't a question... here it comes:
Is there a way to mod the guitar to make the battery accessible externally, and or to upgrade the pre-amp to one of the newer ones without destroying the guitar? Failing this, how often will I have to change the battery in the thing? I realize that it's only when I'm plugged in, but that could be several times a month at church.
I bought the guitar from Guitar Center and so have 30 days to return it if I'm not thrilled. But in my uninformed opinion, it was a pretty good value.
Any help is appreciated! |
Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Is there a way to mod the guitar to make the battery accessible externally, and or to upgrade the pre-amp to one of the newer ones without destroying the guitar?
Yes, but it is a pain. The FET-3 is a good preamp. You can buy a tuner for not much money.
Failing this, how often will I have to change the battery in the thing?
About once a year, maybe. You can change the battery when you change strings.
Even if you rarely change strings, the battery will last longer than the strings.
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