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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 30
| Hi, I'm a new member. I read over all the recent posts and it seems I'm the only unlucky one here. I've been having some problems with my Ovation, and I'm wondering why.
It is a 2000 american standard baladeer(S861) and I have owned it for 11 months. I have strong feelings that my saddle and nut are crapping out on me. I've also noticed some moderate first, second, and third fret, fret indentation on B and E. Along with this, the neck manages to get extremely dirty, and this dirt then goes on to my coated strings(elixer custom lights and D'Addario stockers). The intonation on the guitar is also suffering, but I have a feeling this may be due to the saddle and nut. My plans are to refret the entire damn guitar and coat the fretboard with a laquer, as well as replacing the stock saddle and nut with a custom fit bone saddle and a bone nut.
Mind you ever since I have purchased the guitar I have played the shit out of it(3 hours a day average, sometimes up to 6 hours), but are the problems normal? I fear I may have to start dusting off my Strat and Epiphone jumbo acoustic. Please share your thoughts on my situation. Thank you. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Magicman
Welcome to the board.
These are just some thoughts as I have owned some of my instruments over 20 years, and the saddle and nuts are still original. A little wear on the frets is not unusual and shouldn't be a problem for a few years until it gets down to the fret board level. Intonation problems on an acoustic often are string problems, you might try a little heavier gauge as your hands are probably conditioned like a long distance runner from playing that many hours a day and a gauge increase will give you a whole new sound. Also, when you have played a new guitar for a while it is a good idea to get all the settings checked and adjusted, as guitars often gradually warp a little as they adjust in the first year or so. After that a good guitar will settle in to a condition that you will enjoy for years. Ovations are well made guitars and you shouldn't have to replace components for many years. Whether you're playing acoustic or electric also might be relevant. Try all the simple things before you get in to major modifications, there are great people on this site that can and will help you with good technical advice as you work out these problems.
Bailey |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Magicman;
I kinda agree w/Bailey. My custom Balladeer is almost 27 years old and has everything original and still plays fine. Perhaps it needs to go in for a little tweaking/adjustment.
Do you by chance play with a capo from time to time?
I play a lot with a capo and I usally notice a good amount of fret wear (especially on the B & E)on the first five frets (but predominantly the first three) which is pretty much wear I capo. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Coating the fingerboard with laquer is a bad plan. Since you play that much it may be a chemistry problem, try wiping off the strings after each session and really rubbing the f/b clean when you change strings. A bone nut and saddle are always a good upgrade but not necessary for it to work right. Like has been suggested, an adjustment might be in order. Fret wear happens with alot of use, just one of those things. Sorry there's no magic cure all answer here. You could always talk to Budney at the factory for further info. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | Get rid of the elixir strings that is probably your first problem. Try a regular set of bronze there is something about the coated strings that leaves a residue and causes the pickup to be uneven etc.
If you bought the guitar new call the service department and send it in. I know that currently their turn around time for repairs are awesome. |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 61
| string clearance at the 12th should be 3to4\32
at the high e and 4-5\32 at the low e. these are the factory settings. If they are different,adjust the saddle. the neck warp should also be checked.if the neck moved it needs to be just shy of straight,With the low e fretted at the 1st and 14th(where the neck and body meet)
there should be a few thousands of an inch clearance. Hope this helps |
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Problems with my baby
