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| After the long search, and seemingly long wait for UPS, my 1758 arrived today. The good news is it arrived without damage. The bad news is that is IS used. Some dings were covered with brown finger nail polish. There are some pretty noticeable grooves in the first few frets. The top is not exactly flat. I would call it a W shape. It dips down from the edges, then goes back up in the center, by the bridge. Maybe it will flatten out, when it gets used to my climate, rather than Florida. I have a humidifier hanging in it , right now. I know Tampa Bay is more humid than the desert I live in, but I don't know what the climate was along the way.
I'm going to take it by my local repair guy to get his opinion, but I would like yours as well. Given that 1736 is still at the Florida GC with a case for $499 ( a hundred buck more than this 1758 ), I am wondering if I should trade the Elite in and order the Legend Elite.
I'll post pictures when I get back home. I kept driving by my house during the day to check for the box.
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Location: SoCal | I would give them back the 1758 and not waste any more time on it. |
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Location: Flahdaw | It's about 92 degrees here in Tampa with similar humidity. A slight change from Southern Cal.
I wouldn't keep it either. A nice 12er is bound to pop up within driving distance to you in the next 6 months.
Have you considered a "Wanted" ad on your area Craigslist? |
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| Guitar Center has a 30 day, money back, guarantee. I can bring it to my local GC and return it and order the other. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | JohnW63 - 2012-10-01 5:51 PM
Guitar Center has a 30 day, money back, guarantee. I can bring it to my local GC and return it and order the other. That sounds like a good plan considering the condition you described. |
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Location: Right now? | oops. Double post .. Dunno why ..
Edited by WillaMuse 2012-10-01 8:19 PM
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Location: Right now? | Good luck, John ...geez, and after you patiently waited ...
I am sure you will keep us posted.
Willa
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Posts: 227
| I tuned it up, since they sent it with loose string, and with tension on the top, it looks better. It's not flat, and because of the gloss black finish, you can see every ripple, but not enough for me to say, " uh oh. ". I can feel the rise behind the bridge but the "W" appearance is not so distinct.
I took it to my repair guy, before I tuned it up, as he's always good for an opinion. He wasn't too worried about the waviness in the top, because he said it's not uncommon for a 12 string with all the pressure on them. Solid wood tops show this more than laminated. His concern was that it had a nice low action, but the bridge might move down a bit as it gets used to my drier climate, from Florida and the action would be too low. Give it a few days and see hat happens and keep an Oasis humidifier in it.
The frets on the other hand need replacing on the top frets. That'll be $100.
His advice was to tune it up and play it for a few days to see if I like the sound. If I like it a lot, then the cost of new frets would be worth it. Low "blue book" has this guitar at $625 and I would still be ahead. If it wasn't working for me, send it back. So... $399+ fret work would be the same price as the 1736 with case.
I tuned it up with the old strings and played it. It sounds pretty good with grungy strings, really. I haven't noticed any buzzing, due to the grooves in the frets, as of yet. The neck is pretty flat, but since I am not getting any string buzz, I don't think I need more relief dialed in. We'll see when it gets used to my low humidity.
I'm going to take all the strings off and give it a good clean and put the new strings on it. It took longer than expected to get the thing tuned up. I'm not sure about the small chip that my tech said they tried to cover with a Sharpie. A deft hand and black nail polish would have been better. I'll take some pictures and post them.
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Posts: 227
| Stripped off the strings, gave a quick clean and buff with some diluted Murphy's Oils Soap, " Orange Oil " and buffed it out with an old sock. Dang, it took a long time to restring the thing ! ( Yes Patch, all the ball ends are lined up. ) My kid went to bed before I was done, so I couldn't really play it out loud. So...I went in the bathroom. I need to learn some 12 string stuff.
I'll get some pictures tomorrow. |
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Posts: 227
| Down and dirty question: Do those of you with 12 strings have any waves in the top, or are they supposed to be dead flat. My guitar repair guys said a slight bow out, adds tension to the top and aids projection and tone. Slight being the operative word. |
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Location: Tennessee | My Ovation 12 has a little bulge in the top. Even more interesting, you can clearly feel the braces below the bridge when wiping with a cloth. |
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| I think that is what I have, but because it's gloss black, I can SEE the dips and ridges in front and below the bridge. My tech told me to open the back door and inspect the back side of the top for anything, when I was there. It looked like a smooth piece of wood to me. No issues I could see. I think the fates are working to make me keep it, as it plays nice, the grooves in the top handful of frets don't seem to have any effect, and the 1736 ( Plan B ) has found a home and is no longer at Guitar Center.
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | A few years back, I had a gloss black Ovation USA mando that had the ripple effect going on. And you are correct, that finish really made it stand out. I posted pictures here asking similar questions, and Mauvais Beal said not to worry about it. When Bill Kaman says it's not an issue, it probably ain't.
As far as the worn frets go, my Custom Balladeer 12'er has the same issue. By technical rights, I should re-fret the thing, but the guitar is the easiest-playing 12-string I've ever laid hands on. The frets look bad, but until I hear a buzz, I have no plans to change them out. |
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| I've got double line grooves in my fingers, now. It hasn't tried to pick a fight with the other guitars on the wall. I guess I'll have to keep it !
Thanks for answering all my questions, not going off, when I hadn't pulled the trigger on anything for a while, and confirming that what I saw in this guitar was nothing to worry about. I ended up keeping under my budget and getting all the things I hoped for in my wish list. Big high five to Patch for giving me the heads up on this guitar. I may have missed it, with the way I was watching the GC used list. It looks darn fine hanging on my wall.
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | JohnW63 - 2012-10-02 10:39 PM
I ended up keeping under my budget and getting all the things I hoped for in my wish list.
And that my friend, is the very definition of "WIN" in any retail purchase. I'm glad you're pleased and hope you get years of enjoyment from it. |
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Location: Pueblo West, CO | JohnW63 - 2012-10-02 8:39 PM
I've got double line grooves in my fingers, now. It hasn't tried to pick a fight with the other guitars on the wall. I guess I'll have to keep it !
Yeah, I know what you mean. I learned to play guitar on a 12-string Yamaha. I also learned how to finger-pick on it. It was all I played for years.
I've still got it, but these days I've got a hankering for a 12-string O, which will probably be my next purchase to round out my O collection.
Enjoy!
Dan |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | If the bracing ripples and slight bridge bulge start to drive you crazy, sell it and go for an older Adamas 12... they are the standard for 12-ers. |
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Location: Connersville, Indiana | I sure love my 12er, but it takes a while to get use to the strings until the calus on the fingers gets larger. I hope you have years of enjoyment with yours. 
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New Guitar Day
