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Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | It's taken them two and a half years of a little-work-here and a little-work-there, but luthier Steve Kinnaird and some friends have salvaged what was left of an Ovation and built something really unique and beautiful. For once, an Ovation actually did get the respect it deserved! Here's a link. (I know it's an AGF thread, but there are still some Ovation lovers over there.) Free up some time, as it a very long thread (10 pages). But you have to appreciate the effort and care that went into the build. I won't spoil the ending, but I can at least show you what they had to start with. If you happen to be an AGF'er, be sure to say something nice. Steve is a great guy. (Sure wish I could afford his work.  ) Enjoy.... 
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Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I wonder if you can make a living as a custom inlay artist? |
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June 2012
Posts: 2317
Location: Pueblo West, CO | I just posted a question to the thread asking how much better it sounds now after the re-top than it did with the original top and brace pattern.
Edited by DanSavage 2014-07-18 2:37 PM
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Posts: 152
Location: Corpus Christi, TX | Took a while to get through the whole thread but it was well worth it. The finished product is a monument to the maticulous workmanship that was put into it. It is simply stunning |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't want to read through the whole thing again, but I doubt that anyone can answer Dan's question. I think the guy started with a damaged guitar and had never heard an Ovation nylon string before. Without a baseline, there's no way to compare the sound. I'll offer up my 1713 to use for a comparison if he wants to send the RenOvation to me. I hope he at least satisfies himself that it sounds good, even with his bias against non-wood backs and sides.
In my biased judgment the 1713 sounds better than a $15,000 Spanish classical guitar that I played in Barcelona, but I don't consider that to be a valid comparison. |
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March 2010
Posts: 486
Location: Suisun City, Ca | Maybe I shouldn't post this, but I can't resist.
The craftsmanship is astounding on that rosette, but I find the asymmetry disconcerting.
His obvious talent is (at least) offset by the obsequious attitude he has has for Mr. Kaman's visions.
I think I'd rather have my cracked-top 1624 that sounds wonderful in its' originality.
Rant off/ |
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June 2012
Posts: 2317
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Steve Kinnaird had this to say:
Hey Dan, vast improvement in how the guitar sounds? Really hard to say.
Meaning: when we got it, it was still playable, but the old top had several bad cracks in it. And the strings were DOA. Hard to get a really honest assessment of how this old guitar once sounded.
Then, when finished with the renovation, I was honestly underwhelmed.
Ah, but about three days later we began to notice more sweetness and clarity in the trebles. I was hoping for that, knowing we had material and size (it does matter) working against us. The size of this guitar is appropriate for a steel string, not so much for a classical. Classicals typically have lovely basses, while struggling to keep the trebles on par. This large bowl was promising to swallow up the trebles, while enforcing unnecessarily the bass. Well...you know all this. Just venting some of my worries. But as I said, it is beginning to display some crispness in the trebles, and more sweetness overall. So I am optimistic that this guitar will be a usable, and pleasing, musical tool.
As well as fun to look at.
IMO, what he and others often miss in assessing (dissing?) fiberglass bowls is that Ovation was no piker when it came to making good sounding guitars. Many are unaware that there was a lot of experimentation in top bracing and unbiased measurements using electronic equipment which resulted in guitars with balanced voicing.
There's a reason why Ovation guitars are popular in studio recordings and it's not because of the fiberglass bowl.
Edited by DanSavage 2014-07-19 4:49 PM
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Posts: 1034
Location: Yokohama, Japan | Read the AGF thread and thoroughly enjoyed it! Amazing restoration. Loved Steve Kinnaird's parting comment. After reading DanSavage's "1619-4 Rebuild" he said,
Patch, the restoration of old Ovations is in good hands.
Not sure Dan would want to make a career of this, but he could.
It's neat to see "diehard" woodbox fans warming up to Ovations. Nice job Patch and DanSavage! I think when I retire, I want to restore guitars. You guys are so inspiring! |
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December 2005
Posts: 247
Location: Seacoast NH | Wow, that's a beauty. What a labor of love! |
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May 2006
Posts: 4226
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | The new owner just took delivery and posted his impression. Please note that he clearly states he liked the sound of it in its original configuration, but now he likes it more. That's exactly how I feel about my custom 1713. I still think this was a very cool project!  Quote: "Just this evening I took possession and got an hour of playing it... And it sounds fantastic now (whether it has 'opened-up', I obviously cannot judge), but it has a huge presence, incredible clarity and a richness it did not have before. I liked the sound before and played it an awful lot, so I can easily tell the Vast Improvement!" |
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Reclaimed Ovation. This is one of the nicest restoration projects I've ever seen!
