|
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Hi Everyone,
I would like to get some work done on my old Balladeer and really can't afford to return it to the MS. The finish on the neck is disintegrating and the headstock has been repaired. The decal has all but vanished and I want it left that way. Many of the frets are loose and need to be glued. The top has no cracks, but the finish looks uneven; as though something dissolved or softened part of the finish. The action is high, but I don’t care about that. This is more of a showpiece to me than a player (though it does sound wonderful).
I don’t want the guitar refinished as much as I want the guitar restored and preserved and I want to find a luthier that is experienced with Ovation guitars, and respects them, to do to work. I’m in no hurry to get this done and I have several items I could offer in trade for their time, i.e. very early Glen Campbell 1127-4.
If any of the luthiers on this forum are interested, or perhaps if anyone knows of someone who might be, please let me know.
Thanks |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | You won't save much going local (maybe just the shipping). I always go MS and have never been disappointed with pricing or the quality of repair. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7230
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | That's a pretty tall order. I mean the part about finding a "local Luthier" that is "experienced with Ovation" that "respects them". If you take shipping out of the equation, there is no one that can do an equal or better job than the mothership at any price. And, you will find the mothership to be very competitively priced as well.
This question comes up a lot and the way I think about it is purely numbers. The person in Hartford that placed frets, places more frets in a week than any Luthier in a lifetime unless he works in manufacturing guitars. Same for the guy that dresses the frets. I've never seen a shop outside of Hartford that has a proper bench support of an Ovation, one that is designed to support a roundback guitar with nothing touching the neck.
The bottom line is that no matter how good a Luthier is, unless he worked in Hartford for Ovation, it's just not possible to have the experience they have. Add that to likely not having any of the proprietary tools or parts and there really doesn't seem to be any substitute. At least not for me.
JMHO |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | I'm not looking for local, but rather someone interested in working out a trade on the repairs. I actually sent this guitar to Kim in January, but had to ask him to return it as my situation changed. It may be best that I put it back on the shelf and wait for my situation to unchange. Thank you both for your input.
Nick |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Nick,
I don't think that they understand what is "local" to us...in terms of decent Luthiers...is about a 300 mile range.
Mr. O makes a tremendous point... it's just not possible to have the experience they have Good luck with your "situation". If you run out of shelf room, I have several that are bare. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Yeah, hang onto it until you can get it worked on professionally by the mothership. That guitar deserves it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | We have some decent luthiers here, but I'd do a pretty detailed interview with one before I let him touch that guitar and I don't know of any that are willing to work for a trade. Most have more guitars than they want. I'd agree with db. Wait for your ship to come in and then ship it to the mothership. (I know I overdid that.) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Yeah, I knew this was a dumb idea when I posted it, but I try not to let that knowledge get in the way of me posting something I shouldn't. I'll figure out a way to send it to the MS. Thanks everyone for setting me back on the right path. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | When finish is involved the MS is the ONLY place to have it done. Our O's have Poly vs. a Lacquer finish and there is no such thing as a "touch up".
Fretwork can be done by any capable Luthier but the Ovation finish and epoxied neck socket challenges are beyond most experience levels. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Originally posted by MWoody:
When finish is involved the MS is the ONLY place to have it done. Email has been sent to JB. ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2008
Posts: 66
| Try Hydrating it for 6 months.
Really,I'm not kidding.
Your frets might tighten up.
Early O's have a uneven look to the tops,because of their age.Very thin tops.
Get a good hydrater,(Oaisis is the best),and let it sleep in it's case for awhile,with no strings. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Thanks for the input. I agree the Oasis is a good hydrator and have had one in it since January. According to the book the factory struggled with frets lifting in the early days and at one point even epoxied them in. I'm pretty sure this one's from the period between, "we've got a problem" and "let's glue'em in." The uneven finish I'm referring to looks a little like what happens to a nitrocellulose lacquer finish that's come in contact with the surgical rubber tubing on an old guitar stand. It's as though something was pressed up against the top that reacted with the finish. It doesn't show up in the photo, but it's pretty obvious it's something that happened after it left the factory. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | My solution to these problems is to sell something I don't need or want as much. I often suprise myself when re-evaluating what is needed and what is not. |
|
| |
Looking for an experienced Ovation luthier
