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January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | I have an Adamas w591 I recently bought at a bargain price - but without the Optima preamp. I was also lucky enought to pick up the preamp, battery box, pickup and xlr via eBay and it's on its way. When the prior owner pulled the electronics out, he also installed what we think is a passive IBeam. But here's where I need advice. He also glued wood from underneath to fill the holes left from the preamp, battery box, and xlr. I haven't tinkered with it, because I wanted to be sure I could get the replacement parts. Any advice or techniques anyone might have for removing this wood. The pieces are not flush with the cutouts, just behind them. I'm sure a luthier would be able to do this, but thought I might do it myself and of course don't want to damage the guitar. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I would just try to get in there with a small scraper or screwdriver and see if they can't be pried off. If not, you could always just re drill the holes from the outside. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | Thanks. I was thinking along those lines. I'm kind of afraid of using any heat to soften the glue. They might come off eaisier than I think with a little careful prying. I can always recut if necessary. Any thought on using a heat lamp? Do you think it might soften the glue a bit. Would the body of the guitar be prone to any damage? |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'd worry about softening the glue that holds the top to the body or the braces to the top. There's no telling whether the glue used to plug the holes is as strong as the glue used for the essential parts. Try prying. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Try prying. I agree. Chances are that whoever did this did not take the time to prep the inside for a permanent solution (re. quick fix and/or laziness). Epoxy, wood glue and in many cases Gorilla adhesives will 'pop' away with careful and multiple 'attack points'. The interior of the body is quite rugged and hopefully 'forgiving' in this case.
Heat would be the last avenue I would travel! :eek: |
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January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | This is like having my best buds sitting in my man cave with me. Thanks. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by prairiedog:
This is like having my best buds sitting in my man cave with me. Thanks. "buds" or Buds? :D
Please keep us posted as to your efforts! |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Since you'll most likely be working with the guitar on it's face, I suggest you protect the braces with a towel or something similar. Sometimes when things "pop off" they also "fly around". |
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January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | As I start work on this project, I'll keep posting. In fact, I'll take pics, etc. Some may find it interesting. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | I got the package on Friday. All the parts are indeed new, and everything is there. This package came with 2 pickups. one is a thin saddle with the pickup/wiring attached on the bottom. The saddle slot is to wide for this one. The other one that came with is is the big one that you see on many better Ovations. I think it is referred to as the patented model. The saddle slot is too small for this one. I think this guitar may have had a CP-100 under saddle in it originally. Make sense? Is that a different pickup from the others I described here? I think my w591 is a pre-2000 and I've seen photos of some older w597s with what looks like the same bridge/saddle slot/saddle configuration. Mine's go to be the same. Any a help appreciated. Sure would be easier if I had the right pickup. I be willing to trade these new ones to somebody who might have one. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The early versions of these guitars had the Ovation Thinline pickup which had a non-compensated saddle (later versions have compensation for the B-string) There was also a fairly short-lived pickup called the Tru-Balance, which was wider than the thinline but narrower than the OPP. Sounds like your guitar may have had a Tru-Balance originally (post a pic of the bridge) You may be able to buy a Tru-Balance from customer service but personally I'd have a luthier rout the slot to take the OPP. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Maybe install everything but the pick up and sent it New Hartford for the rest. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | John is sending me a tru-balance that should drop right into the saddle slot. I'm looking forward to receiving it and moving forward on the restoration of the original electronics in this w591. Thanks all. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | Wow, that was easier than I thought. I took the strings off I reached inside and felt that the glue the guy used to glue the wood to fill the preamp cutout, battery compartment and xlr opening was relatively soft and silicone based. A couple of easy blows to the wood from the outside pushed the pieces in enough to pry the wood out of all the openings. Any glue residue peeled off clean as a whistle. I installed all my new components and am just waiting to receive the tru-balance pickup from John. I'll just plug it into the preamp and be done! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Wait a minute! That's just not right! That's too easy. FOULLLLL... :eek:
Kidding... I'm glad to hear it's going well so far! :D |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | The Tru-Balance pickup from John was in the mail today. I dropped it in after dinner. Wow. That Optima is a great preamp! This w591 sounds incredible plugged in. Thanks to everyone who helped me get through this project. With your help I was able to do do tit myself, probably saved a couple hundred dollars, and learned a heck of a lot. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by prairiedog:
do do tit myself Have ya had as many brews as I have?
'Fat fingers' get me into trouble too. Both on the OFC and the guitar! ;)
Really happy fer your satisfaction. |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Let's have a pic or 2. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | I'll try to put some pics up in the next 2-3 days. I'm kinda new to this and I've not posted photos before, but I think there's a tutorial somewhere, isn't there? |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | I figured the "gallery" out, but the shots I had taken were too high resolution and too big to load. I'll take some other pics tonight and upload them, then post. |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | Here are a few pics.
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/photos/GregTaylor_35820_Imported%20Ph...
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/photos/GregTaylor_35888_Imported%20Ph...
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/photos/GregTaylor_35683_Adamas%20for%... |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | I know the above links work, but how do I get the pics to show up on a post without the link?
Aside from that, in the photo that shows the rosette - I've seen seen a few pictures of w591's on the net (they're hard to come by) but have yet to see one with this rosette. The one's I've see are really plain looking. I think this one is very nice. Also, I noticed that on the other gits I've seen, the end of the fretboard is not contoured to the sound hole - not straight across - but if mine is concave the others are convex. Anyone know why mine is different? I think mine was built in 1999. |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by prairiedog:
I know the above links work, but how do I get the pics to show up on a post without the link? use the "Full Reply Form" button, then copy the link to the photo, press the "IMAGE" button and paste the link into the text field & press OK.
Nice work, BTW! |
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Joined:
January 2008
Posts: 108
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming | here's a few more photos -before and after
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Installing Optima Preamp with a complication
