Joined:
July 2022
Posts: 13
| Thank you for having this forum. I probably should have started here.
My brother gave me a 1651 Legend that has the top caved in; fretboard extension falls off. It has A-bracing. The Stereo pickup only worked on one channel.
I bought a Collector's Series Ovation new in the past, but my ex-wife got it in a divorce. Always wanted another Ovation... a Legend, so when David gave me this one, I took it. (My original was based on a Custom Balladeer)
The action is still great!
I play praise and worship in a couple church bands. My goal is to get it capable of using it in this capacity.
I watched a video on how to repair the top. The guy said it was caused of drying out.
I put it in a trash bag with a wet rag inside it for a couple weeks.
Took the electronics out of it, (available, if someone wants parts), and got a Fishman Power-tap sound hole pickup for it.
I installed a bridge doctor on the bridge. (doesn't do enough... don't want to push my luck with too much pressure).
The video showed gently stretching the top/bracing back into place and adding additional bracing over the original bracing to give it more strength. I did that.
Top started to cave in again when strings were re-applied
I had re-attached the aluminum braces inside with epoxy on my first repair with the bridge doctor. This time, I added some wood epoxy at the joint where the aluminum mesh is, but still caves in under standard tuning.
The finish is pretty good, not the standard cracking I normally see on old Ovations. It sounds pretty amazing unplugged, (and I have some really good guitars to compare it to).
Please direct me to insight. |
Joined:
July 2022
Posts: 13
| I should add that I gradually, over a week of applying pressure with a block on the back of the top braces, have gotten the top back into correct position before installing braces over the top of the original braces. After that, I put strings back on it. (And then it caved in again).
Here is what I am thinking.
The joint where the aluminum mesh is the weak spot.
I left on vacation this week, but before going, I put the top under reverse pressure to have it into correct position upon return. (flat --> slightly arched).
make small braces to go over the joint and glue into place. The problem is getting my hand in there to create/fit braces.
If it was not too difficult to remove the back, that would be much better. Anybody ever do it?
Any insight?? experience? |
Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2317
Location: Pueblo West, CO | Because you mentioned the top started caving back in once the strings were installed, this begs the question of whether you inspected the glue joints holding the braces to the top before attempting your repairs.
The A-braces on the Legend-series of guitars is pretty delicate when compared to most X-braces.
I have used the Bridge Doctor on my Yamaha 12-string, but generally speaking, Ovation guitars don't really need something like that if everything with the top is in good working order.
As always, a picture is worth a thousand words.
It's much easier to diagnose a problem when looking at a photo. |
Luthery help? caved in top - Legend A-Brace
