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Joined:
July 2025
Posts: 2
| I have a CC68 Celebrity with a passive preamp - just tone and gain. I like the guitar's feel and sound, but don't like it amplified. I also don't see how one removes the thing - just pry it off with a putty knife?!?
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7231
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I've upgraded you to full membership and moved this post here to the General area where others can reply. I'm not aware of any Ovation with a "passive" pre-amp, but someone should be able to assist. |
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Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1082
Location: Yokohama, Japan | That would be a "Celebrity 2 Knobs" pre-amp as identified here. Removal is simple. As you say, a putty knife to pull the volume and tone knobs up. Sometimes they're really tight so you'll probably want to use a towel to protect the finish and a plastic spatula as opposed to a metal one. I don't think there are any micro screws holding the knobs in place (unless they've been replaced with an after market knob). Once the knobs are removed you'll see the bolts holding each pot in place. Loosen those and the preamp should come loose. Good luck! |
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July 2025
Posts: 2
| Thank you for replying! I am trying to post a photo. The link you provided shows two knobs. Mine has two sliders. I am interested in possible replacements that would sound better, by the way.
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Posts: 1850
Location: When?? | It will be interesting to see what type/size of space/hole exists in the body below that plate and sliders. |
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Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1082
Location: Yokohama, Japan | Interesting indeed, Al! Thanks for posting the pic Eidling - very helpful! I’ve only seen CC68s with the two knob preamp. I’ve never seen your preamp on any Ovation. If you look at the link I shared, your preamp looks a lot like the “Applause” preamp. Sometime ago I worked on an 1861 Standard Balladeer with the preamp called the “Thinline.” I suspect they are mounted similarly. In order to remove the preamp you’ll first need to remove the face plate. Once that’s removed you should see four or more screws securing the preamp in place. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that the face plate will be damaged during removal and replacement face plates are simply not available. Of course, if you’re going to change your preamp you’ve got nothing to worry about as far as face plates go. However, swapping preamps means modifying your preamp cutout in the bowl of the guitar and that could be a lot of work! So order of preamp removal will be 1). Remove slider knobs; 2). Peel off face plate; 3). Remove mounting screws; 4). Remove preamp from inside the bowl through the sound hole. That should do it! Good luck!
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February 2016
Posts: 1850
Location: When?? | @arumako - >>> 1). Remove slider knobs; 2). Peel off face plate;<<<
This is one of the best parts of the OFC-- seeing things we have not seen before-- so I will I'll go one better on the removal sequence. Before prying away, step #1 may be best suited in closely checking inside the bowl first to make sure the face plate is not installed with nuts on threaded studs that protrude from the bottom of the plate and that have no attachment visible from the outside. In that event, you'd likely suppose that the thread studs would merely be screws with the screw head visible outside; or possibly, as Ken described, a pop-off facia plate over top of mounting screws for aesthetic. HOWEVER, there may be some type of wiz-bang tech inside that kept them from designing it those ways.
PS: Eidling, if you could, please-thank-you post further photos.
Edited by Love O Fair 2025-07-14 7:04 PM
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Joined:
October 2012
Posts: 1082
Location: Yokohama, Japan | Good call Al! I completely agree. Better to not make assumptions!
@ Eidling - to examine the area around the preamp from inside the sound hole you might need an inspection mirror or mini endoscope camera with a light. Let us know how it goes! |
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CC68 Preamp questions
