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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Okay... I've got a 1115-4 that I think needs a neck reset. I tried the truss rod, but the string height is beyond that. I haven't taken all the strings off yet, but the saddle looks like it has no shims under it. In fact, the saddle may have been shaved, cuz it looks pretty low in the bridge.
This thing is pretty beat up, but it is over 30 years old. And looks about like I did when I was thirty. Pretty beat-up. (see gallery)
Would it be more economical to take it to a shop? (Maybe 12th Fret, for you Portland-ites) Can a shop that doesn't specialize in O's fix one? Or do I need to send it to CT
[Or do I need to put another guitar on the Luthier eBay Page]
Once again... Education Please :confused: |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Send it to Ovation and it probably won't be cheap. I think you have to consider what the guitar is worth to you because market wise, even in pristine shape, it's probably only worth 400.00 or so. I would take it to a local shop and see what they think. Even to get the factory to estimate it, you will spend about 70.00 in shipping (two ways) and thats before any parts and labor. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Kinda figured that! Being as I have never taken a guitar to a shop. (Period!) I have no Idea what a neck reset costs. Other comments welcome---
I will take all the strings off tonight, since I just got strings, and see what I've got. Maybe lighter strings would help, cuz I don't know what is on there now... I got some Adamas 1212's, I don't know if those are any lighter.
[Right when I typed that, I dug-out my other twelve, and the strings on the 1115 do look heavier]
Anyway, I'll take it apart this evening to survey the damage, and assess my options.
I'm really looking forward to changing all them strings :rolleyes: |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I think you're probably right on that fence - is the repair going to cost you more than the guitar is worth? Tough call.
Dave |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Well gee... 12th Fret Portland's website sez that:
"Reset Neck--$300-$400+Refret+Finish Touch Up" :eek: ...
So Yes, that is more than I paid for the geetar!
I'm gonna pull the strings off now, and see what I've got...
We'll see if different strings help, Plus, whoever put the strings on last time had never strung a slothead!
I haven't either, but I bet I can do a better job! |
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Posts: 243
Location: Pewaukee, WI | I went to the other extreme; I sent my '69
1115-4 in for a new 6 string neck. It will never be worth what I'll have in it, but it will be special guitar to me. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Randy22:
I went to the other extreme; I sent my '69
1115-4 in for a new 6 string neck. It will never be worth what I'll have in it, but it will be special guitar to me. Randy, did you change it into a 6 string? Wouldn't the extra bracing from the 12 body kill the sound for a 6? |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I just wanna know... Couldn't you have just strung it with six?
Sorry! Just being smart...
[hey, I oughta do that! Cure that string height problem!?!] |
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Location: South of most, North of few | He might have wanted a narrower neck.... |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Hey Arthur, try stringing it with extra lights, (10-47). Thats what I used on my 1115, and it sounded fine, plus, you don't have as much tension as you would with mediums, lowering the action. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Sounds Good TJ. I've got Adamas 1212's
.009 to .046 (and .024 on the octave)
Got 'em for the Stellar 12, cuz they are $8 all day everyday on eBaaa.
I'm just spoilt... I ain't never gonna play barre chords way up there on the neck.
But I want perfection outta my $300 guitar!
I did discover that one of the finish cracks finished itself all the way through! Right where the two pieces of wood meet in the middle.
Elmer's Wood Glue time, after I string it up,
Also a coupla cracks in the Rosette, and this thing needs a bath... Bad.
[I guess that is why people list "Non-smoking House" on their eSales]
Oh well, everybody needs a Hobby. |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Moo-ah-ha-ha! The BFLG could do a "bowl-bend" on your critter, and it would play like a Strat-on-steroids! |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yeah Right! :o |
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Location: Minden, Nebraska | I've sent numerous guitars to the factory to have the neck reset. Figure on a bit over $200 total, shipping included, to have it done. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Arthur, I had an 1118 GC12 that was in similar straits, saddle down as far as it could go, action borderline high, truss rod adjusted to the max, and using .010"-.047" strings. I couldn't see an ultimate remedy beyond a neck reset. I had a local luthier look at it and he agreed with me.
If $200 is the Mothership tab for a neck reset, that sounds good to me......if it is worth it to you.
Roger |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | Have you had the guitar for a long time? are you emotionally attached? If so and it were me, I'd send it to Ovation and have them do what they think is needed. You can't get them to make a 1115 for you any more, but they'll make your's good as new. I'll bet their approach would be to replace everything but the neck. It would be expensive, but to me it would be a sneaky way of getting a new Pacemaker. Then in a year or so you can break the neck and send it in to have IT replaced!
If it were an easily replacable guitar that would be another story. |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | The heat gun is plugged in, and the ropes are ready.........Do you have "The True Faith"?! |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by bauerhillboy:
Have you had the guitar for a long time? are you emotionally attached?.....If it were an easily replacable guitar that would be another story. Gee, I've had it a week! But it cost most of a week's paycheck!
(which for me ain't much, but that's another story)
It is not like this think is in primo condition. I got it cuz it was a old 1115 Slothead. I figure that I could live with the finish cracks. Now I discovered that one crack goes allaway through, and I can live with that too!
But the string height problem takes the fun outta playing this thing.
I've adjusted this thing about as far as my talent will take me.
I mean, I can still play open chords at the top, which is about all I'm gonna do on a 12 string anyway... But! I've got the Stellar Pluto 002, and it has perfect action allaway down the neck.
So my major problem is "Frustrated Disappointment" I guess. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Hey! I missed my 1234th post!
Continuing... The neck is held on with a screw (slotted bolt?). I assume that it is glued also? If not, can I just loosen the bolt alittle and slide a shim in there?
[I got a hair-dryer if it is glued]
Also, I guess that if I sent this to the MotherShip, they would wanna replace the top and the rosette cuz of cracks. If this would only cost $270-300 it might be worth it... Tell 'em to leave the top alone.
Who would I email about this?
[y'all need an icon for thinking way, way too hard :confused: ]
I'm creeping toward the sell-it and git-another option.
:( Another problem waiting to happen? NOT HAPPENIN\'! |
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Location: Pewaukee, WI | Yes, I wanted the narrower neck. I already have an 1114 (from Trader Jim) and the neck is a little too wide for my short, fat fingers. And I have a good O' 12, so I thought a nice 40 year old aged top with a new custom neck would be something special. Not everyone's cup of tea; I'll let you know how I like it in 4 to 6 weeks.
Contact John Budny at Ovation about your options. You could definately do the neck reset without doing any other fixes. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Hey Randy, how you like'n the 1114. I found a 1614 after that and stupidly sold it too. This gas thing is getting to me!
Arthur, sounds like seesquare really wants to get his hands on that guitar of yours. I think I'd keep it away from him for now....at least till he puts the ropes and chains away.... :D |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Anybody got John Budny's email address? |
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Location: South of most, North of few | john.budny@kaman.com
It is ingrained in my memory.... :D |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Thanx. Now he's gonna hate me too. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Actually, John is a real decent, fair & generous guy. The "official" response is like to be replacement of the top & bowl, to the tune of $450.00.
Its what I did with "SixOhSix"- the 1115-1 I sent to The Mothership. Just ask Jeff W how good the reconstruction was- he's the current owner.
And, don't fret over the "ropes & chains"- I use plenty of anesthesia, i.e., single malt, during the procedure. |
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Should I send this to Mother(ship)? Will they fix it?
