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Location: South of most, North of few | Well, the site still says it left Jacksonville on Friday at 8pm. I called the local depot (don't ask how I got their number) and they offered to check with the driver to see if it was on the truck. They actually called me back and said it IS on the truck, it must have missed a scan at the depot, and will be delivered sometime between 5 and 7pm. So, lets see.....a guitar with a crack in the top arrived in Ft. Myers Sat morning somewhere around 2am, been sitting outside in a trailer till Tuesday morning, then loaded on a truck to bounce around all day in 100 degree heat till 5 to 7pm..humm... I wonder how it will look when I finally get it. This will either be a disaster, or a tribute to Ovation's durability. Full report soon. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I'd vote for the second |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Let see... With the time difference it oughta be there right about NOW! |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | yep....maybe TJ passed out from the sight of it and we have to wait until he revives.......... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | They probably didn't need to scan it because they just automatically deliver any guitar box to his house. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Uhhh, UPS came here today to pick up a package: only problem is that I didn't schedule a PU...why am I not surprised...TJ: if they have me as a regular shipper/receiver, how much more do they have you bookmarked...lol |
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Location: South of most, North of few | OK, had soccer practice for my boy, but now I'm home. Gave the box a chance to cool down in the house. Opened it up, and it's all in one piece. (yay) The crack in the top (lower bass bout between the bridge and the binding) is definitely through the top, as I can see it on the inside. It looks like someone tried to do a fill/repair on the top side, maybe with super glue, and really didn't know what they were doing. The eppies are curled up in places, but intact without missing pieces. The good news is it sounds great with no buzz or vibration noise, virtually no fret wear and the neck is in great shape, plays very well, and the electronics work.
Now for the question for the experts:
Should I;
A. Try to cleat it myself and maybe use some cya remover to clean up the top, or will that bother the finish?
B. Send it to the factory and have them just do what they can without replacing the top.
C. Leave it alone and just play it.
What you guys think? |
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Location: East Tennessee | Jim,
I vote for B.
Make sure they don't replace the top.
That's where the MOJO is. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Jim,
I'm with CC. I guess it depends (a la cliff) if you're happy with it as it is. If not, let her visit the MS. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | I just don't want it to fold up if I do nothing. And i need all the MOJO I can get. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Plan B |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
....And i need all the MOJO I can get. Don't we all. :( |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Jim, going with "B" will allow you to sell it easier :D
Plan "C" would be the way to go if you actually planned to keep it and play it for more than 3 months! :p |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Oh no Stephen. I plan on keeping this one forever. ;) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Was it Rhonda Vincent who said "Forever ain't that long anymore" |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
Was it Rhonda Vincent who said "Forever ain't that long anymore" Her and those of us that have adopted TJ's 'keepers'! ;) |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
"Forever ain't that long anymore" the man is a song lyric writing machine! :cool: |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Just talked with John B, and am going to send it in for a possible top refinish. ;) |
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| Nice get, TJ. Think you'll have it back in time for the Smokeys Jam? |
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Location: South of most, North of few | don't think so, but I should have the Adamas, if UPS can ever get it past the hurricane area. Right now it's on "exception" due to natural emergencies. No idea when it will move out of Houston TX. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Have I mentioned how I hate UPS........ |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Go for the crack repair and fill like I did on Debanjo's 1537 proto. Takes about two weeks and you don't have to refin the top. Unless the finish is really bad I'd leave it, 25 years of aging are hard to replace. |
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| Originally posted by stephent28:
Have I mentioned how I hate UPS........ once or twice... |
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Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Gertrude's top has a split from the saddle right down to the purfling--the sides of the split were stepped when it first happened, just to the right of the center. The local luthier did a "temporary" repair that lasted quite awhile, and then I toted her up to Mom a few years back. When she came home, you could hardly see it. The "Repair Wizards" are just that--they'll fix it so good, why, you'll be proud of that beauty mark!
--Karen |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
Just talked with John B, and am going to send it in for a possible top refinish. ;) I've sent two guitars to the factory for top repairs. One was a Custom Legend with a thru-the-top crack that sounds similar to your 1537. The factory did an exemplary job. The other was my 1537 that the bridge popped off from and took some wood off with it. That repair required replacement of the top and another exemplary fix by the factory. I now have the equivalent of a "new" 1537.
My sole reservation about sending your 1537 for a refinished top is that the guitar might not sound the same after the fix. Neither of mine did, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Refinishing the top will require replacement of the bridge and epaulets. The mojo will be effected. Since you only have the guitar a few days, I'd recommend playing it for a few months. A full refinished top is not cheap ($400). I think that it is better to wait and see if your really want to potentially lose/change the existing mojo.
The crack in the top will still be visible after the fix. As good as the factory is they can't make the crack disappear, however they will fully seal and stabiize it.
The acoustic tone of an original 1537 is a unique thing. I had no choice, but you do. Take some time and think about it fully before you spend the money for a fix that could effect the acoustic tone. It won't sound worse, just different. Your choice will come down to maintaining the guitar with the flaw(s) or fixing it and having a perfect looking guitar with altered mojo. |
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Well, the 1537 is here...
