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Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 5
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Of all the bracing patterns Ovation has used through the years, which one offer the most protection againt top warpage? I am talking about older round hole Ovations. I have seem some where the area around the sounhole has sunken some. Which Ovation roundhole models hold up the longest as far as the top staying true? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | There's too many variables to attribute top problems to a bracing pattern. If the guitars have been maintained, stored and transported correctly, the bracing should not be an issue. I've seen problems on guitars with all bracing patterns, includng the A, but this is probably down to abuse or neglect rather than an inherent fault. Remember also that bracing has as much or more to do with controlling tone as it does maintaining structural integrity.
My 68 Balladeer has very strange bracing. It's a cross brace, but there are no tone bars, just the basic "X" and nothing else. It had a top crack repaired years before I got it. Despite this minimal bracing and 35 years of string tension the top is fine. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Paul T, would you consider the A bracing pattern as the strongest, or do you thinks all of Ovations bracing patterns are about the same when it comes to strength? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I have no idea, I was making the point that I have seen countless Ovations of every vintage and with every bracing pattern which have shown no signs of top problems & a handful of all patterns which have shown problems. From which I draw the conclusion that there are other factors at work, such as climate or neglect. I've seen plenty X-braced guitars of all makes with sunken & pulled tops, but that does not mean the X-brace isn't a good design. |
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Bracing over the years
