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November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | I was at a local music store today talking to a couple of guys about Ovation guitars. One fellow had a Legend he got in 1976. He was some proud of that guitar, and he told me that it had no finish cracks on the top. Then he kinda got on my nerves when he said "all" older Ovation guitars develop finish cracks, and his was a very rare case indeed. That got me thinking. Do any on you here in the group have an older Ovation that the top has developed no cracks at all? Is is possible to have an old Ovation that will never get finish cracks? I am talking Ovations from the late 60s through the 70s. I want to get in touch with this guy after I hear about old guitars from the fan club. |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Hi Paul, there are very few guitars of any make, either acoustic or electric, that don't develop some crazing/checking/finish cracks of some sort by the time they are 30 or 40 years old. There are some exceptions to the rule of course, but not many.
Wayne |
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June 2003
Posts: 12
Location: central Indiana | I have seen quite a few with no cracks. Due to the thick finish, temperature changes cause expansion and contraction resulting in cracking.The oldest guitar I have is a 1988 Elite. I am very careful not to expose it to extreme temperature changes. It is on the road 100-125 days a year and so far, no cracks. Scott |
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February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | I agree with Scott (jslamperd) - exposing any guitar to sudden or extreme temperature changes will cause cracks. All my guitars (except my 1613 classic)have NO top cracks (at least for now-knock on wood - lol) My oldest ('78 Custom Balladeer)has one little BB ding in the lower bout caused by me years ago when I played it constantly at parties and get-togethers!(owned it for 23+ yrs)
My 1613 Classic has a ding/sm.crack(1") where your arm rests while playing and was that way when I "rescued" it from a pawn shop! I've owned it for 15 yrs now and the spot hasn't changed!!
. . . . . .
Might be also that I'm extremely anal about caring for & protecting my babies :D
. . . . . .
Mike :cool: |
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September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | Paul
I have a 79 legend that has no finish cracks, checking whatsoever. Who ever owned it before me took good care of it.
Rather than "nail" this guy, why not try to get him to join the O fan club so he can get all the good info and join in the fun?
Noel |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | My Balladeer is 32 years old. Not a crack.
Brad |
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June 2002
Posts: 6192
Location: Phoenix AZ | I have some with lacquer cracks, some without. Doesn't seem to be any logic to it. I have read the following facts / rumors mentioned by experts on this board:
1. ovations with 5 point bridges crack more
2. ovations with pinned bridges crack more
3. x braced ovations crack more
My own "facts" are:
1. you can reduce the liklihood of cracking by keepingthe instrument in a temp and humidity stable environment
2. if you were Jose Feliciano you wouldn't care about lacquer cracks because they do not effect the sound
3. you can pay a lot of money to have them removed and the top refinished
Dave |
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November 2003
Posts: 53
Location: Canada | Is it recommended to keep new O's in a temperature controlled environment? My rule of thumb is that I never sell any of my guitars and I always baby the ones that I have. I would really appreciate any tips or tricks that are used for the preservation of an acoustic guitar. |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | SteveL778:
Check out the MANY previous postings under the heading "Humidification" et al.... lots of very good advice. :D
tim |
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June 2002
Posts: 6192
Location: Phoenix AZ | Yes, it is recommended to keep any wooden instrument in a reasonably comtrolled environment. Large swings in temp and humidity can cause braces to loosen, joints to come apart, seams to split, etc. In some areas of the country it's less of a problem. For example the indoor temp is always 70 +/- 5 degrees and the humdity is always around 50% +/- 10. But in other areas, it can be a real problem. Do a search on this site and you will find this has been discuss a lot before. In may case, I live in Arizona. While my house is temp conditioned to always be around 72 degrees, the air is very, very dry. Humidity is often around 10-15%. This will kill a guitar. So I've converted a walk in closet to a guitar storage room. I epoxy painted the walls and put a humidifier in there. I keep it at a constant 45% humidity. A neighbor of mine has a beautiful baby grand piano and he has a humidifier located right underneith it runnng full time. The "wood room" at Guitar Center is also heavily humidified. You can get some pretty nice and inexpensive digital hygrometers (Radio Shack) that can monitor your room. Dave |
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January 2003
Posts: 49
Location: SunShine State | Well I had a mint not a mark Custom Balladeer I bought 71 gave to my son. He took it to collage last year in New Hamshire. Saw it a few weeks ago in N.H. it had 8-10 finish cracks running with the grain from one end to the other. I ask what, when, how, and he said he left it in the trunk of his cars for a couple of weeks last ski season. The wood looks fine it seems just the thick finish has cracked. I think it was the first time it was out of the house let alone Florida.
KIDS!!!!!!!!! |
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March 2003
Posts: 28
Location: New Jersey | I have a 71 Martin D28,a 79 Guild G312 12 string and 83 Ovation Legend.None of them have any cracks of any kind.I guess I'm just lucky,but for the past few years I've been putting an inexpensive humidifier in the case in the winter months when the heat is on and the air is drier.(I live in the northeat) |
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November 2003
Posts: 53
Location: Canada | I live in the most eastern point of North America and it is very cold this time of year. My electrics need no special attention but this is my first acoustic and I would like to preserve it. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6192
Location: Phoenix AZ | If it's cold, it's probably very low humidity as well. I would put a humidifier inside the case. I know a guy who puts an apple in his case. It really works and also keeps the guitar smelling nice. Lasts about a month between apple changes. Dave |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Hey SteveL778, what part of the Atlantic Provinces are you in? I'm in NS.
Wayne |
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November 2003
Posts: 53
Location: Canada | Hi Wayne,
I'm just a little east of NS,I live in NL. |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Welcome, nice to see a "neighbour" on the board!
Wayne |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Wayne
Didn't notice that you are from Hank Snow country, whether you like him or not he put out some great acoustic flat top pickin', and some great music that will some day be recognized like his hero, Jimmy Rogers.
Maybe those hard winters produce some hard pickers.
Bailey :D |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Hi all,
A timely topic. First, my 1977 vintage Applause AA14-4 has NO (zero, zilch, nada) cracks at all. It has always been kept inside and has never been left exposed to excessive heat or cold ever. You would have difficulty telling it from new.
Secondly, I went to a vintage guitar show here in the Detroit area today looking for a nice old Ovation. EVERY one I looked at that was over 10 years old had a crack.
There were two 1115 Pacemakers(one early 70s vintage, one a little newer), two Glen Campbell 6-strings, and an early 80s vintage 1612. The 12-strings and one of the GCs had their crack from the bridge directly below the 5th string(or pair) parallel to the strings all the way to the edge. The other GC had a finish crack, diagonal to the strings. The 1612 had a crack from the middle of the bridge parallel to the strings to the edge of the top.
Needless to say, I didn't buy any of them, I figured each of them would be a "project"(and they weren't cheap, either).
In addition, I am aware of a used Applause AA14 in a music shop near here; it has two cracks in the top parallel to the strings. I also have a friend who has an Applause AA14 a little newer than mine and his has three cracks in the top. He frequently leaves his guitar in his car in the cold and heat, though. |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Hi Bailey, there are still plenty of Hank fans in these parts and others, and I listened to him through my parents records as I was growing up. He is one that is on the list of underrated guitar players, for sure.
Wayne |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Wayne
He was one of my first country music influences, and my brother and I specialized in his songs when we first started playing in the early 50's.
I've got a few CDs that contain most of his major hits and I play them a lot, sometimes.
Bailey |
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Finish cracks
