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Joined:
March 2011
Posts: 4
Location: Ada, AL | I have an American made Ultra Deluxe that is a little over 25 years old and it has a significant neck problem that I'd like to get some opinions on. Several years ago I had the guitar leaning against a chair in the living room and heard it make an odd noise. Nothing touched it and it didn't fall over. I didn't think much about it until I picked it up a few minutes later and it was grossly out of tune. Worse yet, I couldn't get it in tune. I took it to a local Ovation dealer and the guitar guy felt how loose the neck was, tightened the bolt and gave it back. He said he'd never seen one do that and that what he did might be all that was needed, or it might be a sign of a bigger problem. By the end of the next day the problem was back. It sat in the case for a long time and I finally decided to remove the neck bolt, put some toothpicks soaked with wood glue into the bolt hole, let them dry, and then re-install the bolt. This seemed to work OK for a while if I was very careful and kept extra light strings on it. As time has gone on I am once again unable to keep it in tune.
I would like to get the guitar where it can be used at least occasionally but can't afford to put a lot into it right now. I contacted Ovation and all they would say is that I should ship it to them and let them look at it and let me know what they think. If I choose not to fix it they'll send it back if I pay for the shipping. Well, I'm not too keen on devoting $100 to shipping the guitar both ways just to get an estimate for repairs.
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I would love to find someone in the Montgomery, AL area with some Ovation experience that can provide me some insight. |
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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | Is your Ultra a super shallow bowl? My shallow bowl only has 1 bolt but my deep bowl has 2.
Are you the original owner? If not maybe someone had it apart and only put 1 bolt back in. I would feel around and try to find a second bolt or a hole where a second should be.
It's a place to start. I'm sure some of the members here will have more ideas. Good luck. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Eaton, Indiana | I have been a guitar repairman for many years and have run across this problem with several ultras. Tremor could be correct. If both bolts are secure, then try moving the neck back into position with the strings loosened. If the neck is loose with the bolts tightened, you either have a stripped thread on the neck or the glue has let loose that secures the mounting bar to the wooden neck, the latter being the most common problem that I have encountered.
Feel free to contact me with any questions.
scott lamperd b c (before computers) |
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Joined:
March 2011
Posts: 4
Location: Ada, AL | Mine is a deep bowl.
If this guitar has either the stripped thread or a loose mounting bar how big (costly) a repair is this? |
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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | Wkbryan: Did you figure anything out? I didn't think about the mounting bar. |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | Is it possible the bolt(s) are bottoming out in the threads, thereby giving the impression they are tight but in fact could go another half a turn if given the depth?
You could just stack a washer on the bolt just to try it....nothing to lose. |
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Joined:
March 2011
Posts: 4
Location: Ada, AL | I don't think they are bottoming out since it worked OK for a while but I will check that tonight. |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Just dont get a big wide washers that will not follow the contour of the bowl...too tight might crack ...careful danialson... |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Originally posted by twistedlim:
Just dont get a big wide washers that will not follow the contour of the bowl...too tight might crack ...careful danielson... |
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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | Any updates? I'm interested. |
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neck problem
