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Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 180
Location: michigan | After combing this forum and trying many different ovations, from Adamas to Elites, my preference is for the non-cutaway A-braced legends (presently looking for a 12 string).
I have found a couple I like at good prices, but they are from the mid eighties, and seem to have finish cracks, sometimes, wood cracks that have been repaired.
I know some of the multi-thousand dollar martin d-28s I see have had repaired cracks.
I have also observed a lot of ovation fans here send their guitars back for refurbishment, new tops, necks, etc.
Part of what I like about the sound of the eightie's ovations I believe comes from the wood and the guitar being played that many years.
I have a couple of questions for those of you who have decided to refurbish some of your treasured older ovations.
Will a 24 year old ovation continue to get better with age (should I put up with a finish crack or a crack through the wood that has been repaired), or, plan on sending it back for a new top (my assumption is a new top would cost $500, is that accurate?). Even with the 500 dollar investment, it is still cheaper than buying new and I cannot get a non-cutaway unless it is special order.
At present, Al has some pretty good prices on some new legend 12 strings, but they are lx braced.
I already have a contour bowl with my 2009 KOA collector, and it is my second favorite bowl, to a non-cutaway deep bowl. I still prefer the deep bowl non cutaway which isn't available new.
SECOND QUESTION
When you put a new top on your older ovation, have you been satisfied with the results.
I will be 50 soon and probably don't have 20 years to wait for it to open up...
Please share your experiences and thanks |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4236
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | One "Legend" you may not have considered is the '76 Patriot which is basically a customized, A-braced, non-cutaway Legend. I now how much I like the sound of mine, so I certainly understand your preference.
I can't say much about how repairs to cracks through the wood hold up, but finish cracks can be sealed and leveled at the factory without structural worries.
As far as new tops go, I've had to replace a top on my Book Elite and a 1537 (on which I substituted redwood for the spruce), they are two of the best sounding Ovations I've ever played. (Look nice too. :D ) |
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Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 180
Location: michigan | Thanks for the reply patch. Believe it or not, my first A braced legend I got was the patriot, acoustic/electric in great shape. Folks loved it at our BITTER COLD JAM. T
that is the guitar I measure all the others from. Recently I aquired a 30th anniversary CUSTOM LEGEND which is another outstanding instrument. These two are amazing with the 30th getting the nod because of the updated electronics. I love the acoustic sound of the Patriot though ... Probably comes from the 34 years of playing it has had.
Patch, I am sorry I wasn't able to put the funds together several months ago when you were selling the custom legend 12 string. That would have been a great find.
You seem to be very satisifed with the results on putting a new top on a older instrument. Is my estimate accurate of approximatly $500 to do this (this was the price when I checked into it a couple years ago. Not sure if it has gone up).
Anxious to hear from others. Even those who have put up with the finish cracks, repaired cracks, and find their guitars keep sounding better even with the repairs.
THANKS |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | The factory does a great job when putting a new top on a guitar. Keep in mind that you also get a new bowl, which is also an opportunity to upgrade to modern electronics.
I've had new bodies put on 3 guitars, a 1970's Legend, and 87 Collectors, and a late 60's GC 12 string. Two of the three was crappy sounding guitars (Legend and GC 12). Both sound great now (in fact the Legend has gone from being my least favorite Ovation to being my favorite). The 87C was damaged, and in putting on a new body, I also put in an OP Pro, which I like more than the OP24.
Along with upgrading the electronics, you can personalize your guitar. My Legend has selected spruce on the top, a fiberglass bowl, and a rosewood 5 point bridge along with a bone saddle and nut. The GC 12 has an Adirondack spruce top, and old style bridge,a shiny fiberglass bowl, and the electronics from an FD14. And those are fairly modest upgrades.
So it kinda depends on why you're doing it and what you expect to get out of it. If something happened to the top of my 1537, I think I'd fix it but not change it out. It's too good with the almost 30 year old top.
Just depends on the guitar.
But I will tell you that you won't have to wait 30 years to enjoy the resulting guitar. Ovation builds 'em that good. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | HERE"S my evaluation of my FUD's reincarnation. Fantastic work! |
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Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 180
Location: michigan | thanks moody and 2ifbyc for the replies
At first, I didn't think about the top repair as an opporunity to really get a custom build.
If I could cross my 30th anniversary custom legend with my 40th anniversary baladeer (shiny fiberglass bowl) that would be pretty cool.
I would love to have a custom legend 12 string with a shiny fiberglass bowl like my Balladeer reissue has, and probably get it fitted with an IDEA preamp (as I have several guitars with the OP Pro Electronics already)...
It sounds like they would just take the neck off of the guitar that went back.
Do you need to go through a dealer like you do for a custom order, or, if it done as a repair, can you call ovation directly and deal with them. Curious from those who have done this. |
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Love A Braced non-cutaway legend. some are CRACKED, What to do.
