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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4
| I bought this guitar from a pawn shop about 10 years ago, in one of my periodic "I'd like to learn to play" phases. Needless to say, it sat in the case since then. About 6 months ago, I made a commitment to learn, so I dusted it off and signed up for lessons.
My instructor recommended that I take the guitar to a luthier for a setup job, which I did. That improved the playability dramatically, but the luthier told me that he had to remove all the shims from the bridge to get the action right, and even then it was marginal. I guess that means a neck reset is in order soon. The guitar is in great shape otherwise - a few small dents in the back of the neck, but no other wear or damage.
From reading this board, I gather that sending it back to the factory is the way to go, and that the cost will run $300 - $500. While I'm not opposed to spending money to keep something in working condition (I've done so with my other possessions more than once), I don't trust my own judgment when it comes to guitars (I'm too much of a noob).
So what's the consensus opinion? Is this model worth that sort of investment? Or is this an example of a sow's ear/silk purse?
Thanks,
Russ |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | It depends on how much you Love that particular guitar...
You can buy another guitar for that much. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I doubt it will be over $300 including shipping. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
You can buy another guitar for that much. That would be the way to go. You can find a nice US O that would be a better guitar for that money if you look around enough. |
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June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Well considering the age of the guitar, if the action was "marginal" after the shim removal it should probably stay that way for quite a while and should be an ok player, at least while you are learning and playing down the fretboard.
Spending any more on that guitar is certainly sending good money after bad.
Another O is certainly the way to go, $300 will go a long way.
AJ |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Neck reset should be around $200 including return shipping. The factory will also dress the frets and set it up to factory spec.
I'd have to like an Ultra a LOT to spend that on it. As said above, that money is a great start on a better model. You can turn the Ultra into a slide guitar. |
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March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Aren't the Ultras foreign-made? If so, the factory will not work on them.
For info purposes, I had the mothership reset the neck on an older Legend. It cost $400.
There's a nice Ultra on the 'Bay right now (250422984032) that's going to go for about $200.
I'm a little unclear also on what your luthier told you. He said the action was 'marginal' meaning still a bit high with all the shims removed? But HE didn't say it needed a neck reset, right? YOU are the one that speculated that? I would take it back either to him or another luthier and get a second opinion. There are all kinds of things a pro can do to get strings down lower. Ask specifically if the guitar needs a neck reset. Usually (in my experience), it's pretty obvious — it looks like the neck is 'sinking' into the guitar near the soundhole.
I believe the Ultras also had laminated tops which means they will stay nice and flat for a longer time — and thus resist neck-sinking — than a one-piece spruce top (at the loss of a bit of tone unplugged). |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | You may be right on not working on an import.
I've had several necks reset on Legends and Custom Legends at the factory, and all were less than $200 including shipping and the fret dressing with setup. |
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March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Sorry, I should have clarified that the total bill was a bit over $400. That included neck reset, repairing the non-working pre-amp (stacked knob type), replacing a few frets, fret dressing and shipping back to me. Don't have the actual receipt in front of me so can't say for sure what the actual reset cost.
But I do know Mom only works on US-made O's. For Celebs, Ultras, etc, they refer you to 'authorized Ovation repair facility.' |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | The early Ultras were US made. 1985 may have been late in the US run, or early in the Korea operation. Look at the label and see what it says. My US Ultra has the Urelite (foam) neck. Over time it bowed and the guitar eventually edged towards unplayable. A neck reset would not have helped as it was a neck issue. My guitar is now living happily in slide setup. |
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1985 Ultra Deluxe - worth a neck reset?
