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December 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Montana | Hi, is there a pattern or a code that allows one to know what kind of finish the neck has? I've been looking and some have an oil finish that feels like wood and I like it. Others have a plastic? type finish on the wood, perhaps urethane, that to me feels OK on some guitars and like plastic on others. The Ovation website describes the fretboard materials but not the neck and finish. And I have been unable to see a pattern in the different models.
I'd like to pick up an oil finish Elite, but have not found one yet. Were these made? Thanks for your continuing help. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | There's no sure fire way to know from the model number. And some (within the same model number) changed over the years. Basically there's the following types:
Gloss: This is what you referred to as 'plastic'. I don't know if it's urathane or what the hell it is, but it's not plastic (that us reserved for the bowl). The gloss finish can be on bare wooden necks, sunburst necks or painted necks.
Satin: It's like the gloss only not as shiny. I've seen it on bare wooden necks and painted. But I'm sure it also exists on sunbursts.
Oiled: It looks like bare wood, but it's got a slight sheen to it. Not sure if it's wax or oil. Some are pretty "wet looking" and others appear just like bare wood.
All are fine, just depends on what you prefer. The majority of my necks are glossed and that's my personal favorite.
My 1768LTD has (had) an oiled neck, and I'm sure other elites do as well.
Dave |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | My 1974 Legend (1117) has a gloss finish as does the Adamas 1581-5 reissue (2005). My most beautiful axe is easily the Di Meola signature (Custom Legend, 2005 AD II 1769). One of its nicest features is the oiled neck. Now, more than 30 years of conditioning make me regard the gloss as "baseline" "natural" or "default"; but I must say I LOVE the neck finish of the 1769. Perhaps if you locate a guitar online (CL or ebay) it will be worth a quick email to check? |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| My 1767 neck has the satin. Cleans up real nice. |
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December 2007
Posts: 8
Location: Montana | Thanks for the help. I know what I like when I see it but it's hard to describe when trying to buy online. So I forwarded Dave's descriptions to potential sellers and asked "so, what do you have?". I'd love to buy in person but there just aren't many available locally and I'm tired of visiting the music and pawn shops every week. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | It's tough living in the sticks, isn't it Scott? I don't know if there are any other Adamas guitars in my area and very few US Ovations in the stores. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | "...very few US Ovations in the stores." I have two music stores within 6 miles of me; neither one has an Ovation made here. One has three Celebrities and one Applause; the other has two Applauses and one Celebrity. The bigger of the two seems to carry only the lower-end models of all the brands; the other has some mid-level models and a few high end ones of other brands. So, it's really not an issue of whether or not you reside out in the middle of nowhere; I'm in the most densely populated state in the nation...
--Karen |
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June 2007
Posts: 100
Location: Delaware | If anyone has what appears a bare wood neck, it wouldn't hurt to oil it now and then to seal the wood and prevent it from drying too much. Teak Oil is one of the best for this purpose because of it's low viscosity.
Personally, the first thing I do with any new guitar is hit the neck with 000 steel wool. If you have been playing a varnish, urethane or lacquered neck all these years and especially gloss, you are in for a treat by hitting the neck with steel wool. You will find the more you break the gloss finish and achieve flat or matte, the more slick the neck will feel in your hand - and easier to play. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Dave just loves the feel of Tupperware......
You just have to know the year of production and the type of finish used then. It's been back and forth depending on current fashion. |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Play what feels goooood... |
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April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | I'm not taking steel wool to my 1619's gloss neck, thank you very much. |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I tried the steel pad on my neck and now I have a rash all over and can't go to work. Thanks guys. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Try a few coats of polyurethane, dobro. Then you can skip work because your neck is stiff. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Like Dave, my personal preference is also gloss, but this is likely based on the looks. While playing, I don't pay any attention to the finish and I'm not sure I notice any difference. |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | This reminds me of the thread about hairline cracks in somebody's unit (or some permutation of the terms "hair" "crack" "unit"). Now I have neck problems, but at least my headstock is not cracked or falling off like what Serge has with his new purchase. |
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Neck finishes?
