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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Okay, here's the story:
I sold a 1990 Collector's on eBay that was in fair shape. It was described as completely as possible. (I like to think I have 100% positive feedback for a reason.) The buyer contacted me today stating everything was fine except:
"The guitar sounds fine without amplication, however when we plug it into our Roland acoustic amp, Fender Twin Reverb amp and even our studio board, the sound just does not seem right. It does not have that distinguish Ovation brilliance sound/tone like our 1980 Custom Balladeer in our studio. I have a gut feeling that the preamp is not working right. Please advise."
I swear that pre-amp was fine when it shipped! I played it twice the week of the auction without a problem. I have not had any trouble like this before. I'm open to any advice. The buyer does not seem to be unreasonable. By that I mean his email was not angry in tone or anything like that.
What do you folks think? |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Which Preamp does it have? |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Whoops, skipped that detail didn't I? :rolleyes:
It's got the OP-24. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Have him check the plugs (pickup into the preamp, etc.) to make sure everything is secure: may have worked loose in shipping. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | also the battery... |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I already suggested a fresh battery. I'll pass on the plug advice.
Thanks guys. Any other ideas? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | I don't think those preamps go bad very often, but a bad battery or a bad piezo crystal will definitely make it sound crappy. Bad connections will have some effect, so should be checked.
It's easy to test the OP24. The preamp is always on, and the sliders either cut or add db. Plug it in and test each one with the others all the way cut. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | I sold a Yamaha 12 string a while back. I changed the battery and played it thru an amp and shipped it off to a guy in California who couldn't write coherant english despite his insistance he was in law school.
He emailed me back, and said the pre amp didn't work. I went thru all the standard stuff, check the battery, the polarity, the plug.. etc. He wanted some money.
I told him as a last resort to take it to a reputable luthier and have him fill out a company work order with a phone number I could contact him with... I got back some estimate that was barely legible, hand written on graph paper or something..
I didn't want to deal with it anymore, so I told him I would buy the guitar back. I didn't hear from him again. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I agree with the comment above...ask him to take it to an independent luthier or repair shop for an evaluation. |
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SNAFU on eBay, need advice
