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Location: Fort Worth, TX | I just got back from a certified Ovation repair tech. I wanted him to take a look at the small indentations that appear at each end of the bridge in the top when I put medium gauge strings on it. I wanted to ascertain that I didn't have an issue where a crack could appear. He said the top is "bubbling" - it has a slight raised roundness below the bridge in the lower bout. I told him I have seen this same amount of top movement in every acoustic I've owned. He insisted I have a bracing issue and said my only recourse is to send it back to Ovation to have the top replaced - he estimated this cost at $1300.00. When I asked him what it would be worth to just sell as is he said "like P.T. Barnum said, there's a sucker born every minute. You just have to find him and see how much he'll go on it". I don't know if the guy is exaggerating the condition because he knows I was in the store awhile back looking at Recording Kings and he thought he could get me to buy one by dissing the Ovation?. He did say the top might not move any further and as long as I keep light gauge strings on it I might be okay. I don't know what to think... if I should actively be trying to unload it or what. It IS the best sounding acoustic I've ever owned. Any thoughts? |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Mmmm... I had a whole top/bowl replaced for about $500 back in 2007.
He is not much of a "Certified Ovation Repair Tech" if is only answer is to send it back to the Factory.
So Yes... I think that his is talking out his butt.
Just cuz there is an Ovation sticker on the door doesn't mean anything.
Apple Music has an Certified Ovation sticker... And they don't even have a Tech any longer.
If you are concerned, just stick with lighter 12's on your guitar... Don't put "mediums" on your guitar.
"Gee Doc, it hurts when I do this..."
 
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Location: liverpool ,england | get a second opinion, sounds like he hasnt filled you with confidence and planted the seed now to move it on, but if you sell it on without being honest your going to get a comeback off "the sucker" as he put it, goodluck hope you can get it sorted. |
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Location: NJ | some of the guitars have an arch built in.
is the action raised in any way?
did you buy the guitar new?
if so it may be covered under warranty |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | alpep - 2012-07-10 6:51 AM
some of the guitars have an arch built in.
is the action raised in any way?
did you buy the guitar new?
if so it may be covered under warranty
The arch is barely visible - the tech kept running his hand over it like he could still feel it. The action is the easiest all the way up the neck of any acoustic I've ever played. Apparently, I am the second owner - an Ovation rep kept this one for himself for about 5 years. No warranty available to me according to the store where I got it.Another thing this tech said was "I'm surprised your top hasn't cracked yet from the nitro lacquer. It definitely will." Everything considered, I'm inclined to ignore his assessment. For a certified tech, he doesn't even carry O's in his big inventory store and wants to push a Recording King on everyone who walks in the door. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | alpep - 2012-07-10 6:51 AM
some of the guitars have an arch built in.
is the action raised in any way?
did you buy the guitar new?
if so it may be covered under warranty
The arch is barely visible - the tech kept running his hand over it like he could still feel it. The action is the easiest all the way up the neck of any acoustic I've ever played. Apparently, I am the second owner - an Ovation rep kept this one for himself for about 5 years. No warranty available to me according to the store where I got it.Another thing this tech said was "I'm surprised your top hasn't cracked yet from the nitro lacquer. It definitely will." Everything considered, I'm inclined to ignore his assessment. For a certified tech, he doesn't even carry O's in his big inventory store and wants to push a Recording King on everyone who walks in the door. |
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Location: Miami | Sounds like a no-brainer. The tech, I mean ;-) |
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Location: Ohio | Guys an idiot. Play it till it turns to dust in your hands and then buy another and repeat. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | If the action is good and the bridge is secure, don't worry about it.
And while you're at it, find another tech. Guitars from any manufacturer, including small shop luthiers, can develop "bridge bubble". Wood moves over time and settles into its best configuration for efficient vibration of the top. It may stay smooth or not. For most, it's purely cosmetic, and for some of those, the owner simply doesn't care for the look. If you like the sound and could care less about the dimples, play on. If the look bothers you enough (I confess to replacing an instrument or two because fo this.), then you have a perfectly good excuse to relieve some GAS. |
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Location: Utah | Can you take some pictures and post them here? Some arching of the top is expected and normal. My 6778LX (from 2005) and my 1776 Patriot (from 1976) both belly up a bit. The 1776 more so, and the bracing is visible through the top. You might be seeing the bracing in those "dimples". Are your guitars kept in a reasonably humidified room?
Is there a rear hatch you can look inside the guitar through? I would take a good look at all the bracing and at the bridge attachment. Are any braces loose or cracked? Does it look like any braces are missing?
In any case, I would just run 12's on it and keep loving it. What is the worst that could happen? A bridge lift? It is hard to believe the top would disintegrate. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I seem to remember someone here once stating that he was able to "reverse" a slight bridge buldge situation. Something about taking the strings off, putting it in front of a humidifier with a stack of books on the top, and waiting for a week, then drying her out and putting light gage strings on it.
??? ...but then again, i MAY have been halucinating while on a good dose of my Vicodin. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Vince, I think that was when a brace had popped off - do all you stated THEN glue the brace back in place. I picked up a Custom Legend for AJ where the previous owner/tech had just glued the brace back (and added some extra stuff) which basically locked the top in that position.
Dave, if all the braces are intact and nothing has come loose, then it sounds just like a normal bulge. The physics of the situation demand that the top will never be perfectly flat (although my 1680 is as close to flat as anything I've seen). |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | richard.parker - 2012-07-10 6:20 PM
Vince, I think that was when a brace had popped off - do all you stated THEN glue the brace back in place. I picked up a Custom Legend for AJ where the previous owner/tech had just glued the brace back (and added some extra stuff) which basically locked the top in that position.
Dave, if all the braces are intact and nothing has come loose, then it sounds just like a normal bulge. The physics of the situation demand that the top will never be perfectly flat (although my 1680 is as close to flat as anything I've seen).
Nothing structurally wrong with bracing and the bulge is the slightest bump (if you could even call it that) I've ever seen on an acoustic. Bridge is solidly in place and action all the way up and down the neck is like butter. I'm convinced the guy was dissing it so I'd buy one of his recording kings he explained his entire inventory of to me a few weeks back. His comment that the nitro lacquer top is not a question of if it will crack but when seals the deal for me that he is less then honest. Like someone said - I'll play it til it turns to dust. Need to get a humidity gauge tho to keep track of where it is in Texas air conditioned house. Thanks for the replies everyone. |
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Location: Texas | Hey Dave...
I was in Dallas briefly yesterday and noticed a K1111 RI for sale in the CL. Is that yours and the same one we are talking about here?
""I'm surprised your top hasn't cracked yet from the nitro lacquer. It definitely will."" Total BS, especially on that guitar. At that point, I walk. I imagine Ovation would frown on a "certified Ovation tech" taking this position.
Edited by jay 2012-07-11 10:18 AM
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | amosmoses - 2012-07-11 10:17 AM
Hey Dave...
I was in Dallas briefly yesterday and noticed a K1111 RI for sale in the CL. Is that yours and the same one we are talking about here?
""I'm surprised your top hasn't cracked yet from the nitro lacquer. It definitely will."" Total BS, especially on that guitar. At that point, I walk. I imagine Ovation would frown on a "certified Ovation tech" taking this position.
Yes it is. I'll be taking the ad off later today now that I've given it some thought and read these replies. |
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Location: Indiana | They haven't used nitro since the very early days... it's a catalyzed polymer finish. Another thing you'd expect a certified O tech to know. |
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Stradivarius O - Bad Diagnosis