Pick-guard on ovation acoustics
adamkrz
Posted 2017-03-20 1:53 PM (#533307)
Subject: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
July 2015
Posts: 118

Location: New Britain, Ct
I don't ever remember seeing a pick guard on Ovation acoustics, Any reason why not, I don't my guitar looking like Willie Nelson martin..
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2017-03-20 2:40 PM (#533308 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Because putting a pick-guard on an Ovation is BLASPHEMY!

You can find Clear static-cling pick-guards.
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Love O Fair
Posted 2017-03-20 5:44 PM (#533311 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



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February 2016
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Location: When??
@Arthur - "Because putting a pick-guard on an Ovation is BLASPHEMY!"

LOL! Good one, Arthur. (and so very true)
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Jonmark Stone
Posted 2017-03-20 8:29 PM (#533313 - in reply to #533311)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


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May 2008
Posts: 1553

Location: Indiana
Also... Ovation moved away from the traditional nitro-lacquer finish in the late 60's... to a catalyzed polymer. This stuff is tough. You'd need several lifetimes digging on Willie's Trigger to get that hole in catalyzed polymer. If you DO get pick marks, buy some fancy swirl remover from Stew-Mac... or some generic auto polish from Autozone... and you're good.
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Love O Fair
Posted 2017-03-20 10:18 PM (#533315 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



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Location: When??
@Jonmark Stone - "...or some generic auto polish from Autozone"

For using automotive polish on guitars, go for Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze. It's designed to fill tiny spider webbing, like you get from light pick strokes. Use it sparingly, and always apply it smooth and evenly onto the cloth, not directly onto the guitar.. then just lightly keep rubbing it until it essentially disappears. Use a clean side of the cloth to remove any residual, and when finished it will have a curing time of about 10 minutes for the final result. Very high gloss. It is also important that the guitar surface is as clean as possible before applying.
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DetlefMichel
Posted 2017-03-21 6:18 AM (#533318 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: RE: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
May 2011
Posts: 751

Location: Muenster/Germany

I would agree in general, Ovations don´t need pickguards. But I use one on my 1759 because it hides 2 surface cracks...

..better than before:

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Standingovation
Posted 2017-03-21 11:20 AM (#533319 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6191

Location: Phoenix AZ
There are lots if arguments on both sides about pickguards. Both emotional arguments as well as technical arguments. With all due respect to brother OMA, to call it BLASPHEMY is in my opinion simply imposing your personal opinion upon others. But I do give credit for spelling it correctly ...

I think just like many other topics discussed here it is just a personal opinion of what YOU like or think you need. If your pick or nails scratches the finish of your guitar then maybe you should consider a pickguard. Or a clear one if you don't like the looks. Or maybe you just like the way a pickguard looks even though not technically needed, but hey if you like it then by all means go for it. Detlef has a great reason to use one ... covers up some finish cracks BRILLIANT.

Personally I like guitars with pickguards because it reminds me which way to hold the guitar.
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BCam
Posted 2017-03-21 11:22 AM (#533320 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
October 2014
Posts: 266

How would a pickguard affect resale value or resale ability? Can they be removed without damage?
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Mr. Ovation
Posted 2017-03-21 12:25 PM (#533322 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7209

Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
1. Strum or pick the strings, not the top.
2. The clear plastic cling doesn't affect the tone much
3. They engineered Ovations to project as much sound as possible from the top. Restricting the top in any way takes away the tone that was intended.
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DanSavage
Posted 2017-03-21 1:34 PM (#533323 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2303

Location: Lake Forest, CA
I'm with Miles' #1 suggestion.

If you're scratching the top with a pic, maybe you should look at fixing your technique so you don't strike the top with your pick in the first place.

I've seen two types of players -- arm-swingers and wrist-twisters.

Arm-swingers are more likely to scratch the top than wrist-twisters. (I'm a wrist-twister)

Here's a youtube video that demonstrates the two strumming techniques.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ5k2MHZ39c
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stonebobbo
Posted 2017-03-21 3:05 PM (#533326 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: RE: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
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Posts: 8307

Location: Tennessee

adamkrz - 2017-03-20 11:53 AM I don't ever remember seeing a pick guard on Ovation acoustics, Any reason why not, I don't my guitar looking like Willie Nelson martin..

 

If you can play your guitar enough so that it becomes like Trigger, you're going to be a helluva guitarist.  To me, it would be totally worth it. 

 

 

 

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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2017-03-21 3:35 PM (#533328 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
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Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Also... Trigger looks like that because it has been played every day since 1969.

Beware the man who owns only One Guitar.
He may actually know how to Play It.
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Mr. Ovation
Posted 2017-03-21 4:35 PM (#533330 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7209

Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
If Pete Towsend can play without scratching the top, anyone can.
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Jimmer
Posted 2017-03-21 4:58 PM (#533331 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
May 2013
Posts: 152

I like the look of Ovations without one but if someone prefers playing with a pick guard why not.

Some of the Adamas have a clear coating for a pick guard.

I just bought a 50th Anniversary Elite and I'm thinking I might use some clear sheet like these on eBay for a pick guard:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blank-Sheets-UltraThin-Clear-PickGuard-Remo...

I'd like to keep this guitar in pristine shape. I think I strum correctly but just in case and not to mention when I let someone else play it.
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DanSavage
Posted 2017-03-21 7:59 PM (#533332 - in reply to #533330)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2303

Location: Lake Forest, CA
Mr. Ovation - 2017-03-21 2:35 PM

If Pete Towsend can play without scratching the top, anyone can.


Did Townsend ever play a guitar more than once before smashing it to bits on the stage?
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Mike S.
Posted 2017-03-31 3:01 AM (#533467 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 563

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
Hi, Everyone,
I always thought the Adamas clear coat pick guards (aka "snotblobs" in some circles?), were/are designed specifically for their very thin carbon-fibre tops. Why would these clear coat type of pickguards NOT work on Ovation wood-top guitars? Why were they never used in in this way?
Mike S.
Ottawa, ON.,
CANADA

Edited by Mike S. 2017-03-31 3:04 AM
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2017-03-31 3:21 AM (#533468 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Here is a possibility...
Maybe Charlie and the originators liked to show-off the wood?
(I do not know the answer... Just speculation)

BTW-- Neither my Adamas 1681, nor my Blue W597T have snot-blobs on them.
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Todd G.
Posted 2017-03-31 9:12 AM (#533473 - in reply to #533332)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 815

Location: Colorado

DanSavage - 2017-03-21 6:59 PM
Mr. Ovation - 2017-03-21 2:35 PM If Pete Towsend can play without scratching the top, anyone can.
Did Townsend ever play a guitar more than once before smashing it to bits on the stage?

And if it was scratched, it would take a lengthy forensic investigation to prove it.

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DanSavage
Posted 2017-03-31 4:51 PM (#533479 - in reply to #533467)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2303

Location: Lake Forest, CA

Mike S. - 2017-03-31 1:01 AM

Hi, Everyone,
I always thought the Adamas clear coat pick guards (aka "snotblobs" in some circles?), were/are designed specifically for their very thin carbon-fibre tops. Why would these clear coat type of pickguards NOT work on Ovation wood-top guitars? Why were they never used in in this way?


The snotblob looks to me like it wasn't so much of a clear pic guard glued onto the face, but rather it is an additional layer of resin applied over the CF after painting and the epaulets were glued down.

Here's a pic I found online.

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Todd G.
Posted 2017-03-31 5:07 PM (#533480 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 815

Location: Colorado
Whereas the Adamas 1881 I used to own looked like the epaulets were put on after the snot blob.
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Mr. Ovation
Posted 2017-03-31 8:54 PM (#533483 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: RE: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7209

Location: The Great Pacific Northwest

Just say'n...

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Standingovation
Posted 2017-04-03 10:13 PM (#533525 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: RE: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics



Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6191

Location: Phoenix AZ
Putting a pickguard on a black Ovation isn't as noticeable and definitely provides a high degree of protection. I play nylon string using my nails and I was just shredding the finish of my Ovation Classical to bits until I found this all purpose pickguard. It wasn't all that expensive and on the black finish really doesn't detract from the natural beauty of the guitar.

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sycamore
Posted 2017-04-05 12:55 PM (#533552 - in reply to #533307)
Subject: Re: Pick-guard on ovation acoustics


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 698

Location: Cork, Ireland
Looks OK on an AA31 https://goo.gl/images/QwShZX
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