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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Hello all. Finally, after some months of gestation, my beloved 1617 is back to life.
The story in short: mid of 2008 the top developed a very bad crack from the bridge (5th string) to the end of the lower bout. Early 2009 the top sunk badly around the hole ( :( !). For sure previous owner did not babied this guitar.
My luthier friend accepted the challenge to replace the top (sorry MS ;) ).
He saved the original bridge and I got from MS a new rosette and the aluminium parts that are glued to the outer braces of the A brace pattern
as a reinforcement. In september 2009 we got locally a wonderful peace of master grade sitka spruce and the work began.
My friend put in this work his best knowledge and skill to get the better final result, knowing that it was his first time on a roundback guitar thus not an easy task.
The final result is beyond my expectation. The top have alternated packs of tight and straight wood grains plus lots of silked effects to it. Not easy to get the right light/angle in the pics. The sound ? Guess how it can be on a brand new A braced deep bowl master grade sitka spruce Ovation guitar :p .... More pics on Ning album
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Nice work. It turned out great!
How difficult was it to remove the old top?
My 1619 has a crack in the same place yours did.
I call it character! |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Way cool! And very educational pics. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Way cool! And very educational pics.
Double Good Cool!
(actually my internet connection had a hiccup) |
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Joined:
September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Gongratulations. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Riccardo,
Congrats! Excellent job.
What did your luthier think of the Ovation construction?
Now, wear it out! |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | 
Great work! You must be very happy now :) |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Wow, that looks really nice. |
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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Thank you guys !!
@Cholloway
Not an easy task removing to top. First the top was cut out leaving only "that" perimetral inch of wood glued to the bowl. Then with a lot of patience and force and energy also this last portion was removed. The glue was so stong my friende has had to heat it up sometime. Cleaned the part ready to accept the new top.
@Iffy
My friend admitted that Ovation is a nice brand and manufacture very nice revolutionary guitar even if not his cup of tea (of course :) ). This particular guitar has the soundhole bigger then it should be (the rosette masked it afterall) and the braces was not so refined but left somewhat raw. I found '70s Ovation models more accurate. You can see this from the pics on ning. Of course this has nothing to to with the sound that is super !!
@Meuti
I'm really happy how it turned out. Afterall I have a brand new 1981 Legend now :) |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | "perimetral"... extra points for nice word usage, Riccardo.
That top is beautiful. |
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Joined:
February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | Beautiful - are you also happy with the sound? |
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Joined:
May 2009
Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | Riccardo,
Thank you for this post. The photos were very interesting to see. You now have a wonderful, absolutely beautiful guitar there! But of course you already know that.
Congratulations to you and as Iffy said, "Now wear it out!"
(You can see my 1617 on my Ning page)
;)
Willa |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | that top is beautiful.
great work. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | How difficult was it to remove the old top?
Not an easy task removing to top. First the top was cut out leaving only "that" perimetral inch of wood glued to the bowl. Then with a lot of patience and force and energy also this last portion was removed. The glue was so stong my friende has had to heat it up sometime. Cleaned the part ready to accept the new top. Hmmmm...
If a bowl, with the original top removed to this point, was sent to the MS, I wonder if they'd be willing to... Hmmmm.
I think a call to our friends in CT is in order. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15674
Location: SoCal | Beautiful guitar - wonderful story.
I'm assuming that it has the stacked tone/volume preamp on the upper shoulder?
A braced Legends are wonderful. Especially when they have high grade wood tops. I expect to play mine forever..... |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Hi Riccardo,
very, very beautiful guitar again!
That is a top job, your friend have done.
Congrats!
Bernie |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 197
Location: Pennsylvania | Can only affirm what others have already said.
Your friend did a fantastic job. That top is beautiful and the grain sublime.
Thanks for the pics. Very interesting to see how the process progressed. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1559
Location: Indiana | Very nicely done. |
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Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Thanks to all for the kind comments !!
I'm very happy with the sound. Now I have to mature it playing it a LOT.
@Moody; yes, tone/volume preamp on the upper shoulder.
Riccardo |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Congratulations Riccardo.
She looks wonderful !!
J :) |
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1617 is back to life
