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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Sparks, NV | Hi, my name is Denis. I have a 1979 Custom Balladeer (Model # 1612). I have two small dings on the top. And the plastic soundhole surround doesn't look good and peeling off in couple places. Are there any ways to refinish the whole top (i don't really care for sunburst) to natural color? and get a replacement soundhole surround? Thanks.
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Welcome to the OFC. You will like it here. Alot of good people who really know Ovation guitars. If you really want to fix your guitar up, I would contact Kim Keller or John Budny at Ovation service. They do wonderful work, and can make your Ovation as good as new. If you really like this guitar, you can't go wrong with Ovation service. Many of the guys here have had tops redone, and were more than happy with the work. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Denis,
Easiest solution is to sell the guitar and then buy a natural. First of all, it has been told (not sure if true) that the better grain is used for the natural...taking the sunburst off may not result in what you want.
The finish is catalyzed polyester and anyone who has taken it down to the wood will tell you it is a bear. I had a 12-str that, due to shipping damage, they refinished the top, about $375 (don't remember if that included the rosette).
Some repairs you can do yourself very well with about 3,500-12,000 grit and polishing compound (see www.stewmac.com). CyA can be used to fill a hole and then sand & buff. Finish cracks can be filled with water soluble glue, build up, sand & buff.
Anything major such as a top refinish, recommend the factory...very inexpensive for the work that they do. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I think your guitar looks GREAT! You can easily replace the rosette, that will cost you next to nothing. As far as the dings and re-finishing the top, yes I suppose it could be done but I've never had sunburst turned into a natural. The sunburst is "painted" on the wood prior to the clear coat, so not only do you have to remove the clearcoat, but you also got to sand the wood top down to get all the paint off. Might not be possible. In any case, and I don't mean any disrespect to your guitar because as I said it looks really good to me, but the refinnish will cost you more than the guitar is probably worth. And Murphy's Law says that as soon as you re-finish it you're likily to ding it again. If it was me I would replace the rosette and keep the guitar. If the dings really bother you and you'd rather have a natural finish one, they are readily available at great prices. Probably you could buy a natural and have BOTH guitars for less than the cost of refinishing yours. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Dave's right. And let me suggest something:
Own more than one guitar.
There is a very small, remote amount of risk involved in obtaining your first "second" guitar but hey, if most ladies never age past 29 and nothing makes their butt look big, I say go for it!
I have a 1112 I may be sending in for a re-rosette and a buff. Keep it - you will be happier. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | i recently refinished a top on a mexican classical guitar that the bridge had come off of. the owner tried to fix it with elmers and books for weight. he under wiped up the way too much excess glue with a wet rag. and there were ugly smears all over the top. the bridge popped off again and this time took lots of top and finish with it. it turned out to be a nightmare project that far exceeded the value of the guitar and the limits of the friendship that made me take on the project.
i would accept the guitar you have as is if it sounds good, and is set up well. i have a few that are similar that fit the need for countless uses where a better guitar would be at risk. my beach guitar is a folklore that was abused and modified by the previous owner(s). it is beyond hope cosmetically, but sounds great. i don't abuse it, but am not concerned about a new ding. then there are some of my guitars that never get more than a few feet from my hands when out of the case. many others are in between. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | A couple of "beauty marks" and "war wounds". Keep it as it is. You might float some glue under the rosette, or replace it- your call. I'm in agreement with the majotity opinion on this one. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | I've seen guitars with natural faces made into sunburst tops at Ovation but never the reverse. I suspect it would truly be the project from hell. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | To back up what Paul says, my Viper project started as a sunburst, had ambitions of being a blonde but wound up cinnamon brown. The tint was hard to get out in certain areas of grain. Attempts at bleaching and leaching were unsucessful.
Seems they had some really good chemicals back then! |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Most guitars that become something other than natural from the factory have something that needs to be covered up, bad looking grain, a funny looking glue line, a tearout along the binding.
You want a natural guitar buy one. You only want one, sell this one. Good suggestion above is have several. This is deep, get a natural SS bowl. Try something different. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Sparks, NV | i will keep it sunburst. how much $$$ does it run to re-rosette and buff the top? i love the sound, so i wouldn't be selling it. i'm considering a Breedlove Atlas for playing plugged-in. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 100
Location: Asheville, North Carolina | I just sold a Breedlove SR25R...didn't sound very good plugged in, max-quack...guitar was very sloppy inside and out, neck and fret job were horrible, not at all up to my standards. I could go on and on with the example I had it was of very poor Chinese quality. It sounded pretty good unplugged however...This is what I purchased after selling the Breedlove. I agree that Ovation uses the better tops visually on the natural finishes. I too agree, leave the finish alone...better to buy a new one the way you like than refinish and a pro job will cost you mucho dinero.
Check this baby out...
Click webpage below for picture.
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refinishing the top?
