Joined:
February 2016
Posts: 1
| Hello, all. I found this site a few days ago while searching for confirmation of the correct size truss rod wrench I will need to adjust my 1977 Balladeer. I found a a thread from 2007 or so that had a similar question about a Celebrity, but nothing came up about the Balladeer. A poster on that thread however suggested the OP contact Ovation customer service directly, and praised Ovation's service as being "excellent."
I took the advice and wrote them last night to ask about the required wrench, and threw in another question about where to find a replacement tuner. The original 4th string tuner broke about 20 years ago and I replaced it then with the first thing I could find, which has a larger whatever you call it washer thingy than the others and gives the headstock a Mr. Potato Head sort of look. I want to restore the guitar to its original appearance as much as possible and did not find a suitable replacement or even an upgrade on line.
Ovation responded today saying I need a 1/4 nut wrench for the truss, and asking for my address so they can mail me a tuner. Assuming they are correct about the wrench (and. I gave them my serial number so they had the info needed to research) and assuming the tuner is in fact an identical replacement, then, yes I would have to agree the service is excellent!
The guitar is almost 40 years old and I am the original owner. It has seen a lot of use and has a few nicks and dings, one or two administered by kids and grandkids. I'm ready to do what I can to restore it's good looks as much as possible with the proper tuner and a good fret polishing,
Finally, I read (here or elsewhere) that Ovations shipped with shims under the saddle way back when. I've never been entirely happy with the high action and next string change I will take a look under the saddle for shims and remove them. Then, assuming a truss adjustment can alleviate any remaining issues, I'm planning on installing some electronics when I can and am looking at the Fishman Presys+ on the high end, or the B Band A1.2-22R.
It's a prized guitar to me and I'm looking foreward to making it once again my go-to acoustic. (I also own an 82 Dauphin model 40 classical, and an 06 Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500 RAVS, an okay strummer but lovely fingerstyle instrument.)
Thanks for reading. I'm looking forward to contributing here when and where I can. Happy I found the site! |
New member owner of a Balladeer model 1111-1
