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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1
| simple question.
The guitar keeps slipping off my lap and with a strap it wobbles wildly if I use forarm picking as suggested by some experts on picking.
Frustrated. Any suggestions? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | best bet is to use an industrial-grade epoxy resin and a pair of comfortable Levis 501's. Simply get the guitar in place and epoxy it to the denim at the thigh. This technique has some obvious short-comings but it's as good as you're gonna get from me after 2 bottles of Chilean merlot and a large Cointreau. Joking aside, I still do not understand the slipping off the lap thing. I've played Ovations for nearly 30 years and never had that problem. If you keep the top of the guitar at 90 degrees to the floor it will stay put. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Try a square of rubber dish drainer mat under the guitar. I've never had a problem but that should steady it up until you get used to it.
/\/\/ |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | cyberkatru
Welcome to the roundback Fan Club, it is kinda hard to say how to keep your Ovation from slipping off your lap. Most of us soften ours up with champagne and chocolates before setting her on our lap, whispering sweet nothings into the tuning pegs once you get her there helps also, belching or passing gas will almost certainly cause her to not just slip off, but make a hasty exit.
The really, really good experts here praise her svelte round bottom as they caress her strings, the very best of the experts are allowed to fondle her battery hole and dance their fingers accross her many tiny Elite sensitivity holes, the ultimate, and super Ovationists, play her to an accompanyment of Organisimists, and set her gently into her guitar stand as they smoke a libation of illegal tobacco leaves, named after the places they seduced her in, a joint.
Truthfully , I don't know how to keep her from slipping off your lap, but this might help.
Bailey
:p :D :p ;) |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Welcome to the OFC!
My '71 Balladeer came from the factory with a small rubber pad glued to the bowl. It has long since rotted away. I replaced it with a small piece of "grip-tape" that kids use on the top of their skateboards.
My new Ovation(both are deep bowls)has nothing stuck on the bowl and I don't feel the need to do so. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 34
Location: Germany | Sorry, I also never had that problem with roundbacks but I know it from girls with used to slipp off my lap when I was junger. Well, I tried straps, epoxies, champagne and chocolates, passing gases, nothings and nothing helped. Even 2 bottles of Chilean merlot and a large Cointreau was not a solution to that problem, until at last I just found a girl with a nicely shaped bottom that exatly fitts onto my lap. Since in Germany we all wear those leather trousers with braces on, I now just put them around her and so she never can go off. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 234
Location: Phoenix, AZ | Well, I don't know what forarm picking is, or who the experts are that suggest it. But, now that you've heard attempts to be cute, I'll try my best to help you.
First, like Paul Templeman says, the guitar should be perpendicular to your lap. The bottom front edge should be the part of the guitar resting on your lap. Obviously, if you try and rest a round object on your lap, it will roll off.
I've been playing an Ovation for 35 years, and play sitting down pretty much all the time. I have heard people complain that Ovations won't stay in their laps. These people tend to recline when they sit, and, of course, tend to try and balance the round back in their laps. Sitting up straight, or leaning forward a bit, (see, your Mom knew there'd be a good reason for you to sit up straight) is the preferred posture. And, it doesn't hurt to sort of lean into the top of the guitar (hey, it never hurt Elvis's career). I put an Ovation in my lap 35 years ago as teenager, and didn't have any problems. I've been holding it the same way for the past 35 years and never once felt like it was going to slip off my lap. Hope this helps a little and welcome to the OFC. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | it you have good technique you will have no problem
if your arm is resting on the upper bout of the guitar and you exert pressure on it, there is no way it will stay on your lap. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | dmkozak's post pretty well sums up my experience. If you're holding correctly, it will stay put.
I tried Temp's solution, but had a tough time getting the guitar in the washing machine with the jeans. And when I finally did, the strings rusted something fierce in the dryer. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | . . . just play naked. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Cliff has the only lap steel guitar with a whammy bar.
Did someone say play naked ???
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Don't laugh.
. . . it's the ONLY way to play the Q while you're sitting and not have it slide away from you . .
(Sorry Bill, . . . rest assured that it will be THOROUGHLY cleaned upon it's return in the Spring)
:D |
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Cliff, you just may have bought yourself a Q (making payments for the rest of your life!). Just the visual of you playing the Q nekkie would make me want to back away from it regardless of the cleaning. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | S#%*T!!!!
I think I just "blew" the surprise for this year's Christmas card photo . . . . . |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | just for the record Paul, . . .
. . . it's not TOTALLY nekkid . . . .
. . . . . I always wear ONE white Tube Sock. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Ah Geez.... |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Actually Cliff told me it was an ankle sock ... but I'm sure his Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band is a real treat to see live. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| I saw a post last night concerning the smoothness of those fantastic slothead adamas's. (I don't remember the poster because so many of you do not use your names just your OFC Handles? I get confused trying to remember them unless I see the names all the time. Ohh well who cares right?) and the difficulties of keeping it on your leg while playing. I use a piece of self sticking 3M velcro. I just use the side that is the fabric material it comes in rolls or in pieces about an inch wide. I cut a 9" or 10" length and stick it to the bottom in the center of the guitar. This gives me a little more friction. and helps when I am on the beach and have bare legs when wearing shorts and do not have a chair to sit in. Also depending upon the complexity of the song I am about to do sometimes I get a better hold of the Ovation if I use my left leg to rest the body on. I also always keep the strap on my guitar It is a good habit and it helps keep the guitar where I want it even when sitting. but I am using the sitting position less and less now that I am practicing more and more for the stage. Standing up is a whole new bag of tricks.
The only other problem I ever have is with a deep bowl Ovation; I notice if I gain any weight at all I feel it imediately when standing and reaching out in front of the body to play. The shallow bodies my not sound as good but they look and feel a lot better for those of us who may have that spare tire issue!
I keep my weight in check fairly well but It sure ain't easy, I ain't that young anymore. And my guitar tells me when I need to push away from the table!
Randy |
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November 2004
Posts: 34
Location: Germany | Hey, that idea with leather trousers was not so bad, ey! I have a neighbour who plays a south american animal roundback something (surly an illeagal export) but he also uses a piece of leather, size like piece of paper, to lay on his lap first. You can also easily use this to clean your instrument if nessesary. |
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stablize on lap
