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Location: New Jersey | I know that Guitar Center will be fixing my 2007, I'm bringing it in tomorrow; but I've been trying to find out what it would cost if I ever decided to grab an extra VIP or another can. I put two calls in to Ovation customer service on Thursday and have gotten no response. Also, how common is it for the cans to go bad? I did a search and found a few threads about this but no mention of pricing. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Edited by Scanman413 2012-04-09 6:49 PM
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Location: Tennessee | Wish I could help you out, but I've never has a preamp or a can ever go bad on any of my Ovations. |
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| Where in NJ are you from? If you're in northern Jersey, MacPherson Guitarworks in Ringwood is an authorized repair center. He does some pretty good work and builds some nice stuff. |
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Location: New Jersey | Squirrels, I'm in Southern NJ. I bought the guitar from guitar center and they will fix it for free as long as I take it to them within the 30 day warranty. I wanted to find the cost just as an " in case" - if the cost isn't too high I may pick up a spare can and/ or pre- amp. |
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Location: New Jersey | No one can tell me a ballpark cost for these two items? I'll sing for you...:P |
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Location: NJ | phillies 5-1 |
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Location: New Jersey | Are you predicting the next game or just being hopeful? After yesterday, I'm guessing it's the latter.  Al you would know the prices- c'mon 'fess up. I'm not that far from Bellmar and if you don't watch out I WILL come over and sing outside the window! |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Seems when I checked about a year or so ago the can/preamp retailed in the $500 + range. |
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Location: Utah | I don't believe it is approved to post such things on this forum. Call Alpep if you want a real number. I have purchased several preamps from him. The can comes with the preamp, so possibly you will have to buy the set. Alternatively the factory might provide just the can. Al would be the one who could get you the real info.
But if GC is going to repair it then you should be all set. What is wrong with the guitar, and what is GC proposing to do about it? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | FlySig - 2012-04-10 5:32 PM I don't believe it is approved to post such things on this forum. what? a speculative price? Never heard that in the many years I have been here....but maybe you know better than me cause I stopped caring years ago. |
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Location: New Jersey | Yeah, I didn't realize that was verboten. I was just trying to get an idea for future reference. I was also a bit peeved that after two calls, I got no response from Ovation customer service- and I see people asking about pricing all the time on the forums. But hey, if I was out of line, I apologize. According to the warranty, and what I was told by the mgr. in the Colorado GC, even though it's used they will fix it if it's within 30 days. When I bought it, the only thing I was told was that there was minimal fret wear and pick scratches - nothing major. It was after playing it for about 5-10 minutes that the power would cut out. Everything should work out fine, my concern is because I bought the guitar in Colorado, and I'm taking it in for repair in NJ. The GC tech is pretty sure it's the pre amp. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I may be off base... but doesn't one of the pre-amps require the "dummy" plug and if you don't use it... it stays on about as long as the tuner and shuts off? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Wow....Miles is right on....totally slipped by me.
The VIP does require the dummy plug to work
Not sure if that is Scanman's problem but good catch regardless! |
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Location: New Jersey | The guitar did come with the dummy plug, but if you have the guitar plugged into an amp via a 1/4" cable, the only other jack on the guitar is the XLR. So you wouldn't need the dummy plug, correct? |
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Location: Utah | OK, the price thing is that I am not going to tell you what Al charged me, because he charges less than full Mfg Suggested Retail prices. You can call him for a quote, and it will be as good a price as you'll get from any reputable authorized dealer. If you want a typical street price you can surf eBay.
The dummy plug has to be plugged into the 1/4" jack if you are using the XLR (or if you want to power up the tuner). If you are plugged into the 1/4" jack with a regular guitar cord you are good to go. (Al sells an XLR cable which will do the job of the dummy plug via internal wiring in the XLR plug itself).
Are you sure the Guitar Center guy understands the Ovation electronics? There are several distinct parts of the system. The electronic preamp module is the most obvious. Be sure the battery is new when you test it. The can is the main junction point for the wiring. It also has a little circuit board in the bottom, which is all passive components that should be robust against abuse (e.g. static shocks). The can going bad seems to me to be a really low probability compared to the rest of the system. The pickup plugs into the can. There are fragile wires in the pickup assembly, plus the little plug could be broken internally if it was handled abusively (unplugged by pulling on the wire rather than grabbing it by the plug itself). Then there is the output circuit board by the two jacks. Both jacks are mounted on a little circuit board. IIRC it is all passive components. There is a cable connecting that board to the can. Connectors are subject to mechanical contact failures, especially when handled. Or just oxidation with age. A frequent problem with all guitars is simple bad contact in the output jack. Your guitar has a stereo jack in the 1/4" output, with one tab used to sense a regular mono 1/4" guitar cord plugged in. It switches on the power in the preamp. If that internal tab is bent, your preamp will not turn on.
Edited by FlySig 2012-04-11 9:19 AM
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Location: New Jersey | FlySig, thanks for the response- I completely understand the price thing- that's fine- I was just trying to get a general idea of what they can cost. Regarding the GC tech guy- I'm not sure how much he knows- right away he thinks its the pre-amp. The tech they used to have was excellent and he now has his own shop- he is my go to guy. I'm taking it to GC strictly because it's still under warranty there. I opened up the back of the guitar and saw all the things you mention- the circuit board, etc. I get the feeling that this guy is so backed up that he just wants to replace the pre-amp. And in all honesty, if that's the most expensive part- and they install one, I'm fine with that. I tried to tell him that he needs to check out all the components-I guess I'll find out today what the story is. My whole point for this thread was to see if it came down to it- what it might cost me out of pocket to get my good tech to fix it if GC guy can't. The guitar is too nice to return- hell, if I have to save up some cash in the meantime I'll put my OP-30 (from my Celebrity) in there to get me by. The OP-30 will work in the VIP can, right? |
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Location: New Jersey | Also, I tried looking up the prices through Ebay, Google, Ovation- the only pricing I see is for the iDea preamp. That was why I had put a call in to Ovation, and even that turned out to be a bust. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | The OP-30 will work in the VIP can, right?
No. Different contact arrangement.
You could swap the cans tho...
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Location: Utah | Is this a brand new 2007 Collector's Edition? |
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Location: New Jersey | No Fly, it's a used one. As I mentioned in an earlier post above, all they said was wrong was some minor fret wear and surface pick scratches- and they sent me pics to show me. I think because it takes a good 5 or more minutes for it to cut out, they they probably didn't play it ebough to see that there were any electronic issues. |
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Location: Tennessee | You've tried a fresh battery, right? My BCS has crapped out like that when the battery gets low. Still enough juice in the 9v to zap my tongue, but not enough to power the preamp for long. |
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Location: New Jersey | Hey bobbo, yeah tried that too. Update- got a call from GC; Ovation is sending them the new VIP, guitar will be done next week and covered under the 30 day warranty. Major props to John from Ovation who I spoke to on the phone and who got this ball rolling. WOOT!!! |
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Location: Tennessee | Excellent! I just saw a video someone took of me playing the 07BCS through the PA at a club and it sounded fabulous. You will be totally stoked when they get it all put together for you.
BTW ... they probably don't hear it very often, so props to Guitar Center for doing the right thing. And of course, to Mr. Budny for making sure they got it right. |
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Location: New Jersey | Yeah, I have had very good used purchase situations with Guitar Center-IMO they have become pretty competitive in the used market. The pricing is usually right on and for the most part- at least the ones I've dealt with, have been pretty honest with their assesment of the instrument they are selling. I've been able to work the 12 months no interest plan for every purchase I've made in the last couple of years, and that is a blessing. |
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Location: New Jersey | Bobbo, you wouldn't happen to be able to show that video? I'd love to hear your BCS.
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VIP-5 and "can" cost
