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Joined:
May 2007
Posts: 15
Location: Adelaide Australia | I'm looking at a second hand (but near new) Ovation 6751 Balladeer 12 string, natural finish. Great sound, love the way it plays...for that, I'd buy it in a minute. However, it has quite a bulge in the soundboard below the bridge. I'm not sure what grade of strings are on it. Can you Ovation experts out there help me? Is this a deal breaker? I'd love to join the Ovation club....may be with this guitar, may be not.
Thanks, |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | Scorpex, if they will let me join, then anyone can.
I will let the experts advise you as to the bulge!
Welcome Aboard!
Jim |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Scorpex, welcome, About the only thing I could think of would be to try to feel or use a mirror to see if there are any braces loose. Maybe you could point the "defect" out to the seller and get the price cut. If you like the guitar, the magicians at the factory can repair anything and make it new. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Welcome Scorpex,
It is not unusual for a 12-string (or any steel string) wood top guitar to develop a belly behind the bridge. It is the size of the belly, and sometimes the corresponding dip in front of the bridge, the we have to be concerned with. The action and playability of the guitar is based on its geometry. As the wood guitar matures under the tension of the strings, the original geometry may change enough to require a neck reset.
This is just one of many articles out there providing insight into wood tops aging, what causes the belly behind the bridge, how the belly affects the playability of the guitar, and how resetting the neck compensates for the aging process.
Here is a quote from the article, "Done right, a neck reset will not only dramatically improve the playability of your precious instrument, but can also bring out the tone of the guitar. This is because as the guitar ages, the tonal properties of the wood get better while the neck-angle-to-body geometry gets worse. When you reset the neck, you can have the best of both worlds--great aged wood and proper geometry."
The Factory recently reset the neck on a 22 year-old 12-string for us. The individuals who have played it have been impressed.
The Ovation neck is a bolt-on. I have only had experience with the Factory resetting necks. Here in the States, shipping to and from the Factory and the repair is very reasonable. In Australia... if you have a guitar in need of a neck reset, you might have to factor in shipping to and from the States... unless the job can be done locally. Contact Customer Service in Connecticut to find out if they can put you in touch with someone locally.
Making an informed decision can be the difference between purchasing a nice playing guitar, or acquiring a pretty piece of wood to hang on your wall.
noah |
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Joined:
May 2007
Posts: 15
Location: Adelaide Australia | Thanks Noah and JP. I've done some homework on Ovationgallery and elsewhere and have learnt more about the Ovation bracing. The bulge is between two (almost) parallel lines that go back from the ends of the bridge towards the tail of the guitar, corresponding (I presume) to the location of braces. The bulge is even across the bridge (no more at bottom E vs top E) and diminishes going back towards the tail. The bridge is fully adhered to the soundboard. Playability is not affected, and it sounds great.
I guess I'm still wavering :confused: - is this bulging unusual in a youngish 6751? They aren't exactly easy to find in Australia, so I may have to wait for a while to have the opportunity to buy another one....and I'm not sure if another one would just be the same.
Looks like I picked the wrong weekend to post, with the factory tour on and all, but any input to my situation is most welcome. |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | scorpex,
the guitar may be showing symptoms of improper moisture content. any idea on the humidity level the guitar has been kept in? |
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Joined:
May 2007
Posts: 15
Location: Adelaide Australia | Hmmmm...I think that it has been stored at ambient humidity. Very dry over summer here, but more humid in recent weeks with autumn rain. Is deformation due to moisture content permanent? |
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Ovation 6751 Balladeer 12 String - Bridge Bulge
