supporting an Ovation top

[jeff durham]

I 'm having to refret an Ovation. There's no big sound hole only the little ones off to the side. Does anyone here have any ideas on supporting the top for  hammering in the frets where the last 9-10 frets go over the top. My thought was stacking up small bags of sand tight up against the top. Any and all advise from the minds here will be greatly appriciated.Thanks.

[Greg Mirken]

Does it have that big access hole in the back, perchance? If not I think I'd just make the frets a pretty easy press fit and CA them in.

[jeff durham]

thanks Greg. Yes it does have the access hole in the back.

[Mike Kolb]

Thumb-through the site and, after a while, you'll see that Ovations are generally considered to be the red-headed stepchild from a repair point of view. 

Too many quirky methods of assembly and lots of non-standard thinking.  Still, a fret job is a fret job and the access panel on the back should be the answer. 

Coincidentally, FF mentioned recently that frets are the ONLY thing he'll touch on an Ovation. Smart man!