Ovation Guitars Look Up By Serial Number

Enter your search keyword. Adamas Ovation Model number 1685-2 12 strings one owner. Junk Current product Ovation Celebrity CC257 Neck difficulty Eleaco Ovation Acou. Ovation Bass Guitars. Martin Musical Instrument Equipment.

  1. Find the current Blue Book value and worth of your new and used guitars, both acoustic, electric and amplifier. The number one source of guitar and amplifier pricing and information so you can find the price and value of your used guitars and amplifier. Use this site for a pricing guide and source of information on all guitars.
  2. Is there a database for Ovation Guitar Serial Numbers that I can just enter a Serial Number and it will tell me about the guitar? I had a link to one moons ago, but seemed to have lost it. Thanks in advance. Al Tune In, Strum On.
  3. Here I have an Ovation Balladeer 1111 Deep Bowl 1983 Natural Acoustic / Electric USA Made. I search and collect vintage Ovation guitars in excellent condition. This guitar is in excellent condition in general and for its age is in exceptional condition. The action is very good, it plays well and sounds classical vintage Ovation.

A series of tables and lists that summarise serial numbers, model codes and colors of the Ovation guitars from the beginning to the end of the 20th Century.

Years and models

Original series from 1966

RangeDateComment
006-3191966three digits in red ink
320-9991967 (Feb.-Nov.)New Hartford; three digits in red ink
1000-1967 (Nov.)-1968 (July)four digits in black ink, no letter prefix
10000-1970 (Feb.)-1972 (May)five digits, no letter prefix
A + three digits1968 (July-Nov.)
B + three digits1968 (Nov.)-1969 (Feb.)
B + five digits1974-1979Magnum solidbody basses
C + three digits1969 (Feb.-Sept.)
D + three digits1969 (Sept.)-1970 (Feb.)
E + four digits1973 (Jan.)-1975 (Feb.)solidbodies
E + five digits1975 (Feb.)-1980solidbodies
E + six digits1980 (late)-1981some UK IIs (does not reflect production)
F, G prefix1968 (July)-1970 (Feb.)
H, I, J, L prefix1970-1973Electric Storm series

Ovation: six digits series from 1971

RangeDateComment
000001-0070001972 (May-Dec.)
007001-0200001973
020001-0390001974
039001-0670001975
067001-0860001976
086001-1030001977 (Jan.-Sept.)
103001-1260001977 (Sept.)-1978 (Apr.)
126001-1570001978 (Apr.-Dec.)
157001-2030001979
211011-2149331980
214934-2636331981
263634-2914561982
291457-3026691983
302670-3033191984Elites only
315001-3391871984 (May-Dec.)Balladeers only
303320-3560001985-1986
357000-3679991987
368000-3821061988
382107-3929001989
403760-4204001990
421000-4306801990
400001-4036761991
430681-4460001991
402700-4060001992
446001-4578101992
457811-4707691993
470770-4844001994
484401-5014701995

Adamas: from September 1977

RangeYear
0077-00991977
0100-06081978
0609-10581979
1059-16701980
1671-26681981
2669-32421982
3243-38591983
3860-41091984
4110-42511985
4252-42831986
4284-44271987
4428-46961988
4697-49741989
4975-55411990
5542-62781991
6279-70881992
7089-81591993
8160-97781994
9779-112131995

Model numbers

The model 4 digit codes for the original models. Everything changed and became sort of messy from the Seventies, so the best way to be shure is using the Ovation Decoder.

  • First digit
    • 1 – most models born before year 2000
    • 2 – contour bowl
    • 4 – Japanese Balladeers
    • 5 – parlours and some Elites
    • 6 -Standard Elites, widenecks, some Adamas
  • Second digit is type of guitar:
    • 1 Acoustic roundbacks (also semi-hollowbody electrics)
    • 2 Solidbody and semi-hollowbody electrics
    • 3 Ultra acoustics
    • 4 Solidbody
    • 5 Acoustic electric cutaway Adamas and II/Elite/Ultra electric
    • 6 Acoustic electric roundbacks
    • 7 Deep
    • 8 Shallow
  • Third digit denotes bowl depth on acoustic and acoustic electrics:
    • 1 Standard bowl 5 13/16″ deep
    • 2 Artist bowl 5 1/8″ deep
    • 3 Elite/Matrix electric deep bowl
    • 4 Matrix shallow bowl
    • 5 Custom Balladeer Legend Legend 12 Custom Legend 12 Anniversary
    • 6 Cutaway electric deep bowl
    • 7 Cutaway electric shallow bowl
    • 8 Adamas 6 1/16″ deep
  • Fourth digit denotes model
    • 1 Balladeer
    • 2 Deluxe Balladeer
    • 3 Classic
    • 4 Josh White
    • 5 12-String
    • 6 Contemporary Folk Classic
    • 7 Glen Campbell Artist Balladeer
    • 8 Glen Campbell 12-String
    • 9 Custom Legend (from 1974)
  • Color code follows hyphen after model number (but I am not quite sure for all of them):
    • 1 Sunburst
    • 2 Red
    • 4 Natural
    • 5 Black H Honeyburst
    • 6 White
    • 7 LTD Nutmeg/Anniversary Brown/Beige/Tan
    • 8 Blue
    • 9 Brown
    • B Barnwood (gray-to-black sunburst)
    • H Honey sungurst

Model Chronology

The dates in this chronology reflect actual appearances of models, determined from price lists and the recollections of sales representatives and dealers. They may differ slightly from the first production or official introduction dates in the text.

Acoustic and Acoustic Electric

1964Charles Kaman chose a small team of aerospace engineers and technicians, several of whom were woodworking hobbyists as well, to work to invent a new guitar. One of these was Charles McDonough, who later created the Ovation Adamas model. Kaman founded Ovation Instruments.
1965Engineers and luthiers work to improve acoustic guitars by changing their conventional materials. The R&D team builds and tests prototype instruments. Their first prototype has a conventional dreadnought body, with parallel front and back perpendicular to the sides. The innovation is the use of a thinner, synthetic back, because of its foreseen acoustic properties. The company is moved from the aerospace facilities of Bloomfield to a new location in New Hartford.
1966Balladeer introduced. Has a natural top, Grover Rotomatic tuners, dot fret markers, white-black-white binding, small or thin rosette with figure-8 chain link motif and grape bunch at 4 o’clock position. Less than 100 made before February 1967 move to New Hartford factory. The very early have no rosette, some have extra diamond fret markers at twelfth fret.
1967 (Feb.)Deluxe Balladeer introduced. Essentially a Balladeer with diamonds at twelfth fret, Grover Rotomatics (Balladeer now has Kluson tuners), five-ply top binding.
1967 (Sept.)Classic introduced. No fret markers, twelve frets clear of body, flat fingerboard. Josh White model introduced. Twelve frets clear of body, wider neck, steel strings, dot markers with diamonds at twelfth fret. Shaded brown sunburst top introduced.

Larger floral leaf rosette appears. Model numbers introduced:

  • Model #1 Balladeer
  • Model #2 Deluxe Balladeer
  • Model #3 Classic
  • Model #4 Josh White.
1968 (Jan.)Model #5 12-String introduced
1968 (July)Semi-hollowbody Electric Storm series introduced
Model #6 Contemporary Folk Classic appears in the catalog, but is only produced as a prototype (probably during development of Glen Campbell model), with red, green or blue bowl color option
1968 (Nov.)Glen Campbell models and shallow “Artist” bowl introduced.
Four-digit model numbers with K prefix introduced:
  • K-1111 Balladeer
  • K-1112 Custom Balladeer
  • K-1113 Classic
  • K-1114 Josh White
  • K-1115 12-String
  • K-1116 Contemporary Folk Classic (prototypes only)
  • K-1117 Deluxe Balladeer
  • K-1118 Glen Campbell 12-String
  • K-1121 Artist Balladeer
  • K-1123 Artist Classic
  • K-1127 Glen Campbell Artist Balladeer
1970Josh White model deleted after his death
1971 (May)K-1124 Country Artist introduced. Similar to the Josh White but with shallow bowl, fourteen-fret neck, flat fingerboard, and nylon strings, replaces Josh White as the #4 model.
Acoustic electric models introduced:
  • K-1621 Electric Artist Balladeer
  • K-1624 Electric Country Artist
1972 (June)Solidbody electrics introduced. K prefix deleted from model names
  • 1114 Folklore introduced (reintroduction of Josh White model)
  • 1115 12-String renamed Pacemaker
  • 1117 Deluxe Balladeer renamed Legend
  • 1122 Classic Balladeer introduced
  • 1614 Electric Folklore introduced
  • 1615 Electric Pacemaker introduced
  • 1617 Electric Legend introduced
1974
  • 1116 Concert Classic introduced
  • 1616 Electric Concert Classic introduced
  • 1119 Custom Legend introduced
  • 1619 Electric Custom Legend introduced
1976New top finishes introduced: Red, White, or Blue Patriot Bicentennial introduced. Limited run of 1776 guitars, fancy version of Custom Legend with drum-and-flag decal and “1776*1976” on lower treble bout.
1976 (Sept.)Adamas introduced in prototype form for artists and select dealers. The first 26 are prototypes; #27-#61 are a non-tooling production run; #62-#76 have a new headstock design and the Kaman bar neck reinforcement. Wooden epaulettes around soundholes change to a photographic Mylar material. Extensive tooling begins Sept. 1977. Dealers receive first production models in Dec. 1977. First production Adamas sold is a Model 1687, #0077-95. Suffix is guitar’s natural frequency resonance. The first Adamas 12-String is #213. Charles H. Kaman signs the labels up to #600. At #600 C.W. (Bill) Kaman II begins signing labels.
  • 1187 Acoustic Adamas
  • 1188 Acoustic Adamas 12-String
  • 1687 Adamas (acoustic electric)
  • 1688 Adamas 12-String (acoustic electric)
19781157 Anniversary and 1657 Electric Anniversary introduced
19791587 Adamas cutaway and
1651 Legend Limited (electric only) introduced
1981Adamas II models introduced. Standard Ovation neck and bridge, available as acoustic electric only.
  • 1681 Adamas II
  • 1685 Adamas II 12-String
  • 1581 Adamas II cutaway
1982Collectors’ Series inaugurated (see separate listing) and several new models, including cutaway models:
  • 1155 Custom Balladeer 12 introduced
  • 1655 Electric Custom Balladeer 12 introduced
  • 1156 Legend 12 introduced
  • 1656 Electric Legend 12 introduced
  • 1159 Custom Legend 12 introduced
  • 1659 Electric Custom Legend 12 introduced
  • 1661 Balladeer Cutaway
  • 1667 Legend Cutaway
  • 1677 Legend Shallow Cutaway
  • 1669 Custom Legend Cutaway
  • 1674 Country Artist cutaway
  • 1663 Classic Cutaway
  • Adamas cutaways.
  • Wood-top Adamas prototype produced. Number on label is N-19-82WTSL (WTSL for Wood Top Super Legend). Production model will be named Elite.
1982 (Oct.)Elite appears on price list; production begins shortly thereafter. First catalog appearance is late 1983.
1983Super-shallowbodies introduced
1988Abalone trim added to Custom Legend and Electric Custom Legend
1989Introduced Optima-3 preamp
1998Introduced the Custom Legend Al Di meola.
2004Introduced the LX series (for Light and X-Bracing)

Colors

1Sunburst
1YSunburst Flame
2Red
2WFBRed Waterfall Bubinga
3Green
4Natural
4BNatural Bird Eyes
4CNatural Cedar
4GNatural Graphite
4GBNatural Graphite Burst
4HFxNatural w/HEXFX Electronics
4RMRecording Model that features Optimax
5Black
5BQBlack Blue (Quilted)
5EEbony Stain
5EYEbony Transparent Flame
5FBlack Flake
5HGBlack High Gloss
5MBirdseye
5PBlack Pearl
6White – Cream White
6PWhite Pearlescent
7LTD Nutmeg, Anniversary Brown, Tan and Beige, Deep Red
7QMNutmeg
8Blue
😯Opaque Blue
8TBlue Transparent
8TYBlue Transparent Flame
9Brown Sunburst
9FMBrown Burst Flamed maple
9BBrown Burst Bird Eyes
9YBrown Burst Cycamore
30CM30th Anniversary Natural
ABAutumn Burst
AMAmber
ANBAntique Brown Burst
ANRAntique Red
ASAntique Sunburst Bird Eyes
ASBAspen Blue
ASWAngel Step Walnut
BBarnwood (Gray-to-Black Sunburst)
BCBBlack Cherry Burst
BCBQBlack Cherry Burst Quilt
BFTBlue Flame Top
BGBlue Green (Adamas)
BSBlue Sparkle
BSBBlue Surf Burst
BTABlue Tamo Ash
BZBronze
CBCobalt Blue
CBVCobalt Blue with VIP Preamp
CCBCherry Cherry Burst
CCBQCherry Cherry Burst Quilt
CGCadillac Green
CGBCadillac Green Burst
CRPCrimson Red Pearl
CSCherry Sunburst
CTBFACherry Transparent Burst Figured Ash
DBPDark Blue Pearl
DPQDeep Purple Quilt
DSQDeep Black
DTQDeep Turquise (Quilted)
FKOAFigured Koa
FRFigured Redwood
GBurgundy Sunburst
GQGreen Quilt
HHoney
HTHoney Sunburst
YBYellow Burst Flame
YSYellow Burst
ICIced Coffee
HBHoneyburst
LFRLegend Figured Redwood
LRLusty Red
MMahogany
NB2No-Burst Red
NB5No-Burst Black
NB8No-Burst Blue
NEBNew England Burst
NMQNutmeg Maple Quilt
NWTNatural Woven Top
OBOpaque Burgundy
OFTOrange Flame Top
PPewter
PBPlum Burst
PTFPurple Tribal Flame
PYPlumburst on Sycamore
RBRootbeer
RFRed Flame
RGRuby Graphite
RRRuby Red
RRBRuby Redburst
RRBYRuby Redburts Flame
RTDRed Tear Drop
RTDBRed Tear Drop Burst
RWRose White
RWBRed Wineburst
RBBWRuby Burst Burled Walnut
SSSilver Sparkle
SSPSilver Satin Pearl
TTurquise
T5Textured Black
TBTobacco Burst
TGTeal Graphite
TDBTeardrop Burst
THTransparent Honey
TNTangerine
TPBTransparent Burgundy
TQTurquoise Quilted
USAUS Flag
VOQVintage Orange (Quilted)
VYVintage Flamed Sycamore
VTVintage
WBWine Burst Flame
WPWhite Pearl
WSWalnut stain
ZAll Black guitar

Altro da leggere:

Posted by admin
OvationJump to navigationJump to search
Ovation Guitar Company
Subsidiary
IndustryMusical instruments
PredecessorOvation Instruments, a division of Kaman Aircraft[1][2] (c. 1964)[history 1][history 2]
Foundedc. 1965,[citation needed]New Hartford, Connecticut
FounderCharles Kaman
Headquarters
ProductsAcoustic guitars
ParentDrum Workshop
Websiteovationguitars.com

The Ovation Guitar Company is a manufacturer of guitars. Ovation primarily manufactures steel-string acoustic guitars (both 6 and 12-string versions) and nylon-string acoustic guitars, often with pickups for electric amplification. In 2015, it became a subsidiary of Drum Workshop after being acquired from KMCMusicorp.[3]

The company's Ovation and Adamas guitars are known for their round backs, which gives them a recognizable shape. The latter are also well known for the use of carbon fiber tops (instead of the typically wood tops for acoustic guitars). Among musicians the relatively thin neck stands out as well, compared to other acoustic guitars.

  • 3Initial marketing
  • 4Design innovations
  • 5Model Overview

History[edit]

A mid-1970s Kaman Ovation Custom Balladeer 1612-4 acoustic electric guitar, next to a lute.

Founder Charles Kaman (1919–2011) developed the first prototypes of the Ovation guitar in 1965–1966.[4][5][6] Kaman, an amateur guitarist from an early age, worked on helicopter design as an aerodynamacist at United. Eventually, he founded a helicopter design company, Kaman Aircraft, in 1945.[7]

The Kaman Corporation soon diversified, branching into nuclear weapons testing, commercial helicopter flight, development and testing of chemicals, and helicopter bearings production. In the early 1960s, however, financial problems from the failure of their commercial flight division forced them to expand into new markets, such as entertainment and leisure. Charles Kaman, still an avid guitar player, became interested in making guitars.[4][8]

From 1966 to 2007 Ovation guitars, and later on Adamas guitars, were a brand of KMCMusicorp, which itself was a subsidiary of Kaman Aircraft.

In 2008 KMCMusicorp (and with that the Ovation brand) was sold to the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.[9] In 2014, Fender announced that they were closing the Ovation guitar factory in New Hartford, Connecticut, leaving all production of Ovation guitars overseas.[10] Before that announcement Fender established a U.S. production of various acoustic guitars in the New Hartford factory. Alongside Ovation and Adamas guitars, which were produced there for decades, Fender started a U.S. production of other Fender-owned brands in that factory, as is known, Guild (Guild Guitar Company) and Fender.[11]

Shortly after closing the New Hartford factory[when?] it was announced that the Ovation brand had been sold to the company Drum Workshop, alongside a few other previously Fender-owned brands. The announcement was made on January 7, 2015. In addition to the Ovation brand, Drum Workshop also bought the New Hartford factory and reinstated the previously ceased U.S. production of Ovation and Adamas guitars, basses, ukuleles and mandolins.[12]

Research and development of first models[edit]

Fiberglass round-back body (medium-depth) of Ovation Balladeer (1968)

Charles Kaman put a team of employees to work to invent a new guitar in 1964.[4][13] For the project, Kaman chose a small team of aerospace engineers and technicians, several of whom were woodworking hobbyists as well. One of these was Charles McDonough, who created the Ovation Adamas model.[history 1] Kaman founded Ovation Instruments, and in 1965 its engineers and luthiers (guitar makers) worked to improve acoustic guitars by changing their conventional materials. The R&D team spent months building and testing prototype instruments. Their first prototype had a conventional 'dreadnought' body, with parallel front and back perpendicular to the sides. The innovation was the use of a thinner, synthetic back, because of its foreseen acoustic properties. Unfortunately, the seam joining the sides to the thin back was prone to breakage. To avoid the problem of a structurally unstable seam, the engineers proposed a synthetic back with a parabolic shape. By mid-1966, according to Ovation, they realized that the parabolic shape produced a desirable tone with greater volume than the conventional dreadnought.[14]

Once the engineers had settled on a parabolic shape, they turned their attention to developing a substance that could be molded into this bowl-like shape. Using their knowledge of high-tech aerospace composites, they developed Lyrachord, a patented material comprising interwoven layers of glass filament and bonding resin.

The first successful design, built by luthier Gerry Gardner, went into production soon after the company was established.[15]

The first Ovation guitar made its debut in November 1966. Its Lyrachord body gave the instrument, according to the company, unprecedented projection and ringing sustain.[history 2] Compared to modern Ovation Guitars, the initial instruments had a shiny bowl that was used again, for example, in the Balladeer 40th anniversary re-issue.

Initial marketing[edit]

Custom made Josh White model built under his guidance.
Glen Campbell(pictured) gave national publicity to Ovation's round-back guitars.

The introduction and promotion of the first Ovation was closely associated with two performing artists, the blues-performer Josh White and the country-music singer Glen Campbell.

Josh White[edit]

In 1966-1967, the Ovation Guitar Company produced a signature guitar for Josh White, which was the first signature guitar made for an African American.[model 1][model 2][model 3][model 4] White was the first official Ovation endorser.[history 3]

Upon completion, the first Ovation Guitar was called the 'Josh White Model,'[model 5][model 6] which White played at the Hotel America (Hartford, Connecticut), 14 November 1966; at the same show, the Balladeers played Balladeer models.[2] The show was witnessed by '300 representatives of the press and the music industry'[1]

Glen Campbell, 1968[edit]

The Ovation Roundback Balladeer first caught national attention in 1968 when Glen Campbell hosted a variety show he called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS, and in the following year, 1969, he became one of Ovation's first endorsers.[4]

Design innovations[edit]

Ovation Adamas has multiple sound holes (11, 15, or 22 by model) on the upper-soundboard. (11 of them are visible in picture)
On-board electronics on Celebrity CC44: Right: a pre-amp unit OP 4BT including electronic tuner, Left: 9-volt battery box.This unit provides volume knob, 3-band equalizers, tune button, LED display, and is a standard on entry-models (Celebrity and Applause in 2011–2012).

Ovation guitar design reflects its founder's engineering training and development of Kaman helicopters. Ovation guitars replace the instrument's conventional back and sides with composite synthetic bowls. Kaman felt there were structural weaknesses in the orthogonal joining of the sides, and that a composite material could provide a smooth body. Ovation claims the parabolic bowls dramatically reduce feedback, allowing greater amplification. Improved synthetics techniques from helicopter engineering control vibrations in the bowl. Ovation developed a thin neck, striving for the feel of an electric guitar's neck, but with additional strength from layers of mahogany and maple reinforced by a steel rod in an aluminum channel.[16] The composite materials and thin necks reduced weight.

Serial

For its soundboards, Ovation uses Sitka spruce, a wood that Kaman engineers used in helicopter blades. In the 1970s, Ovation developed thinner soundboards with carbon-based composites laminating a thin layer of birch in its Adamas model. The Adamas model dissipated the sound-hole of the traditional soundboard among 22 small sound holes in the upper chamber of the guitar, which Ovation says yields greater volume and further reduces feedback during amplification (pioneered in the Adamas model in 1977).[16] Although the area of the multiple sound holes is equal to the area of a single-soundhole, the altered position allows a new style of Guitar bracing (e.g. Adamas Bracing). The design strengthens the soundboard, reducing the traditional design's bracing and hence weight. In the 1980s, Ovation introduced shallow-bowl guitars to appeal to electric guitarists.

In 1977-1978, Gypsy, an Ovation performing and recording artist, designed the first stereo pre-amplifier for the Adamas 12 string and used it on his album 'Ladies Love Outlaws.' At the same time, Ovation provided small doors that blocked the sound holes from the inside in order to dampen feedback in the presence of loud stage monitors. Gypsy had also requested the addition of a round hatch in the back of the body of pre-Adamas guitars to facilitate changing the on-board battery, a feature that was then adopted for all the 'round holes.' Before this time, the strings on the round-hole guitars had to be removed to do this. On-board electronics let guitarists move about the stage rather than stay in front of a microphone. On-board electronic tuning, availability, uniformity, and frugal costs facilitated performances by guitar ensembles like Robert Fripp's Guitar Craft students. Ovation has also produced solid-body electric guitars and active basses.

Ovations reached the height of their popularity in the 1980s, where they were often seen during live performances by touring artists, such as Rush's Alex Lifeson or Paul Simon in The Concert in Central Park. Ovation guitars' synthetic bowl-shaped back and early use (1971) of pre-amplifiers, onboard equalization and piezo pickups were particularly attractive to live acoustic musicians who constantly battled feedback problems from the high volumes needed in live venues.[citation needed]

Ergonomics[edit]

When he became one of Ovation Guitars's first endorsers, Glen Campbell suggested reducing the weight of the guitar, which he had discovered caused back strain.[17] After that, Ovation reduced the weight of several models and pioneered 'super-shallow' guitar bodies.

While it was produced, Ovation's super-shallow 1867 Legend was the recommended guitar in Robert Fripp's Guitar Craft.[18][19]Tamm (1990) wrote that the acoustic 1867 Legend has 'a gently rounded super-shallow body design that may be about as close to the shape and depth of an electric guitar as is possible without an intolerable loss of tone quality. Fripp liked the way the Ovation 1867 fitted against his body, which made it possible for him to assume the right-arm picking position he had developed using electric guitars over the years; on deeper-bodied guitars, the Frippian arm position is impossible without uncomfortable contortions.'[18]

Model Overview[edit]

The Ovation Guitar Company produces guitars under the names Ovation and Adamas.

Ovation has produced the Custom Legend 1769 ADII for Al Di Meola(pictured).[model 7]

Ovation guitars have been also produced in China, South Korea and Indonesia. Import models generally have a wooden top. Recently, Ovation significantly reduced U.S production. From 2010 on, better models—Legend, Elite, Custom Legend, Custom Elite—were made both in the U.S. and in Korea. Before that, these models were U.S. made. In recent years, many U.S. made are identifiable by 'LX' in the product name (e.g., Legend 2077LX), whereas Korean versions have 'AX' in the model name (e.g., Legend 2077AX). Ovation does not use this convention on all models (e.g., Ovation 1617ALE). Currently, Ovation produces only a few U.S. made models, mostly signature and limited edition models (e.g., Custom Legend 1769-ADII Al DiMeola). Production of the standard model range of Ovation guitars in the U.S. has been ceased under the ownership of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, but is about to be reinstated by the new owner Drum Workshop.[12][20]

Ovation developed another signature guitar, an Adamas-model twelve-string guitar for Melissa Etheridge(pictured).

The Adamas name mainly stands for guitars with a carbon fiber top, although there are exceptions (one is the Adamas 2081WT - WT stands for woodtop). Until the closure of the New Hartford, Connecticut factory in June 2014, all Adamas models were produced in the U.S.[21]

LX does not only stand for U.S. made. Originally LX indicated an Ovation guitar that included new features not available on previous models.

Back in 2007 Ovation explained on its website that new features included the new OP-Preamp, an advanced neck system (lightweight dual-action truss rod, carbon fiber stabilizers), a patented pickup (made of 6 elements), inlaid epaulets, scalloped bracing, and a new hard composite Lyrachord GS body.[model 8] Back then, there was no AX model line. The first AX models appeared on the Ovation-website in 2010. Based on the website's history, the LX features were introduced in 2004.

Upper-level guitars: Balladeer, Legend and Elite[edit]

There are mainly two lines:

  • Legend and Standard Balladeer models have one large sound hole as on most acoustic guitars (Standard Balladeer, Legend, Custom Legend - produced in Korea).
  • Elites have several smaller sound holes (Standard Elite, Elite, Custom Elite - produced in Korea).

The first Ovation guitar model was a Balladeer (later known as Standard Balladeer)[model 9]

  • Balladeer

  • Patriot

  • Collector's Series 2007-BCS[model 10]

Entry-level guitars: Applause and Celebrity[edit]

Ovation has two lines of entry-level guitars.Applause, the lowest cost line, with mainly laminated tops, is imported from China. Celebrity models are imported from China or Korea, and range from entry-to-medium level laminated top models, to high-end, solid top models with lots of ornamentation.

  • Applause AE-38

  • Celebrity CC44

Electric guitars: Semi-hollow and solid bodies[edit]

In 1967–1968, Ovation introduced its Electric Storm Series of semi-hollow archtop guitars and basses. The pickups for these instruments were manufactured by Rowe Industries, who produced DeArmond music products in Toledo, Ohio. Production stopped in 1969.[22]

In 1972, Ovation introduced one of the first production solid-body electric-guitars with active electronics, the Ovation Breadwinner. The model did not become popular, however, and production of the Breadwinner and the Ovation Deacon ceased in 1980. Ovation made several other solid-body models up until the mid 1980s.[model 11] Since that time, the company has focused mainly on acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars.

  • K-1260 Tornado (1967/1968), a thinline hollow body electric guitar[23]

  • Deacon (1973–1982)

  • K-1261 Magnum 1 bass (c.1978)[model 13]

Other instruments: acoustic bass guitars, ukuleles, mandolins[edit]

Ovation also offers bass guitars, ukuleles, and mandolins.

  • Ovation electro-acoustic bass guitar

  • Ovation electro-acoustic mandolin

Performers using or endorsing Ovations[edit]

Toto guitarist and session musicianSteve Lukather plays an Adamas model.

Ovation guitars have been used and endorsed by many professional musicians, including:

  • Glen Campbell; DJ Ashba, Melissa Etheridge, Nikki Sixx, Mick Thomson; Kaki King, Steve Lukather;
  • Marcel Dadi, Ray Davies,[24]Roy Harper,[25]James Hetfield, Josh Homme, Dr. Hook, Cyndi Lauper, Alex Lifeson, John Lennon, Chad Morgan, Country Joe McDonald, David Gates, Roger Miller, Roger Voudouris, Cliff Richard, Jimmy Griffin, Janis Ian, Leonard Cohen[26]
  • John McLaughlin, Bill Connors, Larry Coryell, Yngwie Malmsteen, Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Bob Welch, Stephen Marley, Lindsey Buckingham, Roman Miroshnichenko, Jim Croce, Maury Muehleisen, Dave Mustaine, Vince Neil, Jimmy Page, Richard Daniel Roman, Harry Chapin, Alexander Rosenbaum, Shania Twain, Boz Scaggs, Luis Alberto Spinetta, Statler Brothers, Red Symons, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Van Morrison and Aaron Tippin;[24]
  • Bob Weir, Joan Armatrading, Roy Clark, Kevin Cronin, Pino Daniele, Fabrizio De André, Neil Diamond, Al Di Meola, Robert Fripp, Mick Jagger, Greg Lake, Adrian Legg, Paul McCartney, Brian May, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Freddie Mercury, Kenny Loggins, Jim Messina, Steve Morse, Eddie Rabbitt, Kenny Rogers, Richie Sambora, Tom Scholz, Seal, Bob Seger, Paul Simon, Rick Springfield, Austin WeinstockCat Stevens, Alun Davies, Jeff Lynne, Kelly Groucutt, Russell Javors, Steve Miller, Phil Judd, Don Spencer, Terry Kath, Judee Sill, Peter Cetera, Dave Mason, Eddie Van Halen, and Nancy Wilson;[27]
  • Dan Peek, Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, Steve Khan, Roy Orbison, Davey Johnstone, Roger McGuinn, Clarence White, Paul Weller, Rick James, John Denver, David Cassidy, Georg Kajanus, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch, Laurence Juber, Randy Jackson, Jorma Kaukonen
  • Roger Waters and David Gilmour.[28][29], Kevin Cronin, Ross Valory, Pete Carr, Maurice Gibb
  • Heart'sNancy Wilson(pictured) plays an Adamas model.

  • Melissa Etheridge's Ovation exhibited at Hard Rock Cafe Florence.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ ab'Helicopter Pioneer To Make Guitars - Kaman Aircraft Corp. unveil radical Ovation line of acoustical guitars'(PDF). The Music Trades. December 1966.
  2. ^ ab1966 Ovation Original Program(PDF). demonstration dinner show program. Ovation Instruments. November 14, 1966.
  3. ^'KMC Music Sells Percussion Brands, Ovation Guitars to Drum Workshop'. Music Inc. Magazine. January 6, 2015.
    'Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced today that its subsidiary, KMC Music, has sold its owned and licensed percussion brands, including Gretsch Drums, Latin Percussion, Toca Percussion, KAT Percussion and Gibraltar Hardware — as well as the Ovation guitar brand and the exclusive U.S. distribution rights for Sabian Cymbals — to Drum Workshop, Inc., the manufacturer of DW drums, hardware and accessories.'
  4. ^ abcdCruice (1996)
  5. ^Carter (1996, pp. 24–36)
  6. ^Press release 'Statement from Kaman Corporation, On the Death of Company Founder, Charles Huron Kaman'. Kaman Corporation. January 31, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  7. ^Carter (1996, pp. 12–16)
  8. ^Carter (1996, pp. 17–18)
  9. ^Press release 'Fender Buys Kaman'. American Songwriter. October 29, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. ^Press release 'Sounds Of Silence: Ovation Guitar Closing New Hartford Factory'. Hartford Courant. April 23, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
    The factory was reopened in October 2015 by current owner Drum Workshop, Inc.
  11. ^Press release 'Factory Tour: Fender Acoustic Custom Shop • Guild Guitars • Ovation'. premierguitar.com. Premier Guitar. June 18, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  12. ^ abPress release 'Ovation to restart U.S. production'. JazzMando.com. July 22, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  13. ^Carter (1996, Chapter 2 'A better guitar', p. 23)
  14. ^Carter (1996, Chapter 2 'A better guitar': 'The roundback', p. 24)
  15. ^'Time Off'. timeoff.com.au.[dead link]
  16. ^ abDenyer (1989, p. 48)
  17. ^Carter (1996, Chapter 3 'Into production': 'Glen Campbell', p. 46)
  18. ^ abTamm (1990, Chapter 10 'Guitar Craft')
  19. ^Carter (1996, Chapter 7 'Bill Kaman and the KMC [Kaman Music Corporation]': 'Changes', p. 93)
    Caption for a picture of Fripp: 'English rocker Robert Fripp with a favorite instrument of his, a super-shallow bowl Legend'
  20. ^'Ovation im Wandel'. Ovation Reference Shop (in German). Musikhaus Andresen GmbH. September 20, 2012. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  21. ^Dowling, Brian (April 23, 2014). 'Sounds Of Silence: Ovation Guitar Closing New Hartford Factory'. The Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  22. ^Carter (1996, Chapter 4 Electrification: A brief Electric Storm, p. 58)
  23. ^'Electric Storm Hollowbodies'. 40 years of innovation - Ovation Timeline, OvationGuitars.com. Kaman Music Corp. 2007. Archived from the original on August 18, 2007.
  24. ^ ab'Artists'. OvationGuitars.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014.
  25. ^'Ovation [Roy Harpers use of Ovation Guitars]'. Music UK (Guitar Special 1985): 84–85. 1985.
  26. ^'Leonard Cohen's Equipboard'. [Equipboard]]. Equipboard Inc. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  27. ^Carter (1996, p. 127 (index), apart from Seal with bass guitar on p.100)
  28. ^Fitch (2005, pp. 416–430, 441–445): Fitch, Vernon (2005). The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia (Third ed.). London: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc. ISBN978-1-894959-24-7.
  29. ^Fitch, Vernon; Mahon, Richard (2006). Comfortably Numb. A history of The Wall. Pink Floyd 1978–1981. PFA Publishing, Incorporated. p. 268. ISBN978-0-9777366-0-7.

Comprehensive history

  1. ^ ab'Charlie Kaman's Story'. OvationGuitars.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014.
  2. ^ ab'The History of Ovation Guitars'. OvationGuitars.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014.
  3. ^'The History of Ovation Guitars'. Muncie, Indiana: World Music Supply. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.

Model

Ovation Guitars Look Up By Serial Number Identification

  1. ^'Ovation Josh White Model Brochure'. Ovation Instruments. 1967/1968.Check date values in: date= (help)
  2. ^'History Detectives - Josh White Guitar'. Oregon Public Broadcasting / Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
  3. ^'History Detectives - Josh White Guitar'(transcription). Oregon Public Broadcasting / Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
  4. ^'Ovation Josh White'. OvationGallery.com.
    — Josh White was Ovations very first endorsee
  5. ^'1965 Ovation Josh White - OM Acoustic Guitar'. Dream Guitars.
  6. ^'Shiny Bowl Series 1966-1969'. OFC Members Serial Number List, OvationGallery.com.
    — Ovation early serial numbers, Josh White and Balladeer models
  7. ^'Custom Legend 1769 ADII Al Di Meola: The ultimate Ovation'. OvationGuitars.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  8. ^'Ovation Features - The LX Upgrade'. OvationGuitars.com. October 30, 2007. Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  9. ^'Ovation Balladeer'. OvationGallery.com. 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  10. ^'Collector's Series 6 String Acoustic/Electric Guitar - 2007-BCS'. OvationGuitars.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010.
  11. ^Carter (1996, Chapter 4 'Electrification': 'Ovation solidbodies', pp. 59–64, and 'Toward solidbody success', p. 65)
  12. ^'Viper 1271'. OvationGuitars.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013.
  13. ^'1261 Magnum 1'. OvationGuitars.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013.
  14. ^'1264 Magnum 4'. OvationGuitars.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2013.

Bibliography[edit]

Ovation Guitars Look Up By Serial Number Lookup

  • Anonymous, Music Trades (October 1, 2004). 'Ovation's encore: How a host of product refinements have rekindled growth at Kaman Music's flagship guitar division'. The Music Trades. The Guitar Market. (subscription required). Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  • Carter, Walter (1996). Eiche, Jon (ed.). The history of the Ovation guitar. Musical Instruments Series (first ed.). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 1–128. HL00330187, ISBN978-0-7935-5876-6, ISBN0-7935-5876-X (softcover), ISBN0-7935-5948-0 (hardcover).
  • Cruice, Valerie (December 8, 1996). 'From the ratcheting of helicopters to a guitar's hum'. The New York Times.
  • Denyer, Ralph (1992). 'Ovation guitars (Acoustic guitars)'. The guitar handbook. Special contributors Isaac Guillory and Alastair M. Crawford;>Robert Fripp (foreword) (Fully revised and updated ed.). London and Sydney: Pan Books. p. 48. ISBN0-330-32750-X.
  • Marks, Brenda (May 30–31, 1999). 'Connecticut firm makes guitars, helicopter blades from same fiberglass'. Waterbury Republican-American. New Hartford, Conn.: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. (subscription required). Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  • Tamm, Eric (1990). 'Ten Guitar Craft'. Robert Fripp: From Crimson King to crafty master (Progressive Ears ed.). Faber & Faber (1990). Archived from the original on October 26, 2011.
Ovation Guitars Look Up By Serial Number

External links[edit]

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  • HELP - Can you IDENTIFY my OVATION acoustic electric guitar?

    I got this Ovation guitar recently but have no information about it. Does anybody know what kind it is or anything about it or know how to figure out anything about it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
    jen
  • Hi and welcome to the Forum. Find the serial number on your guitar and go here: http://www.ovationtribute.com/Date%2...20Ovation.html.
    Official HCAG “Theory-Challenged Hack”
    Member of the IBANEZ ACOUSTIC ASSASSINS
    Proud Member of The Alvarez Alliance
    Member of the Schecter Society
    Person-2-Person on the Web
  • There should be a paper label inside the guitar. This is where you find the serial, too. Some Ovations also have the serial on the neck block, but this is rare.
    By looking at the pictures - don't you have better pics?? - it looks like a MiC Ovation Celebrity CC24 to me.
    Nice guitar, laminated top, basic pickup, half-decent preamp. A good workhorse of a robust gigging guitar, only hampered by the very narrow neck.
    Price is less than $500 new. Hoe you haven't paid more than $300 for it....
  • need to see the type of bowl - is it shallow or deep?
    Good deals with:ICFootball62, Osirisprotocol, D23dBaWxMy
    Guitars:15' American Standard Strat / 00' American Series Strat / 14' Squier CV 50s Custom Relic Tele / 08' Squier Affinity Strat / 17' Yamaha FS800 / Bogner Alchemist 40w Head with Bogner cab / Fender Mustang 1 V.1 / Fender Frontman 15G
    Favorite Local Shops: RetroFret, Brooklyn Lutherie, Guitar Repair NYC
  • Who wants to bet we will never hear from him again?
    My Music: www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=440762
    Some of my guitars: 64 or so Domino Beatle bass; 73 Ibanez 2398; 79 Epiphone Genesis; 79 Manoman; 99 Ric 330; 78 Gibson L6S; 95 Ibanez JS-700; 04 Samick Lasalle JZ3: 05 Ibanez AS73; 81 Paul Custom, 07 Gary Kramer Simulator T and about 50 others.
  • Who wants to bet we will never hear from him again?
    Me! Me! Pick me! Seriously, considering he can probably get all the info he needs by simply looking inside the guitar (note the visible label in both pics), probably not.
    Official HCAG “Theory-Challenged Hack”
    Member of the IBANEZ ACOUSTIC ASSASSINS
    Proud Member of The Alvarez Alliance
    Member of the Schecter Society
    Person-2-Person on the Web
  • always wondered bout first time posters myself -
    bet a few never post more than 2 or three posts
    maybe even open a new account after a few posts
    like a ghost !

Ovation Guitars By Serial Number

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