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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | I've been sitting on my mailbox waiting for the newest herd member to arrive. In the meantime, I have been comparing a picture with Miles' fabulous website (Thanks, Miles!) and have a question. My newest acquisition was listed as a Tornado, but it has gold hardware and pickups that look like the T'head pickups, so now I'm wondering about it. The neck inlays look like the Tornado neck. Did Ovation play Mix'n match, would that combination mean it was diddled aftermarket, or do I have a Tornadohead, or a Thunado? |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | anything is possible |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 201
Location: Vernon, CT | No such thing as bad head...some is just better than others!
John L. |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | And tonight, a special treat! John Lawrence doing his cliff impersonation!
:D
(or was that Bailey? Woody? Couldn't have been me...) |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 201
Location: Vernon, CT | Well, Tornadohead could hurt some but I prefer my winds to be light and variable!
John L. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Anything is possible. Assuming the label is gone from the inside (and not just detached and stuck someplace else inside) I have been judging Tornado vs Thunderhead based on the pickup spacing to some extent. This, although not perfect, I have only seen one guitar that doesn't fit the pattern. If the neck pickup, is right at the base of the neck, than it is most likely a Thunderhead. Not 100%, just most likely. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Post a pic. Let's see this animal. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | I used to own a Thunderhead with all chrome hardware and electronics (like a tornado). So I'm sure the opposite is also possible. I assume it must have the label, otherwise you would have no idea that it (or part of it) was a Tornado. Thunderhead and Tornado bodies are identical except for the label. Earlier ones were short neck screw on, later ones long neck bolt on. Sounds like one of two things happened to yours, either a) someone put a tornado label on a thunderhead guitar, or b) someone went to a lot of trouble to put thunderhead hardware and neck onto a tornado body. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Moody: (I don't know how to post a pic or I would. here's the ebay addy if you'd care to peek :)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3767326680&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT
Anyway, Supposedly it's a "1212-1, serial number 15" so I assume it has a label somewhere on it. Please Mr Postman, It's getting cold sitting out here! |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Damned if I know what's up with that guitar. But it sure is purty!
If you want some info on the controls, email me off the board and I'll fax and mail you some good stuff. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| looking at the e-bay pic is the neckplate missing? |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | My guess is the Thunderhead hardware was installed on a Tornado body/neck. The neck and body (if it says 1212-1 on it) are definately Tornado. The neck is the second generation one, the first ones had a squared off end. The pickguard is also second generation, first ones had no logo. The gold hardware is Thunderhead with the rare early bridge design. Looks like a nice guitar. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | the guitar is a second as seen in the stamp on the back of the peghead. Non original keys. Looked like a tuneamatic bridge, also nonoriginal. Heavy finish checking on the top. What's with the two black dots at the base of the neck? Definately thunderhead D'Armond pickups/harness assembly.
Interesting guitar, I'm sure it could tell some interesting stories. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Yep I'm in aggreement that it's a combination of thunderhead parts on a Tornado body. Note the gold trem assembly too. |
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Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Bill,
I think the two black dots is really a strap button! ;)
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | It's hard to tell from the picture, but it kinda looks like someone went to install a strap button on the neck (instead of the heel) and learned something about neck design... like thar is a truss rod in them thar thangs. oops |
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Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | It's just the "angle of the dangle"
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Tornadohead?