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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Checked cracking the code and archive. Tornado that I just got in today has 1222 for serial number. Below from Ovation site. Jumps from 7/68 (1000- ) to 2/70 (10000- ). Any scholars out there that can give me a closer date?
1000- 1967(Nov)-1968(July) Four digits in black ink, no letter prefix
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10000- 1970(Feb)-1972(May) Five digits, no letter prefix |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Tony,
Is it a long neck, or short neck version?
Short necks are older.
Is the model name "Tornado" stamped in black or does it have a model number. Model numbers were introduced later on, the earlier ones just had the name stamped in black ink.
Is 1222 really the serial number or is that perhaps the model number. Take off the plastic neck screw cover plate on the back of the guitar and the serial number should be scribed in the body inder the cover.
Dave |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | I just looked at the picture - It's a short neck. Dave |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Dave,
took plastic cover off - yep, 1222
inside white rectangular label - "Tornado" stamped with what looks like a rubber stamp on line for "model"; written 1222 on line for "serial"
short neck if compared to the typhoon bass |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Long or short neck refers to the point at which the neck joins the body. Just like there are 12 fret and 14 fret acoustics. The Storms with no gap between the end of the fretboard and the pickup are the short ones. The long ones have about a 3/4 inch gap. I'll try to post a picture of the two. The longnecks came out about '71 and have a different neck attachment (bolt instead of wood screw) and a slightly different neck angle adjustment screw. I'm also almost sure that by the time they switched to the long neck that all the storms had model numbers, not the rubber stamped names. So I would say almost for sure that yours is from the 1st half of '68 based on the configuration and serial number. Very nice guitar. Dave |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Dave, thanks
I am a self proclaimed newbie as to the Storm series, asking only after searching the archives, so try to be easy on me.
plastic cover on back - standard or phillips screws? missing one, one phillips, two standard
what finish? doesn't appear to be the catalyzed polyester on my non-storm O's
now have a nice match to my A-094 Typhoon bass. |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Tony:
Here's a pic of the difference in the necks
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/photos/moodypi_70276_thunderheadnecks.jpg
Originally, Ovation used the shorter necks (the one on the left, but from 1972 until the end of the Storms in 1974, they went to the longer necks (on the right). This extended the neck further from the body and gave the player more frets to work with. You can see that to compensate, the bridge was moved closer to the bridge pickup. |
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Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Boy Paul, those guitars sure look familiar (ha ha). I'm glad you had the picture. I couldn't find a copy on my computer.
Tony, I think the cover screws are #2 philister (?). It's a sometimes called a phillips oval head. It's the same screw as the truss rod covers. As far as finish, I don't know, but it sure is think. Some of them check like hell, others stay perfectly new looking. I can't really find any explanation for it. Here's a hint if you have trouble with the neck angle. On one of mine, the set screw was digging straight into the wood of the neck, so I just stuck a dime in there to give it something solid to force against. Worked perfectly. If you have the snap on cover that goes over the saddle area you may want to put it on ebay. Someone sold one once for $60.
Dave |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Paul, thanks and great instruments.
Probably have a replacement bridge...seems functional. Looks like a wider base mount was attached prior (good evidence - screw holes.)
As screws use for rod cover,pickguard, etc., are std. head screws - would that be true for the plate in the back also? Figured if I had to get some, might as well get the right ones.
It is very comfortable to play, this one will stay although strings have to go.
Any suggestions as to strings? Probably not the 1818E or the Gibson L-5 although the L-5 might be interesting since I have a pack (.012-.056w)
An aside, on the GS - suggestions? Seller tossed in a pack of Guitar Research .009-.042 nickel wound. ???
If anyone is interested, this is the eBay list:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3706800802&category=2384&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWN%3AIT&rd=1 |
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Tornado - age