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November 2006
Posts: 6
Location: Kittery Point, ME | Hi,
I was given a guitar back in the mid-1980's by a cousin who was a very good guitar player. She just asked that I learn how to play it. Well its 20 years later and although I've learned some songs from tableture I've taken the plunge into real music lessons. I guess I'm fullfilling my promise finally.
I have what I've learned only yesterday from a web search an Ovation 6-string guitar. I didn't count the frets but I know that its an Academy. I guess this guitar is sort of cool to real collectors because it was not around for long. At any rate, I've always loved it and would love to hear from anyone else on what they think of they're Academy. Also, how much are these worth? I'm not looking to sell it but I've dragged this thing around with me for 20 years and I'm sort of impressed I didn't trade it for part favors.
Scott |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Cool guitar, they have lots of personality.
Welcome to the club. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Welcome!!
I've long portended that Academy's are REALLY cool guitars!!!
They might not be the "best sounding" guitars, but for what they ARE (a plastic-topped roundback with an aluminum neck), they are a marvel!
They were designed/marketed as sturdy, inexpensive student guitars for schools.
A couple have recently been acquired by members here (for how much, I don't remember - I'll let them chime in).
A cool guitar (and piece of OvationHistory), indeed.
Again, Welcome!! |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Scott,
Welcome to the club. I can't help you with your questions on your Academy, but there are others who are interested in older models like yours.
You will also find a wide range of opinions on subjects O on this board. Some of them may even be good ones. :D |
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Location: East Tennessee | Scott,
Welcome to the OFC. Lots of information and fun here. Sometimes hard to tell the difference. :D |
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Location: SoCal | Welcome to the group.
I don't think you'll find a wide range of opinions on your guitar. Everybody who's played one has walked away impressed with the sound. I played Tup's when I was in Phoenix last month. It's the second one I played and it blew my socks off. For what it is and what it costs, originally and now, it's a great guitar..... |
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Location: NJ | If you were to calculate sound quality per dollar spent, an Academy (in good shape) is probably one of the best guitar "buys" out there . . . |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | welcome to the club..ill chime in cliff...i paid $75 for mine..the paint was worn off the fret board and the mop dots were missing but that wasnt much to take care of..for what it is,its a great sounding guitar..i played one at the gathering was it bill's or cliff's? but at any rate dave bought his the week after that and i bought mine the folowing week...best $75 ive ever spent..jason
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The one at the the NorEaster was Master Keller's.
His is probably the nicest looking/best sounding specimen I've ever seen.
(. . . but then again, now that I think of it, . . his is the ONLY one I've ever seen :-) |
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Location: ranson,wva | ahhh the elusive kim keller..yes..yes it was beautiful and it played great..mine was played quite a bit...but there is still alot of fret left. i repainted the fretbaord and replaced the dots with abalone..its not perfect but its still a nice looking guitar..jason |
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Location: GA USA | Welcome Scotty! Well, the one on ebay now didn't get any bids at $25 and is relisted for $20. Looks in decent shape, but says it needs a little TLC. But... seems a pretty cool piece of O. |
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Posts: 6
Location: Kittery Point, ME | Thanks for the quick replies everyone. I guess I don't have a family heirloom but a damn good guitar and really that's all I need right now anyway.
BTW, mine was in perfect condition although I had to take the pick guard off and part of the moding on the side because there was a vibration in there somewhere. I'll have to get that repaired but otherwise it wasn't played a lot and is in excellent condition.
My teacher said this is the guitar he'd take with him on a desert island because of its durability. Doesn't seem to be many around, I wonder how many were made? |
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Location: NJ | Does yours look anything like THIS one (slotted headstock)?? :
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Location: GA USA | It had a pickguard? |
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Location: NJ | He may be talking about the rosette . . . |
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Location: ranson,wva | mine didnt have a prickguard either...jason |
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Location: GA USA | That's what I was thinking... the rosette. Uh-oh, the value just dropped under $10. |
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Location: ranson,wva | i just dove in on the one on fleabay....jason |
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Location: Houston, Texas | Somehow, I can't correlate that photo with the 'Gone to the dogs' one.
:D |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Amazing guitar for the money. I played Kim's and immediately set out to get one of my own. Only took a week of ebay searching. Btw Kim's is a 10, mine's a 10+ he he. It's going back to the factory to get the neck glossed and an OP-Pro installed and gold jack washer. I posted photos someplace of it used as a white dry-erase board. Works likes a champ.
Academy Slothead |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | 10+.
Ahhh, . . but Keller's is "convertible" and can be strung either Steel or Nylon . . .
. . . that would mean HIS ". . Goes to Eleven . . ". |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Quit trying to pimp Kim. Mine is just as convertible as his (has nylon tuners, etc). It's 11 +. You keepa dis up and its'a no closing track foo you ...
Dave |
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Location: closely held secret | I don't get the closing track this time?  |
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Location: NJ | Yeah, but yours doesn't have a convertible/adjustable bridge/saddle . . .
ClosingTrack/SchmosingTrack. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | 11.25 |
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Location: Kingston Ontario | I was at a musicians meeting yesterday and the topic of Academy instruments came up. Some of the guys including myself remember the name from way back.
A local discount store is selling the Academy brand. Prices range from $58 CDN for a nice looking acoustic to $99 for a trumpet, flute and trombone. They also have a Strat copy with a 15 watt amp for $149.
The name may have changed hands over the years.
The photos above look really nice. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Ain't plastic just wonderful ... |
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Location: SoCal | ... except in t*ts.... |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | amen. |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Welcome to the OFC ScottyO!
I've heard so much positive remarks about the Academy, but I still have yet to play one. I will get my chance someday.
Welcome again. :) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Those adjustable saddles all came from the Harmony auction! |
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Location: GA USA | Good Lord, Jason, talk about a bottom feeder! Are you related to this person by any chance?
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Yet a another sign of the of the FAll of Western Civilization... |
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Location: USA | Welcome aboard Scotty |
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Location: Kittery Point, ME | Yes, I was talking about the rosette, someone told me it was a pick guard.
It does not look like the one from Cliff, it has a solid headstock. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Most do. Welcomne Scotty!
If played correctly there is no need for a Pickgaurd. The rosette can hold back some abuse though. |
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November 2006
Posts: 6
Location: Kittery Point, ME | I'm just trying to learn from the Beatles guitar book and doing some theory with my teacher.
I don't think I'll be scrathing the #hit out of my guitar with that repetoire.. |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | cap'n im from the backwoods of westvirginia from a small 1 lane gravel road called linn, i didnt know what a walmart was untill i moved to civilazation here!! lol not mine but maybe some of my wife's family could fit the discription in the add..jason |
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New to the forum, hello fellow enthusiasts!