|
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Last week I stumbled across a guitar shop on the web advertising an old Balladeer with a two digit serial number. I sent an email asking if the guitar was still available and asked for pictures. To my surprise I got a response that the guitar was available and that they would post pictures in a few days. I'm always a day late and a dollar short on things like this, so rather than waiting for the pictures to be posted I called and asked the shop owner to describe the condition of the instrument. He said the top had no cracks but the neck had severe finish checking. He went on to say that the peghead had been repaired and who ever did it had cleverly covered up the repair with an oversized aftermarket truss rod cover (you're going to want to remember this). He described the rosette as a narrow black ring that went right up to the soundhole with white twisting lines and what looked like a group of grapes. He mentioned the top had white and binding and wood purfling. Then he said, "It is serial number 45," and offered me a two day inspection period. He sounded very honest and I was willing to risk paying shipping both ways just to get a look at it. Well...
Notice the oversized aftermarket truss rod cover. ;)
The finish is very thin, much like I would expect on a violin. The guitar has been played, but not abused.
The guitar was delivered in a gig bag. The vintage case is one that I happen to have.
I had never seen this sound hole before, but it is mentioned in The History of the Ovation Guitar (top of page 32).
The label is missing, but the end of the neck block is clearly stamped #045.
The guitar has some condition issues but nothing to keep me from playing and loving it. I immediately replaced the medium strings with extra light strings because the action is so high. Even with extra lights, the bass is enormous. I feel like I just won the lottery.
Thanks for looking,
Nick |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | I have read and re-read this. What am I missing? Is this a one off or am I out of the loop? What is it? Not being negative... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Early Balladeer w/original Lifton case...nice grab Nick! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Originally posted by tremor:
I have read and re-read this. What am I missing? Is this a one off or am I out of the loop? What is it? Not being negative... Well, it felt good while it lasted. :)
Tremor,
It's an old Ovation guitar and the rosette only appeared on the first production guitars. I think it's pretty cool and I'll bet Jérôme and others will agree with me. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | Nick: I just didn't know what it was. I have never seen anything like it. As I stated, not being negative. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | To be honest. My dumb a@# thought the sides of the guitar looked like wood. I didn't realize it was a shinny bowl. Very cool find! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | wow! That's a very rare bird. The earliest one I've seen and played was I think #37 which was almost identical, with the "aftermarket" TRC but a traditional wood marquetry rosette. It sounded amazing. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Originally posted by tremor:
To be honest. My dumb a@# thought the sides of the guitar looked like wood. I didn't realize it was a shinny bowl. Don't give it another thought. I actually had a pretty good laugh over your remark. Sometimes I get a little too excited over things. I should have included a few more details.
Originally posted by tremor:
Very cool find! Thank you very much! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Originally posted by MusicMishka:
Early Balladeer w/original Lifton case...nice grab Nick! Thank you Mike! I hope all is well with you.
Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
wow! That's a very rare bird. The earliest one I've seen and played was I think #37 which was almost identical, with the "aftermarket" TRC but a traditional wood marquetry rosette. It sounded amazing. That's what I was looking for. ;) Thanks Paul! And yes, it sounds BIG.
I can't help but think the excitement CWK must have felt as this was going out the door. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Wow, outstanding find! you can really see the helicopter rotor-width planks in that 3-piece top. Bet it's a tone monster. Congratulations! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 86
Location: northern virginia | Beautiful find - congratulations. A real museum piece in my opinion....how sweet to own and play such a direct tie back to the very origins of the company and ideas we all so love. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | That is Wild! I am happy for you. :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2793
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Originally posted by Nick B.:
I can't help but think the excitement CWK must have felt as this was going out the door. If you mean Beal, its CWK II and he was probably still in school when this was built.
If you're talkin about Charlie, it's CHK.
I'm just sayin'. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | G8r and OMA,
Thanks for the kind words.
Originally posted by roundsound:
Beautiful find - congratulations. A real museum piece in my opinion....how sweet to own and play such a direct tie back to the very origins of the company and ideas we all so love. I couldn't agree with you more. I really feel honored to own it.
Originally posted by cholloway:
If you mean Beal, its CWK II and he was probably still in school when this was built.
If you're talkin about Charlie, it's CHK. Colin,
You are correct. I caught my mistake about 10 seconds after the time expired to edit my post (funny how it always works that way). I was thinking CHK. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2008
Posts: 1456
Location: Texas | Outstanding find, Nick.
Just another "old Balladeer" huh? ;)
Congrats! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Nick... You've come a long way baby!
I remember back when you first came on board.
Ah yes... they grow up so fast. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Very nice. I didn't know they made one with a black rosette and white grappevine, then I saw one on page 32 of The Book. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Very, very nice! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | That's a treasure for sure. Congrats! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 1388
Location: Paris/France | Congrats Nick, you found a true piece of O's history!!
It's a rare and wonderful guitar.
According the pics, she seems to be in very good condition for such an old lady and I've never seen "white on black" rosette before this one.
If she sounds as good as the Balladeer #22, you can't be disappointed. ;)
J :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2007
Posts: 1008
Location: Tuscany, Italy | Nick, congratulation !
This guitar is simply amazing. Many times I looked at the brochure on the Jerome website just for this particular model/ornament. It 's really a wonderful guitar and, despite the rarity, the black rosette is just a wonderful touch. As you said, like the one in "the book".
I know you just bought it, but I would immediately subscribe to the list of those who want it when you will decide to part with .... ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4536
Location: Flahdaw | Nice! Worth about twofiddy, but I'll give you $300 since you're an OFC member. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 709
Location: Germany | Congratulations! There's a picture of the long TRC in an early brochure on Jerome's website. There is written "Balladeer" on it which seems not to be written on yours. Interesting detail.
Early Balladeer Brochure
Karl |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Originally posted by standing:
Outstanding find, Nick.
Just another "old Balladeer" huh? ;)
Congrats! standing,
Thank you. I was trying to be humble. :)
Originally posted by Slipkid:
Nick... You've come a long way baby!
I remember back when you first came on board.
Ah yes... they grow up so fast. Thank you. I have been very fortunate, but I still consider myself an Ovation neophyite...Ovaphyite. I'd better look that up, it's probably something disgusting.
Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Very nice. I didn't know they made one with a black rosette and white grappevine, then I saw one on page 32 of The Book. Thanks Mark. When the dealer described the rosette over the phone, it threw me too. Seeing how it's constructed was quite a surprise; it's like a thin plastic stick-on. It looks to me to be very susceptible to damage, which may be why they stopped using them. I wish I knew how many guitars actually left the factory with this rosette.
Bluebird and Damon67,
Thanks for the kind words.
Originally posted by Jérôme:
Congrats Nick, you found a true piece of O's history!!
It's a rare and wonderful guitar.
According the pics, she seems to be in very good condition for such an old lady and I've never seen "white on black" rosette before this one.
If she sounds as good as the Balladeer #22, you can't be disappointed. ;)
J :) Thank you Jérôme. There are condition issues that the pictures don't reveal. The peghead has been repaired and the finish on the neck is disintegrating. There is also a Barcus Berry transducer installed through the endpin. Whomever installed it did a nice job. You are correct...I can't be disappointed. :)
Originally posted by marenostrum:
Nick, congratulation !
This guitar is simply amazing. Many times I looked at the brochure on the Jerome website just for this particular model/ornament. It 's really a wonderful guitar and, despite the rarity, the black rosette is just a wonderful touch. As you said, like the one in "the book".
I know you just bought it, but I would immediately subscribe to the list of those who want it when you will decide to part with .... ;) Thanks for the note marenostrum. I agree the rosette has a distintive look. I'll keep you in mind. ;)
Originally posted by dark bar:
Nice! Worth about twofiddy, but I'll give you $300 since you're an OFC member. Thanks, You're going to want me to cover shipping, right? ;)
Originally posted by Charlie Ramon:
Congratulations! There's a picture of the long TRC in an early brochure on Jerome's website. There is written "Balladeer" on it which seems not to be written on yours. Interesting detail.
Early Balladeer Brochure
Karl
Thank you. Jerome noticed the same thing about the TRC not having "Balladeer" on it. Jerome's #22 doesn't either. I'm not sure when they started adding "Balladeer" or when they went to the smaller TRC. So much to learn. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | that's a stock trc. As I recall the plan was to have Delux Balladeer on the long ones, but like all plans it fell short in the exicution so whatever they had got used.
Very nice acqusition. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | Congrats Nick, that was the jackpot of the lottery!!
Bernie |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Originally posted by Beal:
that's a stock trc. As I recall the plan was to have Delux Balladeer on the long ones, but like all plans it fell short in the exicution so whatever they had got used.
Very nice acqusition. Beal,
Thanks for confirming the trc and for that bit of history behind it. You just made my day. |
|
| |
Even a blind pig finds an acorn every once in a while