4861 help

scott lamperd Posted 2010-10-20 8:50 PM (#362666) Subject: 4861 help Joined: November 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Eaton, Indiana I recently purchased a Ovation 4861 ssb sunburst guitar, serial 399226. The label states made in Korea. I looked it up on the Ovation web sight and found a completely different critter shown and described there. Mine has a ebony fingerboard, walnut bridge, original Ovation pickup, fet 3 electronics and the original large sound hole ring. It looks much more American than foreign. Any help in identification would be appreciated. scott lamperd b c (before computers) Old Man Arthur Posted 2010-10-20 9:01 PM (#362667 - in reply to #362666) Subject: Re: 4861 help Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777 Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR One of my Favorite git-fiddles. It has a solid top, and the early ones have the FET3/OP24 preamp. If you look in OFC "Reference" under Prices ... you will discover that the Korean Balladeer was made from 86 to 89. Then it was made again in 97... The 97's have the OP-24+. But those are nice guitars. scott lamperd Posted 2010-10-20 9:12 PM (#362668 - in reply to #362666) Subject: Re: 4861 help Joined: November 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Eaton, Indiana Thanks Arthur, I told my wife that you would probably know if any one would. Wasn't one of those the first purchase you made off of e-bay? Thanks again scott lamperd b c (before computers) Old Man Arthur Posted 2010-10-20 9:28 PM (#362669 - in reply to #362666) Subject: Re: 4861 help Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777 Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR Yeah... The newer version, Natural top with the OP-24+. I sold it to buy a USA Balladeer, which was a dumb move. Those Korean Balladeers were pretty good. I have never played a Japanese Pinnacle, but they might be good too. I just bought and sold a 4861 Burst. I bought it for wannabee-Luthier entertainment... I bought it, cleaned it up, fixed it up, resold it, and lost $70 outta the deal. I had fun... But I will try not to do that again. :mad: But we are looking forward to the pics and review. sypolog Posted 2010-10-21 5:43 AM (#362670 - in reply to #362666) Subject: Re: 4861 help Joined: April 2009 Posts: 130 Location: London, UK I bought a Japanese Pinnacle in the mid 80's, which probably means Jerome's spreadsheet needs adjustment. I may still have the serial no somewhere, or be able to contact the guy I sold it to. It was arguably better finished than the US Balladeer and about 30% cheaper, but when I eventually swapped it for the same-age SSB Balladeer I found the US guitar had a far richer, deeper tone.