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Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Continuing my quest to obtain some basic information on Ovations, the next question concerns model numbers.
The Ovation factory site gives some basic info but isn't as clear as it could be, and searching here has turned up more questions than answers.
Question #1: In what year did the factory change to textured bowls?
Question #2: Are the original model numbers only applicable to shiny bowls?
According to the Ovation web site:
Model #1 - Balladeer
Model #2 - Deluxe Balladeer
Model #3 - Classic
Model #4 - Josh White
Model #5 - ??? I assume 12-string balladeer?
Model #6 - Contemporary Folk Classic
Model #7 - Glen Campbell Artist Balladeer
Model #8 - Glen Campbell 12-String
I know Models 1-6 are shiny bowls but what about Models 7 & 8; are these shiny bowls? If not, where do the GC shiny bowl 12 string and the GC shiny bowl deluxe balladeer fit in?
If 7 & 8 are shiny bowls, does that means there is a shiny GC Artist depth bowl out there somewhere? I have never heard it mentioned. And the GC shiny bowl deluxe balladeer seems left out.
Question #3: Other than re-issues, did the K*4 digit models begin the textured bowls?
Question #4: I've heard there was a limited issue model named the Euro Classic. Was it a shiny bowl Model #3 or did it come later?
Thanks for the help. |
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Location: on the web | Model #7 is the GC Deluxe Balladeer. GC Artist came later. Model #7 and #8 are shiny bowls. There were no production GC Artists with shiny bowls. Standingovation has one that was a custom build. The K prefixes started in 1968. Don't know about a "Euro Classic". |
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Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Originally posted by The Usual Suspects:
Model #7 is the GC Deluxe Balladeer. GC Artist came later. Model #7 and #8 are shiny bowls. There were no production GC Artists with shiny bowls. Standingovation has one that was a custom build. The K prefixes started in 1968. Don't know about a "Euro Classic". So, the Ovation web site is incorrectly stating Model #7 is a GC "Artist" Balladeer? Interesting.
Dave would have one of course, too bad he's on vacation right now...
Is my assumption of Model #5 being 12 string balladeers correct?
Are all K models, except reissues, textured bowls?
Great info so far, thanks. |
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Location: on the web | Yup, the website is wrong. GC Artist didn't come until 1970 or so. To standardize on 4 digit model numbers thye just put 111 in front of every thing.
model 1 -> 1111 = balladeer
model 2 -> 1112 = deluxe balladeer -> custom balladeer
model 3 -> 1113 = classical
model 4 -> 1114 = josh white -> folklore
model 5 -> 1115 = balladeer 12 -> pacemaker
model 6 -> 1116 = folk classic
model 7 -> 1117 = GC Deluxe -> Legend
model 8 -> 1118 = GC 12
K prefix started before textured bowls, so some later shiny bowls have K model numbers |
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Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | By the way Usual Subjects, you obviously aren't the newbee your member number suggests. Referring to Dave as Standing Ovation instead of Tupperware or Gallerinski puts you pretty far back in forum history. Any hints of previous identities? |
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Location: SoCal | I have a GC Artist 1127-4, probably one of the earliest - F161, 1969, not shiny bowl, unknown bracing pattern but appears to be closest to an 'A' bracing, appears to be AAA spruce, Grover tuners. |
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Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Great info, thanks.
Back to my question #1: did the factory make an across the board switch to textured bowls or was it made gradually over a couple of years as the original supply of bowls was depleted?
RE: Euro Classic - the description I've heard is a limited run, 2 1/8" at the nut, deep bowl, ceder top. Does that jog any memories? |
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Location: on the web | Originally posted by fletcher:
By the way Usual Subjects, you obviously aren't the newbee your member number suggests. Member numbers are decieving because you can lurk for years and years without actually signing up. Sorry for the stock answer, but check the archives. I found tons of posts about the migration from shiny bowls ot textured ones. |
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Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | This model and serial guide under the reference section may be useful as well.
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/serials.asp
1st is always a one
2nd indicates style.
The 3rd and 4th digit actually note depth and type or model.
Followed by a dash and then the color code. |
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Location: New Hampsha | fletcher - try Jerome's website.
The Ovation Decoder lists them correctly. |
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Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Usual Subjects: I have done searches but found no definitive answers, only speculation. I was hoping over the years since the forum began, a clearer picture of factory practices would have emerged.
As Dave speculated in 2002,"I imagine the factory used whatever existing stock they had until it was depleted. Just to add more confusion, the change in headstock angle didn't seem to coincide with any particular model year or serial number break."
Are we still left with that speculation 7 years later?
Miles: The reference section is helpful esp. now that the 4 digit codes are stated in a clearer way. Hopefully you'll include the info here regarding early model numbers and the corrected designation of the Model #7 so others can easily access the info.
Mitzdawg: Jerome's Ovation Decoder doesn't list the original shiny bowl model numbers that I can find at least. These are the ones I'm trying to get a clear picture of.
My main questions are answered though, thanks to Usual and all. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Euro classics, there were only about 6 made. Textured bowl serial numbers were in the G380 range, G383 was the one I had. Foil lable at the time. I remember cutting a little square in mine so the s/n would show through. They had walnut binding and cordovan coloured bowls. |
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Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Beal: It was your March 2002 mention of the Euro Classic model that raised my curiosity. Do you still have one? Any idea of where the others are now? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | No, it disappeared along the way somewhere. Very nice guitar though. I think they were 1971 or 72. Also the reso should arrive next Wed. Let me know when it does. |
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March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | Beal: Thanks for the info. That model (euro classic) seems to be in hiding as I've seen no mention of it anywhere else. Would be a great find.
Looking forward to meeting the baby reso. |
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Location: Indiana | Great thread. Thanks. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Beal..
Reference the above, what should the 3rd and 4th digit of 17 be ? Currently I have "Legend or Deluxe Balladeer (deep bowl)" |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | first digit meant something. I forgot but guitars were 1 and cases were 9
second digit meant acoustic 1; ac/el 6; or electric(tornado etc) 2; then there were different preamps and it got FUBARed
third digit was deep bowl 1: shallow(read medium)2
fourth was the model, 1 balladeer, 3 classic, 4 Josh White, 5 12 string, 7 delue bd.
That was the start. |
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Ovation Model Numbers