|
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | Hi folks, I just picked up a great 78 Viper III in natural finish. My question to you is this. All of the V3's I've seen in natural have a black pickguard with the Viper III stamped in white on the pickguard.....mine has a white pickguard, which is a great replacement if it's not original....so, does anybody know if these ever came with a white pickguard and without the model stamped into the pickguard? Thanks in advance. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Ooohh oooh oooh I know this one...
Yes, the Viper III came with black and white pickguards but not sure if this is year related.
Initially the Viper and Preacher pickguards were engraved with the appropriate name. Later in production they stopped engraving them.
That's the short answer. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Settle down Miles..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | LOL, You guys are too funny. Nice to find a site with fun folks in it. Does this forum allow for the posting of pics so that I could show it for better identification?
Thanks. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | Allow?...we demand! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | Cool, here's the Viper, let me know if the PG looks original for the experts on here. Much appreciated.
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | If it's 3-ply white-black-white it's likely original. If it's solid white, then likely not, however... it looks good/pro. Bevel, counter-sink screws.. etc... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | Yeah, just a single ply white. I would've chosen the black had I had a choice, maybe I'll run across one on the Bay. Here's the rest of my herd if anybody is interested.
http://www.freewebs.com/groovymusiclessons/apps/photos/album?albumi... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | No acoustic Ovations? We'll have to do something about that. Calling Trader Jim ... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | You're a James Burton fan! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | BANJO! HE'S GOT A FREAKIN' BANJO!!! :eek: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | LOL, I've never had any luck with the acoustics, the old electrics such as the Breadwinners and Deacons were fun and I've been trying for a long time to find the Viper III at the right price and now that I have it....it's really smokin'. Quite the country twang machine. I wish I would've discovered them long before blowing all the dough on the Fender stuff. I'll just have to sell off the Fenders and get the Viper III's in every finish. I like this one enough to do exactly that. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | If anybody in here wants to sell off their Viper III's...give me a shout...I'd love to pick up a few more. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Here's a guy on Ebay selling a Magnum Bass pick guard who says he can make anything you want ...
"WE WILL CUSTOM MAKE ANY PICKGUARD FOR YOU.....ANY MODEL, ANY CONFIGURATION, ANY MATERIAL....
JUST EMAIL US FOR A QUOTE..."
Ebay Ad
If he has the right equipment I'm sure he can provide any flavor you want. Good Luck. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Congrats Groovy! I really wanted that one. Great price! Can't wait to hear some sound clips. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Nice collection. There are some great finishes there. I take it you like those Paisley Strats? Anybody remember the paisely shirt fad back in the 60's? Your Viper III looks like the conservative member of the group. Welcome to the OFC. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The material used was engraving stock, not the typical ABS plastic used by other manufacturers. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | There are other options you know!
Welcome to the Tub! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I was all excited for a minute there. That is NOT a banjo - it is a guitar disguised as a banjo. If it's got six strings, it doesn't count. Now if we could just find Groovy a Jiffy Pop hat and get rid of about one and one third of the strings on that thing, THEN we'd have something. :D
Oh, by the way Groovy, welcome! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I have a few Viper III's... just not sure if I want to give them up yet :(
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I could go for the all black model. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Be nice to the Mrs. Miles, cuz if you screw up and she holds one of those "Ex Husband" Garage sales me and at least four others will be taking the day off to visit Mt. Vernon...
...buddy! :D :eek: :rolleyes: :( |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1118
Location: NW Washington State | I can get there quicker than you guys. My wife drives by that area every weekday, but I think she might drop off some of my stuff instead of picking something up. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Hmmm it appears that I only have the "Natural" and the "Black 'n Gold" or I just misplaced the other one... I wonder if I should mention now or later that the Black'N Gold one is actually a "Uralite" body..... nahhh I'll mention it later.. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | Wow, you guys are fun. Thanks to the lead on the pickguard maker. Super sweet axes guys. I really love the look of your V3 with the black guard....so sweet. I'll have to go that route. I hate white pickguards on any guitar. It's just a personal thing. I really think I will dump the majority of my Fenders and stay with these Viper III's I am loving it!!!!!!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
I wonder if I should mention now or later that the Black'N Gold one is actually a "Uralite" body..... nahhh I'll mention it later.. Uralite, schmuralite. I got dibbies. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 288
Location: Maine | Nice one Mr.Ov.
Here a very similar potential Viper III, but I have the wrong pickguard. :eek:
    
.TJR |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Wow Talbot!!
Don't have a spare gold neckplate do you?
AJ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Tal,
I got your care-package the other day and I want to go on record as thanking you (yes, thank you!) but I also can't help but laugh and cry at what you sent and what it means to me.
For those now curious I received a package with Ovation Information Newsletter Vol 1/No.2 from June 1983 which most have seen the likes of, some inlays for a Preacher Deluxe neck and a curiously old looking package that contained a bunch of the fiberglass cloth used in making the early bowls!
It hit me that there are probably only a dozen or so of us Ovation Geeks that can understand and appreciate what this cloth is about and I can only conclude that we each need to get a life. For you its OK, it's heredity, but I have no excuse!
So I just wanted to share that I love ya man!
(But in that John Wayne kinda way of course.)
So...
If there's anything I can cut out and shine up for you...
Consider it a done deal.
M(I'll get a life next week cuz this is too much fun)Woody |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Wow Woody! Another Christmas in Sept.
Congrats to both of ya'll. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 288
Location: Maine | Exc. I'm glad it arrived Mike.. When I saw your plywood sea kayak project.. I figured you could add some really dense FG cloth to it somewhere? Bow/Keel protector ? You'll find a use.. But that old cloth may still have some magic in it???
Curley Qtr sawn Cherry on Curley maple? interesting..? May be too much.. I have some pieces of orignal black pickguard stock too.???
AJ re:"Neck plate" I will look?? but that may be the only one I have... TR |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Over the top or just right?
You just don't know until you give it a try...
I'm slowly reclaiming my shop back for the WWW (Western Washington Winter). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 288
Location: Maine | Originally posted by MWoody:
Over the top or just right?
You just don't know until you give it a try...
That combo keep making me think about your JMD |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | I probably need to start another thread but you may not fully understand how much of a compliment I see that as... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1118
Location: NW Washington State | I've got a Viper III body. Maybe ash? Would it sound much different than mahogany or 2-piece maple?
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Not after the volume goes past 9! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1118
Location: NW Washington State | OK, but how about at 5, which is about as much as I can stand? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | Here's a little sound bite from the new Viper III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9So0HkHfAA |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | That natural one you have has some great flame on it TJR. You all have some great axes. I don't know how I didn't discover this great guitar sooner. I'm glad that I did though. Superb guitars. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | TJR, that flame maple is a beauty! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Groov, is that your video? Good stuff.... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Mesquite, NV | Yeah, thanks. I have thirty or so instructional videos out and I had to do another one as soon as I got the Viper. It was begging to be on camera. LOL |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 5
Location: philadelphia | Hi everyone.
Not sure what made me want to pull out my Viper III tonight, haven't played it in quite some time, but something possessed me and I'm glad it did. I've owned it for almost 20 years, but know very little about it...I wonder if anyone here can help me date it.
It's a "white" body with white pickguard, and the stamp on the neck bolt reads "E 16297".
Does anyone have a resource for this?
Thanks in advance...
TMBC |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Yes, and welcome!
If you look up top and hit "Reference" and then Serial Numbers you would find that "E + 5 digits" is 1975-1980.
Share some pictures! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 5
Location: philadelphia | Thanks...I didn't see that link, but that's very helpful.
I'm a little ashamed to post pictures of my guitar...when I got it I put stickers all over it, and haven't gotten all of them off so it doesn't look as pristine as some of those I see. Maybe once I get her cleaned up a bit more.
One thing that amazed me...after all that time, she stayed in tune. Maybe it;s because my strings are so old, but that really surprised me. My Fender gets wonky if I don't play it for a week!
TMBC |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by Groovydjs:
Wow, you guys are fun. Yeah sure....just try asking the "value" of your Viper III :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | depends if it's signed or not |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 143
Location: Feeding Hills, MA | Miles,
Love the Natural...
Mike |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 5
Location: philadelphia | Hey everybody...
One more question, I'm sure it's an easy one. I notice that some of the Viper's have an all-metal bridge while others, like mine, have some kind of black plastic or composite material surrounding the hardware.
Is one or the other "original"? Or were both offered as stock equipment, and if so, is one more or less common?
Not looking for any kind of appraisal, just trying to get to know her a little better...we've been apart so long!
TMBC |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | The all metal bridge came along later in the solid body's life. I don't know when they were introducted.... 1977? |
|
| |
Ovation Viper III