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Joined:
August 2012
Posts: 227
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I've been scanning a document that lists just about all of the Ovation models ... ever. ( O-Decoder rev8.html )
It is nice to see them all presented in a chart, but Ovation used the same model name with many model numbers and it is hard to tell which is better or what is different about each one. Here is an example.
Let's say I am looking at the Balladeer line.
There are 25 Balladeers of some sort over the years. 19 , 6 string versions and 6, 12 string versions. Except for 1 or 2, all are USA made. 9 are deep bowl. 8 Shallow. 5 Mid bowl, and 2 are Contour bowl.
It does make it tough to determine which are the desirable ones. I must admit that if I could find a good, but affordable Adamas like sound hole guitar, I would pick that over a standard round hole, and I think I would like a deep bowl or contour over the mid or shallow bowls. Still... How do all these compare ? Then there is the Elite models and the Legends ( but those are hard to find at my price point. )
Model#......Name......Years........Made in Country......String Type.... Cutaway?....Bowl....Sound Hole....Frets... Head
1111 Balladeer 1971-1986 USA Steel 6 NO DEEP Center Hole 14 PegHead
1112 Custom Balladeer 1973-1984 USA Steel 6 NO DEEP Center Hole 14 PegHead
1139 Balladeer Special 1981-1982 USA Steel 6 NO DEEP Center Hole PegHead
1151 Standard Balladeer 1995-1999 USA Steel 12 NO DEEP Center Hole PegHead
1561 Balladeer 1984 USA Steel 6 Yes Shallow Center Hole PegHead
1612 Custom Balladeer 1975-1984 USA Steel 6 NO Shallow Center Hole 14 PegHead
1639 Balladeer Special 1981-1982 USA Steel 6 NO DEEP Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1661 Balladeer 1982-1984 USA Steel 6 NO Shallow Center Hole PegHead A/E
1711 Balladeer 1993-1999 USA Steel 6 NO DEEP Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1712 Custom Balladeer 1985-1994 USA Steel 6 NO DEEP Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1751 Standard Balladeer 1995-1998 USA Steel 12 NO DEEP Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1755 Custom Balladeer 1987-1993 USA Steel 12 NO DEEP Center Hole 14 PegHead
1771 Balladeer 1998-2001 USA Steel 6 Yes MID Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1771LX Balladeer LX USA Steel 6 Yes MID Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1860 Custom Balladeer 1993-1994 USA Steel 6 NO Shallow Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1861 Balladeer 1994-1999,2001 USA Steel 6 Yes Shallow Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1861LX Balladeer LX USA Steel 6 Yes Shallow Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
1862 Custom Balladeer 1990-1993 USA Steel 6 Yes Shallow Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
2751AX Standard Balladeer Steel 12 YES Contour Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
2771LX Standard Balladeer 2008 Steel 6 YES Contour Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
4861 Balladeer 1987-1990; 99 Korea Steel 6 YES Shallow Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
6751 Balladeer 1998-2001 USA Steel 12 YES MID Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
S771 Balladeer Special 1999-2001 USA Steel 6 YES MID Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
S771AX Balladeer Special USA Steel 6 YES MID Center Hole PegHead A/E
861 Balladeer Special 1999-2001 USA Steel 6 YES Shallow Center Hole 14 PegHead A/E
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | "It does make it tough to determine which are the desirable ones."
You left out the most desirable balladeer...K1111 | |
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Joined:
August 2012
Posts: 227
| It wasn't on the chart !
How does it differ from the normal 1111 ?
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Joined:
August 2012
Posts: 227
| I've spent some time with the model list and a spreadsheet. ( Yeah, my lost quest for a 12 string got me going to understand all the models and names and the rest. If this is old hat to you, feel free to skip this part of the thread. )
I sorted by sound holes and bowl types. I removed the non USA built models, just because I would like to purchase one from the US. I'm mentally skipping the Adamas line because I have no business buying a 12 string, just because, for that kind of money. Here is what is left, if I want an "Elite" sound hole instrument:
6758T Elite T
6758LX Standard Elite LX
1758 Elite
1736 Legend Elite
1538 Elite
I'm not too keen on the Elite T, because it just has holes and no woodwork.
The 6758LX would work, ( Curse the guy who beat me to that one in the used GC listings ! ) . I don't know much about the 1758 other than it's still kinda' pricy, if you can find one, and the 1736 seems not to have much info online. The 1538 only shows the one Patch used to own ! Was that the ONLY one ever ? ( Probably not ) That makes it out of my price range.
Any insight into the above 12 strings ?
Next up... the round sound hole choices. ( This is probably like watching slides at your grand parents house, for some of you. Are we THROUGH yet ? )
Edited by JohnW63 2012-08-17 9:50 PM
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Joined:
August 2012
Posts: 227
| There are quite a few more standard sound hole guitars. In this list I am skipping the 12 fret models, because I would prefer a 14 fret model, in case I start using the capo way down the neck. If some of those Pacemakers really stand out, please let me know. In the end, the sound is the big thing.
I am also leaving out the Adamas and Custom Legend models for being to pricey. I've got a budget and I'm really trying to stick to it. Here is what's left:
6756LX Legend
6751 Balladeer
1756 Legend
1755 Custom Legend
1751 Standard Balladeer
1656 Legend
1655 Custom Balladeer
1156 Legend
1151 Standard Balladeer
What's the word on these ? I've gotten some input on some, but it's across a few threads and maybe in another forum. I figure THIS is the place to get the details.
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April 2010
Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | "This is probably like watching slides at your grand parents house..." LOL - yeah maybe, but still always enjoy hearing the stories and seeing the family pics! Looking forward to seeing pics of your 12er.... when you find it. Enjoy the hunt, it's half the fun! IMHO | |
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April 2010
Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | JohnW63 I have a SSB multi hole 6868 Elite and love it. Great sound, I also have an Adamas 1598 SMT 12 string, multi hole, I would say it is mid to full body. Here are two songs of mine so you can hear the sounds produced. http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10839413 Guitar Mann recorded with my Elite and Adamas 12 string http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9428538 When Skies Turn Grey recorded with my Elite, both rhythm and lead Hope this helps in some way about the sounds of a SSB and a full body 12er and the search for the guitar you want  | |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | re: All the model numbers on Balladeers ... they make sense (for the most part) if you follow the original numbering convention. Each of the four digits meant something specific and you will find them on the particular model. They were pretty faithful, but there are anomalies. I've played Dan's 1538. It's very nice, but good luck finding one, and if you do, it'll be pricey. My 12 is 6759 CL, with center hole, mid bowl, cutaway, optima, and bling. Many people have offered to buy it, sometimes at insane prices, but it's not going anywhere. It works for me in a way that makes all other 12 strings irrelevant to me, and only one other 12 (a $10k McPherson) turned my head. My two cents says that if you regularly capo up the neck, go for the 14 fret with a cutaway. I had a 12 fret non cutaway small soundhole winged bridge shiny bowl ... should have been the holy grail but it just didn't work for me. My 6759 is a million times smoother. Edited to correct the iPhone autocorrect.
Edited by stonebobbo 2012-08-18 1:38 PM
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Models over the years