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Location: Germany | I just saw the pics of a vintage Dlx Balladeer with early serial # on Jerome's site. It seems to be in decent condition but I wonder about two things:
- It has a bookmatched top. Didn't all the early specimen have a three-piece top?
- It says "Deluxe Balladeer" on the peghead. All the others I have seen so far only show the word "Deluxe".
I know, nothing really important but as there are some history profs on this board here I thought it would be nice to point out.
Karl |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | They were made with both three and two piece tops, though I was under the impression that the earliest were 3 piece... however, with Ovation, exception seems to be the rule... |
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Location: Scotland | A lot of the early models had 3 piece tops, but I've seen a few with 2-piece, so I guess it was down to whatever they had available.
I've not seen the "Deluxe Balladeer" transfer either. I if remember correctly the really early guitars had an elongated truss-rod cover, almost the full length of the headstock, with the individual model names on the covers. Maybe they intended to continue this when they got rid of the big covers, then decided against it.
Is it just me or is there something odd about the bridge? Check where the strings enter, also it doesn't look like rosewood. Regardless of that it's a nice old guitar, bet it sounds great. |
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Location: Tuscany, Italy | I got this guitar from Al.
It was very low when she arrived here.
It stayed with a local luthier for one and a half month.
Re-fretted, neck sanded and glossed. Top was ok but full of scratches (some heavy) thus gently sanded, polished and glossed.
Nut and saddle replaced with new bone ones.
It is a 2 piece bookmatched top with headstock and bridge never seen in any other DB.
Now that she born to a new life it sounds really great.
Riccardo |
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Location: Tuscany, Italy | I forgot......
luthier put a new set of Cleartone PhosBro light string.
Never tested before. Amazing sound !!
The string set cost some 19 euro ! (included in the whole job).
R. |
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| The earliest Deluxe Balladeers came with the "Deluxe Balladeer" decal, that was soon reduced to "Deluxe", as in the case of Thunderheads, which also carried the same "Deluxe" decal. The Deluxe Balladeers with this decal are, indeed, rare.
After the first 80 or so Balladeers were produced, with the large elongated truss rod cover and most with a gold "Balladeer" decal, the trussrod cover was changed to a very small
1 3/4" truss rod cover, and all four models (Balladeer, Deluxe Balladeer, Classic, Josh White) had gold decals.
With reference to decals and rarity, one that rarely shows up is the first generation Classic, that had a gold decal reading "Classic".
The small truss rod cover disappeared shortly after serial number 1000. Therefore, it is possible that the original "Deluxe Balladeer" decal, at almost 2 1/2", was too long to aesthetically be placed next to the new, larger truss rod cover that measured almost 2 1/2". |
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| Correction: The "Deluxe Balladeer" decal did not measure 2 1/2", but rather, the third generation truss rod cover, that began shortly after serial number 1000, measured almost 2 1/2". |
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Location: NJ | Not that it matters much in any of this, but I don't think those were "decals"
. . . I believe that they might've been screen-printed directly onto the headstocks . . . Beal?? |
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Location: NJ | I am glad that one got to a new home.
It is an early guitar but needed a bunch of work although it played well and sounded fine. |
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Location: Germany | Al, do you think the bridge is the original one?
Karl |
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| The "decals" were, indeed, water transfer decals. At one time I owned one of the original "Josh White" decals that had never been applied to a guitar.
However, that great piece of Ovation memorabilia now resides in France, and is part of the collectables of one who has a created a tribute to Ovations and Adamas guitars. In the future, it will probably appear on a noted web site. |
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Location: NJ | Originally posted by Charlie Ramon:
Al, do you think the bridge is the original one?
Karl as far as I know
yes |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by bobfrith:
The "decals" were, indeed, water transfer decals. At one time I owned one of the original "Josh White" decals that had never been applied to a guitar. I think Tup had one of those decals that he put on his FD14 when he had the neck and headstock glossed.
That bridge, except for the slot at the back, for the string balls, does look completely original. Does anybody else have an Ovation from that early time that they could look at to see if it's the same? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | It'll be a few more days before I can... |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
It'll be a few more days before I can... Before you can what....? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | the first ones had silkscreened logos and model names. Decals didn't come till year 3 or 4 I think. The silkscreened letters fade. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Originally posted by Jeff W.:
It'll be a few more days before I can... Before you can what....? |
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Location: Paris/France | You can see an example of the different TRC and decals on these EARLY DOCUMENTS .
Bob, the JOSH WHITE DECAL is on the website. ;)
J :)
PS: a picture of the original J.W headstock:
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Jerome, is that a pic of Josh's own guitar? |
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Location: Paris/France | I think so Wayne.
J.W model #291 red ink label if I'm right.
It's funny because I've discovered today that on THIS EARLY J.W BROCHURE , the Josh White signature is written in the opposite side as usual!!
J :) |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Yes, the logo upside down...I noticed that too! |
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| I have a Deluxe Balladeer #A150 with a 2-piece top. What's interesting about the label is that it is typewritten in Black ink and has a patents applied for message. I bought it from a friend for $250 in the mid 1970's and am the third owner. I am wondering how many of the early ones are left. |
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Location: big island | aloha harry and welcome to the OFC! |
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Deluxe Balladeer #345