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Posts: 21
| I collect Ovation/Eric Clapton stuff from his and Ovation's first 10 years. I have a Billboard mag clipping that says in 1969 Eric Clapton plays Ovation guitars. Has anyone ever seen a picture of him playing a Ovation guitar? Thanks |
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Location: Katmandu | Eric's known for being mainly a Martin and Fender guy (he also played a couple of Les Paul). I've never seen a picture of him with an Ovation even back from the day when almost anybody was on the Ovation train (e.g., Mark Knopfler did play Ovation back then). That is not to say that he didn't receive guitars from Ovation for promotion purposes, though.
Edited by leonardmccoy 2017-08-12 1:07 PM
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Location: NJ | I saw that ad
but never saw a guitar in his hands otherwise |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | leonardmccoy - 2017-08-12 11:06 AM
That is not to say that he didn't receive guitars from Ovation for promotion purposes, though.
I always thought that Ovation did NOT give away promotional guitars.
That (unlike Gibson/Fender) if you saw an artist with an Ovation, that artist bought that guitar.
But there was a brochure... I think that there was a thread discussing this image and it was decided that this is just a drawing, nothing more.
 
Although Eric may have accepted money for use of his name and image.
I could not find an image of Eric Clapton playing an Ovation. I did find allegations that Eric bought an Ovation for the "Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" tour in 1984.
http://www.thisdayinrock.com/index.php/general/1999-eric-clapton-pa...
But I Think this might Roger Waters was playing that guitar on stage from that concert.
Maybe Eric. I don't know.
My facial recognition software in my brain is pretty bad.
You decide.
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| Thanks so much. I had looked at his Christie's auctions but even though there was a Preacher model and a Ovation acoustic donated for the Crossroads sale they may have come from other people. |
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| I think you are right Arthur, that Ovation Catalog Ad was in the 1969 and 1970 Billboard mags. |
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Location: Texas | Eric auctioned off 2-3 Ovations or Adamas's during his guitar sell off, a couple of years ago. But I never saw any evidence he ever played one. Sweet find OMA. That supports the notion of desperate is as desperate does.
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Location: Central Massachusetts | OMA, that's definitely Rog with the O in the photo you found. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | dvd - 2017-08-13 7:01 AM
OMA, that's definitely Rog with the O in the photo you found.
Thank You.
I know what the Roger and Eric currently look like.
(old guys that need to shave)
So, Eric bought Ovations for other people to play.
Still shows that he thought the Ovations were good for something. 
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| Thanks Jay, I found a 1970 "O" catalog that has a drawn picture of Eric playing a Deluxe Balladeer just like the promo that I found in 1969/1970 Billboard mag but no pictures. |
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| I think you are right DVD. The Ovation acoustic that was in the Eric Clapton Crossroads sale was donated by Roger Waters. I would guess from the 1984 Pro's and Con's of Hitchhiking tour. |
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| Right on Arthur. We know John Lennon played a Ovation because there are pictures of him in the studio with a "O". Also Ovation made a very limited "John Lennon" Legend guitar a 1651-7 I think. |
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Location: Texas |
Records show that in the 2004 auction
Lot #54 - Ovation Preacher 12-String Model 1285 (1975) $31,070
(Pre-Sale Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000)
Donated by Roger Waters
In 2011
Lot #99 – 1979 Ovation 1687-8 Adamas Guitar (Serial No. 1587-91). Printed maker's label to interior CW Kaman II / 1587-91 / 1687-8, in blue finish, black Lyrachord deep bowl body with gold sparkles, scrolled acanthus leaf motif headstock, mahogany neck, twenty-four fret walnut fingerboard with maple triangular motif inlays, fibronic-graphite top, thirteen-piece exotic wood inlays around twenty-two multiple epaulet soundholes, carved acanthus leaf walnut bridge, Perspex® pickguard, two wooden rotary controls on the side and two jack outputs; and brown Ovation hardshell contour case with brown plush lining and brown vinyl cover with zip fastening, containing photocopied sheet music for Streamline Woman, by McKinley Morganfield (Muddy Waters) and a lead, with handwritten label inscribed with various details including ADAMAS OVATION....GRAPE SOUNDHOLE
Estimate: $1,500 - 2,000, £940 - 1,300
Bid Price: $16,000
Lot #100 – 1985/86 Ovation Model 1669 Custom Legend Guitar (Serial No. 310688). Printed maker's label no interior with serial number and model number, in black finish, Lyrachord deep bowl body with single round cutaway, spruce top with abalone inlays, [laminate] neck, twenty fret bound ebony fingerboard with diamond and dot patterned inlays, the soundhole with inlaid abalone decoration in a foliate motif, ebony bridge with carved foliate decoration, control knob to one side and black pickguard; and a brown Ovation hardshell contour case with brown plush lining with handwritten label and strip of tape applied to lid inscribed Black, Ovation, Acoustic steel String, S.Cut. Gift From 'Guitar Centre' To Go In 04 Auction, Didn't Make It, Mode [sic] 1669...
Estimate: $750 - 1,000, £470 - 630
Bid Price: $6,500
Lot #101 – 1985/86 Ovation Model 1663 Classic Cutaway Guitar (Serial No. 307884). Printed maker's label to interior with serial number and model number, in natural finish, Lyrachord deep bowl body with single round cutaway, twenty-two fret ebony fingerboard, soundhole with foliate design inlays, control panel with switches and rotary control on side of the body; and a black Ovation hardshell contour case with lilac plush lining with two handwritten labels with various inscriptions including OVATION 'Nylon' Ser 307884 'Bowlback'; signed by Eric Clapton on the back of the headstock in black felt pen.
Estimate: $900 - 1,200, £570 - 760
Bid Price: $11,000 |
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| WOW great find on the Eric Clapton sales. This is the right place to find anything Ovation. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Clapton also played a Gibson 335 early in his career. |
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Posts: 21
| Right about the Gibson 335. Auctioned for The Crossroads center "Cherry Red" the Gibson Eric played during the Good bye Cream tour sold for $847,500.00. I know it is for a ggod cause but when a guitar sell for more then you made your whole life it kind of takes you back. LOL |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I have a poster of him playing a 335. Not sure if it was one sold at auction. |
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Location: Atlanta, GA. | It's interesting the auction house would name the Adamas broccoli headstock and bridge "carved acanthus leaf" and the "snot blob" pick guard Perspex®.
Probably not official Ovation nomenclature. |
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Posts: 21
| Thanks Professor B, a early red 335 poster would be the same one. "Cherry Red" was bought by The Guitar center and the limited Gibson "Cream" 335 was reproduced. He had a Gibson Les Paul in the late 60's but it was stolen. |
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ERic Clapton Ovation?