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Location: Colorado | I am curious. What was the scenario and when was your first recollection of seeing someone playing an Ovation. I'll start. I think it was 1975 - Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Danny Peak (America) were lined up three across at the Carolina Colesium (SC)...all of them playing Ovations - Beckley was playing a 12-string...the song was "Tin Man" (no comment). Sorry no Llamas Cliff.
Mark |
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Location: Colorado | I lied...I do remember watching Glen Campbell's show in the late 60s, and therefore that was probably my first recollection...but I wasn't aware at the time. Bill - I'd love to hear what your first recollection is.
Mark |
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Location: Colorado | I lied...I do remember watching Glen Campbell's show in the late 60s, and therefore that was probably my first recollection...but I wasn't aware at the time. Bill - I'd love to hear what your first recollection is.
Mark |
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Location: Colorado | I lied...I do remember watching Glen Campbell's show in the late 60s, and therefore that was probably my first recollection...but I wasn't aware at the time. Bill - I'd love to hear what your first recollection is.
Mark |
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Location: Colorado | When you triple click...you pay for it! |
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Location: New Orleans | My Mom and Dad always tuned into the Glen Campbell Show. Both of us kids gathered around the TV and watched Glen perform his awesome craft. I later graduated to my first Ovation and I have Glen to thank! ;) |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Yep, I would have to say the GC show on TV.
Bought my first Balladeer new in '76 |
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| I am not sure if any of you remember this but it was Glen Cambell, I do not think it was his show though?? He was being interviewed by a news reporter or ???? 76-78 ???? And he came to the part where the interviewer mentioned he'd promissed a song. He of course said yes and reached back for his guitar on a stand and it was an Adamas of course I did not know this at the time. I thought it was something custom made just for him! Ya know That dusty Blue and all the sound holes looked like one of his Blue cowboy suits! It was not his normal Ovation Guitar. He Picked it up and it was beautiful, Turned my head or well it kept me watching anyway.
He looked at it, rather puzzled, and strummed a chord or two then stopped and looked at it real close. I remeber he mumbled something about how this was not his normal guitar. Must not have played quite the way he liked or something?? It was like he was making an excuse in case he messed up playing it or something.
I did not know about Ovation or Glen Cambell's relationship with them then. He also said something about someone changing his guitar to promote this one! Well I thought whomever it was that changed this guitar on him and put this one in it's place to promote this one was the smartest sales promoter I have ever seen. Glen made enough of a stink about it (and he did act quite put out)that I remember it to this day.
Genius. Now in actuality some poor guy probably forgot to change his strings and at the last minute an Ovation rep slipped this in as a stand by Who knows. Did anyone else see this and remember it??
Now I most likely had looked at an Ovation on TV before this but to be honest at this age and a complete novice as a musician if it was a center hole Ovation I would have thought it was a traditional guitar anyway. Most shots of musicians were right straight on and the round backs were not shown off much. This Adamas shot through all the rest of the Traditional guitars with one look.
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | My first memory of Ovation was GC playing it on his TV show...BUT....the sighting that fixed my interest in Ovation was seeing and hearing Jim Peterik of The Ides Of March play a Balladeer onstage during their acoustic set (they were in their CSNY period then) in April 1972. I was ENTRANCED by the rich sound. Right THEN, I decided, I had to get one someday.....
Roger |
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Location: Western, North Carolina | First Ovation that I saw was on the Bobby Goldsboro TV show. I think it was a summer show. I'm not sure of the year, just that it was about the same time that the GC show came on. |
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Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Some good friends of mine in Indiana, the Wright Brothers Overland Stage Company, played Ovations. That was the first time I'd seen or noticed them. Probably the early '70's. |
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Location: Southern California | The first time I recall seeing an Ovation in action? That would be Paul McCartney's Wings Over America Tour, June 1976 at the San Diego Sports Arena. I'm pretty sure it's the only left handed Ovation I have seen to this day. I know it's the only lefty I've ever seen in use! |
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Location: SoCal | First was Campbell on TV. Saw what was probably a Balladeer in '69 hanging behind a counter in a music store in Pensacola. Ended up buying my first good guitar a few months later when at Shaw AFB - a Martin D-18 12str. When I was introduced to the Custom Legend 12 in 1980 (1158), Ovation had the credibility so I looked seriously at how the guitar played; quality was not an issue.
Basically, seeing professionals using Ovation wasn't why I bought an Ovation. A good music store owner placing an Ovation in my hands, combined with the credibility of the company, was how I ended up in this direction. Marty of Marty's Guitars in Portland, OR believed in Ovations, brought the 12-str back from NAMM and placed it in my hands - more than just hanging it on the wall. Artists gave it credibility, the guitar store had it in stock and sold it. Alas, something we don't see in many of the stores today. |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | Definately Glen Campbell on TV, Followed by The exposure given on The Partridge Family, I also remember David Gates Playing Ovations during The live shows with Bread. |
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Location: SoCal | You know, I remember watching the Partridge Family JUST to see the Ovations. Seriously.... |
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Location: NJ | . . y'mean there were OTHER reasons?? |
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Location: closely held secret | ...Shirley Jones... |
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Location: NJ | pass . . . |
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Location: Central Florida | Susan Dey... To many an 11-12 year old boy, she was reason enough to watch! But, like Paul, I also tuned in to see all the Ovations (in addition to Susan). This was around the time I got my first O, and I got the biggest kick from Ovation getting a credit at the end of every episode for providing the guitars and amps.
Back on topic, it was Glen's show where I first discovered Ovations also, and he was/is the main reason I'm still an Ovationist today. |
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Location: NJ | Even though I wasn't a fan, I first NOTICED them on the Campbell show. Liked the fact that they were "different". . .
Croce, America, et al were more of an influence to consider owning one. |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I never thought much about them. I knew GC played one as I was doing some of his music in a Contemporary Christian band (and I was doing drums and vocals), also my lead singer and guitar player had an "O" (that he still plays to this day. Will have to ask him what model it is). Then I moved and two members of our new church's worship team played O's. So...when one came up, I figured it was God's guitar, so I better buy one lest God be upset with me:D
I did....the 1537....Don't really have GAS per se, (lot's of other interest other than guitars) but am now looking at another "O" just so I can be twice as more "Holy(ie?)" :D :D ;) |
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Location: south east Michigan | I was just 17…you know what I mean
And the way it looked was beyond compare
Oh I could not have bought any other..Ooooo
When I saw it hanging there.
Well it played as sweet as could be
Made with advanced technolo-gy
And before to long, it came on home with me.
Oh why should I play any other Ooooo
When an Ovation’s in my hands.
Well that bowl goes boom
And it fills the room
And those chords ring out so louuuuud!!
Now it has been many a year
I still play that Balladeer
It will stay with me ‘till the day I die
Oh why would you need any other.. Oooo
Ovations just plain kick ass.
_________________________________
It's plain to see that I just have way to much time on my hands and lack any form of direction this morning. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | In the 'No Such Thing as a Dumb Question' Catagory;
I see the accronym GAS here and at other guitar chats.... what's it stand for?
.......................................
First recollections.
Back-in-the-day... Glen Campbell, Jim Croce, America, Bread, and all the other easy-listening/lotsa harmony acts were my strongest interests and influences. Probably any and all of those.
Then I got bored and quit playing completely after burning out playing singles at pubs and clubs. (Just before Disco put everyone I knew out of business)
Picked up guitar again (and bought my Ovation Storm, Thunderhead) when I 'discovered' Punk/New Wave. |
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Location: Tennessee | Gear Acquisition Syndrome. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
Aaaaaaah!
Makes perfect sense. I am pretty much fully recovered from that. (Except for the next model of digital recorder, maybe that cool mike I've been ogling, and those cute little mixers they make now....) :rolleyes: |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | fillhixx....
Just bought a Tascam 2488....I am blown away by what it will do for the average basement musician. Went cheap on the mikes (AT2020's), but still much better than dynamic.
So....I understand GAS all too well. Unfortnately, it shot my budget for an Adamas addition, so now looking at "lesser" guitars (maybe/maybe not). Have my sights on a 1778LX if I can keep it in the $700-800 range.
Maybe for a fishing trip to Campbell River, I can be persuaded to bring my Tascam along for you to play with. (just KIDDING!!!) |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Thanks for the offer Card. But there's enough of 'em around town.
The small town challenge is always finding players who are good enough to do the job, and humble enough to take/share direction. What limited exposure I have to 'city musicians' showed me the difference between ego and insecurity.
But you're welcome to come fishin' anytime. I don't much anymore, other than about one trip a year, more like a religeous celebration with fellow apostates. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I spent days thinking about this, instead of my usual quick, thoughtless, response. I think it may have been David Gates and Bread. I spent the late 60s in North Dakota, where we didn't have much contact with the rest of the world, although we did watch the Partridge Family. |
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Location: Tennessee | Mine is forever etched in my memory ... it was watching Dave Mason from the second row at the San Diego Civic Auditorium in 1975. I'd seen Dave before, but never noticed the guitars. He came out and started playing just acoustic, and did "Gimme a Reason" and a beautiful cover of "Take It To The Limit" on an Ovation 12 backed by Finnigan and Kreiger. Being that close, I really noticed the guitars and the sound they produced. Dave progressed the show to full-on rocking electric (including Gerald Johnson on bass) and finished the show with an absolutely killer version of "Gimme Some Lovin'", I guess a tribute to his days as a roadie with the Spencer Davis Group. To this day, the best show I've ever seen. |
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Location: North Texas | I think Glen C. was a guest on the Smothers Bros. show, way back in the day, and played an Ovation. He got his own show at about the same time, so that may be the recollection. I do remember saying; "what kind of a guitar is he playing?". |
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Location: Atlanta, GA. | When Mac Davis, on his show, chided Glen for screwing up the tuning of his Ovation, I had to laugh.
This was after Mac's wife had left him to be with Glen. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | I think Mac Davis was my first sighting of an O too. Used to love when he would come out, ask audience members for a line and write a quick song on the spot. The first solid body I ever saw was definitely on the Partridge Family. Saw the BW and loved it immediately. Still can't understand why I've never owned one.
Yet... |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | My first Ovation sighting was in a video for a Rush tune called "Mystic Rhythms" back in '86. Alex Lifeson was playing a beautiful Elite which he also used on the original recording. Holy crap...I'm getting old! |
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Location: NJ | Comparing Alex Leifson to Glen Campbell and Mac friggin' Davis,
. . and YOU feel old??!!
:rolleyes: |
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Location: Phoenix, AZ | Like many before, it was seeing Glen Campbell on TV. It was the fall of '68 and either on his show or as a guest on the Smothers Bros (not sure if GC's show was on the air in '68). I ran up to the TV to see if I could read the name on the headstock on this "radical" roundback guitar.
The next day I called every music store in town and learned the guitar was an Ovation and only one local store was an authorized retailer. I went down that afternoon and played a Josh White, the only O they had in stock, and, in fact, the only O they had ever received. They said they had a Deluxe Balladeer on order and expected to receive it in the Spring. I told them to hold it for me.
When they called to tell me the DB was on its way, I brought my Gibson SG down to trade, and we hammered out a deal. When I went down to pick up the DB, the Josh White was still on the wall. I left with my DB and never looked back. |
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Location: NJ | I seem to remember it (the show) being called:
The Summer Brothers Smothers Show" . . . |
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Location: North Texas | I think Glen filled in as a summer replacement for Tommy and Dicky, and was so well recieved that the network gave him his own show. It was in the sixties, but the memories are kinda blurred, dontcha know. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | From the Web site
"In 1968, Tommy Smothers caught Glen’s guest-star appearance on The Joey Bishop Show. Tommy and Dickie Smothers were so impressed by his presence and talent that they asked Glen to host their summer replacement series, The Summer Brothers Smothers Show. Glen’s musical proficiency and natural wit sent the ratings through the roof. CBS executives were so delighted by Glen’s unexpected popularity that they offered the fledgling star his own series. The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour took to the airwaves in January 1969, and immediately soared. The variety show’s talented host became a household word across America and around the world.
The success of the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour was due to Glen’s triple-decker talent as a musician, singer and humorist and the guests he brought on the show. Glen gave viewers what they wanted:
glen campbell bio |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I forget where the first sighting was. I do remember that when ever we'd see one on TV I'd call my father on the phone to tell him what channel to turn to. He'd do the same to me. The end result was that we'd be on the phone and not watching the TV and by the time you get back there the tune was over and the jugglers or dancing bears would be on the screen. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | They had TV back then? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Black and white |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | ...and of course it was before electricity....they had to watch TV by candle light..... :rolleyes:
....We had a kerosene TV,the early ones used coal... |
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1st recollection