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Location: Venice, Flo | The Ovation site does not indicate that such a version guitar exists. They indicate that a 1987-5 and a 1987-7 for that year. I havea 1987-4 - #78 out of a 1000 produced. No serial number on the head. It looks similiear to the 1987 example pictured, exceipt color. I don't "think" it is a custom job. Not with a 1000 produced in New Hartford, CT. I have inquired and initially have recieved that a 1987-4 was not built. Since then I am receiving a certificate of authenticity as I have amazingly found the recipt of purchase 4/26/89 from Strait Music, Austin-TX. Just a curious guitar mystery...? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Good point about the -7 and -4. It really isn't a dark -7 which at the time was beige, it was just a slight yellowing stain on the top. After a year or two there isn't much difference between them. There were less than 1000 1987s made and I think there were about 730 or so -7 and 230ish blacks. There also were some bearclaw tops made at the end of the run. I thought there were about 30 or so of these. Check the s/n list in the reference section, they should have it closer there.
Is yours a bearclaw top? That may have the -4 notation. If it is just the normal #78 of the run it probably is a -7 and somebody goofed. Nice guitar either way. |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Mine is 1987-4 and its bearclaw #18 |
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Location: SoCal | Learn something new all the time. |
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Location: Venice, Flo | I took a second look and compared the colors. My guitar is actually more of a brownish color but not too dark. . Not the pale blond look. I just have the standard head I guess. I don't know what a bear claw head is. The sticker inside the bowl looks normal and just indicates #78 "written in" out of a 100o produced. ;) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I've got #22 Sam. Maybe we made the bearclaws without the stain? Meatpill is right, it's a very light stain. They do darken with age, I was looking at the proto of the 87 the other day and it's pretty dark.
You getting much rain down there in Venice? |
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Location: Venice, Flo | Let me change that color to a orangish/brown. Pretty. Nice looking. I wish I could attach an image rather than trying to explain it. It does not have that pale blond look like the 1987-7. That's probably why it is a "4". The history of this version has apparantly been lost. This site indicates 928 1987 guitars made which inlude the "5" and the "7" versions. My sticker indicates a 1000 1987's made. If true, the the difference is 72 guitars unaccounted for. Which mine might be one of them.
I am corresponding with John Budney who has been helpful and is sending me a certifcate. I am hoping he can find a serial # for this guitar as I can't locate one. If guitar #1 is this serial number, then my guitar #78 is that serial number. If such a list exists. I hope... Not that it is really all that important. Except when the sticker wears out, the guitar will be numberless and without a serial number.... :eek:
And yes, there has been lot's of rain..... |
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Location: closely held secret | You can post pictures in the 'member access' section to the left. |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | If i remember right all the 1987's were labeled -4 on the guitar label exept for the black ones.It may be the book and catalogs had them as -7 but the guitars actually said -4.It seems the four i have owned were 1987-4 ..Does anyone have a 1987-7 on the guitar label?Stephen what does the one i sent you recently say on the label? Heres a pic of mine it is also nutmeg with bearclaw..I beleive nutmeg is what Martin and other manufacturers call vintage toner..
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Mine says 1987-4. #258
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Location: Venice, Flo | Samova my guitar looks a lot like yours in color. It changes from orangish nutmeg or brown color depending upon the lighting. . Although I don't have the pretty marbling you do. ;) Do you have a serial number listed anywhere?
How did you post that picture? :confused: |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | I guess you mean bearclaw when you say marbling? Its serial number 18
Stephen ,thanks for the confirmation.Im convinced that the guitar labels all read 1987-4 for the nutmegs and the literature discribed them as 1987 -7 for nutmeg.I bet you wont fing a guitar label with 1987-7..The black ones were 1987-5 of course.
BTW Stephen you need a bearclaw 1987 to match that burst ;) ;) ;) |
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Location: Venice, Flo | I am calling the marbling the striations in the finish. If that's what you are calling bear claw.
Notice the different color 1987-4s between Samova's and Stephan28's. I thought there has to be a serial number designating the version and color of the guitar aside from the #number at which the guitar was produced out of a 1000.
The 1987-4 is not telling us that as evidenced by the different looks.
Do you guys have a serial number, like on the back of the head stock or anywhere on the guitar other than the #number at which it was produced out of a 1000? Every other ovation guitar has serial numbers. I can not find one on mine other than it is #78 out of a 1000 - 1987-4.
Besides Samova's and Stehpah28' 1987-4 colors, there is the one pictured here: http://www.ovationguitars.com/index.cfm?fa=detail&mid=1229#
on the ovation site. Which I think is a 1987-7...
That's three different colors.
Three different version numbers mention:
1987-4
1987-5
1987-7
You would think the 4,5,or 7 would indicate color but that can't be as evidenced of Samova's and Stephan's different looks, both same model.... 1987-4
There is something here that dosn't make sense and it I wish someone could figure this out. :confused:
I guess it's possible that the guitar stickers were printed incorrectly with a -4 instead of -7.....But this still does not explain the different colors for the same model number.....
So, where is the real serial number..... indicating all the guitars particular infomraion....... ???
Is it just a sticker misprint so no usable information can be gained from it? |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Meatpill, there is a very good answer for Stephens guitar looking different than mine and both have the 1987-4.I owned that guitar and it began its life as a 1987-4 with nutmeg finish.I sent the guitar back to the factory and had them put a sunburst finish on the guitar.So, this explains the same model but two different finishes..I still think all nutmeg 1987's have the -4 designation...If anyone owns a 1987 guitar with a -7 on the label then lets hear about it... |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I think you got it Sam. They were all -4 which to me is natural (whatever shade it may be) and the black, -5.
Meatpill, we were going to make 1000 but only got to 928. The rest were never made. I think that yours is number 78 of the run, an early one. As I've said before we started the runs around #50 and filled in the lower numbers later, in this case with the bearclaws of which there were around 30 made. |
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Location: Venice, Flo | OK, great. That explains the different colors. My 1987-4 is also a nutmeg kind of color but without the striations in the pattern.
Now if we can get the Ovations site to clarify this so much the better. So the 1987 indicates the collector series, the 4,5, and 7 indicate color and the # out of a 1000 IS the serial number. If what we surmise is correct..... :rolleyes: |
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Location: closely held secret | Um. cwkII would know.
And with all due respect, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the info on the site to be clarified. Maybe someday, but right now they're all too busy making OFC's and 06 Collectors. (ko-a! ko-a! ko-a!) |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | The striations are actually called "bear claw" top.It looks as though a bear took his paw and made the marks on the top with his claw.That term has been used in the guitar industry for many years.. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Sam, I can only afford your guitars periodically. The bank says my credit is only good for one major loan at a time ;)
Besides, you know which guitar I want next. Just working on the funds so I can pick it up from you. |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Stephen ,my guitars are very ,very cheap.Hell i practically gave the sunburst 1987 away.You caught me during a clearance sale!!
Bill, glad you confirmed the label thing out. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | True, the guitars are cheap but they cost a lot! :D
Seriously, it is always what the market is willing to bear. At least with you and several other OFC members I have dealt with, I know the guitar will be accurately described and of good quality.....traits I try to pass on when dealing with other OFC members from the selling side.
If you really want to sell the bearclaw we can certainly talk. Send me an email with your ransom demands! :cool: |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Sam's guitars are appropriately priced, he stands behind them, and he's good on his word. Dave |
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Location: Denton, Texas | My 1987-4 Collector's is nutmeg, no bear claw marks; #961-1000 |
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Location: Venice, Flo | Theat 961 number blows the claim on the ovation site that they only made 928..... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Runs were started around number 50 which puts 961 within the total of 928. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | From a special supply I can now offer to the highest bid number 1001 and 1002 of the limited series of 1000.... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | How about we putt for them :cool: |
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Location: Denton, Texas | Attention On Deck! I have made a major frab-up in identifying my '87 Collectors. It is number 691 of 1000, not 961. I know, twenty times around the track in full gear, helmet and Ovation harshell case full of sheet music. Aaargh! |
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Location: Venice, Flo | Back to the drawing board of details.... 961 ha! :)
If guitars were started at #50(or so)(And why would you they do that?)(because it would be so cool to have #1), having #78 could mean I have the #28(or so) version actually made that year... Big whooptie I guess. Seems they want to keep it as confusing as possible.
And why would you then put a sticker on there indicating 1000 produced? They focused on such details making the thing, then to drop the ball on the sticker informtion ... After all, there is such hype having the collector's edition.
There is a book on the history of the ovation. I wonder what the book has to say to furthor confound the truth? Anybody have the book? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The several copies of "the book" are being circulated around between members. Check out the thread on it and get your name on the list to have it sent to you. |
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Who owns a 1987-4 Collectors Series