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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Different Rossette and A 100
Is this really an older and early 12 Balladeer? |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Woodster,
this guitar was the topic of a recent thread...I believe Tony C has one of these... do a search of his recent posts. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Yeah...isn't this a relist? |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | It is a relist. I just went over that string - thanks. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I have A-347. Ovation shows A+3 as July-November, 1968.
I got mine from Mr. CustomLegend of the OFC.
The first Ovation 12-string ever to be introduced was part of the original shiny bowl series. Various early documentation called it either the "Ovation 12-String" or the "Balladeer 12-String". In either case it borrowed features from most of the other shiny bowl models. The 1-7/8" wide 12-fret neck was the same as the Josh White, but the slotted headstock was elongated to accommodate the 12 open geared tuners. The fret markers and rosette were identical to the Deluxe Balladeer, however the sound hole was smaller. This effect of the smaller soundhole with the full sized rosette actually gave the guitar quite an attractive look. Ovation claimed that the smaller soundhole helped to produce a harsichodian effect. Of course this model shared the deep shiny bowl with the rest of the line in those days. Early 12-strings had a 3-piece spruce top, while later ones such as that shown below (serial number A-347 from 1968) had a 2-piece top.
Shiny Bowl Balladeer 12 String - Specifications
Model number Balladeer 12 String
Instrument type 12 string acoustic
Year of manufacture 1968
Body type Deep bowl
Bowl Black shiny finish
Top Sitka Spruce AAA
Body binding 5 ply
Bracing Ovation Fan bracing
Scale length 25 1/4"
Fretboard Ebony
Fret inlay MOP dot inlays
Bridge Brazilian rosewood
Rosette Inlayed floral w/ small sound hole
Nutwidth 1 7/8 "
Tuners Open gear w/ white buttons
Neck 5 piece gloss
Headstock Gloss slotted
Headstock logo Gold decal
Label Blue New Hartford label |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | note that this doesn't appear to be the original bridge, see the picture of mine:
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Tony, I could not have said it better myself (he he). The one on ebay looks original except for the replaced bridge. These are very nice instruments. Dave |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The original from the 60's wouldn't have an 80's blue lable in it. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Bill, By "Blue New Hartford Label" Tony meant the early square label that said Ovation Instruments, New Hartford and the Ovation symbol and background graphics were blue. I call this the 2nd generation label, as the first ones said Ovation Instruments, Bloomfield and had the logo and graphics in Red. Dave |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Dave,
Shouldn't you be busy adding me to the FD14 onwers list. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Discussion about shiny bowls is always priority #1. Dave
PS - Need to know what # FD14 you have. |
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12 String Early Balladeer?