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Posts: 153
| Various articles concerning the origins of the Ovation guitar corroborate the fact that Charlie Byrd suggested the name "Ovation" to Charlie Kaman, after having tested the guitar. Likewise, a group called the Balladeers were among the first to try the guitar, and hence, the name "Balladeer" was selected for the first model.
Was the first guitar that Charlie Byrd played "Old Number Six", or were there Ovation guitars other than "Old Number Six" that did not bear the name "Ovation"? Was the guitar that the Balladeers played "Old Number Six", or were there other guitars other than "Old Number Six" that carried the "Ovation" name but did not have the "Balladeer" decal on the truss rod cover?
In short, the question is, were there any early Ovation guitars other than "Old Number Six" that did not have the "Ovation" decal that may still be in existence? Secondly, were there any early Ovation Balladeers that did not have the "Balladeer" decal?
Thank you for your response. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Bobfrith
It seems like cwk-2 did not understand the question, like the rest of us. try to expand upon it in a way that will clarify it.
Bailey |
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| Bailey,
Thanks for your request for a clarification of the question, as it does appear somewhat complicated.
There are various stories in print of Charlie Kaman presenting a guitar to Charlie Byrd in Washington, D. C. for his opinion. If Charlie Byrd is the one who, indeed, suggested the name "Ovation", then the first guitar he played could not have carried the name "Ovation".
Quote from Acoustic Guitar magazine, December, 1995, from the article entitled "The Birth of Ovation", by Michael Wright, (pages 35, 36):
If the guitar that Charlie Byrd played, and subsequently remarked that the guitar was worthy of an "ovation" was not "Old Number Six", then it would stand to reason that there are (or were) pre-production Ovation guitars in existence that do not bear the name "Ovation".
Likewise, the story of the Balladeers. Quote from page 36, paragraph 2, of The History of the Ovation Guitar by Walter Carter:
It appears that the Balladeers were using the new guitars before the name "Balladeer" was assigned to them. Thus, the question is, were there production (or pre-production) guitars that existed without the "Balladeer" decal on the truss rod cover?
The question, hence, is, were there any original Ovation guitars produced that may still be in existence that do not carry the "Ovation" decal? And, are there any original Ovation Balladeers that may still be in existence that do not carry the "Balladeer" decal?
Hope this is a bit clearer.
Bob Frith"The first guitarist with whom Kaman"By September the first guitars were |
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Posts: 153
| With regard to my previous post, it appears that the quote from Carters' book was inadvertently deleted in my (unsuccessful) feeble attempt to place the quoted paragraphs in bold.
The quote should read:
"By September the first guitars were ready for market, and they needed a name. A local folk singing group, the Balladeers, had BOUGHT SOME OF THE FIRST INSTRUMENTS and were performing with them ... the first model was named the Balladeer." |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It was clear the first time,
in short,
yes.
yes.
Charlie Byrd played a guitar similar to the shape we know now, not the martin type peghead or which there were several made. He did not suggest the name Ovation. It came from a list of potentials and wasn't first on the list but as others dropped off it lasted. Charlie byrd didn't like the neck and it was steel string so he sent chk off to see Josh White who liked it but wanted a wider neck. He should have seen right then what a PITA endorsees are!
The Balladeers were a band before the guitar got the name so the ones they played at first didn't have the b'd name on them |
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Posts: 153
| cwk2,
Thank you very much for your reply. This does; however, complicate matters as more early models continue to surface over the years.
Maybe there are elusive Gibson "Modernes" in the Ovation collecting world also.
Bob Frith |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Bob,
I have personally seen three types of early guitars, all which are essentially Balladeers. All had the early first generation thick lipped headstock and all had the Ovation logo on it
1. "Balladeer" in peghead, ribbon rosette, and "Balladeer" written on the label as the model number. These are the most common. Later the name on the label was done by typewriter.
2. No "Balladeer" on peghead, ribbon rosette, and "Balladeer" written on the label as the model number. Serial number hand written.
3. No "Balladeer" on peghead, No rosette at all, and no name on the label, just a three digit serial number, hand written. I think this is the earliest I have seen other than the ones on at the factory. Sam has a photo of one with the large truss rod cover that I think is of the same vintage.
Dave |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | The first Moderne prototype was made at the Ovation factory. I wish I'd kept it.
PS, Don't tell anybody this is supposed to be a secret.
I don't remember if Old 6 was the first playable guitar althought now it is the oldest. It could well be the first, you would think that they'd not put a nylon bridge on a steel string! There were 1 or 2 (or 1 or 2 more than this?) with the Martin peghead and I think these had steel type bridges.
Then the first Ovation shaped head although this is a little different from the production version. The B'd name came pretty early on and then the next version was the Deluxe B'd. and a nylon for Charlie Byrd and the Josh White signature model. The 12 came a year or so later |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | What a great discussion
Cwk-2, I apologize, and now realize that I was speaking from ignorance, not having read the Ovation history. But we are getting much of it here on the board in posts like this, and I did live a good deal of it back when I was a complete instrument freak, reading every guitar mag and hanging around stores. Ovations came on the scene almost like you have mentioned, first a trickle, causing a stir because of their unique design, and then a flood when many prominent players played them. I bought one because it was the best solid body I had seen for the price in the 70's. I would have bought an acoustic, but I had already bought more guitars than my marriage would support. I do not regret this because I would still prefer to have my wife (mother of four children) to any vintage guitar.
Bailey |
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Location: NJ | Since we're "confessing secrets" here, I have one.
And (surprise!) it's even "on topic"!! :D :
When we were on the Tour in the R&D Department, Jeanette and I were admiring the collection of Ovation specimens "through the years" (it's in the Tour Pics Section - guitars hanging against a SlatWall display - Josh White, GC, SlotHead, Q, etc.). The first guitar in the lineup was Old Number Six. I was explaining the historical significance of this guitar to Jeanette, and I guess I was doing so with a great deal of "reverence".
One of our Tour Hosts from Ovation (and I will NOT reveal WHO) came up behind me during my "dissertation" and whispered into my ear:
"It plays like shit".
LOL!!!!!! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Cliff. I played that guitar and guess what? It plays and sounds just like you describe. Seemed like the bowl was really thick and the neck felt like you were holding a Louisville Slugger. But it is pretty historic. It was hard to tell in a crowded room, but to me I think the best sounding guitar of the bunch was the new black slothead Adamas. I think a lot of people liked that one. Dave |
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For cwk2 - Question About Earliest Ovations
