I was contacted today by someone looking for info about their Breadwinner.  I don't have pics yet, but it was easily identifiable as an early one.  Tan body, Tortoise Shell pickguard, nylon saddles, end jack, plain battery cover, and the neck plate just stating the serial number and "Ovation Instruments New Hartford, Ct. "

The kicker is, the serial number on the neck plate is 772.  My understanding and info on this site is they started with E plus 4 digits for serial numbers.  

Any thoughts?   Has anyone ever seen a neck plate with 3 digits?  Even the prototypes for NAMM got X-001 X-002, etc..  so just a plain 772 is curious.