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| got here today... finish cracks galore, but top is flat, no belly bulge or neckdive, and the action's close enough that I don't know if I'm sending it north or not.. 
it's pretty filthy... the upper tuning pegs on both sides are bent, and looks like old axle grease on the gears and screws
but it sounds GREAT! very very loud... and definitely a Belly Rumbler. not bad for $229
Glenn |
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| Congrats, nice get! Bringing it to the FL Jam? |
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Posts: 1374
| we're hoping to be up at the cabin in TN that week..
but I'll gladly send along any of my herd with AL(Slydog) to join in the fun.. the Bluebird 12 will be ready then as well..
I just got off the phone with John at the mothership and it looks like I'll be sending it up to have the cracks sealed and the top leveled and re-finished..
I'll have less than 6 in it after that and will be good to go for another 40 years or so..
I'll wait till after the swampfest before I send it to Hartford in case anyone wants it to come down to visit and play.
Glenn |
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Posts: 1900
| Wow...I don't think I've ever seen one of those up close and personal..great condition for the age..never change it, never sell it.. |
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Posts: 1374
| just gonna preserve it...nothing's being replaced, just repaired and/or stabilized, gonna have the team up north look it over, and fix any loose spots, bracing etc.., one of the cracks(bridge to lower bout) is through the top... so that will have to be sealed, they're gonna fill the others... smooth down the edges, grind her down a bit so everything's flat and smooth.. and re-shoot it with clearcoat.
still amazed how flat the top is for it's age.. and the bowl's in really good condition as well... not too badly scratched... getting ready with the toothbrushes, steel wool, mineral oil, naptha, murphy's soap, meguiar's(sp) and some elbow grease...
and to soften it up a little since the action at 12 is just a little high will put a set of silk-n-steels on.... too bad they die so quick.
Glenn |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Mutts are fun but the "O-riginals" are sure sweet.
Nice one GH |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Congrats !!
I can see that it`s a short-scale, but which model is it ? :)
Vic |
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| according to several here and John B at the mothership... this is either a 68/69 Balladeer 12 or K-1115, were they one and the same? or did one evolve?
it does look like there was once a paper rectangular label at one time but all that is left is glue and paper chaff..
it's one of the transitional models, 2 piece top, still had the winged bridge, but had went to the large soundhole and stick on MOP rosette, the fret markers and side markers are nice mop also..
5 piece neck, looks like a pretty strong angle/break at the nut/headstock, no finish cracks or dings on the neck... just some scuffs on the top of the headstock..
the binding on this is really nice... smooth, glossy, and rounded...
8 ply like on my other two slots but smoother and more finished..
If anyone can help me better identify it it would be appreciated..
there are no serial #s anywhere that I can find... and comparing the neckblocks on my other vintage slots.. the 1114 and 1613 the neckblocks/pockets are squared on those, while the neckblock on this 12 is U shaped and rounded.
it's a great old guitar, I've been playing it most of the day... all I've done is cleaned and wiped it down with some #9 and marveled at it and played some more... very loud, very rich, and by far the "woodiest" sounding O 12 that I've played and I've had more than a few Ovation 12s over the past couple of years...
on the fence about the refinish... it's got character, and sounds really good... as long as it's structurally ok... may just straighten the tuners.. and call it done..
it's a nice early Ovation Shiny Bowl, I've always wanted a winged-bridge model, plus it's a 12...
and while the older small hole 12s may be better historical pieces... I was never a fan of them(not that I wouldn't mind owning one) and prefer the larger rosette which I've always identified Ovations with..
so any help on getting a positive id would be appreciated..
yeah I know..
"It's a great old Ovation Shiny Bowl slothead short scale 12 string either 68 or 69."
nuff said.
back to playing.
Glenn |
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Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Solid Top aka Enfant Terrible:
Congrats !!
I can see that it`s a short-scale, but which model is it ? :)
Vic The neck may appear shorter because of the 12th fret join but it's not short-scale, it's 25.25inches, sames as every other Ovation.
This is a 1115 12 string, which was later named the 1115 Pacemaker 12 String |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Yes you`re Right...full scale it is.. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | "...and looks like old axle grease on the gears and screws..."
Sounds like something I would do. Alittle Bearing Grease, keep everything running nice and smooth.
"$229" is almost enough to make me cry....
But if the only thing that is wrong with it is that one crack, I'd just get some glue into it to stabilize it, then give it a bath!
That is a real, Real Nice Git-fiddle.
I wonder if the folks in CT would put a shiny bowl on my Pacemaker? :cool: |
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Posts: 1374
| Thank you Master Temp. and my apologies on the short scale remark... I do know better... I think... maybe..
it's cleaning up nice... still haven't restrung it..
it gets it's real bath and new threads tomorrow.. some pitting on the dogears on the tuners.. looks like some of it is just a lot of grime, grease and well cured sweat... no rust just gunk..
so were the early small holes the K models? and this is the 1115 or is this a K-1115?
Thanks,
Glenn |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | The original small hole ones were before they went to K model numbers. Technically it was called Model 5, but the label just said "12-String" or later "Balladeer 12-String". Around 68-69 they transitioned to the 4 digit K model numbers. The Balladeer 12-String was Model 5, so it became K-1115. Around this time they also went to the larger soundhole and stick on rosette.
Model 1 was labeled Balladeer, and became K-1111
Model 2 was labeled Deluxe Balladeer, and became K-1112, later became Custom Balldeer
Model 3 was labeled Classic, and became K-1113
Model 4 was labeled Josh Wite and became K-1114, later became Folklore
Model 5 was labeled 12-String or Balladeer 12-String with small sound hole and became K-1115 with the large sound hole, later became the Pacemaker
Model 6 was the Contemporary Folk Classic shallow bowl small sound hole, never made it into production, later was released as a deep bowl large soundhole K-1116 called the Folk Classic
Model 7 was labeled K-1117 Glen Campbell and generally referred to as the Glen Campbell Deluxe Ballladeer, later became the Legend
Model 8 was labeled K-1118 12-String, or K-1118 Glen Campbell 12-String. Later became the Glen Campbell 12-String
Plus there were exceptions to all the rules ...
Dave |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | The original small hole ones were before they went to K model numbers. Technically it was called Model 5, but the label just said "12-String" or later "Balladeer 12-String". Around 68-69 they transitioned to the 4 digit K model numbers. The Balladeer 12-String was Model 5, so it became K-1115. Around this time they also went to the larger soundhole and stick on rosette.
Model 1 was labeled Balladeer, and became K-1111
Model 2 was labeled Deluxe Balladeer, and became K-1112, later became Custom Balldeer
Model 3 was labeled Classic, and became K-1113
Model 4 was labeled Josh Wite and became K-1114, later became Folklore
Model 5 was labeled 12-String or Balladeer 12-String with small sound hole and became K-1115 with the large sound hole, later became the Pacemaker
Model 6 was the Contemporary Folk Classic shallow bowl small sound hole, never made it into production, later was released as a deep bowl large soundhole K-1116 called the Folk Classic
Model 7 was labeled K-1117 Glen Campbell and generally referred to as the Glen Campbell Deluxe Ballladeer, later became the Legend
Model 8 was labeled K-1118 12-String, or K-1118 Glen Campbell 12-String. Later became the Glen Campbell 12-String
Plus there were exceptions to all the rules ...
Dave |
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Posts: 1374
| Thank you. so it is a K-1115...
were the only differences on the Glen Campbell #8/k-1118 gold hardware and the trc/signature like on the newer models? or did it have a bound neck as well? or none or some of the above?
just wondering what differentiated the early GC models from the 1115
Glenn |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | GC12 differed from B12 by gold hardware, bound neck, diamond shape inlays. The GC12 didn't have the GC TRC, instead it had the GC signature right down the center of the slots. Earliest GC12's had the small soundhole but not many made. Most had the larger soundhole but still with inlaid rosette, just like the 6 string version. I've got photos of these on my website.
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Does it have a Pick Up ?
Vic |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | The acoustic electric versions didn't show up until after the shiny bowl models were phased out. |
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Posts: 1374
| nope...straight acoustic.
this one's so loud my Adamas is looking worried... but she's a shallowbowl... holds her own..two totally different gitters.. I like the profile on the neck on the 1115 better I think.
I've had two 1115s 80's models, a 70's 1118 GC, and couple 1758s and I think this one wins hands down for tone and articulation... it likes a light touch as well as a wailing... and sounds great either way. the 1758 comes in a close 2nd but I think it's just the difference in projection with the center hole... and the much older/seasoned top another reason I may not want to tighten it back up with the refinish... still may send it up and ask for opinions on the best way to go..
waiting on what I believe to be a 1768 to arrive now... that one may be going up as well.. depending on how bad the headstock damage is.. and a couple of cracks...
maybe they'll get the right label in it... has a N768 label but no abalone on the guitar, there weren't any plain-jane Nakao Craftsmen were there? :D
Glenn |
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August 2004
Posts: 709
Location: Germany | Glenn,
the label in my guitar just says "1115-4" (without K) and serial "C 412". Apart from the textured bowl mine and yours are exactly the same guitars. Mine even has the rounded and U shaped neckblock.
They stopped the shiny bowl somewhere around B-500 so I assume yours was one of the last guitars of the shiny bowl era. I guess your serial # is "B 499". ;)
Karl |
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mmmmmm.... shiny 12...
