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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I've been curious about this for a long time and probably the only person who might have an answer would be cwk2.
The Ovation serial numbers in the late 60's had a letter followed by three digits. These continued until about 1971 when the current all numeric system came into play (with the exceptions of the electrics, starting with the first Breadwinners which were E, followed by 4-5 digits.
The question would be, why were the sequences (sp?) changed every so often to start with a different letter? Did the numbers go from 1-999 and a new number started?
I started thinking about this when I started wondering when the Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladeers were built and how many were built. From the few clues I have, I think they were built from mid 68 until the first GC Artist models came out in mid 69. But Witko's got one in the A sequence and I've got one in the B. His was built in the summer of 68 and mine was built in the winter of 68/69.
Anybody have any insights? It's been estimated that about 50-100 of these guitars were built. Any body? |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Paul,
Just from the info you have given above, could there be a connection between the letter and the type of guitar?
A=artist
B=balladeer
E=Electric
Just a shot in the dark. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Nope. I wish it was that easy. I've seen the letter A refer to Thunderheads as well as GC DB's. The only one that fits in that regard is the electric series starting in 1972. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Paul, what makes you think Dave's is summer '68? Have you ever seen pics or video of Glen with one before the first Goodtime Hour show (Jan'69)?
Just wondering. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Dave told me the serial number and it fits for the summer of 68. I would guess that Glen's was built at about the same time. Dave's was probably sold in the fall of 68. Glen probably was using his (yours)by then (he didn't use it on the Smothers Brothers Summer Show -- for that he was using the Mosrite acoustic).
Tell me if that makes sense or if I'm missing something.
Glen was using his second one with the fanicer initial inlays and the inlay dot at the 19th fret by the time Merle Haggard was a guest on March 12th. And as we know, by the second season the GC DB's were history. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 2
Location: grand prairie, tx | Can't find my serial number anywhere
1020563 7 digits don't seem to be a category on any list I've seen.
Bought used at a pawn shop and it sounds and works great. I'd just like to know what I've got.
Can anybody help? since every list stops at six digits do I have one sent back from the future? |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | If I am not mistaken (and someone will correct me if I am), I believe the current serial number list pertains strictly to the US made Ovations.
Yours is probably a Celebrity model which is made overseas. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Bump. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by dene:
Can't find my serial number anywhere
1020563 7 digits don't seem to be a category on any list I've seen.
Bought used at a pawn shop and it sounds and works great. I'd just like to know what I've got.
Can anybody help? since every list stops at six digits do I have one sent back from the future? You will have to tell us more about your guitar. I don't believe it was made in the U.S. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The first serial numbers were a letter and three numbers stamped into the heel block. Not sure how far it went into the alphabet. (or were these just numbers?)
The second system was again a letter with four numbers (maybe?) but these were on the lable, not stamped into the block.
The third system is the current system that only covers US made.
The thunderheads and all would be under the second system. I don't recall if the letters meant anything, I'm thinking not but that might not be right.
The solid bodies would be a separate bunch of numbers and I'm thinking that these were all E something for guitar and B something for bass
I'm sure there are some holes in what all I just said but it's a good start at getting this answered. All comments and additions welcome. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 2
Location: grand prairie, tx | I am amazed at all the respoinse trying to help me. The guitar looks like pictures of the Elite but pictures are never a good way to identify something. It has the leaf holes in the medium depth body and the p24+ electronice.
The serial number was all in black on the inside to the body where I could see it through the leaf holes.
I\m not looking to get rid of it, but would like to know when people ask me what the model is. Just got it thursday and I'm wearing my fingers to the bone playing with it.
I've always played Gibson jumbos and Martin 15 and 18 series acoustice. This has every bit as good a sound although slighting different. It has plenty of bass and when played through my fender bass amp, it is awesome.
I knew very little about ovations but I pick my instruments by sound and when I played this in tha pawn shop I knew it was a quality instrument.
Are there any celebrity serial number lists available? |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | There are no records on the celebs. Sorry.
The way to tell a celeb from a US built Elite (besides the label) is the end of the fingerboard. The Elite's is extended down 22 frets, the celeb's much more blunt. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | So Dave, when are you going to track the serial numbers on the MWoody "Two Jims" Wannabe series?
Viper 7262 went to Tony.
BW E1541 a six string is with me
Deacon 12 E9156 is here
Viper/Deacon ???? is Paul Moody's
Viper ???? From Cruster to Pearland Texas!
I am doing a lousy job of tracking. I was hoping you'd pick up my slack! |
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Ovation serial numbers
