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Location: Phoenix AZ | Norseman's Balladeer vs. Legend post got me thinking about an old question I've had for years. Can anyone tell me exactly the difference between a Thunderhead and a Deluxe Thunderhead? The old catalogs say "The Deluxe Thunderhead has certain special features". Well, I've got multiple versions of each and I can not find any difference between them other then the word "Deluxe" inlaid on the peghead. Any ideas? Dave |
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Location: SoCal | Dave:
I hope somebody answers this as I am really curious myself.
By the way, your tapes are done and going out today.
And I expect first right of refusal on the Thunderhead you showed me. It's probably going to be after the first of next year before I can justify it to my wife. But do let me know if you are ever interested. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Paul - Thanks for making the tapes. Did you think I was serious when I said I would trade you straight up one blonde mint condition Thunderhead for one bootleg copy GC tape ??? Dave |
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Location: SoCal | Dave:
I don't think you ever made that statement. But you did say (and this was only a possiblity, not a definite) that if you ever bought more guitars, that you might be willing to sell the Thunderhead. I was just hoping for first right of refusal on it. I suspect that you will never sell it, but one always has hopes.
Now, if you do want to trade it straight up for the tapes..... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Paul - I already added you to my will. |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | The Thunderheads were the same for the most part..There was not a deluxe Thunderhead..The earliest Thunderheads(1968-69) had "Deluxe " written on the headstock.Also, the headstock was more vase shaped similar to all the other early ovations..The later Thunderheads had the wider headstock,no deluxe written on the headstock and were offered in some other finishes....For the most part same guitar........ |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Sam, I agree.
There was some talk of the earliest ones having a mute on them (Rickard was hot on this idea for a while) The mute was like the flip up kind on a Fender Jag. I think they found out that when it was on it pushed the string up out of tune and basically mutes suck anyway so it got canned. Other tha that, no difference.
It should be noted that when the peghead shape changed it changed for all the electrics. |
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Location: NJ | has anyone ever even used a mute? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I think on one of the Ventures tunes they used one |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Bill, yes the headstock changed slightly from the narrow vase shaped to the wider headstock in around 1970-1971..Also the other thing i forgot that changed was the silkscreened ovation logo changed to the newer glued on sticker..The "deluxe" on the headstock was silkscreened as well...The only other guitars that featured the word "Deluxe" on the hedstock were ...Thunderhead(regular model and Jerry reed model),deluxe balladeer(shiny bowls),Glen Campbell(shiny bowls)... |
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Location: SoCal | Why was the headstock changed for the electrics? |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | I believe the headstock was changed on both acoustic and electrics around 1970-1971... |
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Location: SoCal | But the question still remains, and I suspect it can only be answered by our favorite former gas pump jockey, why was the headstock widened? And looking at the various Ovations in my office, it is obvious that it is wider on the Viper than on the Elite. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I count 3 different headstocks in my possession. The oldest were narrower at the top, had a thicker "lip" with flat top edge, and the entire headstock is more angled (9 degrees?) to the neck. These are on some old '68 models. Looks to me that the headstock angle was reduced (7 degrees?), widened, and the lip made thinner around '70 and this is more or less the same as it is today. But some solidbodies have a yet much wider headstock all together. Is this what others observe? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Why were the electric heads changed?
I don't really know but I'd guess it was just to make them different from the acoustics. If I remember correctly it was about the time the Wipers and Screechers came out and it was part of that intro. Or were they after the change? Sam? |
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Location: SoCal | I think that the Storm series was kaput by about 1972-1973. The next electrics came out in 74-75? |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Paul, Bill
The headstock had definately changed by the time the preachers and vipers came out but dont forget that the storm series overlaped a little bit in 1972 with the introduction of the deacs and breads.Some of the deacons and breadwinners also had the changed headstock..By the time the vipers and preachers came out all electrics in the line had the wider headstock..I have some deacons and breadwinners with both styles of headstocks..So, i can only assume the change started phasing in around the 1971-1973 period... |
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Thunderhead and Deluxe Thunderhead
