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Location: Michigan | I just got a used 70s Ovation Legend - couple of things I am wondering about though. Think it may be a 72 or a 77. It has the model number stamped on the plate, 1117-1, which is a sunburst Legend, however no serial number except for a five digit number on the wooden piece inside the upper bout of the guitar where the neck joins the body.
Also, the guy at the shop showed me how, on that wood piece, there was a hole where it looks like a bolt might go and a somewhat stamped in circle with three small holes in it - looks like there was a flange there once but not any more. His thought was it was something they used to attach the neck in the manufacturing process.
All the wood inside is painted black, not left natural.
The neck, as well, has Pat Applied for Grovers that are silver (as opposed to gold plated, and it does not look like the gold wore off) and the neck has the diamond and circle pattern, however it has no marker on the first fret. The neck is the five piece with the nice colored wood strips up the back like a Legend is supposed to have.
Any ideas about this one? I love it - sounds amazing - great low end and very lively top (40 year old AA spruce!).
Thanks, Mike |
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Location: SoCal | With Grovers, it would be a 72, not a 77. The serial number is the 5 digit number, but I don't understand the reference to the "plate".
The neck block was always painted black.
I don't understand the holes in the neck block. That wouldn't be standard.
Take a look at this catalog (you'll enjoy the whole website
http://ovationtribute.com/Catalogues/Ovation%2070%27s%20Catalog%20I...
and see if that looks like your guitar. |
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Location: SoCal | "...a hole where it looks like a bolt might go and a somewhat stamped in circle with three small holes in it - looks like there was a flange there once..."
Round Base (3 hole) T-nut ? |
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Location: Michigan | noah wrote:
"...a hole where it looks like a bolt might go and a somewhat stamped in circle with three small holes in it - looks like there was a flange there once..."
Round Base (3 hole) T-nut ?
That might be it? Is this odd. I was wondering if the neck had been replaced. |
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Location: Michigan | moody, p.i. wrote: With Grovers, it would be a 72, not a 77. The serial number is the 5 digit number, but I don't understand the reference to the "plate".
The neck block was always painted black.
I don't understand the holes in the neck block. That wouldn't be standard.
Take a look at this catalog (you'll enjoy the whole website
http://ovationtribute.com/Catalogues/Ovation%2070%27s%20Catalog%20I...
and see if that looks like your guitar.
Thanks for your help! |
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Location: Michigan |
Yeah, thanks, it looks like this, except that it is sunburts. Was it supposed to have the gold tuners, though, or were they silver at first. Looks like it does not have the markers in the first fret of this picture either. Thanks
Still wondering about that thing that looks like a missing flange on the plate inside the guitar where it connects with the neck. What is the standard look - just a block with no hole?
Mike |
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Location: Michigan | moody, p.i. wrote:
but I don't understand the reference to the "plate".
By plate I mean the metal oval in the guitar bowl that you see thru the soundhold. No, it has that model number, which is 1117-1, but no serial number. The serial number is stamped on the neck block. Mike |
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Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | lambchop wrote:
Still wondering about that thing that looks like a missing flange on the plate inside the guitar where it connects with the neck. What is the standard look - just a block with no hole?
Mike
Can you post a picture?
lambchop wrote:
The serial number is stamped on the neck block. Mike
In an earlier thread Bob Frith posted, "The serial numbers stamped in the neck block continued up until about early 1972." So, if the serial number on your guitar is stamped on the neck block, that would put it between 70 and 72. Is the serial number later than 13338? |
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Location: Texas | In the early 70's, Ovation necks were glued-in. What you are describing sounds like the area where they used to inject (permanent) glue into the neck joint on the inside of the guitar. That sometimes left a small impression in the wood block that might appear as if a washer or something was "missing," but my understanding is that the indentation was actually caused by a nozzle being tightly pressed against the joint to squirt the glue in via that hole that you mentioned. So it's not a missing flange, or a missing anything else for that matter… just a nice old Ovation, enjoy it!
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Location: Michigan | standing wrote:
In the early 70's, Ovation necks were glued-in. What you are describing sounds like the area where they used to inject (permanent) glue into the neck joint on the inside of the guitar. That sometimes left a small impression in the wood block that might appear as if a washer or something was "missing," but my understanding is that the indentation was actually caused by a nozzle being tightly pressed against the joint to squirt the glue in via that hole that you mentioned. So it's not a missing flange, or a missing anything else for that matter… just a nice old Ovation, enjoy it!
This is very helpful - thanks! Of course, it means neck angle is not as easily adjustable, I assume. The neck now drops down quite a bit after it joins the body but it seems like it is a dip in the top near the soundhole so it does not play all thet well above the 14th fret - I don't play much above there anyway, but it does effect some other aspects. Mike |
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Location: Michigan | "In an earlier thread Bob Frith posted, "The serial numbers stamped in the neck block continued up until about early 1972." So, if the serial number on your guitar is stamped on the neck block, that would put it between 70 and 72. Is the serial number later than 13338?"
It's five digit - It's earlier than that, in the 11000 range - don't have the guitar with me right now. I assume that places it as one of the earlier Legends. Does that give it any special value or historical significance do you think? Thanks, Mike |
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Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | lambchop wrote:
It's five digit - It's earlier than that, in the 11000 range - don't have the guitar with me right now. I assume that places it as one of the earlier Legends. Does that give it any special value or historical significance do you think? Thanks, Mike
Not really. I asked because Bob mentioned the highest known serial number that was stamped on the neck block was 13338. I was just curious if yours happened to be higher. |
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Location: Michigan | Nick B. wrote: lambchop wrote:
It's five digit - It's earlier than that, in the 11000 range - don't have the guitar with me right now. I assume that places it as one of the earlier Legends. Does that give it any special value or historical significance do you think? Thanks, Mike
Not really. I asked because Bob mentioned the highest known serial number that was stamped on the neck block was 13338. I was just curious if yours happened to be higher.
Well, it certainly clears up that it's a '72 as opposed to a '77. Thanks so much for your help - any thoughts on what it means if the top is drooping near the soundhole and causing the neck to dip down?
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Location: sitting at my computer | Hey Mike, yeah according to the Ovation Guitars Archive the 1117 Legend had gold tuners. However, over on OvationTribute.com there's this Legend 1117-4 with Deluxe Balladeer neck . That neck has dot and diamond inlays that start at the 3rd fret and chrome (silver) tuners. I think (if my info is correct), the Legend models originally were upscaled versions of the Balladeers, with dot & diamond inlays (starting at 1st fret), gold tuners and different bracing. Just a guess, but maybe some early Legends wound up with Deluxe Balladeer necks.
BTW the -1 after the model number on yours denotes that the top finish is Sunburst.
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Location: Jet City | The 1117 was originally named "Deluxe Balladeer", then was changed to Legend after a year or so.
That one you see on ovationtribute.com used to belong to me. |
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Location: Michigan | SOBeach wrote: Hey Mike, yeah according to the Ovation Guitars Archive the 1117 Legend had gold tuners. However, over on OvationTribute.com there's this Legend 1117-4 with Deluxe Balladeer neck . That neck has dot and diamond inlays that start at the 3rd fret and chrome (silver ) tuners. I think (if my info is correct), the Legend models originally were upscaled versions of the Balladeers, with dot & diamond inlays (starting at 1st fret), gold tuners and different bracing. Just a guess, but maybe some early Legends wound up with Deluxe Balladeer necks.
BTW the -1 after the model number on yours denotes that the top finish is Sunburst.
Thanks! This is almost the same with three exceptions that make me think mine is an early Legend as opposed to a Custom Balladeer - The word "Deluxe" is not on the headstock, the tuners are chrome Grover's with "Pat Applied" as opposed to the ovation logo tuners, and the label is not paper but the metal oval, which they started using, from what I have read, in 1972. But the neck diamond/dot pattern is exactly the same! And, yeah, mine is the Sunburst version. A sunburst which has aged to look more like a brown-burst or tobacco-burst, actually, but I love it. Nice "patina" so to speak, although I think that terms is technically reserved for bronze.
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70s Ovation Legend Question - Please Help
