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| I was reading old posts about early neck block stamping of serial numbers by Bob Frith, who I would love to have chime in and answer a question I have regarding my first Ovation purchase. Other responses are welcome, of course!
I picked up an Ovation Country Artist with a foil label marked "1124-4". I also noticed a neck block stamp of "7696". I understand that neck block stamping ended in the early 1970's and I also believe the 1124-4 came out in 1971.
I am trying to understand what year this guitar was made. As I understand it, the foil label did not come out until early 1972. Maybe the guitar came with this foil label originally if it was bought in mid January of 1972.
What is interesting is that the guitar came with the owners booklet and in the back, it has recorded:
Model # 1124-4 Serial # 7696
Date Purchased: 1/17/72
Dealer: Bob McGinnis
Price $4.20.40 (obviously meant to write $420.40)
I am guessing that it had to be a very early model CA with the foil label having possibly been added later or was there from the beginning. My amateur guess estimates it at late 1971, very early 1972.
Happy to find all of you here!
Ron
Edited by rcartlidge 2014-07-06 9:49 AM
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Hi Ron,
I had an 1121 Artist Balladeer that had a 4-digit serial number on the Neck block and a Foil Label.
I currently have an 1121 Artist Balladeer that has a White Paper label and an "M" series number.
By my age estimate, when the M-series was made they were already producing Foil Labels.
But I didn't get one.
That may not be helpful... But I just wanted to point-out that Stuff Happens.
(it may have been Friday and people wanted to go home)
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Location: Texas | I think Bob would tell you 70/71 was a transitional time for Ovation. Hendrik has an early CA, with a prismatone...I wonder what the serial is on it or if it has the neck stamped. Maybe you got one of the early necks? |
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| That is what I was thinking. |
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| I am sure it was a crazy time for Ovation.
Ron |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Hendrik's early CA is serial number 4656 but I don't know if the neck block is stamped.
My GC Country Artist prototype (X014) does not have a neck block stamp.
Edited by Bluebird 2014-07-10 6:36 AM
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Location: Texas | Wayne, I thought of you when I wrote that post, but I didnt think yours were production and I was pretty sure Hendriks was. My thought is a stamped neck ... 69/70? I am not real sure when work on that guitar actually started. I know you know... Certainly sounds like a leftover...but it had to be one of the first necks, sounds to me. |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | I think it was sometime mid-1968 that the neck block stamping stopped for the most part. My late '67 Josh White and Balladeer were both stamped but my late '68 GC Deluxe Balladeer is not.
Ron, I've never heard of one that late being stamped... a rarity for sure.
Wayne |
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Location: Texas | My Balladeer #1911 is neck stamped...I just cannot see them neckstamping 6K more after that. Yes Ron...that neck would certainly be a rare also because it is an artist nylon neck and that certainly couldnt have been leftover stock because it is 1 7/8ths. So they had to be messing around with that modified nylon artist model in 68....or....Maybe they neckstamped it to keep it and the body together for whatever reason????? Just a guess.
Edited by jay 2014-07-10 4:58 PM
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| What is odd is that I posed this question to Ovation and received an email that it is a 1973 model. That is impossible since the historical records show it to have been bought in mid Jan. of 1972. |
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| Maybe it was a prototype that was finally released for sale when they were affixing the foil labels in early 1972. At this point, I guess one can only speculate but surely someone out there must know. |
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Location: Texas | The mothership probably didnt have the luxury (in time)of figuring out the execeptions. I think the stamped neck makes it a whole new ballgame. |
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| I believe you are right, probably asking for the impossible to recall something that someone did 41 or more years ago. |
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| I wrote Ovation again and got this response:
Upon further investigation it appears to have been built in late 1971.
I think I am getting closer! Makes sense!
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Reply to:
Edited by rcartlidge 2014-07-13 11:16 AM
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Reply to:
Edited by rcartlidge 2014-07-13 11:05 AM
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Reply to:
Edited by rcartlidge 2014-07-13 11:05 AM
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Can use help with year of new Ovation acquisition
