Hi all! I'll introduce myself before I get to my questions regarding a recent Ovation purchase.

I'm 57 and started playing guitar when I was about 12. Back in the early 2000's I traded in at local music chain a MIJ ES-175 copy for my first Ovation, a Celebrity CC67 in barnwood grey burst. I really liked the neck, acoustic sound and even the pickup. Alas, this was during my big eBay buy and sell times, so I bought another acoustic and decided to sell the Celebrity.

I regretted that pretty quickly and so I probably bought three different Celebrity's new back then, all different bowl depths, to recapture that sound and feel. I couldn't and eventually gave up and moved on. Then about ten years ago I stumbled on a very mint Celebrity CC11 (same as the CC67 but no electronics) in the same color my original CC67 was. I got it really cheap with a nice Road Runner gig bag and got the bug again! I just love the sound of a non-cut deep bowl, and the necks are perfect for my hands. It's been my leave out on a stand in my music room guitar for a while now and I decided it was time to try to find another 90's CC67.

The problem is those MIK Celebrity's seem pretty desirable, and people are asking good money for them. During my searches I found a USA 1621 that was advertised as mint with the original case for low money. After a little negotiation I got it for a darn good price. It did need some work but was in really clean shape.

I have used this site to do some research as well as the Ovation Tribute site and can't seem to figure out a couple things about this 1621. The serial number wasn't shown in the ad but based on all the features I assumed it was a late run from 1983, the last year they were supposed to have been made. I'm going to list the things I have questions about and please remember I'm an Ovation Newby when it comes to the USA stuff so cut me a little slack if I sound clueless:

#1 - The volume knob location is by the waist and not by the neck, though the neck strap pin is still on the treble side of the body, like when the knob was still located by the neck. That seems weird.

#2 - The label is the blue/white paper one which I assume is 1980's.

#3 - It's the typical five piece neck with the truss rod access at the headstock but the truss rod cover is one I haven't seen on these. It's white plastic with a wood sheeting on top.

#4 - When I got it, I expected, based on the above observations, that this was a 1983 or so. But the serial number turns out to be in the 1973 range.

So my main question is why does this look like it is a 1983 but the serial number is in the 1973 range? Pic to follow.

Here's the CC11 too.