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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 7
Location: UK | Hi, I'm pleased to meet you all. I'm a returning Ovation owner. I had my first Custom Balladeer in 1979 and guess what? Sold it like an idiot. So yesterday I found a reasonably priced 1111 and bought it. Trying to date it (as you do) but found a metallic plate (Gold coloured, 'Balladeer' in scroll script) in place of the serial number. In all other ways (no K, Blue Label, classic brown hardshell case etc.) it's an ordinary early eighties Balladeer. But why no serial number? Were they being produced in such large quantities that a serial number was redundant? But the plate looks high quality, almost custom made. I'm sure you guys have the answer, I've trawled all over the net and can't seem to find anyone with plate like this, instead Balladeer serial numbers seem very well documented. Any ideas? |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Photo Please...
I don't know but I'm sure someone here will.
Since it is still dark here, see if you can get a picture of the guitar and the plate.
Then when all the Yankees wake up...
I look forward to seeing whatcha got! |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Ooops! :eek: |
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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 7
Location: UK | Hi again.
Pics of the 1111 are at the following ftp:
ftp://alsatia.co.uk
login; visitor
password; alsatia
It's a public FTP so you can delete the images if not careful!
(the mp3 is a posting from my album, feel free to download!) |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| well.... your ser# "should" be where the brass plaque is now.
looks to be a mid to late 70's model.
nice looking balladeer.
Glenn |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Nice looking guitar. Congrats on a good find. The plaque may be placed over the paper label serial number that they used in that era.
I really liked the song on your ftp site. Is it yours? It's got a World Party feel to it and very well produced.
Welcome and please check in often. |
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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 7
Location: UK | Stonebobbo.. many thanks. The song is called MrX and is happily one of mine. It's from an album I recorded last year called 'Not If But When'.. Anyway, not here to plug. Thanks A-D The model number is 1111, I read that they dropped the K-after 1972 so I guess.. but still the mystery. Why the little plaque over the serial number? Looking for clues.... |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | great guitar, XLNT song, winered! WELCOME!!! |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 308
| Beautiful one! Great song too! |
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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 7
Location: UK | Lanaki - your playing is awesome. Just beautiful. Many thanks for the inspiration. Peace to you. |
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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 7
Location: UK | Guy's (and ladies of course) - I've been playing this all afternoon and I'm smitten. It's beautiful. But the weirdest thing is there's no wear on the fingerboard or frets. I mean *none* The fingerboard on my 1512 Custom Balladeer was worn after a few years but this thing is thirty years old and the frets and fingerboard look brand new with no evidence of repair at all. On the other hand there are chips in the laqquer on the table and rear of the neck and headstock, like it's seen some serious use. It's almost like it's been sat on a stand for thirty years and never been used, just unpacked and packed up again. And the sound is tremendous, the guy in the shop said he'd recorded with it and it was better than his Martin. I didn't agree but after an afternoon with this, it's the best tone and the sustain!! my god it never stops. Beats the hell out of me how this guitar got here. Anyone any ideas about that plaque? |
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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 7
Location: UK | Sorry about the repeat posting but here's a closeup of the plaque
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5576
Location: big island | mahalo, winered!
let's ask the big gun:
whaddayathink about this balladeer with the plaque, cwk2? |
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1111 Balladeer - no serial number?
