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Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | This guitar has a good story to it. I bought it when I was playing with Jerry Reed back in day. The "boss" told me to get an electric "gut string" to do some of his old parts for the live show. That was this guitar and I kept it under the bus to work out the stuff in the many hotel rooms we lived out of. One day when I had it on the bus he grabbed it and started playing it and was telling me that these guitars were supposed to be called The Jerry Reed model...and how he helped design it. According to him, Ovation had decided not to make another artist name guitar in the line. BUT, his Ovation prototype had the Baldwin Prismatone pickup in it just like his buddy Glen Campbell's had (Glen most likely gave him the guitar...LOL). Apparently, while Ovation was designing and having their own pickup manufactured, Ovation bought all of the remaining Prismatones from Baldwin Guitar, which was in the process of being closed down. Apparently, Ovation used the Prismatone pickup in a few instruments until the famous Ovation pickup was delivered to the factory. I have an old flyer featuring pics of the original electric Artist and Country Artist that confirms that.
Anyway, I couldn't get my guitar away from Jerry. He really liked it and played it often whenever I had it in the coach. He didn't like it as much as his Baldwin's but they were getting fragile from years of star abuse. This one is a REAL PLAYER (super low action, very high bridge pickup, great neck). So I told Jerry he should just get Ovation to design him another nylon string guitar. I got in touch with Bill (IIRC) and they did build him just what he wanted: a super shallow bowl cutaway, cedar top, abalone purfling, 12 fret, gold keys Ovation "gut string." Since his 2 crappy Baldwin (made by Harmony) electric nylon strings had been beat to death, he played that guitar for as long as I can remember. RIP Jerry. He was a brilliant entertainer and a one-of-a kind guitarist. (He never considered himself to be a great player. He wrote all those incredible tunes that Chet would cut, but would forget them as soon as he showed 'em to Chet.)
So the moral of the story is that this is the guitar that Jerry loved enough to get him back playing Ovations again after his stint on the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour was over. As I said, this guitar is still a REAL PLAYER! It is the best playing Ovation Country Artist I've ever played. Period.
This Country Artist is SN-239744. It is in excellent shape!! I take care of my axes, even on the road. The only flaw I can find is a light hairline crack in the finish on the left upper bout that runs close to and parallel to the fingerboard. I tried to get my digital camera to take a pic of it and it wouldn't show up.
2nd generation pre-amp with concentric volume and tone controls on the bowl. Frets are still perfect. I have never even so much as removed one the many shims under the pickup. This guitar has remained stable for 34 years.
Pictures are in the album labeled "Goober's Country Artist." I am not a good photographer (and I can't get on my knees), but there are enough good pictures in there to tell what's going on. My brother posted these for me and he put a couple of duds in I didn't intend to be there, but God bless him. He's smarter than me on the Mac.
The original brown case is in great shape on the inside, but the outside has scuff marks. It has traveled the land under a bus. I have a 1773 that I play now, and this one just sits around wanting to be played. Also, I have a truckload of medical bills I'm chipping away at and still have a brain surgery to go through. I've strung it with a new set of Jerry's favorite (and my favorite) strings...LaBella Flamencos. They should last another 10 years. 
$460 includes shipping within the continental US. The last time I shipped an Ovation with case to CA it was over $80, I'm just sayin'. Also, these are the facts as were told to me by Reed. We were friends and peers long before he asked me to be his band leader, and he never lied to me that I know of. But, this is the guitar that got him playing Ovations again. It is a winner!
Thanks for reading this drivel,
Goober/Buddy Blackmon |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1555
Location: Indiana | Great story. Only got to meet him once... with Chet & Billy Strange. Three of the finest players of their generation. I kept my hands in my pockets.
Best of luck with the sale and your health issues. |
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September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | Of course, when I have some disposable income nothing seems to turn up like this, when I'm broke..
Awesome story, Jerry Reed is one of my heroes.
Best of luck with the sale, I'm sure this won't last long. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret |
The closest I ever came to meeting Jerry Reed was... well, meeting Buddy! Good to know you're still around, Goob!
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Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | To view the pics, just go to the top-right of any OFC page and hit "Albums." Then open "Goober's Country Artist." And there are my crappy pics. My brother forgot to rotate some of them. But he is pretty much a genius on some level and overlooks details like that a lot. He also put in some fuzzy ones I did not need. But, you'll get a good idea. I have described it accurately. |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Great story Goob. I have no doubt that this is one helluva guitar and somebody here should pick it up in a heartbeat for that low price.
Somewhere around here I still have the story you told about how Glen got his A braced Legend. I know there are more stories in that head of yours. When you have the surgery, don't let them leak out!
Gimme a call sometime and let's catch up....... |
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January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Hey Paul! Yeah, Howie Gainer and I took a dupe of that Legend down Gregg Allman during the rehearsals for the his first Laid Back tour on the GA coast. Man, it sounded sooooooooo good!! Howie was the southern rep for Kaman Music at the time; some guys in Gregg's band were friends of mine. Gregg actually bought an electric Pacemaker and also took the Legend. And this is the REAL story!!
Twiggs Lyndon, the late road manager for the Allman Brother's Band, asked me to go to the airport with him to pick up Sweet Connie from Little Rock (Twiggs' first cousin is still my best friend). If you don't know who she is, Google it. Heheheheheh........
I would meet her again, years later, when Reed and Waylon were playing Memphis together. She showed up backstage in a limo with......then Arkansas GOVERNOR BILL CLINTON!!! I kid thee not. It really is a small world. |
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I looker her up. Oh my....... |
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January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Some guys have mentioned by brain thing. I'm an open kind of guy and don't mind sharing (although the word "sharing" drives me crazy). I used to post around here a lot more, but my life is incredibly full with caring for my father and sister. They require 24 hour care, and thank God I have some great help. I'm the only family member in the picture right now. For several years I've had lots of symptoms that made me feel bad. I thought I was turning into hypochondriac until my doctor ran a special blood panel. I was then told I had adrenal insufficiency, sometimes called Addison's Disease. But it didn't explain some other symptoms. After an MRI of my had, it was shown that I have a non-malignant pituitary tumor called a microadenoma. They usually grow very slowly. It has affected even my vision, as it's pressing on the optic nerve and into my brain. BUT...it apparently needs to grow some before the neuro guy can take it out. So, for now it's better living through pharmaceuticals!! LOL Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!
So, thanks for all your well wishes!
Edited by Goober 2013-11-24 7:19 PM
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Well it's good to have you back her. Still pull out the material you prepared for the gathering a few years back and go thru it. Haven't forgotten about you.....
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Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Hey Paul....You're a good egg, man. The show biz stories material yet to come could be even better. :-) Like the time I met Bob Hope in the kitchen restroom at the Glen Campbell Golf Open banquet in LA. Nothing weird. You just don't expect to turn around finishing up at the urinal and see ole Bob waiting in back of you (it was a small one-holer, kitchen help bathroom).
I was so taken aback and stunned I immediately stuck out my right hand and introduced myself. And I mean right after zipping up!!! The man was so gracious, he shook my hand and told me it it was nice to meet me. I can be a real dumb*** sometimes....and some people like Bob can have a world of class. |
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Location: SoCal | Goober, let's talk...ascalman'at'aol.com. Just sent a 1624 that I got from Serge Lara back to him so I am serious. |
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Location: Flahdaw | If anyone's interested...
http://www.spin.com/articles/oldest-living-confederate-groupie-tell... |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | A woman with life experience!! |
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Location: Flahdaw | A woman with morals. Low, but morals nonetheless.... |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | If I didn't have the Glen Campbell version with the Prismatone I'd be all over this 1624... they are great guitars.
Good luck with it, Goob... it's most likely gone by now anyway.
Wayne |
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January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Hey Wayne!!! So you got Glen's CA prototype, Wayne? TRES COOL!! How do you do this? I had to beg for scraps from Jerry and Glen. LOL I hope all is well with you. You know, when I went back to Nashville to do a Tribute to Jerry Reed concert, a guy that was there showed me a guitar with the NEW Prismatone. They are exactly like the old ones and apparently a couple of builders are using them now. I will look for the pics of your CA. Good for you, buddy! |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Goob, if you go over to the Chetboard, you'll find info on the new old Prismatones........
http://www.misterguitar.us/forum/ |
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Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | I don need no steenking Preesmurton!!!!;-) |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | What an experience...talking with Bobby last night from about 8pm to 2am my time (5am his time) until his phone battery died; again tonight from a little before 8pm to midnight.
His CA will be coming to me to replace the CA that Serge Lara sold to me years ago but he needs back. We traded for a dark sunburst deep bowl legend that is excellent shape. |
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Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | Yes, thank you Tony! This ole pal is SOLD....... |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Goober - 2013-11-25 10:03 PM
Hey Wayne!!! So you got Glen's CA prototype, Wayne? TRES COOL!!.......I will look for the pics of your CA. Good for you, buddy!
Glad to oblige Goober! Here is the calendar page from last month.....
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Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Thanks, Goober! and thanks Patch for posting the calendar pic. Here is a link to a thread with more pics of the GCCA. When I play out acoustically and plugged in, this is what I play 95% of the time. Wayne http://www.ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=27409&start=1&highlight=x014&highlightmode=1 |
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Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Just saw this...I'm in if there are seconds thoughts |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | This is a standard CA with stacked knobs except I am sure it has a lot of 'MOJO'. Asked Buddy to wait until after Christmas to ship; if nothing else so it has a better chance at not being damaged. He already has my check. Replacement for the CA I got from Serge years ago that he wanted back. The other CA that I have is perfect except for the top due to finish cracks. Finally went back this last week and removed a few cracks and mitigated those that couldn't be removed. Will take up to San Jose and leave so I can have something to play when visiting and my soon to be four years old granddaughter to 'thump on'. Any damage can be easily be repaired a lot easier than my Martin 12-string that my daughter (at that age) would 'thump on'. Helps that it is nylon and a shallow bowl. Actually play the CA more than my Takamine CP132SC classical. |
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FS 1981 Country Artist 1624-4 EXC Condition
