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Location: Scotland | The foam was a hard high-density urethane foam which Ovation called Urelite. It looked & felt like mahogany, the aluminum frame gave it the necessary strength. The same foam/ali combination was used for the UK11 & Bluebird bodies & also the decorative headstock "carving" on early Adamas. Most people can't tell it's not wood. |
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Location: SoCal | Kim was "her" name? |
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Paul, so the idea behind the foam was that it was a less expensive substitute for a wood fingerboard? Hmmm...I wonder how long that material will last. |
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Location: NJ | No. It was a substitute for the NECK. The fingerboard was still wood. The idea was that the foam'd be lighter, more consistent & impervious to temp/humidity changes. |
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Location: Scotland | The original Medallion/Matrix/Applause necks had aluminium fingerboards with integral frets and a plastic headstock. Late model Matrix, which became the Ultra/Balladeer specials had conventional rosewood boards over the foam/ali neck |
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Location: Jersey near NYC | All of a sudden I feel pretty! |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | Now's my chance!
Kim,
What's the story about the 30th Anniversary Adamas!!!?????? When, What????? puhleeeeze? |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | His Lips Are SEALED! Kinda like Al's at this point! |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Here's a possible explanation of how a Korean made guitar has a "Made in USA" label. The plastic backs have been made by a USA mid-west company (Ohio?) for the last 30 years or so. These USA made backs were and still are shipped out east for construction of the guitar. Perhaps because the bowls were USA made, the factory originally put "Made in the USA" labels in the guitars but later realized that was inaccurate and changed the labels. If you look at a current Celebrity model, the bowl does have "Made in USA" imprinted in it above where the label goes. |
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Location: Havertown, PA | nah...don't buy it. "O" said certain early Ultras were made here before transfering. |
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Location: Havertown, PA | I think StandingOvation may be close here. There seems to have been two runs of Ultras. The original line from '84 - '91, and then a second run from '91 - '96. The later are definitely Korean. The first run probably started here then seems to have migrated to the far east in '85 -'86. And yes, the 1517 is the Ultra equivilent to the 1617 Legend, just uses lesser grade top and neck woods. |
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Location: Tennessee | Interesting thread. I have a USA-made Ultra 1311 from 1983. Blue label. Original foam neck (still on display in the house) was replaced when it bowed, with a mahogany neck from a 1312 Ultra that the owner swore said made in the USA on the label.
For mFinger1, The serial number likely makes it a USA model, made in 85. Especially with a blue label with a USA note. The brown bowl is right for the age if it is an 85. But the model number is strange ... I thought all the 15xx series were made overseas. Here's a question ... is the guitar a cutaway? Any electronics? |
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Location: Scotland | Originally posted by mfinger1:
nah...don't buy it. "O" said certain early Ultras were made here before transfering.
Which according to the available information had foam necks. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I was going to start a new string, but my subject fits so well here....I saw a NEW model 1577 made-in-Koh-ree-ah Ultra today at Marshall Music in Allen Park, MI, USA!!!!!
It is a tobacco sunburst -1 finish.....that was what caught my attention. I was hoping it was a 1771-1 non-LX made as a last hurrah before the LX completely takes over production. But the salesman got it down for me(all the Os were in the rafters....guitar shops don't have any other place to put them, I guess), and the label said "Ultra 1577" and "Made in Korea".
So the Ultra is back!!!!!
Roger |
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Location: Scotland | New-old-stock possibly, but not a "new" model for sure. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Paul, I should have mentioned it...they got it in YESTERDAY...it still could be NOS, I suppose, but I saw no mention of a 1577 in the archive just now when I looked. And the bowl label looked pretty current.
Roger |
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Location: Scotland | There's a lot of guitars not mentioned in the archive, so that's hardly conclusive. Where does another offshore model fit price/feature-wise with the Celebs & Pinnacles? Why would a store have a new model before Summer NAMM which happens in a couple of weeks? Why no mention of a "new" Ultra (with an old model number) anywhere else. Just trying to make sense of it. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | You are certainly right, there are many models not mentioned in the archive. It makes NO sense, I would agree. My thought was that maybe this is part of the changes hinted at on here in the non-USA Ovations.
I have to admit, I was totally SURPRISED when I looked in the bowl and read the label. Especially when the label looked so pristine and white and new. But let's call it NOS until another explanation comes up.
Roger |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | OK, lets see if we can get to the bottom of this.
I do believe that your ultra is USA made so don't worry about that.
Does the neck have an added on heel? The main body of the neck is one piece and the peghead is another piece that was glued on at an angle.
What I'm thinking is that there were some imported necks constructed as mentioned. USA bowl and made here, maybe Moosup or North Carolina?
No records kept because it was small production and it was the intro model (of the US made)at the time.
You're close on the years. Here's my suggestion
1. Do like Moody says, make the drink of your choice
2. Do the archives
3. If you find the year great, if not get as close as you can and then pick the year you want.
4. Good luck on finding the case
Finally, Kim isn't that pretty even though he says he feels that way. He's OK but just not pretty. However! if your guitar gets a problem he'll make it feel real pretty after the staff is through with it. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I did a search for "Ultra 1577" through Google and found this. It shows the guitar I saw today, NOS or whatever. It did have an OP-30.
http://www.washingtonmusic.com/inv.asp?d=guitars&sd=acoustic&b=Ovation&n=957
Roger |
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Location: Havertown, PA | stonebobbo;
No, it's not a cutaway, and it has the piezo pickup and FET preamp.
CWK2, Paul T.
It has a "one" piece mahogany neck / peghead, not foam, w/ivory bound rosewood fretboard.
Here is a quote from "O" website from the '86 Ultra manual:
"Our Ultra guitar series now offers you a whole range of Roundbacks. All models incorporate mahogany necks of a fully adjustable truss-rod design with rosewood fingerbaords and are available in acoustic and acoustic-electric versions. The acoustic-electrics are fitted with Ovation's patented piezoelectric pickup and FET preamp system: the industry standard! In addition, Ultra acoustic-electric guitars share many of the features of higher priced Ovation models such as a bound fingerbaord, abalone position markers, and preamp system with volume and tone controls."
The serial # is right, 322220, blue oval Ultra Series label says Made in USA. Does not say Hartford or Conneticut.
It seems to maybe be what I've read to be an early Ultra Deluxe, which had Legend characteristics.
I do think I'll take you guys up on that drink though. Could this be somewhat rare? Nah...
Thanks guys. |
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Location: Scotland | Roger, intersting that they've resurected the Ultra name. They've certainly kept quiet about it. I guess they'll be launched at summer NAMM.
Note that the spec says "final assembly in the USA" I guess that's were it fits into the line. A step above the Pinnacles but not quite 100% USA. |
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| cwk2 is correct in stating that the original series Ultras were USA made, and then again, why shouldn't he be correct? The Ultra carries both a USA label and USA serialization, thus the guitar in question would conform to the USA serial number code. Whether they were constructed of 100% USA components is another topic.
I have played and observed many USA Ultras, and they are excellent guitars for the extremely low price point at which they sell. Those that I have observed appeared to have a mahogany neck, obviously different from the original Matrix necks, but apparently the neck construction varied, depending on the year of manufacture.
Regarding the neck construction and material, while the 1984 and 1985 catalogs state that the neck is mahogany, the 1983 catalog which introduces the new model states:
"We'd like to introduce you to a brand new series of Ovation guitars: The Ultra Series. These economical Roundbacks feature the unique aluminum/Urelite neck construction found only on these guitars ... the back of the neck is formed of high density Urelite .. it is strong, smooth, and contoured for fast, easy hand movement. It has the look and feel of mahogany but is considerably more durable ..."
Does mfinger1 own a USA made Ultra? Undoubtably. Does this guitar have a Urelite neck, or a genuine mahogany neck? Only the person with the guitar actually in hand can make that determination. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | This guitar has one of those imported necks. In thinking about it since the last post I think they came from Saehan which was the factory that was making the applesause and celibicy models. This is a wood neck and it has a modified K-Bar in it, the same that would later be used in all the A&C models. Looking inside there should be a large piece of wood coming into the bowl under the fingerboard, giving it extra support.
The more I think about it this could have been made in North Carolina. The 83/84 time is right and that would also explain why there weren't any real records of where the serial numbners were used.
As far as rare, there were maybe a 1 to 2 thousand made. There was a plain and fancy is acoustic and in electric. After NC the production moved overseas. |
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Location: Havertown, PA | Hi, bobfrith , CWK2
Thank you so much for the time and effort. It's always nice to have the particulars on such a fine instrument. As the saying goes " they just don't make'em like they use to".
Bob states:
"The Ultra carries both a USA label and USA serialization, thus the guitar in question would conform to the USA serial number code. Whether they were constructed of 100% USA components is another topic."
OK, does this also hold true for the 4 digit model code? 1517, where the 7 claims to have something to do with a Glen Campbell Artist Balladeer? What's up with that? I guess these just didn't pertain.
Regarding the neck construction and material, it is a genuine mahogany neck. But I don't know about the K-bar. Looks like a std. truss bar, with Allen or hex adjustment from within the sound hole.
Is nice to hear that it had limited USA production. Makes it seem even more special.
Thanks again
Mike
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Cracking the "O" Code
