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Location: Colorado | What a fantastic Guitar.
What Models are collectable?
I know the 1617-2 is. |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Bryan
The prices of older American made quality Ovations are unbelievably low, if you browse the posts you will find discussions of each and all models. My advice is buy any that you like and you will never regret it. If you want to get rich, I would definately recommend Enron as it is at a historical low price. Again, pick the cherries, someone here bought an '87 collectors for about half what it was worth and it arrived in pristine condition.
Bailey (stock picker for the stars) |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | It would seem Ovation are only considered collectible by Ovation collectors. In which case it's only right & proper that you have at least one of everything. The holy grail is the Slot Head Adamas. Stuff that the vintage market may become aware of could be; Early Blue Breadwinners, though one went on ebay recently for peanuts, early guitars with gloss-finished bowls and/or inlaid rosettes, the Josh White model, prototypes & one-offs, 70's Adamas. Just about everything else can be had for sensible money & is widely available, so fill your boots. The solidbodies & storms are sleepers and prices seem to be on the up a little. |
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Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | The most collectible would also probably be the rarest as well...heres my opinion on the top 5 of whats collectible in production models...Lets see if any of you agree?
Acoustics:
1 Slotted headstock adamases
2 Contemporary folk classic(4 made)
3 Josh White models
4 Glen Campbell(shiny bowl,brazilian rosewood bridge)
5 Any shiny bowl with sunburst finish(ever seen one?).They exist,i had one..
I also have to put at #5 the 12 string shiny bowls with small soundhole
Solid bodies:
1-Willowah bass
2-Hurricane 12 string
3-Blue Breadwinner
4-Ultra GP's
5-Deacon 12 string and Flame Maple blonde Thunderhead |
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | sam
no bluebird? |
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Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Al, i always thought the bluebirds were built for Glen Himself just like the Jerry Reed Thunderheads were built for Jerry.Some made there way from the factory into collectors hands like the bluebird and JR Thunderhead i had but i do not consider those production models..I dont think those models ever found there way into stores for sale..They are obviously rare along with the PF -22's and afew others...I was basing my list on production models that appeared in catalogs and price sheets.....If we made a list of non production models then we could make a list of 100 different acoustics and solid bodies.That would be an interesting list though.... |
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | but is a production guitar is available in only limited numbers how is that valid criteria? It appears that if the number is limited no matter the reason it would be rare and maybe more valualbe than the production run. |
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Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Al, i think Sam was just keeping the list focused. If you were to include the one-of prototypes, guitars that were custom built for various artists, etc., the list would have to be somewhat longer and deciding which of these were more valuable than the other would be quite complex, without actually putting them up for sale.
That being said, it would be an interesting thread though Sam.
Wayne |
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Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | I have a 1972 les paul deluxe it is what I consider my first Great guitar. I bought it with the money I earned from my paper route when I was in grade/high school.
This guitar is unique in that it has a postiion marker on the first fret. I have yet to have seen another on like it. whenever I bring this up to people I get one of two answers.
"I have seen them before do you want to sell the guitar"
or "I have never seen that it must be a one of a kind guitar"
so did someone come in hungover on a Monday morning put an extra position marker on the fingerboard and I got the guitar? The guitar was purchased new and it was not a custom order. I still have the receipt somewhere at my mom's house.
With this logic, the guitar would be very valuable.
With Sam's logic it is a production guitar but one of millions made so who cares.
Which is it?
Sam
I don't totally disagree with you but I just think you can never put a definitive list. Personally I think you should put the 2001 collectors' on the list since they are awesome sounding guitars and have the potential of being highly prized. |
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Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | We can split hairs all day long here but i think if a guitar does not come out of the factory meant as a production model to be sold in stores,then it is a custom built model built for an artist or specific person..The bluebirds and Jerry Reeds were never offered to stores or sold in stores.These guitars were built specifically for artist and custom made for them...They are both rare and collectible and we could always start a list of one offs,or custom models...
I have to say that probably out of all the acoustic ovation production models, the contemporary folk classic is the hardest to find.Even harder that the slothead adamas.Only four built in late 1966(one in each bowl color,red,green,black,blue).They appeared in catalogs,price sheets,they were at the namm show and that was it.No more were made..This has to be the rarest and hardest to find..Not the most desirable probably.Probably the slot head is the most sought after and has that mistique about it.... |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Sam;
Not that I'm disagreeing w/you as I value your opinion greatly (and I'm probably "shooting myself in the foot" by saying this), but:
Following the criteria you've established, wouldn't the SlotHead be exempt from this list?
My understanding is that they are(were) "Non-tooling, PRE-production models" that were given to "various artists and selected dealers".
Granted, mine WAS purchased from a music store here in NJ, but the little old lady that owned the shop claimed that the guitar was given to her by Charlie for being somewhat of a "hallmark" dealer in that particular territory (she DID carry a pretty extensive Ovation line - but again, this WAS back in the "heyday").
Don't get me wrong, I'm MORE than happy to be a possessor of a "Holy Grail" (eat me, Sean Connery!)but I'm just wondering if I'm not fully understanding all of the semantics involved. |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I think anything is collectible to an enthusiast, regardless of whether its a production instrument a proto, an artist custom job or whatever, and there can be lots of reasons for starting a collection. In my case I wanted one example of every Ovation Solidbody, a) because I loved them as a kid but couldn't afford them and b) because I'm anal-retentive. None of my guitars are especially rare except for the Breadwinner/Viper combo I did myself, so it probably doesn't count. The point I was trying to make is that generally the vintage snobs & dealers treat Ovations like a red-haired step-child. If they ever wake-up the instruments I suggested may be the ones they'll hype.
Paul
[ November 04, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Cliff,how dare you dissagree with "SAMOVA" :D just kidding!!
Actually,i believe the slot heads were pretooling "production models".The first 26 were prototypes.26-62 were hand made production models.The slot heads were available in stores as the list that Al has shows that they were in stores..I know of three that were bought by regular guys who bought them from stores.They were for sale...Im sure several were given to artist but i assure you that some were for sale in stores.... |
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Location: NJ | Sam;
Works for me.
"Holy Grail" it is!!!
("....that's not a horse,....you've got two halves of a coconut!!......") |
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Posts: 51
| bc, why 1617-2 collectible? |
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Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Ahhh the 'ol collectable / valuable / desireable list...
Actually I pretty much agree with Sam's list for the top 5 in each category. I would add the Fretless Magnum and Fretless Typhoon as 6 (either one is pretty rare) and the PF-22's, Bluebirds and Jerry Reeds tie as 7. The Preacher 12 gets on the list someplace just because I get lots of people asking about them. In fact, 3 people at the South Jersey show were looking for Preacher 12's and I was wondering what celeb might have started playing them. I double-checked.. and they weren't thinking Deacon 12 as some people make that mistake.
I have two favorite Ovation solid bodies. The Prototpe of the PF-22's which has a better body shape, and a Prototype Viper with set-neck and potted (whatever that means) pickups. THese two guitars were WAY ahead of their times. |
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Location: Scotland | Miles, potted means the coils are dipped or "potted" in wax which prevents microphonic feedback at high volume, but as far as I understand the standard Viper pickups were potted in silicone which would have the same result. I had the pickups potted on my Tornado because they would scream at very polite volume, especially the bridge pickup. They're fine now.
[ November 05, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | So here in this thread we have a list(s) of collectable Ovations... This is a good lesson to those who are trying to determine a guitars "worth" It would seem as many have tried to explain that "Collectable" and "Worth" are two totally different animals. Right now on eBay there are two Ultra GP's at least one passing the $1600 mark, and I know another also in the 1300 plus range. There are TWO Typhoom basses, one is FRETLESS!!!! and neither is over $300.00. Within the past month I spent about 800 (total) between a BLUE Breadwinner and a Minty Red Deacon.
There is also a LIMITED on Ebay that just sold for 350.00.
This just proves that PRICE, Collectability, and Worth are three completely and almost unrelated topics. |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Just a comment on collectables. When I was 15, my friend, Bill (owner of a resophonic guitar as I have mentioned), bought a 1929 model A Ford for $25 from an old bachelor who had bought it new and put maybe 8-10,000 well cared for miles on it. It was in completely original condition with 17 inch narrow wheels and mechanical brakes (rod activated). We all thought it was silly the way the wheels tilted when it turned corners and the fact it wouldn't stop unless you jumped out and dragged your feet, no class at all, so he traded it for a 1933 Ford 2 door with a V8 and some real speed and character and drove it till he grew up and bought a real car. I bought a 1932 Ford 2 door with a perfect body at a stock car claiming race in Virginia for $50 to keep it from being entered in a race and destroyed, and left it in a Virginia storage yard after the Williamsburg, VA police caught me trying to drive it back to Ft. Eustis with no mufflers, lights, brakes etc. and I couldn't afford to bring it up to their dumb standards. What was really sad was my friend Ted from Glendale, California was following me in his cherry California 1946 Ford, trim removed and smoothed out, lowered all around, moon hubcaps and a set of dual glass packs that sounded as cool as was ever heard. They ticketed him and made him put stock (world class tragedy) mufflers on it so he could keep his VA inspection sticker and get it back on post. All four of those cars would be worth a lot today, but who knew at the time. Buy what you like and hang on and you might luck out with a collectable. A lot of Ovations are cheap like those old Fords.
Bailey |
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November 2002
Posts: 10
Location: Hong Kong | I have a Ovation 12 string. It was given to me as a birthday gift between 1976-1978, although I am not sure. It is acoustic, hollow body, round back, natural finish, with a built in pickup and one knob volume control. There is a number inside near where the neck joins the body on the inside of the back facing out towards the hole. The number is 121217. The sticker that is supposed to be right inside the hole has been torn off. The guitar has 19 frets and I am very interested to find out the model name, number etc. Can anyone help me with this. |
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Collectable Ovation Guitars
