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Location: 6 String Ranch | Thanks to Al for finding this list. I'd lost mine over the years of moving.
The slotheads started at 27 and ended at 60 for a total of 34 units built.
s/n model shipped to date
27-96 1689-8 Glen Campbell 8/76
28-96 1689-8 Cat Stevens 1/4/78
29-95 1687-2 Jon Just Music 6/27/76
30-88 1687-8 Jim Hennessey(AR sample) 9/76
31-88 1687-8 Ward Brodt Music 8/31/76
32-88 1687-8 Jim Messina 9/76
33-96 1688-7 ChuckMcDonough (emplee) 11/76
34-93 1687-8 Neil Diamond 9/10/76
35-95 1689-2 CH Kaman 9/76
36-97 1189-7 Chuck McDonough 11/16/77
37-__ 1689-8 Marcel Dadi 8/13/76
38-91 1687-7 Roy Clark band(Bill Hartman)5/20/77
39-98 1687-8 Manny's (John Halliday) 9/22/76
40-95 1687-8 Arai, Japan 9/30/76
41-97 1687-8 Bob Massy Music 9/22/76
42-95 1687-8 Ackerman's (Steve Voss) 9/22/76
43-93 1687-8 Central music Az 9/22/76
44-93 1687-8 Nancy Wilson 1/31/77
45-92 1687-8 Ackerman's (Ron Pough) 12/13/76
46-90 1687-7 Milano Music Az. 1/27/77
47-99 1187-2 Ovation Engr Dept 1/5/77
48-95 1187-2 Charlie Cash Music 1/27/77
49-96 1687-7 CHK 2/21/77
50-95 1687-7 Charlie Cash Music 1/19/77
51-91 1687-7 Wings 12/3/76
52-93 1187-8 Ackerman's (Ed Means) 2/15/77
53-98 1187-7 Modern Music 1/24/77
54-95 1187-8 Ackerman's 3/28/78
55-92 1187-8 Music Factory Ca. 10/25/76
56-93 1689-brown Cat Stevens 11/23/76
57-93 1689-8 Wings 12/3/76
58-93 1689-2 George McCannon III 2/9/77
59-93 1689-8 Gene Leis Music Ca. 11/30/76
60-96 1687-2 Modern Music 1/24/77
There you have it! Some further notes, Chuck McDonough was in charge of the Adamas program at this time, Jim Hennessey was in charge of artist relations. Goerge McCannon III was a CT singer who lived in New Hartford.
19was one of the round hole prototypes like in the picture Elias posted. This also says that, sorry Cliff, yours is not #20. It also says that mine is #53 since it was the only 1187-7 made.
Not bad for my 200th post.
[ April 14, 2002: Message edited by: cwk2 ] |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | That's HUUUUUUUUUUUGE!!!!!!!
Good Job Al!
and Bill!
Now I can call the owners and buy them all!!
;) ;) |
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Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | that is the sole reason I was apprehensive with posing this list. I hope EVERYONE respects the privcacy of all. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | A good point Al but I'd be willing to bet that very few of these are still in the original hands. You will note that there were two for Cat Stevens, the first one was stolen in Europe and the second was sent to him. If the first one surfaces it will be interesting to hear the story that comes with it! |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | I am #31 Boss, so.....no problem with me!
he, he, he, |
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Location: NJ | good point Bill probably few are with the original owners.
as a journalist I always have privavy on my mind my roledex is filled with the numbers and e mail addresses of famous and semi famous people. I would NEVER do antihng to jeopardize my trust with these folks.
Some of these people bought guitars some were given away and i sort of see this as with my d'angelico it is really cool to look the seriel number up in the book and see who first ordered the guitar.
the stories of how they surface will be very intersting
elias I thought you were selling off all your adamas guitars? why seek out others? |
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Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | bill, if we could put all of the people and guitars from your 200th post together with the idea i posted in my 100th post we'd have one hell of an ovation party!!!! |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | "elias I thought you were selling off all your adamas guitars? why seek out others?"
Selling off all Adamases? he, he, he, he,..
Not exactly.
I am a hunter, Al. Always hunting slot-heads!
You know better, you the boss. |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Around 1980/81 I was in (I think) Andy's guitars in Denmark Street London, & hanging on the wall was a blue slothead from the estate of Wing's guitarist Jimmy McCulloch who had recently died. I was 19 & my second Ovation had just broken the bank. The price of £800 ( a lot then, & they'd have taken a bid) was way beyond me at that time. That Guitar may well still be in the UK, I'd love to find it. The guy in the shop saw me drooling and gave me a really cool & quite lavish Adamas catalog, which I still have.
Paul |
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Location: SoCal | You know, this reminds me. About 15 years ago I was in a pawn shop in Fullerton CA and there, hanging in a display case was a slot head (it was that real pale greenish color -- beige?). The guy behind the counter said it belonged to the owner and that he would never sell it. Next time I'm up there I'll have to go in and see if the same guy still owns the store and then tell him about this website. |
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Location: Scotland | Keep your mouth shut about the site until you make him an offer he can't refuse, or at least has to consider seriously.
Paul |
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Location: SoCal | Ha! I can't afford another guitar. I've got a wife, two kids, a dog, and a mortgage I can't afford already.
Well, there's always room for another guitar. |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | Well, ive got # 33 the only 12 string in the bunch and it looks like my # 57 belonged to Paul McCartney and wings...I bought that one from a guy in England...Wonder how that wound up there?? Anyway,glad to see that list....COOL STUFF!!! |
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Location: Scotland | Sam, your #57 must be the one I saw in London. It was in the UK because Wings were based in the UK. |
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Location: NJ | Oh well, I guess it's NOT #20 afterall.
Jeez, I feel like I've been livin' a lie all this time . . . kinda like finding out your kid really isn't yours. . . oh well, I guess there's really only one thing left to do. . . . . . . . . . . . .woodchipper!!!!!
(just kidding.)
It is really COOL to find where it's "sibling" came from/are. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Sorry Cliff, Keep in mind, it's still a very cool guitar and one of 34. Nothing to be ashamed of there. And the story that goes with yours is great! I have no idea how mine made it back to the company from Modern Music. At one time I had #45 and sold it to Timm Kummer at Guitar Trader in Red Bank. I also had the one from Ward Brodts, #31( I think it was this one) got it from the original owner for cash and a new Adamas.
Miles, if you take this and put it in the reference section put a place for the current owner's name along with all the historical info. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Hey Cliff, if you are dissapointed by the later serial number, don't you worry, I'll buy it. He, he, he, he...
Give me a call when you come in Phily and bring the guitar with you. Let's meet and play the hell out of them. You are more than welcome. And if you still don't like yours and you prefer an acoustic electric like the #0031, we can work on a deal. Just kidding! But you are always welcome in Phily!
Bill you are right about the #0031, no doubt about it.
You still got a good memory I see. You were the previous owner. As I mentioned already, it is a true honor to own this magnificent instrument, and do beleive me, she is very happy with me! We make love every day. Don't tell my wife though.
She is a keeper (the #0031 I mean). My wife too. |
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Location: Atlanta,Ga. | (Paul writes)Around 1980/81 I was in (I think) Andy's guitars in Denmark Street London, & hanging on the wall was a blue slothead from the estate of Wing's guitarist Jimmy McCulloch who had recently died. I was 19 & my second Ovation had just broken the bank. The price of £800 ( a lot then, & they'd have taken a bid) was way beyond me at that time. That Guitar may well still be in the UK, I'd love to find it. The guy in the shop saw me drooling and gave me a really cool & quite lavish Adamas catalog, which I still have.
Paul, the story of # 57 is i got a letter from a gentleman in Cornwall Falmouth ,England who had bought the guitar from a guy who was a guitar dealer..I think he said the guy had a music/pawn shop type store and he delt in instruments and other things..He bought the guitar there..I traded him two guitars for it about 2-3 years ago.The thing about the guitar is how minty it was.It must have lived its life in a case..I have afreind who has lots of MacCartney and wings literatures and concert progrags.He says he may have a pic of someone(wings) playing the guitar.Stay tuned!!! |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Determining the price of these is interesting, it does come down to what are the lunitics (we all qualify) willing to pay?
Yes it is the equlivent of the pre-war D-45 but does the world recognize it as such? I'd like to think so but probably not yet.
Rarity should factor into this a bit. Here's the breakdown;
1187-2 2
1187-7 1
1187-8 3
1189-7 1
For a total of 7 acoustics, 6 narrow necks, 1 wide.
1687-2 2
1687-7 5
1687-8 11
A total of 18 narrow A/E
1689-2 2
1689-8 5
1689-9 1 although brown wasn't a std color yet
A total of 8 wide necks
And the one 12 string which isn't a slot head.
In the end it all comes to what people are willing to pay and what the general public awareness is about the instruments. I know this from my experience with Travis Beans. I bought most of them for $200-400 10-20 years ago. Now they are around $1000 and that's because the public has grown interested in them and are seeking them out. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Bill,
what do you mean by stating that the slothead Adamas is the the equivalent of the pre-war D-45.
I may want to agree with you, but I am afraid that whenever I said that to other people (I did, believe me) they thought I was crazy. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | The prewar D-45 are arguable the coolest thing that Martin did. Yes there's alot of others that are great but these 91 guitars are in a class by themselves. The Slotheads are the Ovation equlivent of that. Are they equal? No, I'm not saying that. Maybe some day in the distant future... Just that in the Martin scheme of things the D-45's have a place. The slotheads occupy that same place in the Ovation scheme of things. |
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Location: Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Gotcha.
Something else: speaking of high end, all-wood guitars, especially the pre-war Martins, but any nice solid wood guitar will do, the older they get, especially when played in a regualr basis, the better they sound, why? cause they open up, they mature, etc., etc.
What about the Adamases now? The sound is loud, bassy, yes, but then? What about the overtones? the rings and bells? You don't expect of course the sound to get better with time. Even after 1000 yeras they will sound the very same, as the day they have been built.
Loud, bassy, and percussive.
Is that enough though? Yes, when you realize that this is NOT a solid wood guitar, but a composite one.
If you want rings and bells, rich overtones, sustain and sound that opens up and matures with time, buy a Goodall (lovely guitars).
I would love to hear your opinion, Bill. |
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Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | The slot head adamas and the Adamas I are the absolutely coolest thing that Ovation has done. (in the acoustic line) I was not a fan of Ovations until I played an Adamas and other higher end guitars. then I was hooked. I wish I could put modern electronics in my old Adamas to use it out but I would never do that I wouild just grab a new guitar. |
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Location: NJ | Yeah Al, I'm with you.
I had pondered the possibility of "electrify-ing" mine, but then resolved that it would just be SACRILIDGE!
I use mine "out" from time to time (when I know that I have enough "stage room" for it to occupy a safe space, and there's no chance of some drunken bar patron making a play for it).
With the right mic correctly placed it sounds AWESOME! I reserve it for certain songs that I'll be doing from a stool with the mic. I usually keep it in double drop D tuning and that low D just drones! I'll usually do a couple of strictly acoustic songs at the beginning of each set before my bandmates are done with their break, and Led Zeppelin's "Going To California" just seems to bring the house down every time!!
I caught your Elliott Randall interview on your webpage. Good Stuff!!
One thing you may or may not know about Elliott:
He and his band (Randall's Island) was the "rock ensemble" that was part of the orchestra of the ORIGINAL Broadway production of "Jesus Christ Superstar".
I saw (well, "heard") them there on a high school class field trip there in 1973. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Elias,
Ovations will mature with time. The more it is played the more it matures. The Adamas probably does this too but to a lesser degree. The top is wood, it's just got a layer of grafite top and bottom, spruce braces, wooden neck.
As far as wooden guitars I've not played a Gooral but my vote goed to Collings. This guy is making the best guitars of that type (in my twisted opinion) Of course I don't play my Collings much these days and #53 lives in the closet. I seem to only be playing the old Nationals. You gotta love a guitar that cleans up with chrome polish! |
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Adamas Slothead s/n list, The Final Word
