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September 2004
Posts: 5
| Hello, everyone. :)
I need some help. I have here a guitar with a little history that I'm trying to verify. I've contacted Ovation via email, and they directed me here. I'm not sure that you'll be able to help, but I'll give it a shot.
The guitar in question is an Adamas. It is older, with a light blue carbon fiber top, and intricate engraved woodwork around the seam and the sound holes. It has wood knobs, and both a stereo and mono output on the back side.
I'm not exactly sure what the model number or the serial number are because the label on the interior of the guitar has been purposefully damaged. The left side has been completely torn off, so all you can see now is the last part of what I'm guessing is the model name: S II. The right side has been scribbled on with a ball-point pen, but I can still make out two numbers there. They are as follows: No. 2283 and running perpendicular to that is the number 8-1891. Both numbers are hand written in black ink.
Now, as to the story I've recieved regarding this guitar... Supposedely it was originally purchased and used by Nancy Wilson of HEART. At some point it was stolen from her, and is now "on the market", as-it-were. Her insurance company re-imbursed her for the guitar, and either the guitar has changed hands so many times it is impossible to determine the original thief, or the thief has been properly dealt with. Either way the guitar is now in circulation.
Can anyone help me to verify or disprove this story? Or if not can you tell me who to contact in order to get some more information?
Like I said, I contacted Ovation and they were unwilling to take the time to run the numbers, instead choosing to direct me here, and to the "Cracking the Code" section of their website. Of course I didn't give them the story behind my inquiry, but you'd think they'd at least take the time to check it out if someone made a request for the history on one of their instruments.
Thank you for your time. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
-- Fort Knox |
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April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Fort Knox Welcome aboard. I'm not really sure how to pinpoint the exact history of the guitar, but someone here is bound to come up with some ideas..
So i'll provide this as a bump for you..
Keep us posted on the results of your search..
and Don't be a Stranger...
so c'mon folks lets help our new OFC Brother out! |
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Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Welcome to the board.
I don't know that the guitar could ever be traced back to Nancy Wilson, except by Ovation themselves, and that would depend on whether they have the time to go digging thru the original warranty info.
Let's see a pic or two. They would tell us quite a bit about the guitar. Adamas I, or Adamas II? Does it have a fancy headstock?
From what you posted, it sounds like an Adamas II. The 2283 is the serial number and indicates that it was built in 1981 (which is consistant with it being a 2 knobber). The 1891 is the model number, but I've loaned my Adamas catalogs to a friend (who hasn't gotten them back to me) so I'm not certain of the exact model. But my best guess is Adamas II. |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 5
| Thank you for the warm welcome, gentlemen. :D
Paul, I had more or less determined the same thing regarding the model, serial, and year of manufacture. But hearing it from someone who is a little more "in-the-know" than myself is reassuring. Thank you.
Regarding pictures, I'll have to see what I can do there. I'll need to get some taken and find a free image hosting service to post them here... perhaps photobucket.com or something along those lines.
I think my next course of action will be to recontact Ovation and present the full story behind my inquiry. Perhaps that will light a fire under somebody... after all, there has to be someone there who will be curious enough to look through the files to verify or disprove the tale.
I'm also considering contacting Nancy Wilson through the HEART website. I'm not too confident about getting a reply, but its worth a shot.
Thanks again for your help. Any further suggestions or information anyone has to offer would be greatly appreciated. I'll keep you posted.
-- Fort Knox |
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Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Contacting Nancy through the heart site is a great idea. you never know. Nothing ventured-nothing gained. |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...just take the guitar to the next Heart concert, and ask her if she recognizes it! :D :D :D ...if nothing else, you might get it autographed :cool: :cool: |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Question:
The guitar doesn't by chance have a slotted headstock, does it?? |
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September 2004
Posts: 5
| LOL @ Tim.
cliff... I'm not sure what a 'slotted headstock' is. Could you explain?
-- Fort Knox |
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Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Slotted, like a classical guitar. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The headstock (where the tuning keys are).
Is it "open" like a classical guitar with tuners paralel to the headstock, or is it closed with the tuning pegs coming out perpendicular from it? |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ... uh, I was rather serious... ;) many people bring guitars to have them signed... although when she sees the guitar, you might have to outrun the Security forces! :eek: |
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Posts: 5
| cliff: Duh, I realized what you were asking just after posting that question. ;)
To answer it, no... the headstock is not slotted. Can I inquire as to why you asked about the headstock?
Tim: That would be a good idea, if I could afford concert tickets now. That's why I laughed. :D |
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Posts: 970
Location: Atlanta,Ga. | The fact that it had stereo and mono jacks tells you that it is not a original slotthead.It could have been upgraded to stereo but i doubt it as no one ever really uses or wants the stereo electronics... |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Yeah Sam, I was thinking of ALL of those very same things, . . . but, . . . y'GOTTA ask . . . |
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Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Knoxxy:
The first 33 Adamas prototypes had slotted headstocks and are considered the holy grail of Ovations. Clifford has one.
Do a search thru the archives and you'll learn quite a bit about them. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . . One of Charles Kaman’s Adamas prototypes that I got to play at the factory once still ranks as one of the coolest guitars I’ve come across . . ."
Recently posted by Mr. Teja Gerken on the AG Board in "defense" of Ovations.
Thanks, Teja. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | I wonder if my nasty email to Acoustic Guitar had anything to do with the thread turning a bit more civil? |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Fort Knox, I think Moody nailed the answer to your question. As far as getting the company to answer the question, well good luck. Go ask Nancy yourself, you stand a better chance of being answered. To the company's defense, all the people who worked in AR then are not there now and the records were never that good anyway. Any how, it's a good story and I'd stick with it. |
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Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | First: Welcome!
Second: If you gave Ovation my serial number and they gave you my name and address I'd be upset. Consider the warantee data like a person's health record. Even casual questions need to be ignored unless you are the "one".
Third: If you can scan you can upload to our gallery. If they are really cool, big files perhaps you can email Miles or Al.
Third and a 1/2: Forget Al. You can't even copy the pics on his site to make people think you own them!
A direct communication to Nancy Wilson on the official Fan site will at least get the fans excited. Much like finding #44 in a Texas junk mall... |
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September 2004
Posts: 5
| LOL... you do have a point.
But I'm not looking for her address or any other personal information, just a verification as to wether or not she was the original owner of the guitar. In my opinion living a life in the public eye, as she has chosen to do, more or less subjects you to this kind of scrutiny, be it right or wrong.
One of those who related the story to us (and there was more than one person) said that at one point they contacted Ovation and were told it had been her guitar. I just want to receive that verification for myself before I go shootin' my mouth off about it.
Plus, if they do verify that it was hers it could be some good PR for her and HEART if I were to say... auction it on eBay or something. Just a thought. :D
Have a great evening everyone! |
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Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | :eek:
I remember something about a Chinese symbol for change being the combination of The End and Opportunity |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | I just wanted to say I find FortKnox's story very fascinating and this thread to be quite informative, especially Samova's post about how to tell it's not a slothead.
I have nothing constructive to add to the dialogue, but thanks for having it.
:) |
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How do I verify the history of this guitar?