|
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | I'm selling my Deluxe Balladeer relatively cheap because it needs a little TLC from the mothership, and with recent medical bills and such I don't think I'll be getting around to sending it up there anytime soon. As a player, it's not bad as is (would benefit from a good set up), but is by no means mint. With a little help from Mr. Keller and crew it could probably be brought back up to near mint quality. So, whether you're interested in a project with unlimited potential, or you just want a great player with all the vintage tone and vibe you'd expect in an Ovation shiny bowl... Read on.
Before I ever owned it, there was some seperation of the top from the binding at the waist on BOTH sides. This was repaired and is completely stable, but the repairs are visible up close. There's also an area around the lower bout on the treble side where the top has begun to seperate from the binding but it's not lifting and it too is stable. Despite these issues, the guitar is solid and plays well. The neck may also have been refinished at one point.
The nice thing about this one is it's ALL ORIGINAL: Five point bridge, square paper label with "pat. applied for," original Grover tuners, "Deluxe" in gold leaf on the headstock. The only thing this one does NOT have is an inlaid rosette. Fellow OFC'er Bob Frith told me a while back that this was probably one of the first DB's to get the glued on rosette, according to the serial # (B-500). The serial number puts the date of manufacture between Nov. 68 - Feb. 69.
I don't have an Ovation case for it but I will ship it in the same chipboard case it came in when I got it.
Asking $300, plus shipping... If interested, email me for pics and questions. Thanks...
Jeff |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 176
| You've got mail |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Nick, the sound of a late 60's Deluxe Balladeer is just going to amaze you. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 176
| If Jeff and I can work it out, this guitar would fit my article perfectly.
The shiny bowl Balladeers on the link are just beautiful. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | SOLD!
Time to update my signature again...
Jeff |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 176
| Me too! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Good going, Nick. Now you have to set up a photo album and put pix of all your many O's in there.
Then buy another O so you can sell it and buy 2 more. Sorry but it's a rule, or did you not read the fine print when you joined? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Wow, Nick. You went for really old. I hope this results in a 180 turnabout and a new article. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 176
| There is actually a new article in the works.
I did go for really old. I had three main considerations:
1. under $500 bucks
2. Solid top
3. deep bowl
Why this one? AAA top, broken in, deep bowl and a bunch of history.
What I think was my main mistake in my prior article was letting a bias based on prefered sound enter into my decision making. Really it should have been limited to what guitars are available. My experience with Ovations is limited and I should have stated such. I mean if you prefer the sound of an Ovation then you should get a used Ovation.
Anyway, I put my money where my mouth is and I'll let you all know when the article is out. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | re: "seperation of the top from the binding at the waist on BOTH sides. This was repaired and is completely stable, but the repairs are visible up close. There's also an area around the lower bout on the treble side where the top has begun to seperate from the binding but it's not lifting and it too is stable."
interesting that Nick should get this...this is the FIRST Ovation that I have heard about this type of problem... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | You mean I could'a gotten $500...?!
Just kidding! :D
I wanna go on record as saying that Nick is a gentleman and a class act, and definitely an asset to this forum. Nick, I hope you'll hang around here long after you've completed your article. Enjoy the guitar.
Jeff |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | GN Nick really needs to attend an OFC Gathering.
Heck, so do I!!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 640
Location: boulder | I have yet to ask ovation customer servive, or hear of anyone here at ofc make an educated guess, but I think there were only around 1000 or less of this model made. I would lay money (at least $1) that there were not more then 1200 of this model made. (and alot less left today)
Here is my thinking. About serial number (s/n) B-800 is when ovation switched from shiny bowls to textured bowls. (late 1968 to early 1969) Notice I said about. Also from what I gather, there were interchanged parts as bowls, bridges etc. were used up.
Serial number B-800 I believe tranlates into serial number 4800. The first 3000 guitars had s/n 1 through 3000. The next 1000 had s/n A-001 through A-999. Then the next thousand had B-001 through B-999.
Ok roughly 4800 s/n's. But ovation also built thunderhead, tornados, hurricanes and typhoon basses starting in mid-1968. How many, I am not really sure. But it cuts into the serial #'s available.
Also ovation model #6 had only 4 built. Models #7 and #8 may have been made in the low hundreds between them.
Let me guess at 300 s/n 's for models #6, #7 and #8. Let me guess at 700 to 1000 for all storm series together. This leaves about 3500 to 3800 guitars. for models #1 through #5, with #5 12 string having the fewest since it was only introduced in 1968 (lowest s/n i have seen was that recent one on ebay with the replaced bridge s/n A-100). (i have A-300 original)
of course I really have no clue. but I hope to find one...It would be cool if others would comment on how logical my thinking is about this.
peace mike |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | my comment...must be a slow Monday for you :p
My shiny bowl 12 is A-347 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2002
Posts: 153
| With regard to fugot's comments regarding the serialization of shiny bowl guitars, there is one popular misconception that needs to be addressed. The numbered serial numbers did not end when the A-XXX and B- XXX serial numbers began, but rather, they ran concurrently until about 1972 when the system began at zero with the oval metal labels.
I personally own Model # 1122 with a Serial # of 10890, which is both: 1) typed on the paper label with brown ink (only used during the end of the paper label run), and, 2) stamped into the neck block. And, I have pictures of the Cat Stevens Model # 1617-4, which bears the same paper label with brown ink, and has Serial # 13338, although I cannot verify if this number is stamped into the neck block.
The highest serial number that I have personally seen on a shiny bowl is in the 3000 range, although it could be a bit higher. The serial numbers I have seen in the 5,000 - 6,000 range have all been early textured bowls. Therefore, it could be safely stated that there were a maximum of no more than 5,000 (perhaps 6,000) shiny bowls, including the A-XXX and B-XXX serial numbers. All C-XXX serial numbered guitars have the textured bowl. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2002
Posts: 153
| One more comment with regard to fugot's post. The # 5 12-strings were introduced in 1967, much earlier than most believe. I presently own Serial # 731, which is one of the earliest 12 strings produced. It has a three-piece top, and the Serial # is stamped on the neck block in a circle, instead of a rectangle.
Serial # 731; however, is not the first 12-string, as the model shown in the 1967 catalog was probably the prototype. The pictured model has a flat termination of the fretboard at the soundhole, while Serial # 731 has the curved termination that follows the contour of the soundhole. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Bob;
Do you have any thoughts on the approximate number of Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladeers (deep shiney bowl) made? Someone told me fifty to a hundered...was it you?
Do you still have one of these?
Wayne |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 640
Location: boulder | tony, yes and no :rolleyes:
Bob, Thanks a million for clearing that up for me, both serial numbers and begining of 12 string production. who would have thunk it?
peace mike |
|
| |
For Sale: '68 Deluxe Balladeer