Thought I'd start a new thread here for photo posts. Just ran into our old friend Matt Smith tuning a custom RS double neck. Will post photos as soon as I can.  

Interesting... Ovation cajons.

Are those A-Vipers mahogany bodies Prof?

What? A GC Model?

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Nope. The bodies are composite and noticeably lighter than the mahogany vipers. 

Considering the DW heritage, I'm pretty sure they are Cajon percussion boxes, Jimmer. Yes... very cool.

In 2 finishes even

Geez I'd love to sample one of those. But I don't need another guitar. I don't need another guitar. He said...

"Bottom line is that these were great guitars and groundbreaking in their day. Unfortunately that day was 45 years ago."

+1

New USA models...

• Glen Campbell 1627 in natural and burst
• Custom Legends in SSB, mid, Contour, AND DEEP! (4 finishes and custom finishes avail)
• Custom Elites same thing... EVEN DEEP!
• Yngwie Vipers classical and steel red or white
• Dave Amato and Kevin Cronin Signature Vipers
• Adamas Vipers, 2 finishes
• Melissa Adamas in 6 or 12
• Kaki King Adamas
• Adamas Mandolin
• Adamas 2087GT 3 finishes
• Adamas 1687GT 3 finishes
• Ovation Longneck D-Scale 2 finishes
• Ovation Koa Mandolin
• Adamas GCF series in a shallow non-cutaway and Deep Contour

Sweet, so there is sone continuity from the pre-DW days it seems. What's the GCF series? And please post a pic of the Koa Mandolin!

Damon, 

That is a pretty agressive lineup! Are all of these guitars in regular production or will some or all be available by order.

That looks intimidating. I would love to see a demo of this beast being played by a skilled bassman,

One out, one in, eh?

Me want...

Here is Cal Campbell with the Glen Campbell Signature Guitar.

I was told NAMM was huge but that doesn't cover it.
Soooo many guitars. Brands you have never seen before and won't see outside the show.
There had to be over a hundred effects bos manufactures.
My Fitbit showed Temp and I walked over 7 miles each day.
.

So what are the specific differences between these various incarnations? This arfticle has a few details about the specs:

https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2017/exhibitor-news/ovation-guitars-announces-glen-campbell-signature

I find it interesting that this has a nitro finish, was not aware that Ovations had that before. Also the pre-amp might be the same as was used in the 200G Adamas RI, or not? And I am suprsised about the shallow bowl, was that standard at the time?

The 40th 1627 RI, to my recollection, was an extremely nice guitar. Certainly in craftsmanship, but also acoustically. The LTD was basically a re-issue of a reissue?....moving Glens sig to the bottom of the fretboard was the biggest difference I could see. I believe they made 50 of these...half or so were given away to artists when Glen had the tribute at the CMA's. I don't think they finished the full run of the 40th. 

The bowl...if they are staying true to the guitar...should be a mid-depth bowl, which was called the "artist depth" back in the day.  Funny that Glen appeared to prefer deep bowls for acoustics, as time passed. I have no idea why they would tie a shallow bowl to Glen. 

I have no idea what the "Campbell iconic 1771" is in reference to.

It is nice of them to include Glen's name in their production of guitars. As far as the guitar goes...the signature is spot on, which is why they probably called it the "Glen Campbell Signature guitar"

Paul,

When you say "shallow" are you referring the artist bowl of the day?

On the Goodbye tour, the neck to Glens Viper was broken and during the time it was being repaired, he played his black custom legend. I remember seeing one video where, sadly, he was arguing with Ashley that the CL wasn't the guitar he was supposed to have and she was trying to "remind" him about breaking the Viper.

That looks like spruce to me... and should be if they are recreating the original. Maybe he mis-spoke?

Anyway... here's another good vid clip from Guitar World:

I have to admit that the variety of exotic woods do absolutely nothing for me, appearance of the guitar is pretty far down on the list. What I care about is what's under the hood, and that's where the historical strength of Ovation was which attracted me to the bowls. It certainly would be nice to have some innovation back, for example in neck construction or creative use of carbon fibre materials etc. 

IMO, funky looking guitars may appeal more to younger generations for whom guitars might also be more disposable. So hopefully there's a new market there.

You're right, he must have misspoken for some reason. According to the official NAMM site (link), these are the actual specs:

Glen Campbell Signature Model (US)

• precise recreation of Campbell's iconic “1771” model
• handcrafted in Ovation’s Custom Shop located in New Hartford, CT
• AA solid Sitka Spruce top
• shallow "Vintage Style Lyrachord" body
• 5-piece mahogany/maple neck 
• ebony fingerboard w/ classic diamond inlays and a mother of pearl Glen Campbell signature
• walnut bridge
• center sound hole design w/ inlaid maple leaf rosettes
• FET preamp (stereo output, old-school volume and tone controls)
• available in hand-sprayed Natural or Sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer
• comes with 9158-0 deluxe molded case
• for a mere 1,699 USD

Well, this doesn't bode well for the model or their knowledge of the guy who made it all possible for Ovation

• precise recreation of Campbell's iconic “1771” model

A mitigating factor is...Ovation made some doggone good models that are available on the secondary market for a fraction of the price. I remember a thread from a while ago where there was a Tone+Bling scale. I am not seeing much coming out of DW in terms of working Ovation towards a killer tone...just a lot of bling (Adamas aside). 

As I said before...I appreciate DW's effort to reestablish the brand and provide jobs. Maybe they will, at some point, attempt to play with Torrefied woods, different bracing etc. 

"for a mere 1,699 USD"

That is the discounted price. Retail is $2350

The early years, yes. Look at the ebay pics of #60 Beal just bought. That yellowing is tell-tale nitro. The cataylized finish they transitioned to doesn't yellow/darken like that. 

I like what  Beal said about my Bubinga top: "It's a panel master, but it's a really nice panel master."

He's dead right too.

"A contemporary version of the electronics that launched the Adams acoustic/electric line in  1979"

There is really nothing OCD about it. It is attention to detail. Not only in what they let out in print, but inaccurate references to historic Ovation guitars. I guess it is the QC on the guitars that matters. 

I'm not sure how yet, but I'm stealing that for my Psychology class....

They may no longer be groundbreaking, true – but I would argue that those Os are still great guitars today, just like a Martin D-28 or Gibson J-200 from the thirties is still a great guitar today.