|
|
Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 148
Location: Munich | hi folks,
an old hofner fan just told me that hofner made the bodies for the old ovation toronado and thunderhead guitars? is this true? sounds a little strange to me in fact they had to ship all that stuff to ct.
does anybody know the truth?
c ya |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | I don't recall who made the bodies, but they were made in Germany. Ovation only made the necks for the Storm series. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Bodies were made by Framus. Spruce top, maple back and side. My understanding is that initially they came unfinished and Ovation finished them in CT. Later, they came pre-finished from Framus. Or the other way around, I forget. Anyway, one method are the ones that the lacquer checked like hell, the other ones held up much better but I can't recall which is which. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | how about the eclipse? german body too? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7237
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | The Eclipse are Thunderheads on which the finish wouldn't be acceptible because of grain, or knots or whatever. No flaws, just wood isn't always pretty or doesn't always take stain the way you want it to.
Well the clever little buggers just added bowl paint, cheaper costing hardware, and the Eclipse was born. Frankly, I like the Eclipse. I like the pickups better than the Thunderhead and that finish makes it pretty indestructible within reason. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | i agree that the finish, at least on the black one i have is very forgiving even after all those years since ir was made. the band and i refer to it fondly as lucilia. it seems to have a unique sound, though the only thing similar i have to compare it to is an audiovox 12 string from the 60's. i thought the neck angle adjustment was interesting, though i know many think it's bad. i don't know enough to form an opinion, but it gave me another setup option.
the same finish as on my breadwinner when i got it, it was painted with a griffin skeleton and other stuff by the previous owner. i took some thinner and scotch brite pads to it and didn't seem to do much more than get the ugly off. it looks pretty good with it's "gothic" black finish.
Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
The Eclipse are Thunderheads on which the finish wouldn't be acceptible because of grain, or knots or whatever. No flaws, just wood isn't always pretty or doesn't always take stain the way you want it to.
Well the clever little buggers just added bowl paint, cheaper costing hardware, and the Eclipse was born. Frankly, I like the Eclipse. I like the pickups better than the Thunderhead and that finish makes it pretty indestructible within reason. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 201
Location: Vernon, CT | I too have a Tornado that I bought "brand new" in 1970. All I know is that the guitar was completed and finished, including paint at the New Hartford, CT factory. It is 34 years old and the finish and pickups are in very good to excellent condition. However, I am confused about the serial numbers as they seem to be the ones issued in 1968 so there is some discrepancy there. Oh well!! Play On!
John L.
Custom Legend 1779-USA
Legend 1777-LX
Balladeer 1771-LX
Std. Balladeer 1771
Tornado (1970)
Takamine 12 String
Martin D16GT
Fender P-Bass (1975)
Fender 50th Annviersary Strat-
Fender Nashville Tele- |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | The serial numbers A- , B- , etc. do not seem to exactly follow the same timeline as the acoustic guitars. They seem to be lagging somewhat might even have duplicate numbers from the acoustics. For example I've seen Thunderhead serial number 102 (no letter). I know this is definately not the 102nd guitar that Ovation ever built. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The first were finished and then shipped raw and finished in CT. That way the neck and body would match, a novel concept. Also repairs were easier. The finish was straight polyester which cracks alot when exposed to cold. Don't ship them in the winter! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | bill, what exactly is that black non smooth finish i have on my eclipse and breadwinner? it is about as tough and forgiving as a guitar finish gets. the gloss finishes are beautiful for the first set and then the sweat and arm marks really begin to show in the lights. not an issue with the "O"riginal gothic black. it also makes the chrome hardware look like a new 50's caddy bumper. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | bowl paint. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | when i type bowl paint into google i get 839,000 results. would that be a polyurethane bowl paint or an epoxy bowl paint or secret formula bowl paint. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Polane was the type of paint.
I think in the old days there were two slightly different mixes, the first went on smoove and the second splattered. Later on we just did a couple of splatter coats and it all got covered. It has more texture that way. There are some that like the old smoother style. |
|
| |
tornado body question
