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Location: Indianapolis | Looking to buy a '68 or '69 Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladee six string. Please, send photos, if interested in selling. I'm not a dealer...just an old Glen fan and player like most of you guys! |
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Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | They don't come up for sale very often. I know of only 2 (maybe 3)that are owned by people on this board. And they are very rare. The best estimate is that only 50-100 of them were ever built. Who knows how many survived the last 36-37 years.
I wish you luck. They are beautiful guitars. Great sound and the best woods. |
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Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Welcome "snowht". Your first post on this board and you ask an almost impossible question! The GC Deluxe Balladeer is one of rarest Ovations out there. Like Moody said, not many made to begin with and probably not too many of those still surviving. Take a look in the member gallery and you can see some pictures of the GCDB (or look at my website). If you do manage to find one for sale I'm sure you'll have plenty of competition for it. Dave |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Here is one of several on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33029&item=7... |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Not a DB. and the seller says it's a deep bowl 1127? I thought the 1127's were shallow bowls... |
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February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | 1127's and 1627's are "Artist" depth bowls (5 1/8" Artist bowl vs 5 13/16" Deep bowl) the predecessor of the Mid-depth bowls!(5 1/4")
Shallow bowls are 4 1/16"!!! |
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Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | The Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladeer was a deep, shiny bowl with Ovation's original X bracing. It was only built from (and I'm guessing a bit here) the fall of '68 until maybe mid '69, when Ovation started building the Artist depth guitars and the name became the Glen Campbell Artist Balladeer. It's a real different animal in sound and feel. Tony Calman has a very early GC Artist, with the winged bridge. It's got the best sound of any GC Artist I've ever played and I'm wondering if it has an X braced top instead of the newer VT bracing. When I'm down in San Diego returning the 05 he loaned me, I'll take a look. With good strings on it, it could sound wonderful.
One other quick point. In the advertising for the GC DB, it talks about how it's got all the fine features of the DB but with the GC upgrades. One thing I've noticed (since I own one of each), is that the neck on the GC DB is markedly different than the neck on the DB. It's slimmer and has better wood in it. My DB feels like half of a baseball bat. But that sound...... |
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Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Speaking of Glen Campbell signature models did anyone here pick up the GC 1627 reissue last year? According to the factory they build about 5-6 of them. THAT would be a very rare guitar, indeed. Even though they called it a 1627, I think the reissue actually had a deep bowl. Hopefully someone here has one. More rare (but surely inferior) to the orginal GCDB. Dave |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | I've just played my '78 1627 Glen Campbell Artist (w/VT bracing) and my '78 1112 Custom Balladeer (w/X bracing) and have to agree with Serge that neither is superior, just different "flavors" of ice cream. To my ears I gave the "slight" edge for "loudness" and "bassy" to the CB probably because of it being acoustic only and deep bowled but the GC has the "brightness" and "clean" projection due no doubt to the smaller artist bowl.
Different yes but I like 'em both!!(Different is Good :D ) |
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Location: SoCal | Bracing bracing bracing.
GC DB = X bracing
Custom Balladeer = X bracing
GC Artist (1127) = VT something bracing
Legend (1117) = VT Something
I'm too lazy to look up the catalogs right now, but going into the 70's Ovation developed the VT bracing pattern. It had a big affect on the sound of the guitar. My '78 Legend sounds like crap next to my 67/68 Deluxe Balladeer (well, actually, it sounds like crap next to almost anything).
There was a reason Ovation went to the A bracing pattern and has now returned to the X pattern.
But this is all a matter of personal choice. I sure as hell not going to tell Serge he's wrong to like his GC Artist (altho' he is!). When it comes to music, what your own personal senses tell you is always right. |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Paul,recon your Legend sounds crappy 'cause it's a deep bowl or 'cause it has other issues? Isn't it the one you have tuned to Nashville tuning?
Maybe the VT(something)bracing is better suited to the artist bowl.....Hmmmmmm :confused: |
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Location: SoCal | It's strung and tuned Nashville now Mike, because it has no bass what so ever. It's great tuned that way because the lack of bass actually helps it. But I've seen this with other 1970's Legends. I firmly believe that this is the reason Ovation dumped the VT bracing pattern in the 1980's. They could get away with it in the 70's because they were the only game in town when plugging in. |
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Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Paul;
Interesting note about the smaller neck on your GC DB...mine has a big "C" shaped neck that gets even bigger as you move up towards the body. It is interesting the amount of adjustment required to a capo when moving it, say, from the 2nd to the 6th or 7th.
I think the big neck (which I love) is a major factor to the great sound of that guitar...good and stiff, all (or most) of the vibration stays in the body and top.
Wayne |
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Location: SoCal | Wayne:
One of these days we have got to get together and compare our guitars.
I'd be willing to bet that Campbell requested a thinner neck (hence the second GC DB with his initials on it?). |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Hey Serge, I know we are friends so you won't be offended but my OPINION - I owned 1627 and GCDB at the same time and I wouldn't trade TEN 1627's for my GCDB. It's THAT good. People ask about the 05 Collector and to me the 05 sounds most like the GCDB. Bothare great guitars. The 1627 with VT bracing just never impressed me. But I would love to try a 2004 model re-isue deep bowl. Dave |
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June 2002
Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Frankly, I think bracing is something that doesn't get enough talk around here. I guess because we can't "see" it. But as Serge says differences in bracing make a huge difference in sound. We all have very strong opinions and can post forever about which tuners we like, why gloss necks are superior to satin necks, why center hole guitars sound better than elite style, etc. But the darn bracing is one fo the biggest factors there is. Dave |
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Posts: 1900
| StandingO, I agree about the bracing issue, there seems to be very little discussion, and I am sure that Ovation has much research into the different bracings they use on their instruments, considering that the acoustic properties of absorption/reflection/vibration of sound waves determine the specific musical signature of each guitar; I have a 1767 cutaway center-soundhole Legend, and I would be interested in that same model in a longneck scale, but I've never known Ovation to make that model guitar, unless it was a special order...
Steve |
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Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Thinking back, I've always made a huge stink over the fact that bracing makes a HUGE difference in the guitar's sound, followed by bowl size. Given a choice, I'd always prefer either A or the new modified X bracing with a deep bowl, for the best acoustic sound.
Now if you're only going to play plugged in, well that's a different story. Of if you're like Serge, and you're playing mostly single note stuff, then the 1970's Artist series is going to sound better.
But for me, the best all around mix is a deep bowl with either A or X bracing. I'm going to a party tonight and will be playing unplugged. Do I bring my 1537 or my GC DB? What a great decision to have to make. I'm a very fortunate person. |
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Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Was the party at the Mission Viejo Home for The Deaf? Seriously, you've got some nice instruments and I think you could pretty much close your eyes and just pick one at random and the party goers would like whatever your brought. On the other hand, there are some guitars I would NEVER bring to a party. Risk of collateral damage is too high. Dave |
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I have now had the opportunity to play four of the pre-1973 #1127 Artist (AAA spruce, VT-8). At least it sure looks like VT-8 and Carter's book says VT-8. Interesting that the Ovation site says A brace.
Lots of difference - the keeper is F161. An acoustic that far exceeds the other three. Good projection, fast neck, light in weight, strong bass and treble.
Paid $500 for it and well worth it.
A quality picker...maybe it is how the top aged over the bracing? |
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Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Tony, get in there with a mirror and take a look. I really think the winged brige acoustics were X braced. I owned a balladeer winger same vintage as your GCA and the darn thing sounded incredible. It was X braced. After I sanded thru the top with a power drill, I replaced it with a '74 Legend VT braced and was sadly disappointed with the sound. Dave |
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Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Isn't the peghead angle on the GCDB steeper than the GCA? Tony is the angle on your GCA-winger steep like the shiny bowls. |
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May 2005
Posts: 2
Location: Indianapolis | Well, my original question turned into quite an education! Thanks for all the information. I did find one the guitar I was looking for. I was lucky enough to perform with old Glen back in the late 70's when I was a young man. He was a great guy and an amzing talent. Always been a fan, I assume, like the rest of you "Ovation types". |
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Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladeer
