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Location: Cape Cod | Thank you for all the valuable information on this site.
I bought my first Ovation in 1972 (Worchester Mass.)
Have been collecting some over the years. I have two guitars with neck stamped serial #s and Oval model labels . No other identification.
1111-4 9709 6 string
1115-4 8998 12 string
Do these model number labels and neck stamped serial numbers belong together or have they been manipulated ?
Thanks in advance |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Go up to the Reference link at the top of the page and browse through the model number and price list information. The price list is especially useful. Without looking at it, the serial numbers seem to me to be in about the right era of those models.
Also check the Links at the bottom of the page and go to Ovation Tribute. Jerome has a section on the labels and a whole bunch of other information. Those things are way more informative than posting a question and waiting for someone like me to give you a guess. |
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Posts: 3969
| Welcome, vhatt.
Mark, I see 2 problems. First, 4-digit serial numbers were only in use for about half a year, from late '67 to mid '68. Neither the 1111 nor the 1115 were in production that early. They should have 6-digit serial numbers. Second, they didn't start stamping the serial numbers on the headstock until the early '90s, well after production on both those models stopped. The serial numbers on these should be on a small rectangular sticker up near the neck block.
I doubt very much those are any kind of serial number from the factory; more likely they were stamped after-market. |
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Location: Cape Cod | The numbers are not on the headstock but on the base of the neck on the inside of the guitar. |
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Posts: 3969
| That would make more sense, but I've never seen numbers stamped on the neck inside. After the very early rectangular labels with alphanumeric and then 4-digit serials on the label itself, they went to the 6-digit serial on a rectangular sticker glued to the bowl near the neck block. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | 3 digit and 4 digit serials were stamped on the neckblocks. This was before the A- B- C- alpha numeric 3 digit serials. This was from the beginning up until about early 68 or so.
The labels with actual model numbers (1111, 1115) instead of model names came around mid 68 and then switched to the foil ovals in 1970. |
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Location: Cape Cod | Gallerinski - thanks for the response
Question . If a quitar has a # like 9709 stamped on the neckblock , Can the oval foil model number 1111-4 be original? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | You know, the other odd thing. I don't ever recall seeing a neck block serial number in the 8000 and 9000 range. They topped out around 3000. In the registry, the highest serial number 4 digit neck block is 2940. Seems almost impossible that 8000 and 9000 have shown up and NOTHING in between.
I'm wondering if the guitars are really 1971-1972 which was the timeframe of 6 digit serials but up through the first 10 thousand of them the serial would have been 00xxxx and maybe for a period of time the stamped the last 4 digits on the neck block leaving off the first 00.
If this was it, it didn't last long. I know for sure by late 1972 it was small paper serial number stickers, oval label with model number, and no stamp on neck block. |
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Posts: 153
| Actually, the serial numbers stamped on the neck block go at least as high as 13,000, as in the case of the Cat Stevens guitar.
I personally owned a 1971 1122-4 that had a serial number of 10,XXX stamped on the neck block, and and on the rectagular paper label with brown ink.
On the lower priced models, the four and five, digit serialization continued simultaneously with the A-XXX, B-XXX ... L-XXX, M-XXX serialization that continued on higher priced models until about 1972 when the six digit numbers started. |
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Location: Cape Cod | Gallerinski:
That explanation makes sense. I have a guitar with a serial number on a small piece of rectangular paper # 002120. model # 1117-4
All three guitars have very similar three dimentional stamped oval labels and are very similar in construction and style.
The 8998 and 9809 neck block stamped serial numbers could have been used up to the transition to the six digit serial numbers on paper. If the 002120 # is dated May-Dec 1972 that would make the 8998 and 9809 some time before that. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I knew this topic would smoke Bob out of his hole! WELL DONE, my friend. |
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Location: Cape Cod | Sounds like Bob is a "legend" around here.
Nice to meet you Bob |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Labels and cases, Bob Frith is your man ! |
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| I'll shut up now.
Great info, thanks Bob! |
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Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | Ok, I'm not trying to usurp this thread but now I'm really confused about these labels.
See, this brings up a question about an Ovation guitar on E-Bay right now, auction #220676921388 titled "Vintage Ovation Balladeer 1967-68 with hardshell case".
There is a pic of the label, small rectangular like to old ones, has TWO lines and says:
Model 1111-4
Serial 5467
at the bottom of the label it says Manufactured in USA.
The guitar has a textured bowl so I know that isn't right to begin with, the bridge is ripped off but it doesn't look like it ever had a 5 point bridge, and I can't really tell from the picture if the rosette is actually inlaid or not.
(I thought the 1111 Model designation didn't come out till 1971)
Its label is different than mine.
My 68 Deluxe Balladeer has the small rectangular label, has THREE lines (information is typed in):
Model Deluxe Balladeer
Serial A970
Approval left blank
The bottom of the label says:
Pat. Applied for
I've never bothered to look to see if the neck block is stamped but I will next time I'm home(next weekend)
I saw another 68 on E-Bay, a small rosette 12 string Balladeer Shiney Bowl (auction #250703306706, it didn't sell at its listed $3988 price) that had a label exactly like mine but had 12-string typed on the approval line. It was serial number A279.
Quoting Bob,
"On the lower priced models, the four and five, digit serialization continued simultaneously with the A-XXX, B-XXX ... L-XXX, M-XXX serialization that continued on higher priced models until about 1972 when the six digit numbers started."
The Balladeer was the base-level guitar in the line wasn't it?
Maybe the 12 was considered above base level?
Wouldn't it have had a label different than my Deluxe Balladeer?
I'm really lost on this now! :) |
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Location: Seymour, Tennessee | Oh hell, I'm sorry, Welcome to the Board vhatt! |
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September 2002
Posts: 806
Location: Seymour, Tennessee | Found another early one on E-bay auction #390246796873 has a red three line label serial number is 1328.
It has Deluxe Balladeer for the model line, the approval line left blank, and Pat. applied for line at the bottom too.
It'll make you sick though, looks like Schwartzenegger ripped the head off of it. |
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New member - neck stamped serial #
