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November 2011
Posts: 11
Location: Sevenoaks, UK | Hello everyone - great to find such a comprehensive resource about one of my favourite guitar brands.
I was given an Ovation guitar as a 21st birthday present and having had it - and played it regularly for 13 years now - it's suddenly occurred to me that I have absolutely no idea what model it is, or even when it was made.
Would anybody be able to give me some hints and tips about how to go about identifying my instrument?
Kinds regards
Rob |
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April 2010
Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Hello Rob,
What type of Ovation do you have... an acoustic (acoustic/electric)... a solid body electric... a hollow body arch top? Posting a pic would help.
If it's an acoustic, look through the sound hole at the Ovation label inside. On it there ought to be a model name or number. |
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November 2011
Posts: 11
Location: Sevenoaks, UK | Hi Jeffrey
Thanks- I will post some pics as soon as I can figure out how and where to do that :) Does the forum allow uploading, or should I just upload them somewhere else and link to them here?
Cheers
Rob |
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Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | You could use a URL link to any pic(s) you have on a website... but you might want to consider creating a personal page over on the OFC's social site http://OvationFanClub.ning.com/ and upload and link to your pics from there. :) |
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Posts: 11
Location: Sevenoaks, UK | aaah - thanks :) |
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Posts: 11
Location: Sevenoaks, UK | Ok - so I've uploaded some photos:
http://ovationfanclub.ning.com/photo/albums/my-ovation |
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Posts: 11
Location: Sevenoaks, UK | The serial number is 336412 and it seems to have something that looks like "OV1528" stamped on the label inside... very faint though, so hard to be sure. Anyone have any ideas? |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Do you think that it might be one of these?
This is an Ultra 1528 |
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Location: Sevenoaks, UK | Hi Arthur
Thanks for the reply...
I guess that's probably not a bad guess. Looking at it, apart from the obvious physical similarities, it has the same bridge and seems to have the same pattern around the soundhole - although I'm sure if that means anything.
The controls are quite different though... hard to tell from that pic, but the one you posted seems to have a big rotary knob on the top, which mine doesn't. The label on the inside is also quite different, although again I'm not sure how much that matters. |
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Location: sitting at my computer | I think Old Man Arthur got it.
Found another one - with preamp controls like yours.
Ovation 1528D
Don't know about the brown, non Ultra label on yours though.
Maybe the Korean factory ran out :confused: :confused: |
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Posts: 11
Location: Sevenoaks, UK | aaah.... so it's a Korean special then? I take it not as highly-thought-of as the American-made ones?
Any chance it's a knock-off, based on the non-standard label? |
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Location: sitting at my computer | well... not wanting to start any Korean-made animosity here, ( I like my Tangent series MOB 57 just fine... for what it cost ), but there have indeed been comments made about a lack of attention to detail and quality control in the fit, finish and materials of some Korean made/assembled Os.
IMO the American made Os are more highly prized and praised. But then the Korean Os aren't priced as high either. Compared to other guitars in the same price range(s) I think they hold up pretty well.
I wouldn't assume yours is a "knock-off" just because of the odd label. IMO the rest of it looks correct. Maybe that makes it more "rare" and "collectable". LOL :D
You've had it and played it for 13 years so I assume it sounds fine and that you enjoy it. IMO that's really all that matters!
BTW an old price history listing I saw showed the original retail price for the Ultra 1528 as being from $595 to $749 and made between `87 and `91. |
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Location: Sevenoaks, UK | well yes - as you say, I'm more than happy with it... it's been a wonderful companion for over a decade and I have no concerns at all about its quality, durability, sound, finish... anything really!
Next silly question - do you think there's any way, based on the serial number, that I could try and find out where it was sold? I'd be really interested to know a little bit more about where it came from - probably should have mentioned that I got it second hand, although I'm sure you've figured that much out since it came from the late 80s and I got it in 98. |
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Location: sitting at my computer | "do you think there's any way, based on the serial number, that I could try and find out where it was sold?" I doubt it. There isn't any comprehensive, global Ovation serial number / owner tracking database out there.
Over on the OvationGallery.com website there's a Serial Number Registration page where some owners have listed their guitars.
Any idea where the generous individual who gave it to you acquired it?
FYI - another website you might find interesting is OvationTribute.com :) |
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Posts: 7210
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | While acoustics aren't my forte' we should be able to do a little better on id'ing this..
Things I see that I think are "tells" but not sure what exactly they tell.
1. The Preamp (and the battery cover/location)
2. The Ovation on the headstock
3. The LACK of a truss rod cover
4. The two dots on the bridge
5. What is the writing on the back of the tuners?
6. The color of the label
7. Approx build date (if purchased new) of 1998 or earlier.
All this "seems" to me that we should be able to reel in a model. |
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Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I think it's an Ultra, too, although it might be a Pinnacle, but I don't know about those.
1. Preamp seems non-USA. The sliding battery door looks like late 80s or early 90s for USA models, but foreign models might have used these for who knows.
2. Ovation on headstock is used on almost all except Applause and some really early Celebrities. The course grain of the bowl seems consistent with Korea.
3. No TRC could be anything. Lack of 5 piece neck eliminates early Balladeers and all other upper end USA models.
4. Bolted bridge eliminates most upper end USA models.
5. Tuners seem to be Pings, which eliminates most upper end USA models.
6. Color of the label is what made me think Pinnacle, just because I can't remember what those had. It doesn't say USA, which might eliminate all USA models.
7. Serial number for USA models would be 1985. I don't think they used the sliding doors back then, but it's possible. They didn't in 1983. Probably an Ultra, newer than 1985. |
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Location: sitting at my computer | So far all the similar Pinnacle pics I've been able to find had
• preamp controls with a rotary volume knob.
• two dot inlays at the 12th fret / not diamond-dot-diamond like on the 1528
• blue labels
and since Rob wrote he thinks he can read OV1528 on the label... methinks she's an Ultra in disguise Capt'n! |
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Location: Sevenoaks, UK | You guys are awesome :)
A few more things...
1) Tuners are Pings, yes
2) Truss rod adjustment is at the heel end, accessed through the soundhole
3) Guitar was bought at a second-hand shop in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1998. Based on that fact alone, there's a very good chance that it wasn't US-made, because few in South Africa can afford American-made guitars. |
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Location: sitting at my computer | 1) yes... Ping is a brand of tuners (guitar machine heads). Schaller and Grover are a couple of others.
2) yes again (requires an Ovation truss rod tool or comparable allen wrench)
3) certainly seems it's one of the Korean-made Os based upon the clues so far.
LOL- a lot of us here in the US can't afford American-made guitars these days either!!! :eek: |
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Posts: 7210
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Of course the model may be just based on ones we've discussed. Music stores all over get runs of guitars with certain specs to make them their own. That was a fairly popular trend around the time this guitar was built if I recall. |
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November 2011
Posts: 11
Location: Sevenoaks, UK | Thanks to all for the valuable insights!
Just one more q - which I think has been hinted at already. Can you guys confirm that the various "serial number listings" that appear all over the web pertain to US-made models only? |
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December 2001
Posts: 7210
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Originally posted by robdylan:
Thanks to all for the valuable insights!
Just one more q - which I think has been hinted at already. Can you guys confirm that the various "serial number listings" that appear all over the web pertain to US-made models only? Confirmed.. The reason? the USA Guitars are (or were) covered under a Factory Warranty so serial numbers are important for that. As Imports are not covered in the same way, the receipt from the store where it was purchased is the "proof" of whatever coverage there is. The serial numbers on imports have essentially no meaning more than if the number on a particular guitar matches the number on the receipt that showed it was purchased someplace. |
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Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Rob - I cast a line over into the other pool trying to catch any Brown Label Os... had a couple nibbles but no bites... well there was a little swipe by that land-shark DB :D ... however I wasn't able to reel in any more info for ya. Sorry. |
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Posts: 11
Location: Sevenoaks, UK | no worries... thanks Notch Johnson :)
Guess mine's one-of-a-kind... assuming it's not a fake :) |
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Posts: 823
Location: sitting at my computer | Originally posted by robdylan:
thanks Notch Johnson :)
Ha!!! LMAO That's great! I didn't know about that SOB! :D |
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Hi
