Ovation
The Ovation Guitar Company, a holding of Kaman Music Corporation, is a guitar manufacturing company based in New Hartford, Connecticut. Ovation primarily manufactures acoustic guitars. Ovation guitars are differentiated by their composite synthetic bowl, rather than the traditional wooden back and sides of the modern acoustic guitar as produced by luthiers starting in the late 18th century. Ovation has also produced solid body electric guitars and active basses.
Developed starting in 1966 and introduced as the 'Balladeer' in February, 1967, Ovations reached the height of their popularity in the 1980's, where they were more often than not seen during live performances by touring artists if acoustic guitars were being played. Ovation guitars' synthetic bowl and early use (1971) of preamps, onboard equalization and piezo pickups were particularly attractive to live acoustic musicians who constantly battled feedback problems from the high volumes needed in live venues. Since the 1980's they have remained popular with studio musicians, but are less frequently seen on stage.
In 1972, Ovation introduced one of the first production solid body electric guitars with active electronics, the Ovation Breadwinner. The model failed to gain widespread popularity, however, and production of the Breadwinner and the Ovation Deacon ceased in 1980. Ovation made several other solid body models up until the mid 80s. Many of these guitars have become collector's items since only a few thousand were made of each model. Since that time the company's main focus has been acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars.
Other Ovation innovations include composite tops and multiple offset sound holes on guitar tops, pioneered in the Adamas model in 1977. Kaman Music has also sold budget guitars—and even mandolins and ukuleles—based on similar design principles to the Ovation such as the Korean-built Celebrity series and the Korean or Chinese-built Applause brand.
Notable Ovation guitar players include John Lennon, Shania Twain, Richard Daniel Roman, Jim Croce, Maury Muehleisen, Joan Armatrading, Glen Campbell, Al Di Meola, Melissa Etheridge, Richie Sambora, Kaki King, Cyndi Lauper, Adrian Legg, Steve Lukather, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Dave Mustaine, Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Aaron Tippin, Bob Marley, Robert Fripp, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Country Joe McDonald, Victor Heredia, Nancy Wilson, and many others.
GuitarsAdamas 1587Adamas 1597 Adamas 1687 Adamas CVT W591 Adamas II 1881 NB-2 Anniversary Electric 1657 Balladeer 1111 Balladeer Artist 1121 balladeer Classic 1122 Balladeer Custom 1112 Balladeer Custom 1655/1755 12-String Electric Balladeer Custom 1612/1712 Electric Balladeer Standard 6751 LX 12-String Balladeer Standard 1561-1861 Balladeer Standard 1171 LX Breadwinner 1251 Celebrity CC-48 Celebrity CC-57 Celebrity CK-057 Celebrity CS-257 Classic 1613/1713 Classic 1663/1763 Classic 1863 Collectors Series Concert Classic 1116 Contemporary Folk 1616 Classic Electric Country Arist 6773 Classic Electric Custom Balladeer 1762 |
Custom Legend 1117 Custom Legend 1569 Custom Legend 1619/1719 Custom Legend 1759 Custom Legend 1769 Custom Legend 1869 Deacon 1252 Deacon 1253 12-String Eclipse Elite 1718 Elite 1758 Elite 1858 12-STring Elite 1868 Elite 5858 Elite Doubleneck Folklore 1614 Glen Campbell 1118 12-String Glen Campbell Artist Balladeer 1127 Glen Campbell Artist 1627 GCXT Hurrican K-1120 12-String Josh White 1114 Legend 1117 Legend 1567/1867 Legend 1866 12-String Legend 1717 Legend 1767 Legend Cutaway 1667 Legend Electric 1617 Pacemaker 115/1615 12-String Patriot Bicentennial |
Pinnacle Pinnacle Shallow Cutaway Preacher 1281 Preacher Deluxe 1282 Preacher 12-String 1285 Thunderhead 1460 Tornado 1260 UK II 1291 Ultra GS Series Ultra Series Viper 1271 Viper EA 68 Viper III 1273 VXT Hybrid Bass GuitarsCelebrity Series BassMagnum I Bass Magnum II Bass Magnum III Bass Magnum IV Bass Typhoon II Bass Typhoon III Bass |