Have I Shown You My 1988 Ovation?

SalFromChatham · #1 04-01-2023, 08:12 AM

I can’t recall if I posted this a few months back… I restored my rescued Ovation that I had in college, and found in my childhood home.

Made in Korea. Large bowl. Passive UST. Sounds awesome plugged in. Sounds balanced but lacking a little bass. Records great. Thin nut width… like an electric. Reglued bridge, new strings, needs nothing else. The tuners are so smooth. I can’t believe how well this guitar has held up.

Never selling… just neat to have around!

A little back story…

In college I played in a rock band. I had a nice Strat and Peavey twin tube amp. Anyways, I had been on and off again with my girlfriend… and at graduation time off again and missing her so terribly. She wouldn’t have me back. On the morning of graduation I stopped by her house to say goodbye anyway, and she was not around. I couldn’t deal with going to graduation, so I decided to blow out of dodge and head home to Brooklyn in my packed to the brim Toyota Tercel. On the way out of Binghamton, I stopped at a music store, and traded the Strat and amp for an acoustic. I got a bad deal… an even trade. And so she sat in Brooklyn ever since. I actually forgot about the guitar. Life ensued, and here I am in my 50s with the same guitar restored.

By the way, the gal… she has been my wife for almost 33 years.

ewalling · #2 04-01-2023, 08:20 AM

Nice. I like the non-cutaway Ovations of the 80s and 90s.

I don't currently own an Ovation, but I have had quite a few, and another one is never too far away from my sights.

Jim Owen · #3 04-01-2023, 10:07 AM

Great story, Sal. I’m betting a lot of us have dusty guitars in closets somewhere. It’s cool that you got yours back and playable.

I ditched my graduation, too. I’ve paid dearly for that by attending a couple a year for the past few decades.

Chickee · #4 04-01-2023, 10:19 AM

What a great life/wife/guitar tale!
They don’t get much better than this, Sal.

The Ovation looks terrific. I’m a big fan of the brand. I really have to dig out my ‘73 Ovation to see what shape it’s in these days.

All the best Sal.
frank d.

SpruceTop · #5 04-01-2023, 11:21 AM

What A Charming Story, Sal! Being an Ovationite, I applaud you for restoring your Roundback--Enjoy!

jricc · #6 04-01-2023, 11:21 AM

Great story Sal, and with a happy ending too.
Love the Ovation, there's just somethin' about them...

lowrider · #7 04-01-2023, 12:28 PM

Great story Sal. Cool old guitar, are you going to start using it?

I remember them being ''love it or hate it'' with nothing in between.

SalFromChatham · #8 04-01-2023, 01:56 PM

Thank you all!

By the way, I’m down at the beach today, and I have it plugged into a Fender Twin Reverb.

It is kicking.

I have my first gig in a while May6th… and two bar gigs in June. I will use this on at least one of the bar gigs.

KenL · #9 04-01-2023, 04:35 PM

Great story!

I remember when everybody was playing Ovations. Glen Campbell, Jim & Maury, America, you name it.

ghostnote · #10 04-01-2023, 09:29 PM

Cool story. I got one that looked just like yours around ‘86 or ‘87 and it was my only acoustic for about 6 years. Played it, gigged it, recorded it, loved it. I gave it to my son years ago. That guitar never let me down in any situation.

mimmo · #11 04-01-2023, 11:19 PM

Great story! I am also big Ovation fan, especially the nylon Classic 1613.
Enjoy this beauty.

jazzereh · #12 04-02-2023, 08:07 AM

Great story, both times, Sal. Search is your friend - back in Dec. However I enjoyed both versions of this.

Similar story for me but it's a Yamaha that I bought waaaaay back. First guitar. Still got it. Plays well, just not as good as the ones I now have. But, like you, I'd never sell it. Far to many miles, campfires and stories with it. Have not considered getting anything done on it as it seem ok as is.