Ovation Guitar is a company with a deep tradition of merging science and music to create stunning instruments designed for both performance and quality. In 1965 Charles Kaman founded Ovation, driven by the desire to create an innovative guitar design with improved acoustics.
Based in New Hartford, Connecticut, Ovation guitars are known for their slender necks and composite construction. Charles Kaman is widely known for designing record breaking helicopters, beginning in the late-1940s. After several years of working to create state-of-the art rotor designs and introducing the world’s first gas turbine helicopter, Kaman decided to expand to pursue his passion for guitar playing.
Ovation was born of Kaman’s passion for music and intrinsic knowledge of engineering concepts. Relentlessly seeking to improve design and performance, Kaman was driven to improve on traditional guitar design, especially with regards to acoustics. Using his knowledge of physics, he created the now infamous curved design, using synthetic materials to form the bowl shape in place of traditional flat back and wooden sides.
The first Ovation prototype was developed in 1966, featuring a dreadnought body style with a synthetic back. After noting design flaws with the prototype, Kaman and his team of engineers proposed a synthetic material with a curved, bowl shape, was the best way to improve flaws found in the prototype. The result was a fully synthetic body, made of Lyrachord, a material which consisted of interwoven layers of glass fibers and bonding filament.
The Adamas model, introduced in 1976, brought further groundbreaking innovation. Featuring multiple offset sound holes and composite tops, the Adamas original was the first of its kind. Ovation guitars were attractive to live acoustic musicians due to their use of pre-amplifiers, onboard equalization, piezo pickups, as well as the bowl shaped back. Piezo pickups work to enhance sound quality by eliminating noise interference, commonly experienced with magnetic pickups. The Adamas 1581 is reminiscent of the 1979 acoustic/electric original, with features such as stereo FET preamps and waist mounted stereo and volume controls.
Modern designs are patterned after the original, with improvements inspired by the musicians who first played them. Country music singer Glen Campbell became one of Ovations first endorsers, after the 1968 Roundback Balladeer captured his attention. Other noted artists who lauded Ovation instruments include Ziggie Marley, Melissa Etheridge, Shania Twain and Lenny Kravitz.
For beginners, the current Applause line of guitars is an excellent choice. Designed with beginners in mind, the six-string acoustic/electric guitar is a great way to experience Ovation excellence on any budget. The combination of dedicated research and innovative design have made Ovation a lasting symbol of ingenuity, passion and innovation.
Keep Rockin’!!!
Ovation Celebrity by George C. Slade taken on October 22, 2011
Ovation by telafree taken on April 2, 2006
Ovation Guitar by Fran 53 taken on June 9, 2007
